There's quite a shakeup in this week's power rankings. Some teams are showing some vulnerability while others are starting to step up with less than a month remaining. With no further ado, here is this week's rankings.
1. #2 UM-Duluth 8-0 (7-0 NSIC) (-)
PG - W vs. Mary 49-0
LG - W @ Northern State 27-7
UG - vs. #20 St. Cloud State (7-1)
Note - The final score is a little deceiving for the Northern State game because the Bulldogs rushed for 431 yards...however, turnovers are starting to become a problem. The Bulldogs fumbled the ball five times against the Wolves, losing four of them. One thing I will say is the Bulldogs probably played about as poorly as they could've played and still won by 20 points (27 if you consider NSU scored a somewhat late, meaningless touchdown). I'd say if there was a good week to have a mulligan, it would be this past week because we all know St. Cloud State will not be a gimme on Saturday.
2. #8 Augustana 8-0 (7-0 NSIC) (-)
PG - W @ Winona State 17-0
LG - W @ MSU-Moorhead 47-17
UG - vs. MSU-Mankato (5-3)
Note - I don't think it will take many people to scratch their heads and wonder what happened during last week's game in Moorhead. In case your wondering, MSU-Moorhead had a 17-7 lead in the 2nd quarter at one point. After that point, the Vikings went on a 40-0 run to end up dominating the game. Did Augustana overlook the Dragons? Maybe...however, at least they didn't do what Bemidji State did...let the Dragons hang around and then only win by one score. During that 2nd quarter, the Vikings woke up and turned on the afterburners. The one major concern in this game was Josh Hanson. He threw four interceptions this last Saturday, which was very uncharacteristic of him. He better shore things up this week because if you throw four interceptions against the Mavericks defense, you might not win that game. With the way the Mavericks are playing, I'd want to bring my A-game this week.
3. #20 St. Cloud State 7-1 (7-0 NSIC) (-)
PG - W vs. SW Minnesota State 24-6
LG - W vs. UM-Crookston 49-6
UG - @ #2 UM-Duluth (8-0)
Note - I know what a lot of you are probably thinking, why didn't St. Cloud State beat UM-Crookston by 70!? Well, considering they had a 49-6 lead through 33 minutes of play, I think it was best for them to just slow things down and not run up the score. Reading the stat line itself was funny because QB Phillip Klaphake was the team's leading rusher and passer. He completed 8-of-14 passes for 109 yards with a TD and a pick and rushed the ball 10 times for 136 yards with 3 TDs. It's kinda funny considering Klaphake didn't play the whole game. Then again, should we be surprised? This is Crookston we are talking about. I'm sure the Huskies might have wanted to save some effort and health for the game up in Duluth. The Huskies need to be healthy and be playing their best if they want to come out with a big win in Duluth.
4. Winona State 5-3 (4-3 NSIC) (+2)
PG - L vs. #8 Augustana 17-0
LG - W @ Concordia-St. Paul 31-28
UG - @ SW Minnesota State (4-4)
Note - Just when we thought the Warriors looked dead in the water, they seemed to have sprung new life...and it all begins at the quarterback position. This past week against Concordia-St. Paul, Winona State decided to make a change and started redshirt freshman Bryan Bradshaw at quarterback. It was a smart move because Bradshaw completed 15-of-22 passes for 202 yards. However, the one aspect of his game that showed some promise was his ability to run the ball. Sure, he only had six yards rushing, but that was due to getting sacked three times on a day where the line did not pass block very well. He ran for a few first downs and also plunged in from a yard out for a TD. The nice thing about Bradshaw is when things break down, he takes off and runs for first downs. The other aspect about the game I liked is the Warriors did not give up on the run. After that first half, you'd think the Warriors would give up on it but they didn't and it paid off. The Warriors better not celebrate this win too higly because they got the Mustangs coming up...and the last time they played out in Marshall, they lost.
5. Concordia-St. Paul 5-3 (4-3 NSIC) (-1)
PG - W @ Wayne State 17-14
LG - L vs. Winona State 31-28
UG - @ UM-Crookston (1-7)
Note - It was a tough loss at home for the Golden Bears but one thing they can tip their hat on is that they lost to a tough team at home that was desperate for a win. The Golden Bears had their opportunities in this game but some dumb mistakes and poor special teams play led to the Golden Bears demise. The Golden Bears' kicker Steven King had a 36 yard FG blocked before half and backup kicker T.G. Schoenberg missed a 26 yarder in the 3rd quarter. One thing we can say about Concordia is their offense played really well on Saturday. Spencer Ohm completed 16-of-30 passes for 295 yards and 3 TDs. Most of his passes went Charles Gilbert's way, catching five passes for 119 yards, although Ohm did a nice job of spreading the ball around. Running back Sam Campbell had a good day on the ground with 20 carries for 93 yards and a TD. The good news for Concordia is they'll get a good rebound game with a lack of a challenge in Crookston, MN this week.
6. MSU-Mankato 5-3 (4-3 NSIC) (+1)
PG - W vs. Upper Iowa 48-14
LG - W @ Wayne State 13-3
UG - @ #8 Augustana (8-0)
Note - I have to tip my hat to the Mavericks because they've turned things around in a hurry. Three weeks ago, they lost their third consecutive game to St. Cloud State. The past two weeks, they've rebounded with big wins, the biggest being a 10 point win in Wayne, NE. The Mavericks defense stunned the high-flying Wayne State offense, holding them to three points and 170 yards of total offense. Sure, injuries to the Wildcats receiving core didn't help, but holding Evan Johnson to only 10-of-26 passing for 63 yards and an interception is an outstanding effort. With the way the Mavericks are playing, I have to believe that they will give Augustana all that they can handle because this team is still playing for a potential Mineral Water Bowl. We sure didn't think they would three weeks ago.
7. Wayne State 5-3 (4-3 NSIC) (-2)
PG - L vs. Concordia-St. Paul 17-14
LG - L vs. MSU-Mankato 13-3
UG - @ Upper Iowa (1-7)
Note - Just when it looked like Wayne State could solidify their playoff chances with home wins against Concordia-St. Paul and MSU-Mankato, they drop the ball and end up losing the two consecutive home games. Suddenly, the Wildcats drop from playoff contender to Mineral Water Bowl hopeful. That's quite a drop that I'm sure that the Wildcats were expecting, but that's why you have to show up every week in the NSIC. You just never know who is going to beat you on any given Saturday. All-in-all, the Wildcats are a wreck. In the last two weeks, they've averaged 8.5 PPG and only tallied 216.5 YPG of total offense. Before these last two weeks, the team was averaging 36.1 PPG and 412 YPG...that should be a sign of just how "off" the Wayne State offense has been the last two weeks. They travel to Fayette this week and if they don't get things turned around in a hurry, they could be looking at a third consecutive loss.
8. Bemidji State 5-3 (4-3 NSIC) (-1)
PG - W @ MSU-Moorhead 14-6
LG - W vs. Mary 23-22
UG - vs. Northern State (1-7)
Note - Bemidji State's last two wins have been far from impressive. They won 14-6 over a MSU-Moorhead team that they should've blown out and they followed it up with a field goal with 26 seconds left to win 23-22 over Mary. I can tell you that it's a bad sign when you're almost losing to teams like MSU-Moorhead and Mary. However, a win is a win and I'm sure the Beavers will take wins no matter how they come. However, the Beavers need to figure things out because they've got Northern State this week and considering how the Wolves have played against bigger competition, this could be a trap game for the Beavers. Northern State might be 1-7 but they are better than their record indicates and if they come away with a win in Bemidji, it would be an embarrassment for the Beavers.
9. SW Minnesota State 4-4 (3-4 NSIC) (-)
PG - L @ St. Cloud State 24-6
LG - W @ Upper Iowa 40-34
UG - vs. Winona State (5-3)
Note - I don't know what I can say about the Mustangs. A great gutsy win against the Peacocks? It's kind of hard to say that considering the Peacocks have been a horrible team all season...but is it? I said it all season that the Mustangs do a good job of winning in games they are favored in. They were in a back and forth battle against the Peacocks where there were eight lead changes and two ties (both coming in the 4th quarter. Their four wins this year are against Northern State, Mary, MSU-Moorhead and Upper Iowa, who have combined for five wins. This week, the Mustangs host a team that has five wins themselves and considering the win they got this past week, I'm sure the Warriors will come in fired up to take on the Mustangs. A win against the Warriors is a tall order but if they do pick up a win, it would be a great step in the right direction for the Mustangs.
10. MSU-Moorhead 2-6 (2-5 NSIC) (-)
PG - L vs. Bemidji State 14-6
LG - L vs. #8 Augustana 47-17
UG - @ U-Mary (1-7)
Note - I'm sure MSU-Moorhead can be happy that they played a great first quarter against the Augustana Vikings. Too bad they couldn't follow up that quarter with three more good ones because they got slaughtered 47-7 in the last three quarters. Then again, I'm sure no one expected the Dragons to compete anyway, but to have the lead over Augustana for more than a quarter was impressive in itself. However, the problem for the Dragons has been their problem all season. They can't stop the run and they can't run the ball themselves. They got outrushed by the Vikings 279-to-20. That would play a huge factor considering both teams combined for seven interceptions. I thought about dropping the Dragons a spot this week but due holding the lead for 26 minutes against the #8 team in the country, I'll cut them some slack. Besides, their battle with Mary this week will be the true deciding factor for who the #10 team in the NSIC is.
11. Mary 1-7 (1-6 NSIC) (-)
PG - L @ #2 UM-Duluth 49-0
LG - L @ Bemidji State 23-22
UG - vs. MSU-Moorhead (2-6)
Note - Boy, I'm sure the Marauders are kicking themselves right about now. They let another close game slip by. Mary had a 22-20 lead with 2:06 to go and had the Beavers pinned back on their 2-yard-line. What happened? The Beavers went on an 11-play 89-yard drive in 1:45 to end up kicking the game winning 26-yard field goal with 26 seconds left to win the game. I'm starting to feel bad for Mary because this is not the first game the Marauders had slip out of their fingers. Just two weeks prior to this game, Mary had Wayne State dead to rights with less than two minutes left and they let the Wildcats go on to win on a last minute touchdown drive. All-in-all, Mary needs to learn how to finish ball games and play stout defense late in the game. This team should be no worse than 3-5 right now, but they are 1-7. I have a feeling they'll get a win this week at home against MSU-Moorhead but I still think it will be a tough game.
12. Northern State 1-7 (1-6 NSIC) (-)
PG - W @ UM-Crookston 38-0
LG - L vs. #2 UM-Duluth 27-7
UG - @ Bemidji State (5-3)
Note - One thing I will give the Wolves credit for is they are feisty. We should give them a lot of credit for only holding the Bulldogs to 27 points because they are a team that can put up a lot of points in a hurry. Even though they allowed the Bulldogs to rush for 431 yards, they still forced five fumbles, four of which they recovered. Let's put this into perspective, in seven games, the Bulldogs only committed five turnovers. In this game, they committed four turnovers. That's some nice ball hawking play from the Wolves to force the Bulldogs to do that. This is a smart, disciplined football team they were playing...they don't have too many letdowns. Give credit where credit is due, they didn't allow UMD to come into their house and run up the score. With that being said, they go on the road this week to take on Bemidji State. With the way the Beavers are playing, I can definitely foresee the Wolves going into Bemidji and coming away with a victory.
13. Upper Iowa 1-7 (1-6 NSIC) (-)
PG - L @ MSU-Mankato 48-14
LG - L vs. SW Minnesota State 40-34
UG - vs. Wayne State (5-3)
Note - Well, let me just say one thing about the Peacocks...they played way better in this game than they did in Mankato the week before. However, just like a large sum of Upper Iowa's games this season, this team just doesn't finish. They scored with just under two minutes to go to take a 34-27 lead and it looked like the Peacocks just might get their second win of the season. However, the defense and special teams faltered yet again. After getting the ball on their own 47-yard-line, the Mustangs went on a five-play 53-yard drive to make it a 34-34 game going into overtime. After failing to score on their first possession of OT, the Peacock defense folded like a lawn chair, allowing a nine-yard touchdown run in a 40-34 loss. It's just been the story of the Peacocks season...they just can't finish games. If there's any consolation this week, they are facing a Wayne State team that's struggling.
14. UM-Crookston 1-7 (0-7 NSIC)
PG - L vs. Northern State 38-0
LG - L @ St. Cloud State 49-6
UG - vs. Concordia-St. Paul (5-3)
Note - I don't even know why I write anything about the Golden Eagles. To be honest, they've been worse than what I expected them to be and let's just say I didn't set the bar very high for them. I thought they MIGHT get one conference win this year...if they were lucky. They haven't even been close to a win this season. The only thing I can give them credit for is they got off to a good start against St. Cloud State...they led 6-0 for just over 13 minutes. The next 17 didn't go very well for the Golden Eagles because they found themselves down 35-6 at halftime. That's been the story of the Eagles season...they might look okay right away in the game but as the game goes on, they just seemed completely outmanned and outmatched. I think we can all just write-in that the Golden Eagles will not win a conference game this season and in a sense, hope that everybody beats them by 40+ the rest of the way just so they will think about undergoing some changes in their athletic department and coaching staff.
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