DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team can still capture a share of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season title on Saturday when it hosts MacMurray College (Ill.) at Public Schools Stadium in the regular season finale.
Where:
Public Schools Stadium – Duluth, Minn.
When:
Saturday at 1 p.m.
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Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/css/football
MACMURRAY GAME NOTES
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St. Scholastica Saints
Stats
Record: 7-2, 7-1 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
Last Action: The Saints are coming off their first conference loss of the season, falling at Eureka College (Ill.) 40-34 last Saturday … The story of game was Eureka's running game, which ran for 418 yards, the second-most yards ever allowed by a St. Scholastica defense … Eureka's LeAnthony Reasnover's 355 rushing yards are the most yards ever allowed by CSS by a single player … With all of that being said, the Saints were still in position to win, leading 21-20 at the end of three quarters … However, Eureka scored on all three of its fourth quarter possessions (excluding the kneel downs to end the game), while the Saints were forced to punt on one their three possessions and that was the difference …
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) had a big day for the Saints with three touchdown receptions …
Zach Edwards (West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns, but was intercepted in the end zone early in the game …
Kenneth Jinkins (West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) led the defense with 12 tackles and one interception.
Where They Stand: The Saints are tied for first in the conference with Eureka … However, Eureka holds the tiebreaker and with a win at Martin Luther College on Saturday can clinch the conference's automatic qualifier … MacMurray sits a game back from both teams and needs a win and a Eureka loss to clinch a share of the conference title … However, only St. Scholastica and Eureka have a chance at the automatic qualifier … CSS needs to win and a Eureka loss to get the AQ.
Senior Day: The Saints will recognize their nine senior players and one student assistant coach at Saturday's game … The class has combined to appear in 254 games over the last four seasons and is line to win its third conference championship.
Record Setter: Senior wide receiver
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) set a variety of program records on Saturday … He broke Keegan O'Neill's school record for receiving yards and is 18 yards shy of 2,000 for his career … He also broke Jake Jensen's touchdown record, becoming the first CSS player to record 30 touchdowns in a career … He is currently tied with teammate
Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) for the most receiving touchdowns (26) in a career.
Air it Out: Edwards moved into second place on the program's list for passing yards in a season … He still remains 318 yards shy of Alex Thiry's record of 2,608 yards during the 2011 season … Edwards continues to lead NCAA Division III in passing yards per completion (19.6), but dropped to third in the nation in yards per pass attempt (10.5) … He is 12
th in the country with a passing efficiency rating of 172.5.
Unstoppable Force vs. Immovable Object: Saturday's matchup will feature the top two passing teams and the top two passing defenses in the conference … The Saints are the top passing offense in the conference, averaging 260.6 yards through the air per game … However, MacMurray only allows a league-best 133.2 passing yards per game … Both passing defenses rank in the top 10 nationally.
Penalty Record: The Saints set a single-season program record last week and have now committed more penalties (94) this year than any of the previous nine years in program history … Saturday's game will feature two teams that have combined for 166 penalties this season as MacMurray ranks 233 out of 243 with 72 penalties.
UMAC Preseason Poll
1. St. Scholastica – 73 points (3 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern – 72 points (5 First Place Votes)
3. MacMurray – 61 points
4. Eureka – 54 points (2 First Place Votes)
5. Westminster – 49 points
6. Greenville – 41 points
7. Crown – 35 points
8. Minnesota Morris – 30 points
9. Iowa Wesleyan – 21 points
10. Martin Luther – 14 points
Upcoming Opponent
MacMurray Highlanders
Record: 7-2, 6-2 UMAC
The Highlanders were perfect through the first seven weeks of the season, but have since dropped two straight games at home to Eureka in week eight and then on the road at Westminster College (Mo.) last week … Much to do with the two-game losing skid is the absence of leading rusher Chazz Middlebrook … The Highlanders were held to 37 rushing yards last week in Missouri and only 65 yards against Eureka … Entering week seven, Middlebrook was averaging 31 carries per game and was third in NCAA Division III in rushing … He only has 12 attempts the last three games for only eight total yards … Junior quarterback Nathan Randall is the only other UMAC quarterback to throw for over 2,000 yards this year … Randall completes 58 percent of his attempts … He leads the conference in completions (143) and attempts (247) … Devonta Preston leads the league with 48 receptions, while teammate Demetrius Curry leads the conference with 760 receiving yards … Defensively, watch out for defensive end Javon Muhammad who leads the nation with 24.5 tackles for a loss … His 10 sacks also leads the conference … Linebacker London Gulley ranks second in the conference with 90 tackles … Chris Blanchard has a team-high four interceptions.
Series Record: CSS leads 7-0
(Last Meeting: 37-28 CSS – 9/10/2016)
Series History: The Saints have won all seven meetings against the Highlanders … The Saints have scored at least 37 points in six of the seven previous meetings … However, the last two meetings have been decided by 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Looking Ahead: Pending the outcome of the CSS game, as well as, the Eureka game will determine whether the Saints season ends Saturday. If Eureka wins, the 2017 CSS football season will come to an end. If Eureka loses and CSS wins, the Saints will move on to the NCAA Division III Playoffs, which begin November 18 and pairings will be announced November 12.
