Can you say championship game? Can you say bowl game? Well, on Dec.7 this year’s Mustangs football team will be the first in Southwest Minnesota State University history to get the privilege to play in a bowl game and, possibly, the first year we win a championship. After much speculation, the SMSU Mustangs accepted the bid to play in the 48th Annual Mineral Water Bowl, which will be held in Excelsior Springs, Mo.
The team has had a great season thus far. The Mustangs currently have the longest running winning streak (four wins) and are tied for the third best season of the team’s history, sitting at a 7-4 season. This is the team’s third post-season appearance.
But that’s not the only record this year the Mustangs have beat. Along with team records, SMSU’s very ownTyler Tonderum, running back, has broken both SMSU and NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) records for most rushing yards. Tonderum has rushed for more yards than any other player in all of NCAA football.
The team faced off against Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 9, with a final score of 55-24. Charlie Kern had a great number of TD’s, throwing five against the Concordia defense, with one touchdown being made off a 63-yard pass. Tonderum had a touchdown along with 160 yards-rushing while Aj Page led the defense with nine tackles and a forced fumble with Tate Bunkers and Andrew McReynolds both bringing seven tackles.
On Nov. 16, the team played Augustana College and came out ahead with a 43-24 lead. Kern threw for four touchdowns and 233 yards with a completion rate of 73 percent. Anthony Dean was the beneficiary of two of those TD passes and collected a total of 38 yards. Tonderum ran for 119 yards with a 27-yard rush. McReynolds and Donovan Woods both had seven tackles with Woods turning over an interception.
The SMSU football team is better than it has ever been with both offense and defense focused solely on this next game. So whether you are a die hard fan or if this is the first time even hearing about it, go wish our boys in brown good luck as they head into their first ever Bowl game.
