GAME OF THE WEEK

Concordia (Moorhead) (4-0, 2-0 MIAC) at St. Thomas (4-1, 2-0), 1:10 p.m., Saturday: The Cobbers, ranked No. 15 in the AFCA Division III poll, are the only unbeaten team in the MIAC. The Cobbers have allowed just 24 points in two conference games and lead the MIAC in rushing yards (271.5) per game. The Tommies, ranked No. 6, lead the MIAC in scoring (46.7 points per game). The Tommies, who are third in points allowed (14 per game), have allowed just 6 yards rushing in three MIAC games.

WEEK 6 STORY LINES

• The NSIC South Division has three unbeaten teams — MSU Mankato, Sioux Falls and Winona State. Two of those teams will meet on Saturday when Winona State (5-0, 1-0 NSIC South) travels to Sioux Falls, S.D. Winona State, ranked No. 25 in Division II, is off to its best start since 2003. Sioux Falls (5-0, 1-0 NSIC), which is ranked No. 7, is led by running back Max Mickey, who is second in Division II in rushing yards (873) and yards per game (174.6).

• Since the NSIC split into two divisions for football in 2008, Minnesota Duluth has won or shared all nine North Division titles. The Bulldogs, the North Division favorite in the NSIC preseason poll and ranked as high as No. 11 in Division II preseason polls, dropped out of the Top 25 after going 2-2 in the first four games. The Bulldogs (3-2 overall) opened NSIC North play with a 34-21 victory over St. Cloud State on Sept. 28. The Bulldogs' five opponents are a combined 19-6, with the Bulldogs' losses coming to MSU Mankato and Sioux Falls.

• Last season, Bethel won four of its last five games to finish 5-5 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC. The Royals (1-4, 1-2 MIAC) will have to repeat that performance this season to avoid their first losing season since 1993. Bethel coach Steve Johnson, who is in his 29th season, went into the season No. 4 in victories among active Division III coaches. He has 203 career victories.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nate Huot, WR, SW Minnesota State: The senior from Dawson, Minn., became the NSIC's career leader in receptions last week. In 38 career games, Huot has 216 receptions (the previous NSIC record was 210) for 2,817 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Andrew Spencer, DB, Winona State: The senior from Lake Villa, Ill., leads the NSIC with five interceptions and is sixth in solo tackles (27). Spencer returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a five-minute span to spark the Warriors' to a 37-7 victory over Upper Iowa last week.

BY THE NUMBERS

32 Consecutive victories at home by Minnesota Duluth against NSIC North Division foes.

34 Career TDs for Chad Johnson of Concordia (Moorhead). With his next TD, he will become the school's all-time leader.

46 Career FGs (a school record) for Winona State kicker Carter McCauley. He kicked three in the Warriors' victory over Upper Iowa.

7,166 Career passing yards (a school record) by MSU Moorhead senior Demetrius Carr.

Joel Rippel