Game Notes vs. Whitworth
CSS Two-Deep vs. Whitworth
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team opens up its fifth season on Saturday at Public Schools Stadium when it hosts Whitworth University (Wash.) at 1 p.m.
Game Day Media:
Live Video on Saints Sports Net | Live Stats
2011 Record: 10-1, 9-0 UMAC
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Made first-ever NCAA playoff appearance in 2011 falling to national semifinalist University of St. Thomas in the first round 48-2.
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The saints have been picked to finish second, according to the preseason coaches' poll, just a single point behind Greenville (Ill.).
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The Saints return six starters on offense this season, including running backs Travis Nehowig (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) and Jake Jensen (South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul HS).
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Jensen was strong in the first five games of last season, rushing for 141.6 yards per game before getting injured on the first play vs. Westminster. Nehowig had three, 100-yard games in his absence.
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Sophomore Tyler Harper (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) takes over the reigns at quarterback replacing Alex Thiry (Cambridge, Minn./Braham HS (Minn.-Duluth)).
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Thiry was the 2011 UMAC Offensive Player of the Year and Gagliardi Trophy Finalist
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Nick Thiry (Braham, Minn./Braham HS) returns at receiver where he was second on the team with 40 receptions and nine touchdowns a year ago.
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Left tackle Chris Lambach (South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul HS) and center Pete Stanley (Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) will be the anchors of the offensive line. The Saints will have to try and replace three-time all-conference center Stephen Voelkner (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS).
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Allen Smith takes over the defense and will run a new 4-2-5 scheme
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The Saints led all of NCAA Division III in turnover margin (+2.00) and was second in all of NCAA College Football in 2011.
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The Saints lost 2011 UMAC Defensive Player of Year Sean Graskey (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) and all-conference linebacker JP Leary (South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul HS) to graduation as well as first team All-UMAC defensive end Christopher Doran (Royalton, Minn./Andover HS) due to injury.
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The Saints return the rest of defensive front in seniors Chas Lemon (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS), Zack Dubanoski (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS) and Jordan Rasmussen (Albert Lea, Minn./Albert Lea HS (Ridgewater CC)). Dubanoski was a D3football.com all-region performer in 2011.
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Keaton Rush (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) is the only returning starter at linebacker, while just about the entire secondary returns with the exception of Justin Trautmiller (Somerset, Wis./Somerset HS).
About the Pirates
2011 Record: 4-6, 3-3 NWC
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The Pirates enter the 2012 season having won three of their last four games in 2011. Its only loss in that stretch came by just four points to national power Linfield.
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Whitworth finished third in the NWC preseason coaches poll with 26 points, three points behind second place Pacific Lutheran.
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Whitworth returns 15 starters from last season, including all of its offensive skill position players.
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Running back Ronnie Thomas was a first team All-Northwest selection in 2011, rushing for 1,044 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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Quarterback Bryan Peterson was an honorable mention All-NWC choice as a freshman.
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Senior receiver Jake DeGooyer and sophomore Austin Ehlo were both second team All-NWC selections last season.
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The Pirates return just two starters on the offensive front and just one on the defensive side of the ball.
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The defense returns seven starters, including three starting linebackers and three in the secondary.
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The Pirates return three starters in the secondary and three starters at linebacker.
Series History:
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The same two teams will open the 2013 season in Spokane, Wash.
