Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State University football returns to the confines of Swisher Field this Saturday for the annual Blackout Cancer Game sponsored by Sanford Health. In addition, Northern Athletics collaborates with Northwestern Mutual of Aberdeen to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. between the Wolves and the University of Sioux Falls.
 
QUICK HITS ON THE NORTHERN STATE WOLVES

• Northern State returns to Swisher Field after an exciting double overtime victory at Wayne State last weekend; as Hunter Trautman connected with Colten Drageset for the game winning touchdown
• The Wolves are currently 4-3 on the year and are on the hunt for their first home victory of 2019
• NSU is averaging 16.9 points, 136.0 yards rushing, 201.6 yards passing, and 337.6 yards of total offense per game this season
• Defensively they are holding their opponents to 24.4 points, 132.4 yards rushing, 199.1 yards passing, and 331.6 yards of total offense per game
• The NSU defense ranks fourth in the NSIC in opponent third down conversions, holding their foes to just 29-of-101
• Isaiah Cherrier returned to the field for the Wolves last weekend and leads the team with 467 yards rushing in 2019, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 77.8 yards per game with three touchdowns
• Hunter Trautman recorded his first 300-yard game of the season versus the Wildcats, passing for 1,397 total yards in 2019; he is averaging 199.6 yards passing per game with seven touchdowns

• Dakota Larson leads the receivers with 501 total yards this season, averaging 14.7 yards per reception and 71.6 yards per game with three touchdowns
• Payton Eue had quite the game versus WSC going a perfect 3-for-3 in field goal attempts with a career long of 41-yards; he is averaging 31.9 yards per punt and 55.9 yards per kickoff this season
• Chance Olson leads the Wolves defense with 38 total tackles and six pass break-ups
• Preston Droessler follows close behind with 37 tackles including 3.0 tackles for a loss and a time high two forced fumbles
• Zach Bohnenkamp and Hunter Hansen lead the defense with two interceptions apiece, while Jacob Howard is the lone Wolf to record multiple sacks

 
MATCHING UP WITH THE COUGARS

• Sioux Falls enters the weekend with a 5-2 record overall and 3-0 mark versus the NSIC North with victories over UMary, Minnesota Crookston, and Minnesota Duluth
• The Cougars are averaging 34.3 points, 216.7 yards rushing, 222.6 yards passing, and 439.6 yards of total offense per game; while holding their opponents to 13.9 points, 65.6 yards rushing, 140.0 yards passing, and 205.6 yards of total offense per game this season
• USF currently leads the NSIC in total defense and passing defense thus far in 2019
• Thuro Reisdorfer and Ja'Tai Jenkins lead the rushing attack with 577 and 438 total yards this season; Reisdorfer is averaging 81.9 yards per game with eight touchdowns, while Jenkins is averaging 60.3 yards per game with two touchdowns
• Caden Walters has thrown for 1,499 total yards, averaging 214.1 yards per game with 11 touchdowns; he also has 279 yards rushing with seven touchdowns
• Nate Johnson and Karnell Collier lead the receivers with 542 and 433 yards respectively; Johnson is averaging 15.9 yards per reception and 77.4 yards per game with five touchdowns, while Collier is averaging 14.9 yards per reception and 61.9 yards per game with one touchdown
• Brody Grantham leads the defense with 37 total tackles, including 5.0 tackles for a loss of 12 yards
• Harvey Enall is second on the defense with 29 total tackles, however leads USF with 4.5 sacks for a loss of 25 yards and three fumble recoveries
• Ryan Nieman leads the secondary with three interceptions and is fourth on the team with 24 tackles
• Sioux Falls is led by head coach Jon Anderson in his third season at the helm

 
LAST MATCH-UP

• The two teams last faced off in 2017, with the then No. 9 Cougars defeating the Wolves 37-7

• Sioux Falls took an early 30-point lead in the first half, however the Wolves were able to hold the Cougars to just one touchdown in the final 30 minutes of play
• Olson led the defense in the game with nine tackles and one forced fumble
• Northern is 10-5 all-time versus Sioux Falls, having gone 10-2 prior to the Cougars joining the NSIC in 2013

 
A SEASON AGO

• Northern State went 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC North a season ago, while the Cougars went 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC South in 2018