Northern State football is back.
The Wolves hit a slump for a few years, but now the Wolves have won 10 of their last 16 games. They played for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference division title this season.
It wasn't that long ago that it took NSU four seasons to accumulate 10 wins. I remember fans telling me there was "no way" NSU would ever be able to compete in football after the conference was amped up with the likes of big-money schools such as St. Cloud State, Minnesota-Duluth, Augustana and Mankato.
The Wolves not only have found a way, but their way as well.
Losing is not the "norm" for the history of the Wolves football program. Less than 20 of the 150 NCAA Division II football programs have more than 500 wins.
NSU has 534 wins in 109 seasons. In South Dakota, that is second to only South Dakota State's 541 wins (115 seasons) and better than the University of South Dakota's 515 wins (116 seasons) and the other six college football programs in the state.
So, the next time you see third-year NSU football coach Tom Dosch or top assistant Mark Martin (who came in with Dosch) around town, thank them for their work. And don't forget about the players and the rest of the NSU staff - especially its veteran, running backs coach Maia Tupou. He started his career as a NSU assistant in 2004 after a standout career for the Wolves as a linebacker.
These coaches and players have created a buzz around South Dakota about NSU football. Late this fall, especially following the win over St. Cloud, I have fielded a lot of questions about Wolves football.
You also can see that excitement in the recruiting wars. NSU is starting to win some major recruiting battles across the Midwest.
It takes a lot of hard work and talent to sustain a college football program. Coaching college football these days is a demanding 24/7/365 job. There no longer is an off-season.
Just as their counterparts, NSU football has a lot of work ahead. Will there be losses, disappointments and heartbreak ahead in NSU football?
You bet there will be. But there also is a beautiful sunrise. I can feel its warmth from here.
In honor of a great season, here is NSU football 2012 by the numbers:
3,190: Yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns by quarterback Jared Jacobson (2,562 passing and 628 rushing).
2005: Last year the 6-5 Wolves had a winning season.
800: Yards and nine TDs receiving for Mark Hanley, the most since Brian Jark had 1,008 yards in 2007 and nine TDs in 2006.
635: Yards total offense against Mary.
83: Tackles by team-leader Logan Dosch.
70: Points scored by kicker Felipe Alfaia (43-45 point-after-touchdowns and 9-13 field goals).
65: Points scored in win over Mary (fourth most in NSU history).
65: Years (1947 and 2012) between NSU wins over St. Cloud State.
62: Yard punt by Adrian Krupka.
37: Seconds for NSU to drive 64 yards in six plays to score the game-tying TD against St. Cloud on a 34-yard pass from Jacobson to Hanley after the Huskies had scored three TDS in the nine previous minutes. Alfaia added the game-winning PAT.
14: Turnovers by NSU this season - fourth least in the conference.
14: tackles each in a game this season by Dosch, Jayson Geditz and Logan Fahnhorst (all one shy of tying an NSU record).
10: All-conference honors for the Wolves, including Hanley and Dosch on the First Team.
10: Seniors.
9: Sacks by Mason Thorstad and Ikee Sirleaf.
8: Interceptions by Dosch and Marquis Mulkey.
5: Super Bowl rings owned by NSU senior linebacker Fahnhorst's father Jim and uncle Keith from their playing days with the San Francisco 49ers.
4: Senior captains: defensive end Mason Thorstad (West Fargo); offensive lineman Robert Neisen (Coon Rapids, Minn.); Fahnhorst (Wayzata, Minn.); and Hanley (Chester). Voted on by the team after the season and highest honor given in the program.
3: Games decided by two points or less; NSU went 2-1 in those games.
3: Scout players of the year: Cody Zimmerman and Conner Doherty on offense and Channing Barber on defense.
2: Game-winning blocked PAT kicks by Thorstad.
1: Win away from sharing the North Division title.
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News. Reach him at jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
Blog: aberdeensports.net/inthehuddle.
Twitter:#jpapendick