This week

The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (4-4, 1-3 NSIC South) will look to snap a three-game losing streak Saturday hosting NSIC North Division-leading and NCAA regionally-ranked Bemidji State University (6-2, 4-0 NSIC North). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Mattke Field.

BSU is one of 10 teams ranked in first NCAA Super Region Four rankings released on Monday.

The game features one of top rushing offenses in the country as SMSU ranks third in the NSIC and 18th in Division II (212.5), while BSU ranks first in Division II in passing offense (347.6) and fourth in total offense (500.4).

SMSU is also third in the country in fewest penalty yards per game (34.2).

BSU, which lost its first two games of the season by a combined four points, has won six straight games, including defeating Minnesota Duluth, 41-16, last Saturday in Bemidji.

Opening drive tidbits

Senior linebacker Onte Burns, a two-time All-NSIC South honoree, has led the NSIC in tackles the past two seasons. Burns, who has started all 41 games of his career, has amassed 194 career solo tackles ranking second in team history. Burns is just five solo stops shy of Nate Rudolph, who holds the school record with 199 solo tackles.

Burns also ranks fourth in team history in total tackles with 335. The school record is held by Paul Litwicki, who amassed 485 tackles.

Burns ranks tied for first in the NSIC and 27th in Division II with 73 tackles (9.1).

Redshirt freshman quarterback Justus McComb, who started the first six games of the season, has missed the last two games due to an injury. True freshman Marcus Martin, the first true freshman to start for SMSU since Rob Fagnan in 2000, has started the past two games and has completed 20 of 46 pass attempts for 239 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Senior running back Jesse Sherwood, who missed two games earlier this season, leads the NSIC in rushing with 158.5 yards per game and ranks third in Division II. He has rushed for more than 147 yards in five of his six games this season.

Sophomore running back Donald Austin ranks ninth in the NSIC rushing yards per game (68.9).

Junior wide receiver Peter Osman has caught a team-high 18 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Josiah Hedensten racked up a career-high 12 tackles with a sack, forced fumble and two tackles for loss in last week’s loss to Wayne State.

Carter Schmitz (6) and Diego Maldonado (5) each tied career-highs in tackles last week at WSC.

This season, the SMSU defense has forced at least one turnover in each game.

SMSU ranks ninth in the NSIC in both total offense (346.4) and total defense (368.3).

SMSU’s four-game winning streak earlier this season was its longest since starting the 2015 season 4-0. The last time SMSU opened a season 4-1 occurred during the 2016 season.

Sherwood closing in on 1,000 rushing yards

Senior running back Jesse Sherwood has rushed for 951 yards on 155 carries in six games this season. The 951 yards currently rank ninth in team single-season history. In team history, only six players have reached 1,000 yards rushing in a single-season.

Davontay Stevens was the last to do so in 2015. Tyler Tonderum (2013) holds the team record with 2,145 yards on 341 attempts.

Sherwood’s current 6.1 yards per carry ranks fourth in team single-season history. His 6.4 yards per carry last season (787 yards on 123 attempts) is the school single-season record.

SMSU rushing among the best in team history

SMSU has rushed for 1,700 yards this season which already ranks eighth in team single-season history. Only two teams (2,958 in 2013) and (2,165 in 2015) in program history have reached 2,000 yards rushing in a single season.

SMSU is currently averaging 213 yards rushing per game, which ranks second in team single-season history. The 2013 team averaged 247 yards per game.

SMSU vs. BSU series notes

BSU won last season in Bemidji, 48-14 … BSU won the last game played in Marshall on Oct. 12, 2019, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds remaining to earn a 25-24 victory. BSU trailed 24-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Southwest Minnesota State and Bemidji State meet on Saturday for the 48th time, with BSU leading the series 25-21-1.

The teams first met on Oct. 17, 1970, in Marshall.

BSU has won 16 of the last 17 games since 1998.

SMSU’s lone win in the last 17 games came on Sept. 12, 2015, in Marshall.

SMSU leads 12-10 in games played in Marshall.