Believe it or not, the mid point of the season is quickly arriving. Division play opens this week in the Northern Sun.

I think we are starting to figure out who teams are. The top three in the conference appear to be putting some distance between themselves, but anything can happen as we look to Week 5.

If you are trying to pick games in the Northern Sun this week, like I do, what you will find out is that this might be the toughest week of the season. There are a lot of really good matchups on this week's schedule.

St. Cloud State (4-0) at Minnesota Duluth (3-1)

It's the battle for top dog in the NSIC's North Division as the Huskies of St. Cloud State travel to Minnesota Duluth to face the Bulldogs. There are plenty of story lines in this one on Saturday, in what is the best of some very good games in the Northern Sun this week.

The last time the Bulldogs were at home, Minnesota State snatched a late victory at Maloski Stadium, and snapped the impressive NSIC home game winning streak the Bulldogs had built over the years. The facts are this, either one of the two remaining unbeatens gets beat on Saturday, or the Bulldogs lose for the second straight home game.

It does mark the second straight home game the Bulldogs have hosted a nationally ranked opponent in.

Sophomore running back Logan Lauters was terrific last week, in helping to lead the Bulldogs to the big win over Wayne State. Lauters rushed for a career best three touchdowns and 103 yards on just 11 carries. His 64-yard touchdown run in the second quarter put the Bulldogs up for good at 22-14.

The Bulldogs have lost two straight to St. Cloud. While the Huskies are coming off an impressive 31-6 beat down of Augustana. It seems like every week we talk about St. Cloud State Husky quarterback Phil Klaphake, and well that's because every week he deserves it. Assuming he runs for two yards on Saturday, he will become the first St. Cloud State quarterback and only the 8th player in program history to rush for 2,000 yards.

The Bulldogs have not thrown for a lot of yards on the season, and the fact that they do'nt pass too much will probably neutralize a little of the threat that the Huskies have in the defensive backfield. St. Cloud isn't quite as stout against the run as they are against the pass, with Marvin Matthews and last week's NSIC Defensive Player of the Week in Jack Moro in the defensive backfield if Bulldog quarterback Drew Bauer is forced to pass he we will challenged like never before.

It's hard to imagine Duluth losing two in a row at home, but its even harder to imagine that St. Cloud State losing. This should be a fun game on Saturday, I am going with the road dogs to get the win, I will take St. Cloud.

Extra Point: St. Cloud has won two straight in this series that goes back to 1933.


Upper Iowa (3-1) at Winona State (2-2)

For those who have never been to Fayette, Iowa it seems a world away from the hussle and bussle of some of the larger communities around the conference. Fayette would be one of the last towns in Iowa that you would think would house a university, much less one that competes in NCAA Divsion II athletics. What you find though, is that in fact, Upper Iowa University itself is one of the more scenic small campuses in the midwest, and you find an attitude that wants to grow this school into a major force in the Northern Sun.

After a 3-1 start you have to ask yourself have the Peacocks turned that corner. Well, I think after Saturday, we will have a good idea. I say that because Saturday's trip to Winona is one of those games. It is a game against one of their top rivals, off of an emotional win at home. If Upper Iowa finds a way to win this one, they are 4-1, winners of three straight games, and say the momentum grows, could find themselves with a big game for a Northern Sun South Division championship on the line in the final week of the regular season, hosting Minnesota State.

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. This Peacock squad is quite talented though. Cole Jaeschke is now Upper Iowa's all time passing yardage and touchdown leader, he overtook both records last week in the win over Mary. Not to mention, the team has another difference maker in the bakfield, in junior Chris Smith. His 187 yards last week put him over 2,000 for his career, and he has another year left. It's time to take note, NSIC South, Upper Iowa has arrived to the big time.

So is it safe to say, Saturday's game is maybe the biggest in their program's history since joining the NSIC? I think so. Especially when you consider that since 2007, Upper Iowa has never finished with more than three wins in football.

The Peacocks will be tested with a bigger more physical Winona State team, led by another explosive running back. Chichi Ojika, ran for 242 yards on Saturday and was appropriately awareded the NSIC's Offensive Player of the Week. Ojika will present some challenges for the improved Peacock defense. I expect coach Tom Sawyer to give the Peacocks a heavy dose of the ground attack.

If Upper Iowa can force the Warriors into a lot of third and longs, they can win the game, because assuming that Jack Nelson starts at quarterback again for Winona, they are proned to turnovers and sacks, and those types of plays could be game changes.

That said, it takes a lot to overcome the years of dominance that Winona has shown in games like this, I will take the Warriros, to pull off a victory on Saturday in Winona.



Wayne State (1-3) at Augsutana (2-2)

Through four weeks it appears Augustana is a much better team at home than they are on the road. The Vikings are 2-0 at home on the season, and 0-2 on the road. It's not just that simple fact though that points that out, they have outscored their opponents by 38 points in their two home wins, and have been outscored by 31 points in their two road losses.

So the good news for the Vikings is that they have six home games this season, and they are at home this week against Wayne State.

The Vikings will need to tighthen up their pass defense some this week. Wildcat receiver Tony Abraham did some damage last week against Duluth. Abraham caught four passes for 109 yards and two scores. Knowing where he is should be a concern for a secondary that has already given up 953 yards through the air in four games.

Augustana's running game will tell the story on Saturday though. So far the Vikings have been inconsistent on the ground, even with Dajon Newell. Newell is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry, and as a team, the Vikings are averaging just 2.9. That needs to improve for Augustana to get back into the upper eschelon of the Northern Sun.

The Wildcats have traditionally struggled to stop it, under Coach McLaughlin, and while they are showing some improvement this year, giving up 148 yards a game on the ground, there are still some problems. The Wildcats have given up 10 rushing touchdowns already, the same as Southwest Minnesota State, and only Crookston, Moorhead, and Northern State have given up more. Those three teams have a combined one win.

Further a concern for the Wildcats are the 43 points they gave up in the first half last week against Minnesota Duluth. True, Colby Ring did return an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter, even still that is way too many points for the Wildcats to allow.

I don't see Wayne State going on the road and winning at Augustana on Saturday, especially with all of their defensive struggles. The Vikings aren't the powerhouse they were a few years ago, but they are good enough to win on Saturday.


Minnesota State(4-0) at Concordia St. Paul (3-1)

It may have been a little premature to rank the Golden Bears a couple of weeks ago. Concordia was beaten handily that week by St. Cloud State, then survived last week in another sloppy rainy game in Moorhead.

Through four weeks the Mavericks look like the best team in the south division, their win in Duluth has earned them that.

Concordia's Tre Spears will have his work cut out for him this week if he hopes to run for 100 yards again for the fourth time in five games this season. Such a feat, and the Golden Bears may find themselves in the game on Saturday. An effective running game means that Concordia is keeping the ball away from Mankato, and without the ball Mavericks can't hurt them.

On the other side teams are having a tough time accounting for Maverick quarterback Jon Wolf, he continues to cause problems, Wolf rushed for 109 yards and two scores last week, as he went over 100 for the first time this season. He also was efficient completing 9 of 11 passes for 160 yards for a third touchdown.

Concordia has done it before, and their defense if any, could make a few big plays and knock Wolf and the Mavericks on their heels. I just am not going to predict it. I like the Mavericks.


The Rest of the Schedule

Bemidji State shouldn't have trouble finding their second straight win. This week they play on the road at Minnesota Crookston, the Eagles will remain winless.

Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls will be a battle Saturday, it will be cold and rainy in Marshall for homecoming. I like the Mustangs to get their second straight Homecoming victory. They should beat the Cougars.

Snow isn't out of the question Saturday in Bismarck, I like the University of Mary to win at home regardless of the condition. The Marauder offense is too strong for Minot's defense.

Northern State is a tough luck 1-3 on the season, the Wolves haven't been overly consistent on offense, yet I think on Saturday they will start to get hot, this team is very capable of winning the majority of their games in the North Division. I like Northern to open division play with a convincing victory over MSU Moorhead.