SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE FOOTBALL - WEEK TWO
TODAY
- The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (0-2, 0-2 NSIC) returns home this Saturday, Sept. 21, facing Concordia University-St. Paul (0-2, 0-1 NSIC) in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
- Both teams are looking for its first win of the season with SMSU coming off a 33-0 loss at No. 23 Bemidji State last Saturday, while CSP suffered a home-opening 31-14 setback to Winona State.
- SMSU has won the last two meetings in the series, including the 2022 SMSU home opener. It was the first victory at SMSU for head coach Scott Underwood.
SMSU VS. CSP SERIES HISTORY
- Southwest Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul meet for the 26th time on Saturday with CSP leading 13-12 in a series that started on Sept. 15, 1979 ... the series is tied 6-6 in games played in Marshall ... SMSU leads 6-4 since 2012, with SMSU winning the last two games, including the last match-up two seasons ago in Marshall, 14-6 ... SMSU won the first three meetings in the series before CSP won six straight from 2000-05 ... SMSU leads 9-7 since the 2006 season.
SMSU LAST TIME OUT
- No. 23 ranked Bemidji State used a pair of big plays in the second half to extend a 14-0 halftime lead in earning a 33-0 victory over SMSU last Saturday in Bemidji, Minn.
- BSU limited SMSU to 137 yards of offense, including 10 first downs and forced three turnovers. The Mustangs finished 3 for 11 on third-down conversions and 0 for 2 on fourth-down tries.
- Mustang starting quarterback Wyatt Oak completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 15 yards before leaving the game early in the second quarter with an injury. Kendon Krogman came on in relief and completed 4 of 15 for 26 yards and one interception.
- Jacob Honstetter led the SMSU rushing attack with 56 yards on 17 carries.
- The SMSU defense forced its first two turnovers of the season in contest with Parker Knutson recording his first career interception to close out the first half. Earlier in the game, Josiah Hedensten had a strip-sack that was recovered by Carter Schmitz.
- Hedensten racked up a game-high 10 tackles for the Mustangs, while Gideon Ervasti and Thomas Mergen each closed with five tackles.
OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
- Junior running back Jacob Honstetter has rushed for a team-high 168 yards on 30 carries through two games.
- Junior wide receiver Colin Maher has two receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown.
- Junior wide receiver Jake Anderson has caught a team-high four passes for 28 yards.
- Junior linebacker Gideon Ervasti and junior linebacker Josiah Hedensten both have amassed a team-high 16 tackles with Ervasti collecting 2.5 tackles for loss. Hedensten has one sack and has forced a pair of fumbles.
- Senior linebacker Thomas Mergen has also registered 16 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
- Redshirt freshman safety Parker Knutson recorded his first career interception in last week’s loss at Bemidji State.
- Senior wide receiver Cade Eddington recorded a career-high 30-yard rush last week.
- For the second straight season, the NSIC will not have a divisional format in football. Each team will play 10 NSIC games with five at home and five on the road.
SCOUTING CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
- Shannon Currier is in his second stint and 13th season overall (ninth season was canceled) as head coach at CSP with a record of 52-71. The program’s all-time leader in victories, Currier was head coach at CSP from 2000-03, before returning in 2016. He has a career record of 72-106 in his 18th season as a head coach including five seasons at Truman State (Mo.).
- CSP opened the season on Sept. 7 losing 33-7 at Upper Iowa before suffering a home loss to Winona State last Saturday, 31-14.
- WSU booted a field goal to close the first half to build a 17-14 advantage before scoring a pair of touchdowns in the second half. CSP rushed for 211 yards, including 6.4 per carry in the setback, but passes for just 91 yards.
- Sophomore quarterback Reed Styer started last week’s game and in two appearances this season has completed 18 of 33 pass attempts for 141 yards and one interception. He entered the season opener midway through the fourth quarter.
- Senior quarterback Conner Cordts started the season opener and completed 10 of 20 passes for 91 yards with three interceptions.
- Senior running back Jaylin Richardson has rushed for 198 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries. He gained 131 yards in last week’s loss to WSU.
- Senior wide receiver Peter Uboibok has caught six passes for 46 yards, while junior wide receiver Troy Ellison has four receptions for 51 yards.
- Senior linebacker Brayden Hilgemann has 12 tackles and the team’s lone interception.
- Senior safety Cyrus McClure has a team-leading 17 tackles.