SMSU FOOTBALL: SMSU seeks third straight win facing USF for Homecoming
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MARSHALL -- The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (2-3, 1-0 NSIC South) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division play this Saturday, hosting the University of Sioux Falls (3-2, 1-0 NSIC South) for the annual Homecoming game with kickoff slated for 5 p.m. at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.
•SMSU, which has won two straight road games, will be seeking its first three-game winning streak since the 2018 season.
•SMSU will also look to earn its first victory (0-8) over USF since the Cougars joined the NSIC in 2012.
•USF is coming off a 28-26 home victory over Augustana on Saturday.
Broadcast info
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with ninth-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
SMSU on
homecoming
•SMSU is 24-27 all-time on homecoming.
•SMSU lost in the final seconds to Bemidji State in 2019, but has won four of its last six homecoming games.
•SMSU is 7-13 on homecoming since 2000.
SMSU vs. USF Series Notes
Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls meet for the 13th time on Saturday night with USF leading 9-3 … the two teams first met on Sept. 21, 1968, in Marshall … the first game between the two schools was also the first-ever game in SMSU history with USF earning a 13-6 victory at Legion Field in Marshall … SMSU defeated USF 36-12 in 1969 in Sioux Falls and then won in both 1978 and 1979 … USF has won all eight games since joining the NSIC in 2012, including 51-7 in Marshall on Sept. 21, 2019 … USF has scored 41, 55, 44, 34, 48, 39 and 51 points in seven of the eight meetings since joining the NSIC … USF has been ranked nationally in six of the eight prior meetings … SMSU's last win in the series was on Oct. 20, 1979, in Sioux Falls.
Mustang opening drive tidbits
•Junior linebacker Onte Burns continues to be one of the top linebackers in the NSIC and nationally as he leads the NSIC and ranks 12th in Division II with 10.6 tackles per game. He is also sixth nationally with 7.6 solo tackles per game.
•SMSU has lost nine straight home games with the last victory coming on Oct. 20, 2018, versus Northern State.
•SMSU has rushed for more than 135 yards in four of five games this season, including a season-high 241 two weeks ago at CSP. In 2019, SMSU reached 100 yards rushing in just three games, while in 2018, SMSU reached the 100 yard rushing mark just four times. Prior to Saturday, the last time SMSU rushed for more than 200 yards in a game occurred on Oct. 5, 2019, at Minot State.
•The SMSU defense shutout Upper Iowa in the second half in last week's victory. It was the first time SMSU held a team scoreless in the second half since Sept. 16, 2017, versus Minot State.
•SMSU rushed for a season-low eight yards in last week's win at UIU.
•SMSU passed for just 70 yards in the victory at CSP in week four. It was the first time SMSU passed for less than 100 yards in a single-game since being held to 67 yards versus Winona State on Nov. 4, 2017.
•Junior running back Jesse Sherwood ranks first on team with 360 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 60 carries. He rushed for a career-high 178 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries at Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 25. Sherwood was the first SMSU player to reach 150 or more yards rushing in a game since Max Simmons versus Upper Iowa on Sept. 22, 2018.
•Senior quarterback Andrew Haidet has completed 48 of 96 passes for 607 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He also ranks second on the team in rushing with 222 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries.
•True freshman defensive lineman Avery Johnson finished with a career-high five tackles versus UIU.
•Sophomore running back Duce Reynolds has amassed 160 yards rushing and two scores on 49 carries.
•Junior wide receiver Zeke Robinson has a team-high 10 receptions for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Robinson caught two touchdowns in last week's victory, including the game winning score with 1:09 left in the fourth.
•Freshman kicker Carter Dicker has booted three field goals this season, including a career-long 37-yarder at CSP in week four.
•Senior cornerback Ken Truitt sealed the win last week with his first career interception.
•Sophomore safety Jordan White recorded his first career interception in last week's game.
•Senior linebacker Gage Roberson ranks second on the squad with 40 tackles including a team-leading 4.5 for loss.
SMSU in NSIC South Division play
•Since the NSIC adapted divisional play prior to the 2008 season, SMSU is 25-56 all-time in South Division games, while finishing in the top half of the division three times in 12 seasons.
•SMSU had its highest finish of second place in 2013 and has also placed fourth three times, fifth once, sixth five times, seventh once and eighth once.
Mustangs at home
•The 2021 season marks the 13th year that Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center served as the home for SMSU football.
•SMSU is 28-41 all-time at the stadium, including an 0-2 record in 2021.
•SMSU has lost nine straight home games with the last victory coming on Oct. 20, 2018, versus Northern State.
•SMSU recorded back-to-back home winning seasons in 2015 and 2016 for the first time since having four straight winning seasons from 1989-92.
•The $16 million facility opened in the fall of 2008 with the first college football game played on Aug. 30 versus Minnesota Crookston.
Scouting
Sioux Falls
•Jon Anderson is in his fifth season as head coach with a record of 27-13.
•USF is coming off a dramatic 28-26 victory over Augustana last Saturday, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 2:53 remaining in the game.
•USF was limited to just five rushing yards in the game, but redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Mullen completed 26 of 36 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
•Junior running back Thuro Reisdorfer leads the Cougars in rushing at 527 yards with five touchdowns on 74 carries. He was injured in last Saturday's game and finished with just five carries.
•Redshirt freshman running back Jacqueze Lockett has amassed 195 yards and one touchdown.
•Senior wide receiver Dominic Pegley has caught 29 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
•Sophomore linebacker Cody Jantzen has racked up a team-high 24 tackles with three for loss.
•Senior defensive lineman Joey Wehrkamp has recorded seven tackles with for loss and three sacks.
-- Content courtesy
of SMSU Athletic
Communications