Week 11 Chat

[IceBoxDragon]

How are we feeling about the games this week?

• Winona State at Southwest Minnesota State
• Northern State at Wayne State
• Minnesota-Duluth at Concordia-St. Paul
• Mary at Minnesota State-Mankato
• Bemidji State at Minnesota State-Moorhead
• Sioux Falls at Augustana

For Dragons Vs. Beavers, this will be the 75th Battle for the Axe, which was first played for in1948. Minnesota State-Moorhead leads the trophy record 38-33-3. All time, the two have been playing since 1929, and MSUM leads the overall series 47-39-3, making this the 90th game overall between the Dragons and Beavers.

[WSUWarriorFan]

Winona and Southwest will be battling for the sledge this weekend. Someone even created a twitter page for the Sledge which hasn't posted since 2016. There a sentence I never thought I'd type out.

[laker]

Winona and Southwest will be battling for the sledge this weekend. Someone even created a twitter page for the Sledge which hasn't posted since 2016. There a sentence I never thought I'd type out.

I'd like to go there to leave a comment to see if a ghost answers.

[IceBoxDragon]

Winona and Southwest will be battling for the sledge this weekend. Someone even created a twitter page for the Sledge which hasn't posted since 2016. There a sentence I never thought I'd type out.

Ah that's right, so that's three rivalry games. I was saying last year on here that it would be a cool idea to have a rivalry weekend for the conference. Wouldn't have to be the last weekend or anything, maybe in October for example, but just a day where the whole conference has something extra on the line.

Here's what I think it could possibly look like:
Established:

• Augustana Vs. Sioux Falls - Key to the City Game
• Minot State Vs. University of Mary - Battle of the Big Lake
• Winona State Vs. Southwest Minnesota State - Battle for the Sledge
• Minnesota State-Moorhead Vs. Bemidji State - Battle for the Axe

Then maybe the following could work as good match-ups?

• Northern State Vs. Wayne State - Might be good as a South Dakota/Nebraska border battle
• Minnesota Duluth Vs. Minnesota State-Mankato - The top teams of the NSIC for Minnesota playing
• Concordia-St.-Paul Vs. Jamestown - This is kind of leftovers I guess, but ND private school Vs. MN private school made sense?

Just some brainstorming for fun.

[SW_Mustang]

Winona and Southwest will be battling for the sledge this weekend. Someone even created a twitter page for the Sledge which hasn't posted since 2016. There a sentence I never thought I'd type out.

We're flattered, but it won't be a battle lol.

Do Winona fans view this game as a real rivalry? I get the story behind the game, but it always felt forced to me - and not one I've ever really circled on the calendar. USF is probably my favorite opponent, despite the record.

[Otis Day]

How are we feeling about the games this week?

Nervous. Excited.

Also hoping the 80% chance of rain in the forecast for Saturday dissipates bc that sounds miserable with a two year old.

[WSUWarriorFan]

We're flattered, but it won't be a battle lol.

Do Winona fans view this game as a real rivalry? I get the story behind the game, but it always felt forced to me - and not one I've ever really circled on the calendar. USF is probably my favorite opponent, despite the record.

If you were to poll fans and ask which team Winona played for the sledge most would probably guess Mankato. I feel like they really pushed the rivalry at the beginning with corporate sponsors and mini sledges for the offensive and defensive MVP. I think we're all ok with the trophy going away.

[wscsuperfan]

Winona State at Southwest Minnesota State
In the "Battle for the Sledge" game, Winona State leads the all-time series 32-20 and the Warriors are 13-12 against the Mustangs in games played in Marshall. Winona State won the most recent meeting, 43-7 in 2022. SMSU's last victory came in the 2015 season by a 33-28 score. Winona State has won the past six games in the series.

Northern State at Wayne State
Northern State leads the all-time series against Wayne State 16-11 and won the last meeting, 28-26 in Aberdeen in 2023. The last WSC win came in 2022, a 13-6 victory in Wayne.

Minnesota-Duluth at Concordia-St. Paul
The Bulldogs lead the series with the Golden Bears 13-3 all-time. CSP won the first two matchups in the series in 1999 and 2000, but it has been pretty much all Duluth since. UMD is currently riding a 10-game win streak in the series and won the last meeting 44-32 in Duluth in 2023.

Mary at Minnesota State-Mankato
Minnesota State leads the all-time series with Mary 7-0. The last matchup came in 2022, with the Mavericks coming away with a 31-28 win over the Marauders.

Bemidji State at Minnesota State-Moorhead
Moorhead leads the all-time series 47-39-3. Bemidji State has won the past four games in the series, including a 27-14 win last year in Bemidji. The last Moorhead win came in 2018 when the Dragons beat the Beavers 42-41.

Sioux Falls at Augustana
In this "Key to the City" rivalry, Augustana leads the all-time series, 21-8. The Vikings won the first 18 games of the series from 1922 to 1986, with 1986 marking the last time Augie won a home game in the series however. Sioux Falls has won seven of the last 10 meetings though. Last year Augie defeated USF 49-29. The last USF win came in 2022, by a 31-24 score.

[SW_Mustang]

If you were to poll fans and ask which team Winona played for the sledge most would probably guess Mankato. I feel like they really pushed the rivalry at the beginning with corporate sponsors and mini sledges for the offensive and defensive MVP. I think we're all ok with the trophy going away.

I tend to agree on all points here - I mean, it's not that I don't like watching Winona play, it just doesn't feel like it's really all that special and was just put on the schedule so both teams could have something to play for. Ironically, I don't believe the original corporate sponsor is involved with the game anymore despite engraving their name on both faces of the trophy.

Competitiveness aside, I don't see much of a connection between the two schools (in football, anyway). Maybe if Mankato wasn't there and it could be a "battle for southern Minnesota" kinda thing? Who knows.

[IceBoxDragon]

A lot of chalk this week in the picks, which, makes sense. That was the case for me as well with most of the games. However, I picked the Dragons with the home edge. If they were on the road I'd say Beavers, but I give them a chance at Nemzek.

[vikingfaithful]

You can ignore stats and comparative scores for the key to the city game. These young men come across each other frequently throughout the year and want to beat each other in the worst way. The upper 40s with light rain should not give any team an advantage. USF takes great pride in their record vs Augie. Vikings want to change that narrative.

It's amazing how Cougars went from a 3-8 season in 2023 to a 7-2 season so far in 2024. Thats a true testament to their coaching staff and players.

Pretty simple the stakes in this matchup, Augustana needs win for opportunity as a #1 seed. Sioux Falls want win to ensure a playoff game.

My thoughts are that Vikings senior lead defense and strong offense with Epperson, Hensley, plus more will prevail. Yes I'm highly biased.

[Ironlinks]

Sioux Falls at Augustana
In this "Key to the City" rivalry, Augustana leads the all-time series, 21-8. The Vikings won the first 18 games of the series from 1922 to 1986, with 1986 marking the last time Augie won a home game in the series however. Sioux Falls has won seven of the last 10 meetings though. Last year Augie defeated USF 49-29. The last USF win came in 2022, by a 31-24 score. -- wscsuperfan gets the credit

Tale of the Tape
I think I counted about 12 senior starters for Augie that have been under the same system for 4 years, Glo has 1.75 years with his guys HUGE advantage Augie
The Augie- KO effect. Watched MANY games at KO and Augie gets 3-4 "lucky" breaks every game (this had NOTHING to do with the refs, just football) advantage Augie
Belief ---watched both teams all year -- Augie just seems to believe more for 4 quarters -- advantage Augie
USF undefeated at KO -slight advantage USF

Witt's position breakdown was pretty accurate - Tom corrected him on one. Nothing to change there. I would see USF advantage TE and MLB.

So who wins? Straight up -- no weather, no weird breaks, no major injuries, penalties etc. Augie 28-13 seems like 2019 (Epperson played in that game too, I think this his 8th game vs USF :) )

For USF to win, I think they need 2-3 breaks that either stop Augie from scoring TDs or turn into TDs for USF, in other words they will need a 14-17 pt swing.

Augie's run defense matches up VERY well against USF's run scheme. So USF will have to move the chains with their passing game. Augie has 24 sacks on the season USF 14, both have given up 13 sacks. USF would have to get to Hensley early and throw him off schedule. Finally, whoever wins first down will have a big advantage.

[SW_Mustang]

Mustangs got a touchdown... yay?

[SW_Mustang]

TWO touchdowns - and a 2 PTer?

What's gotten into this team today?

[TJE_]

Northern 21 Wayne 14 early in the 3rd