DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team will hope to bounce back from its loss last weekend when it takes on the University of Minnesota Morris at Big Cat Stadium on Saturday.
Where:
Big Cat Stadium – Morris, Minn.
When:
Saturday at 2 p.m.
Live Video: http://ummcougars.org/watch/
Social Media:
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St. Scholastica Saints
Stats
Record: 5-2, 5-1 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
Last Action: The Saints saw their 35-game Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) winning streak come to an end with a 14-7 Homecoming loss to the University of Northwestern last Saturday … The defeat also ended an 18-game home winning streak and a seven-game Homecoming win streak … The Saints were to just one touchdown or less for only the 13
th-time in program history and are 1-12 all-time when that happens … The last time the Saints were held to one or fewer touchdowns in conference play was the last time they lost against Northwestern in 2012 … An attendance of 1,952 was at the game, the largest home crowd for the Saints since the 2012 Homecoming game against Greenville College (Ill.) at UMD's Malosky Stadium … It is the largest attendance for a Saints game played at Public Schools Stadium.
After a Loss: CSS has not lost back-to-back games in the same season since 2010 when it fell at Concordia University-Chicago and then lost to Martin Luther College … Since then, the Saints are 7-0 following a loss in the same season and winning those seven games by an average margin of 19.6 points.
Olson Coming Up Big: Sophomore
Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) had a big game against the Eagles on Saturday, recording a career-high eight receptions for a career-high 121 yards and a score … Of his eight receptions in the game, five came on third or fourth downs … He has nine first down receptions on third downs this season and eight catches on specifically third-and-long plays … Olson leads the conference and ranks second in NCAA Division III with 11 touchdown receptions.
Nothing Early: St. Scholastica has not allowed a point in the first quarter in each of the last five games and have only allowed 13 first quarter points all season.
Block Party: With two blocked field goals against Northwestern on Saturday, the Saints have blocked seven kicks this season, which is tied for the NCAA Division III lead with Lake Forest College (Ill.) …
Kenneth Jinkins (Eagan, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) and
August Marleau (Deer River, Minn./Deer River HS) have two blocks each.
Air Raid: Senior quarterback
Kyle Stepka (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS) remains in the top 10 nationally in passing touchdowns (22-fifth) and points responsible for (144-sixth).
Punting: The Saints rank eighth in NCAA Division III with a net punting average of 38.9 … Senior
Jason Senger (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS (Gustavus Adolphus)) is averaging 41.8 yards per attempt with six punts landing inside the 20 … He only has 20 attempts this season which does not meet the 3.6 punts per game minimum to be ranked by the NCAA or the UMAC … If was ranked, he would lead the conference and be ranked 16
th in the country.
20 is the Magic Number: The Saints are 55-0 since 2010 when they score at least 20 points … The Saints are 2-19 all-time when they fail to reach 20 points with both wins coming against the University of Northwestern.
UMAC Preseason Poll
1. St. Scholastica...................................... 81 points (9 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern.......................................... 72 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Greenville................................................ 57 points
4. Westminster............................................ 56 points
T-5. Eureka.................................................. 43 points
T-5. MacMurray........................................... 43 points
7. Crown....................................................... 42 points
8. Minnesota Morris................................... 30 points
9. Martin Luther........................................... 14 points
10. Iowa Wesleyan..................................... 12 points
Upcoming Opponent
Minnesota Morris Cougars
Record: 3-3, 3-3 UMAC
The Cougars are also coming off a loss last weekend as they fell at Crown College 27-17 … Morris is 3-0 at home this season with wins over Greenville College (Ill.), Iowa Wesleyan University and Martin Luther College … Morris has not played their one allotted non-conference game yet this season … That will happen at the end of the year when it travels to face Maranatha Baptist University (Wis.) on November 12 … Donnie Mavencamp heads the offense at quarterback, averaging 148 yards passing per game … He has thrown only four TD passes thus far … Evan Guffey has been the go-to target with 29 receptions and four touchdowns … Kyle Petermeier is 13 yards per reception and 51.8 yards per game … The Cougars have struggled to hang on to the football on the ground with 12 lost fumbles … JC Cummings has rushed for 252 yards and is averaging 4.1 yards per carry … Kicker John Hoff has been an effective weapon for the Cougars, making a league-best six field goals on the year and was named the UMAC Special Teams Player of the Week this past week … Hoff leads the conference with 31 points from kicking … Clayton Douvier leads the Morris defense, averaging 10.8 tackles per game … Douvier also has a team-best 3.5 sacks … Nathan Gehlen leads the Cougars with 8.5 tackles for a loss.
Series History: CSS leads 7-1
Last Meeting: The Saints handled the Cougars 32-7 last year at Public Schools Stadium … When the teams last met at Big Cat Stadium, the Saints scored 20 points in the first quarter en route to a 40-2 victory … CSS has won seven straight in the series and have not allowed more than seven points in each of the last three games.
Looking Ahead: The Saints will have their final road trip of the regular season and it is a long one as it faces Westminster College (Mo.) in Fulton, Missouri on October 29.
