SMSU football opens NSIC play with first road test of the season at BSU
Photo by Daniel Lins Trending
Editor’s note: All notes courtesy of SMSU Athletics Communications. Be sure to tune into the “Mustang Minute” podcast with SMSU head football coach Scott Underwood and Independent Sports Editor Daniel Lins. Search “Mustang Minute with SMSU Football” on Spotify, or find the link on the Independent’s Facebook page.
THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-0, 0-0 NSIC) opens Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Bemidji State University (0-1, 0-0 NSIC) with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium.
•The game is the first of 10 league games for the Mustangs with four versus North Division team. SMSU will have its first of six South Division contests on Sept. 26 versus Wayne State.
•SMSU is seeking to snap a 10-game road losing streak at BSU with SMSU’s last victory at Chet Anderson Stadium coming on Sept. 27, 1997. BSU has won 19 of last 20 overall meetings since 1998.
•SMSU opened the season on Aug. 27 snapping an 11-game home losing skid, dating back to 2024, with a 10-7 win versus Valley City State.
•The SMSU defense, which recorded a pair of interceptions, limited VCSU to 26 yards rushing. It was the first time SMSU held an opponent to less than 50 yards rushing since the final game of the 2009 season.
•BSU opened its season last Thursday suffering 31-29 non-conference home loss to Michigan Tech. The Beavers, coming off a 4-7 overall, 4-6 NSIC record in 2025, were selected to finish seventh overall and third in the North Division in the NSIC preseason coaches’ poll.
•A preview of BSU is located on page 4.
BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 14th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast (free) and video ($) can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fifth season as head coach with a record of 8-37. He was named the program’s 11th head coach on Jan. 7, 2022.
•Underwood was the first SMSU head coach in team history (11 head coaches) to begin his SMSU coaching career with a 4-1 record. SMSU’s four victories in 2022 were its highest victory total since 2018.
•Underwood compiled a record of 86-52 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19) and is 94-89 overall in his 17th season as a head coach.
•SCSU recorded 10 winning seasons with three NCAA playoff appearances during his tenure. SCSU won seven or more games seven times, including a school record 12 victories in 2013.
•SCSU made NCAA playoff appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and won a share of both the NSIC North Division and NSIC overall championship in 2011.
•He was also an assistant coach at SCSU (2001-07), North Dakota (1997-2000), Sioux Falls (1993-96) and Augustana (1988-92).
•A complete bio on Underwood can be found on page 19.
SMSU OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•SMSU had seven players on defense and three on offense make their first career collegiate starts in the victory over Valley City State on Aug. 27.
•Senior Macloud Crowton started at quarterback in the season-opening victory. It was the first time since 2018 that SMSU had the same quarterback start the season opener in back-to-back seasons. Blake Gimbel was the last Mustang to start back-to-back season openers in 2017 and 2018.
•SMSU held a ‘plus-7 minute’ time of possession advantage in the win over VCSU but was just 3 for 15 on third-down conversions and was 2 of 5 in the red-zone.
•Redshirt freshman Josh Lancifort, making his first career start, rushed for a game-high 67 yards on 19 carries, while also catching four passes for 24 yards.
•Junior running back Shaun Walrath collected his first career rushing touchdown in the victory.
•Junior Tryg Auten caught a game-high six passes for 68 yards.
•Junior Aiden Planer and junior Keegan Patterson each recorded their first career interceptions in the win over VCSU.
•Redshirt freshman Hunter Hanegraaf, making his first career, led the SMSU defense with 10 tackles including 2.5 for loss.
•Senior Avery Johnson, who was injured in week one last season and missed the rest of the season, started at defensive end, and recorded six tackles with 2.5 for loss.
•Redshirt freshman Jack Meier tied a career-high with six tackles in the win.
SMSU IN THE 2026 NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and BSU rank in this week’s NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 16-17.
(113 teams ranked) SMSU BSU
Scoring Offense 95th 50th
Rushing Offense 67th 47th
Passing Offense 36th 51st
Total Offense 59th 56th
Scoring Defense 7th 66th
Rushing Defense 4th 64th
Pass Defense 79th 48th
Pass Efficiency Defense 29th 84th
Total Defense 31st 49th
Net Punting 84th 95th
Punt Returns 31st 31st
Kickoff Returns 101st 12th
Turnover Margin 26th 45th
Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm. 72nd 14th
Time of Possession 27th 57th
3rd Down Conversions 94th 47th
3rd Down Conversion Defense 10th 53rd
2026 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 14th overall and seventh in the NSIC South Division in the annual 14-team NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
•Mustang senior quarterback Macloud Crowton and senior defensive lineman Avery Johnson were tabbed a ‘Player to Watch’ in the NSIC.
SCOUTING BEMIDJI STATE
•Brent Bolte, the 2021 NSIC Coach of the Year, is in his 11th season as head coach after taking over the position as interim head coach in 2016. He has a career record of 75-34. The victory total ranks second in team history. Bolte has been on the BSU staff for 26 seasons.
•BSU opened the season at home last Thursday night suffering a 31-29 loss to Michigan Tech. BSU trailed 31-14 heading into the fourth quarter before recording a field goal and two touchdowns in the final 11:38 of the game.
•BSU finished the game with 374 yards of offense with 157 rushing yards.
•Junior quarterback Connor Carver led the Beavers with 58 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
•Senior running back Jayden Washington rushed for 33 yards on 10 carries.
•BSU used three quarterbacks in the game with sophomore Bart McAninch completing five passes in 13 attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
•Senior wide receiver Zavery Guerra caught three passes for 119 yards including a 57-yard reception from McAninch.
•Sophomore wide receiver Lucas Peterson caught a game-high six passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
•Senior linebacker Ray Iglesias led the defense with nine tackles.