DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team hosts Westminster College (Mo.) on Saturday for a chance to clinch at least a share of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship for the fifth straight year.
Where:Public Schools Stadium – Duluth, Minn.
When:Saturday at 1 p.m.
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https://www.facebook.com/StScholasticaFootball St. Scholastica SaintsStatsRecord: 7-1, 7-0 UMACUpper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats Last Action: The Saints held Minnesota Morris to 91 yards of total offense in a 32-7 victory on Saturday at Public Schools Stadium … The Saints recorded a program-record 17 tackles for a loss and had nine sacks in the victory.
Mitch Ejnik (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer HS ) had touchdowns on special teams and defense, while
Nick Murphy (Glendale, Ariz./Brophy College Prep ) caught a pair of touchdowns …
Alex Mangan (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) tied a program record with five tackles for a loss and set the program's career record in that category (35.5).
Senior Day: The Saints will honor 17 seniors on Saturday … The class has won three straight UMAC championships, with a chance at a fourth on Saturday … The class has an overall record of 34-7 over the last four seasons and have lost only one conference game during that span.
Scoring on Special Teams and Defense: For the first time in program history, the Saints had a game where it scored on both a special teams and defense last Saturday … Ejnik had both, returning Morris' first punt of the game 60 yards for a score and then picking up a fumble and running it back 79 yards for a touchdown … The Saints have returned four punts for touchdowns this season.
Opportunistic D: In their first three games of the season, the Saints had a minus-3 turnover margin, including five turnovers in the team's only loss at Ripon College (Wis.) … In the last five games, CSS has a plus-12 turnover margin and have forced at least three turnovers in each of the last four games … The Saints have forced the most turnovers in the conference (24) and rank fourth in NCAA Division III.
Geiselman Breaks Sack Record: Senior
Joe Geiselman (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) recorded two sacks in Saturday's victory over Minnesota Morris and now holds the program record for sacks in a career (16.5).
Carrying the Load: Sophomore running back
Preston Robinson (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) became the third Saints running back to reach the end zone 20 times in a career on the ground in Saturday's victory over Morris … In only two seasons, Robinson is ranked in the top five in program history in rushing yards (1,473) and attempts (245).
Big Second Quarters: The Saints have out-scored teams 124-17 in the second quarter this season and 179-26 in the first half this season.
Spreading the Ball Around: So far this season, 18 different Saints have caught a pass … That is a program-best as the previous high was 14 during the 2011 season … Also four different CSS quarterbacks have thrown touchdown passes, which is also a program-high in a season.
UMAC Streaks: The Saints have won 28 straight UMAC games; a streak dating back to October 20, 2012 when they fell to Northwestern 14-13 at Ordean Stadium.
20 is the Magic Number: The Saints are 48-0 since 2010 when they score at least 20 points … The Saints are 2-16 all-time when they fail to reach 20 points with both wins coming against Northwestern.
UMAC Preseason Poll1. 80 Points – College of St. Scholastica (8 First Place Votes)2. 70 Points - University of Northwestern (1)
3. 69 Points – Greenville College (1)
4. 54 Points – Westminster College
5. 44 Points – Iowa Wesleyan College
6. 36 Points – Crown College
7. 35 Points – Eureka College
8. 27 Points – MacMurray College
9. 21 Points – University of Minnesota Morris
10. 14 Points – Martin Luther College
Upcoming Opponent Westminster Blue JaysRecord: 5-3, 5-2 UMAC The Blue Jays are still in contention for a UMAC Championship, but they need to defeat the Saints on Saturday and hope for a Northwestern and CSS loss next week … Westminster controlled its own destiny up until last week when it fell to Northwestern 27-10 in St. Paul … The Blue Jays were held to only 10 points, their lowest scoring out-put of the season … When the season ends, Westminster may look back to a 29-21 home loss to Crown College that cost them a shot at a title … The Blue Jays are led offensively by statistically the best running back in the UMAC in sophomore Latif Adams … Adams has rushed for 1,134 yards this season, averaging 141.8 yards per game … His 11 TDs in conference games also leads the league … He has rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game this season and had 128 yards against a stout Northwestern defense last week … Freshman quarterback Eain Roberts had to take over for injured sophomore Trent White in the fourth of the season and has thrown for 528 yards … His top target will be junior Mike Washington, who has 33 receptions and three touchdowns this season … Senior Bret Robertson is top player on the Blue Jays defense with 76 tackles and three interceptions.
Series History: CSS leads 5-0
Last Meeting: The Saints rallied for a seven-point halftime deficit and then held on late to win 31-24 in Fulton, Missouri … Saturday's game will be the first time both teams will meet at PSS … In the two previous games played in Duluth, the average margin of victory has been 22.5, compared to only nine points in the three game played at Westminster.
Looking Ahead: The Saints travel to Greenville College (Ill.) for the regular season finale November 7.
