area college update

GAME OF THE WEEK

Winona State (5-2, 3-0 NSIC South) at MSU Mankato (7-0, 3-0), 1 p.m. Saturday

The teams are tied for the lead in the NSIC South Division. Winona State has won five consecutive games since opening the season with back-to-back losses (to Bemidji State and St. Cloud State). Last week, the Warriors outlasted Wayne State 45-41. MSU Mankato, which has won 18 consecutive regular-season games and is ranked No. 1 in Div. II, is coming off a 52-27 victory over SW Minnesota State. The Mavericks have won the past two meetings.

WEEK 8 STORY LINES

Trying to keep pace: With St. John's (6-1, 4-1 MIAC) idle this week, Concordia (Moorhead) will have a chance to move into a tie for second place in the MIAC standings. The Cobbers (5-1, 3-1), who are ranked No. 22 in the d3football.com poll, play host to Augsburg (4-2, 3-2). The Cobbers' only loss is to MIAC-leading Bethel.

No. 2 in Div. II: SW Minnesota State running back Tyler Tonderum is second in the Div. II in rushing (1,236 yards) and rushing yards per game (176.6). Tonderum, a 5-10 junior from Armstrong, Iowa, was primarily a kick returner in his first two seasons for the Mustangs and rushed for 16 yards in his first two seasons.

Huskies tough at home: St. Cloud State, which is ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Div. II poll, plays three of its final four games at home. The Huskies (6-1, 2-1 NSIC North), who are 3-0 at home this season, play host to Northern State on Saturday. After playing at Bemidji State on Nov. 2, the Huskies close out the regular season with home games against Minot State and MSU Moorhead.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jeffrey Dubose, RB, Gustavus Adolphus: The 5-9 senior from St. Croix Lutheran H.S. is second in the MIAC in rushing with 845 yards. Last week he rushed for 196 yards and three TDs in the Gusties' 42-21 victory over Valley City State. Dubose now has a school-record 38 career TDs.

Jack Nelson, QB, Winona State: The 6-4 freshman from Byron, Minn., is second in the NSIC in passing yards per game (287.8) and total offense (304.3). Nelson passed for 347 yards (a school record for a freshman) and five TDs in Winona State's 45-41 victory over Wayne State.

BY THE NUMBERS

4 Victories in the past 15 NSIC games for Minnesota-Crookston since ending a 39-game losing streak in the NSIC. Minnesota-Crookston defeated MSU Moorhead 20-14 last Saturday.

13.8 Rushing yards per carry (a school record) for St. Scholastica RB Jake Jensen in the Saints' 48-14 victory over Martin Luther last Saturday. Jensen, a senior from South St. Paul, rushed for 179 yards (and three TDs) in 13 carries.

32 Victories (in 34 games) for Minnesota Duluth against NSIC North Division foes since the NSIC went to divisional play in 2008.

JOEL RIPPEL