We Meet Again
This week is the 114th meeting between North Dakota State and North Dakota dating back to 1894. It is the 10th most played rivalry among current Football Championship Subdivision members. UND has a 62-48-3 lead in the all-time series, but NDSU has won all three meetings as Division I opponents in 2015, 2019 and 2021, all in Fargo. This is NDSU’s first trip to Grand Forks since 2003, the last season of Division II football for the Bison. 

Saturday, Oct. 2
*#16/16 Missouri St. at RV Illinois St., 1 p.m. CT (Marquee/E+)
*#5/5 NDSU at #10/11 UND, 2 p.m. CT (ABC ND/Midco/E+)
*Indiana State at RV South Dakota, 2 p.m. CT (ESPN3)
*#7/7 Southern Illinois at Western Illinois, 3 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
*Youngstown State at #15/13 UNI, 4 p.m. CT (PSN/ESPN+)
Dixie State at #2/3 South Dakota St., 6 p.m. CT (Midco/ESPN+)
     Top-25 designations list Stats Perform poll first, followed by the AFCA Coaches rankings.  RV = receiving votes.  *Designates MVFC game.

Weekly Notebook (PDF)



6 MVFC Teams in Top 25
The Missouri Valley Football Conference continues to dominate the Top 25 rankings, with six teams in both the Stats Perform and AFCA FCS top-25 polls.  South Dakota State, ranked No. 2 in the Stats Perform poll this week, leads the way for MVFC schools.

In a Zone
Three league schools rank in the Top 6 nationally in Red Zone Defense.  North Dakota State ranks second by allowing just one score on four opponent trips into its Red Zone.  South Dakota State is fifth at 50 percent (3 TD, 1 FG on 8 trips), while UND is next allowing only five scores (3 TD, 2 FG) in nine opponent Red Zone opportunities.

Ground Gains
Led by national leader North Dakota State, three MVFC schools rank in the Top 8 nationally in rushing yards per game.  NDSU averages 348.3 yards per game on the ground, while Youngstown State (5th, 272.0) and South Dakota State (8th, 265.3) are also among the FCS best through Sept. 25.

What a Rush
Jaleel McLaughlin of Youngstown State ranks second national in rushing yards per game, averaging 137.3 for the Penguins.  Pierre Strong Jr. of South Dakota State is 5th-best in the FCS (132.7 ypg).

Dominant Defenses
South Dakota State recorded a shutout against Indiana State this past week, and the Jackrabbits now are one of three MVFC schools to rank in the Top 6 in the FCS nationally in scoring defense.  NDSU has yielded just 4.3 points per game in its first three wins this year to rank No. 2 nationally, while SDSU (4th, 10.0) and UNI (6th, 11.7) also represent the MVFC.

Scoring Offense
Led by South Dakota State’s 46.0 scoring average, three MVFC schools rank among the national leaders by scoring 40.0 or more points per game.  SDSU’s average ranks 8th best nationally.  NDSU is right behind as the Bison average 42.3 points to rank 9th.  SIU is 14th in the FCS at 40.0 points per game.

On Purpose
Four MVFC student-athletes rank in the Top 11 nationally for all-purpose yards.  Youngstown State’s Jaleel McLaughlin leads the league and ranks second nationally as he averages 169.0 yards per game.  Dennis Houston of WIU is 5th (153.8), Luke Skokna of UND is 9th (145.0), and Pierre Strong Jr. of SDSU is 11th (143.0).  Houston leads the FCS in a host of receiving categories, including total yards per game, total receptions, total receptions per game, and he ranks second in the FCS in receiving TDs.

Comeback Kids
After YSU’s Jaleel McLaughlin went 35 yards for a score with 1:29 remaining in the first half, Western Illinois trailed Youngstown State, 35-7.  The Leathernecks scored the next 31 to win 38-35.  The 28-point deficit to win was the biggest comeback in a league game in MVFC history, surpassing the previous record of 23 (set by Western Illinois in 1988).

Jacks Blank Indiana State
SDSU shut out Indiana State, 44-0, on Sept. 25, marking the 46th shutout in MVFC history (in conference games) and the third recorded by SDSU in league play -- SDSU’s first league shutout was also against Indiana State (41-0 in 2009).

Dominant in the Massey Ratings
All 11 MVFC schools are ranked in the top 30 of the Massey Ratings.  South Dakota State leads the league (and the nation), and the Jacks are one of six MVFC schools in the Top 11.  Four league teams are in the Top 7.

Breaking Loose
Freshman running back Cole Mueller has found a way to make things happen with the ball in his hands in the open field so far this season. The Wentzville, Missouri, native broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run in the opener against Butler on way to 111 yards rushing and followed that up with a career-high 144 yards rushing to help the Redbirds pick up a rivalry win over Eastern Illinois. Then last week at Southern Illinois, he averaged 6.2 yards per carry with a 40-yard burst. He’s currently averaging 8.3 yards per carry, which ranks him No. 5 in the country and No. 2 in the MVFC.

Picks a Plenty
For the second time this season, Illinois State picked off a pair of passes in their contest at Southern Illinois with both coming from Redbird linebackers. The first was by Shanon Reid just before halftime and the second was by Kenton Wilhoit, the second in his career. The two interceptions upped the Redbird total to six so far in 2021, which ranks the squad No. 10 in the country and second in the MVFC behind North Dakota State with seven total.

Shanon Showing Out
Last spring, linebacker Shanon Reid was still finding his way during a shortened season for the Redbirds. Heading into this fall, he figured to be a big part of the Redbird defense’s success and his performance in the last two contests is certainly proving that. In the win over Eastern Illinois, Reid posted 10 tackles to tie for the team lead and then followed that performance up with a career-best 15-tackle effort at Southern Illinois with an interception. He currently leads the Redbirds with 36 total stops on the season, averaging 9.0 stops per contest.

No Stopping Inoke
Inoke Moala ran his tackle-for-loss streak to five consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2019 season as the redshirt senior picked up an early TFL in the first quarter on Saturday afternoon against South Dakota State. The Mishawaka, Ind. native leads the Sycamores with 6.5 tackles for loss through the first four games of the season and sits among the MVFC leaders in the category, as well as in total sacks on the year. Moala continues to press the opposition at the point of attack this year as he continues the streak that started in the 2019 season finale against Missouri State when he picked up a sack/TFL. His ability to get into the backfield will be key to the Sycamores’ defensive efforts the rest of the way as he leads a unit that boasts 27.0 TFL and nine sacks in the 2021 season.

Rontrez Streaking
Much has been made about Dante Hendrix’s 22-game reception streak and rightly so, but Rontrez Morgan has quietly put together a streak of his own as the senior wide receiver has recorded receptions in every game he’s lined up in dating back to the 2018 season. Morgan recorded multiple catches in all five games he lined up in the 2019 season and has continued that trend through the first four games in 2021, including a nine-catch contest earlier this season at Northwestern. Morgan has already eclipsed his single-season high with 22 catches this season and paces the Sycamores with 173 receiving yards on the year. He added three catches for 31 yards to his totals this past weekend against South Dakota State.

Double-Digit Mike
Michael Thomas opened the season with a double-digit tackle night against Eastern Illinois. After ranking second on the Sycamores in tackles in each of the last two contests, Thomas was back atop the team leaderboard with 10 more stops against South Dakota State as the redshirt junior safety continues to excel as the starting free safety. The Corona, Calif., native has been among the conference’s top defensive backs since making the position shift in the 2019 season from wide receiver and currently leads the Sycamores in tackles (31) and interceptions (2), while adding two more pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. 

Fourth-Quarter Comebacks
The Bears have now amassed five fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victories under head coach Bobby Petrino. Saturday’s 31-23 victory over South Dakota featured 14 fourth-quarter points for Missouri State, including the go-ahead 5-yard touchdown pass from Jason Shelley to Kevon Latulas with 13:02 remaining. Both of Missouri State’s victories this fall have been fourth-quarter comebacks, while three of the club’s five wins in the spring were the come-from-behind variety.

Shelley Sets Standard
Bears QB Jason Shelley became the first Missouri State signal caller on record to post three straight 200-yard passing games to start a season when he passed for 281 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s MVFC opener against South Dakota. The Utah State transfer has also thrown 109 passes without an interception to start the season, which is also believed to be a Missouri State record.  NDSU’s Trey Lance established an FCS record by attempting 287 passes in 2019 with no picks.

Great Debut
North Dakota’s offense got a little deeper versus Drake as Isaiah Smith made his Fighting Hawk debut and rushed for 125 yards, becoming the second student-athlete in the Hawks Division I history to rush for 100+ in his collegiate debut. Jack Wright, who had previously played at Idaho State and Utah State, led UND with 53 receiving yards on three catches.

Home Sweet Dome
In the last four seasons, the Alerus Center has been a fortress for the Fighting Hawks, posting an 8-1 record against nationally-ranked opponents with a 1-1 mark against top-5 teams. No. 4 Weber State in 2018 is the sole ranked team to defeat UND at the Alerus Center, escaping with a 35-30 victory.

A Return to Grand Forks
A showdown 18 years in the making; No. 10 North Dakota and rival No. 5 North Dakota State will meet on Saturday, Oct. 2 in Grand Forks for the first time since 2003 to open MVFC play.   The UND win in its last game extended its home-opener unbeaten streak to an FCS-best 36-straight while also winning its 12th consecutive home game, the third-longest active streak in FCS.

Rolling Into Conference Play
North Dakota State enters conference play undefeated for the 10th time in the past 11 years after sweeping through its non-conference schedule with a 3-0 record against Albany, Valparaiso and Towson. The Bison are 32-1 in their pre-conference games since 2011 with the only loss coming in the 2015 season opener at 12th-ranked Montana, 38-35. NDSU has won 10 straight Missouri Valley Football Conference openers since 2011 and the Bison are 10-3 in conference openers since joining the MVFC in 2008. North Dakota State is 5-3 when opening MVFC play on the road.

On the Road
North Dakota State has a 44-5 record in true road games since 2011, and that record is 54-5 including 10 neutral site games over the same span. NDSU’s 2-2 road record in the spring season of 2020-21 was the first time since 2010 the Bison have lost multiple road games. This week, the Bison take on a North Dakota team that has won 12 straight home games.

Back-To-Back Road Games
North Dakota State has back-to-back road games on the schedule twice this season, including this week’s game at North Dakota. The Bison won back-to-back road trips in conference play five straight seasons before splitting its only back-to-back road trips last year losing 38-14 at Southern Illinois before bouncing back to beat Missouri State 25-0.

34-Straight After Open Weeks
North Dakota State has won 34 straight games after open weeks in the regular season and postseason including last year’s 23-20 win at Northern Iowa. The streak includes 19 home games, seven road games and eight national championship games in Frisco, Texas.

Turnovers a Key for Panthers
Benny Sapp III has three picks, and his per-game average (1.0) leads the nation.  Notably, the Panther defense has made turnovers a priority this season, recovering five fumbles, ranking 8th in the nation, and recording six interceptions, 10th best in the nation.  The UNI defense forced 6 turnovers at Sacramento State. The last time UNI forced 6 turnovers was Sept 8, 2012 when the #7 Panthers beat DII Central State 56-0.

Up Next .. Penguins
UNI hosts Youngstown State for Homecoming. The Panthers are 24-9 against the Penguins. UNI shut out Youngstown 21-0 in the teams’ last meeting in Ohio this spring.

National Attention
MLB Spencer Cuvelier recorded a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries while leading the team with 15 tackles against Sacramento State to earn MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honors as well as Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week.

It’s Dakota Days Week
South Dakota hosts Indiana State in its annual Dakota Days (homecoming) game Saturday inside the DakotaDome. South Dakota blanked Indiana State 38-0 in its last Dakota Days game back in 2019 and have won 15 of its last 19 homecoming contests (four in a row).

Eliodor To the House
Wesley Eliodor’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Saturday against Missouri State was the program’s first such score in 13 seasons. Bob Koch is the only player in program history to return two kickoffs for scores, and did so in the same season in 1968.

Rankings Streak
By being ranked second in this week’s Stats Perform FCS poll, SDSU has now appeared in the top 25 of 122 consecutive media polls dating back to October 2012.  
The Jackrabbits’ third-place preseason showing matched the highest in program history (2018, 2019).
 
Beef Bowl
SDSU is home to the original Beef Bowl, and the event celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 2017.  The Beef Bowl was started as SDSU’s way of recognizing those individuals and firms involved in the beef industry in South Dakota.  Outside of Hobo Day, SDSU’s annual homecoming celebration, the Beef Bowl has consistently ranked second for home single-game attendance. More than 10,000 people have attended each of the last 15 Beef Bowls and 17 times overall.  In the 53 previous Beef Bowl games, South Dakota State holds a 32-21 record.
 
Wrapping Up Non-Con
The Jackrabbits, ranked second in the Stats Perform media poll and third by the Football Championship Subdivision coaches, enter their final nonconference game of the 2021 regular season with a 3-0 overall record. SDSU opened Missouri Valley Football Conference action last Saturday with a 44-0 drubbing of Indiana State.  Dixie State, which is in the second season of reclassifying to Division I, is in search of its first win of the year. The Trailblazers, who joined a newly reconfigured Western Athletic Conference, dropped to 0-3 following a 60-27 defeat at the hands of a nationally ranked UC Davis squad on Sept. 18.

Salukis Storm Back
Southern Illinois beat Illinois State last weekend, 35-17.  SIU scored all of its points in the game’s final 24 minutes erasing a 17-0 ISU lead. The win marked the first time since 2014 that SIU opened the MVFC season with a victory. It was only the Salukis’ second victory over the Redbirds in seven seasons. SIU’s 3-1 overall record matches its best four game W-L record since 2007. 

Williams Scores Again
Saluki RB Javon Williams scored his 33rd career TD and his 31st career rushing TD vs. Illinois State. He is in fourth place in career TDs at SIU, is tied for fourth in career rushing TDs and is ninth in career points scored with 198. Williams has averaged 6.8 points per game in his 29-game career. 

Seven More for Lenoir
WR Landon Lenoir raised his career receptions total to 167 and his career yards receiving total to 2,065 with 7 receptions for 86 yards vs. Illinois St. He is third all-time at SIU in career receptions, fourth in career receiving yards and tied for ninth in receiving touchdowns. His brother Lance (2013-16) is Western Illinois’ (SIU’s next opponent) all-time leader in pass receptions, receiving yardage, and receiving touchdowns. 

Up Next:  Western
Western Illinois leads the series, 36-24-4, thanks largely to 18 consecutive wins over the Salukis between 1984 and 2001. The pandemic riddled 2020-21 season marked the first time since 1981 that SIU and WIU did not meet in football. WIU won two of the last three meetings versus the Salukis with SIU’s win taking place in the last meeting in 2019 in Macomb. 

WIU Sets League Record
WIU grabbed its first win of the season at Youngstown State, 38-35, in a dramatic 28-point comeback victory.  The 28-point comeback victory was the biggest in both program and MVFC history. The previous record was 23 points in another Leatherneck performance decades ago when the team won 35-31 at Missouri State in 1988 after being down 31-8.

Limiting the Pass
Youngstown State’s 76 passing yards were the fewest given up by Western since the team allowed only 81 by Montana State in 2018.

First Things First
There were a couple of firsts for WIU during the win. Nathan Karsjens and Mason Sikes respectively scored the first receiving touchdowns of their careers. Wide receiver Tony Tate threw the first passing touchdown of his career -- a 12-yard find to Karsjens.

Nearing 6K Rushing
TB Jaleel McLaughlin has rushed for 5,840 yards in his collegiate career which spans a total of 38 games - 28 contests at Notre Dame (Ohio) and 10 at YSU.  In his two years at YSU, McLaughlin has rushed for 1,103 yards in those 10 contests. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in seven of his last eight contests. In 28 games at Notre Dame, he had 24 100-yard performances.

JM With 3 TDs
TB Jaleel McLaughlin had three rushing scores against Western Illinois. McLaughlin scored on runs of three, 10 and 35 yards against the Leathernecks on Saturday night. He became the first YSU player since Tevin McCaster to score three TDs in a game. McCaster had three rushing scores against UNI in November 2018. It was a career-high for McLaughlin who in just 10 career games has 10 rushing TDs. In just three games this fall, he has five touchdowns, equaling his seven-game total of the spring season.

Topping Spring Totals
Through just three games, a bunch of Penguins have nearly eclipsed their spring tackle numbers. SS Jordan White has 21 tackles while DB D’Marco Augustin has 19 stops. In the spring, White and Augustin each had 16 tackles. This fall, White has 13 solo stops and eight assisted stops while Augustin has eight solos and 11 assists. New faces Natavious Payne (10), Gage Salyers (eight), Devin Johnson (eight), Andres Lehrman (seven) and Chris Fitzgerald (six) all have career highs as well. Payne moved from wide receiver in the fall and is now playing corner.