SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For just the second time in program history, Kirkeby-Over Stadium will host a playoff football game. No. 3 seed in Super Region Four Augustana hosts unseeded Bemidji State Saturday at noon. K-O Stadium, as it is affectionately called, is home to the nation's second-longest home win streak at 11 games.
 
Complete action can be followed at GoAugie.com/Live and on the GoAugie App, presented by CellOnly. The app can be downloaded in the app store or on Google Play.
 
The Game
Augustana is ranked No. 16 in the D2Football.com Top-25 and No. 25 in the AFCA Coaches' Top-25 and enters with a 9-2 record in 2021. Bemidji State, unranked but receiving votes, enters the opening round of the playoffs with an identical 9-1 mark.
 
The Beavers
Bemidji State secured its first-ever trip to the NCAA postseason following a 62-40 shootout win over UMary last Saturday. The Beaver's only two losses of the year have come at the hands of the Vikings and Minnesota State. The NSIC North champions have won their last seven games, scoring over 40 points in five of those wins.
 
For the Beavers, the offense is led by quarterback Brandon Alt. The freshman has thrown for over 3500 yards on the year with a whopping 43 touchdowns, the most in the NSIC. Brendan Beaulieu is his favorite target through the air, with 62 catches for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season.
 
The Beaver's defense currently ranked ninth in the NSIC giving up 420.9 yards per game. They rank eighth in the NSIC giving up 30.2 points per game.
 
Bemidji State is led by 2021 NSIC Coach of the Year Brent Bolte. His assistant, Karson Pike was recently named the NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
The Vikings
Augustana enters the NCAA postseason for the sixth time overall and second-straight season after winning the NSIC Championship. Offensively, Augustana is led by Kyle Saddler and his 288.7 passing yards per game. His top receiver is Sean Engel with 13 touchdowns and 77.3 yards per outing. When Saddler isn't throwing the ball, he is usually handing it off to Jarod Epperson and his 81.5 yards rushing per outing.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, T.J. Liggett piles up the most tackles with 78 in 2021 while Grayson Diepenbrock leads the way on the defensive line with six sacks and 12 tackles for loss. In the secondary, NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year Peyton Buckley leads the team, and ranks second in the NSIC, with five interceptions. He also ranks third in the NSIC with his 1.1 passes defended per game.
 
Who to Watch For
Instead of just one player, let's mention 12 players Augustana had 12 members named to the NSIC All-Conference teams announced Wednesday. Nine first-teamers and three second-team honorees gave Augustana more than half of its starting lineup a postseason award from the conference. The All-NSIC South Division First Team honorees: Peyton Buckley, Grayson Diepenbrock, T.J. Liggett, Eli Weber, Kyle Saddler, Sean Engel, Jarod Epperson, Trevor Burkhart and Blake Larson. Second Team honors went to Logan Swanson, Logan Uttecht and Mitchell Goodbary. A full rundown of the NSIC honors can be read here.
 
One Last Thing
A win on Saturday would give Augustana its second-most wins in a single season at 10. The Vikings won 11 games in 2010. The current number of wins, nine, marks the fourth time AU has won that many games. Three of those seasons have come with head coach Jerry Olszewski at the helm of the Viking ship.