DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – After spoiling the University of Northwestern's (Minn.) Homecoming last week, the St. Scholastica will look to take care of its own Homecoming on Saturday when it faces Iowa Wesleyan University in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) matchup.
Where:
Malosky Stadium – Duluth, Minn.
When:
Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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IOWA WESLEYAN GAME NOTES
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St. Scholastica Saints
Stats
Record: 4-1, 4-0 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
Last Action: The Saints went down to Northwestern and defeated the Eagles 14-7 to avenge last year's 14-7 loss … Quarterback
Zach Edwards (West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) became the first St. Scholastica quarterback to throw for over 300 yards against a Northwestern defense, throwing for 304 yards. He had a 28-yard score to
Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) and then hit
Jeff LeMay (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) on fourth-and-goal with under three minutes remaining for the game-winning score … LeMay led the team in rushing and tied for a team-high with four receptions … Olson had four receptions for 89 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter due to injury … Edwards also connected with
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) for a 62-yard touchdown, but that play was called back due to penalty …
Kenneth Jinkins (West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) had eight tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery to lead the defense.
Homecoming Games: The Saints are 7-2 all-time on Homecoming, but had their seven-game win streak ended last year by Northwestern … The Saints are 6-1 all-time in Homecoming games played at Malosky Stadium, having won the last six.
Malosky Stadium: The Saints return to Malosky Stadium for the first time since the 2015 season when they defeated Martin Luther College on Homecoming … This will only be the second time Head Coach
Kurt Ramler has coached at the facility … The Saints have won 10 straight games at Malosky Stadium and are 10-2 overall.
Olson's TD Streak: Junior wide receiver
Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) extended his touchdown streak to 13 consecutive conference games last week … He had a receiving touchdown in every conference game last season and has had at least one in each of the four league games this year.
Air it Out: Edwards climbed back up to No. 1 in NCAA Division III in passing yards per completion (20.2), but dropped to fourth in the nation in yards per pass attempt (11.1) … He ranks 12
th in the country with a passing efficiency rating of 177.6 … Olson ranks ninth in NCAA Division III, averaging 26.7 yards per reception and
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) ranks 11
th at 25.8 yards per reception.
Cut Down on the Penalties: The Saints rank near the bottom of NCAA Division III with 54 penalties already this season … CSS has gone over 100 yards in penalties in each of the last two games, which is only the second time that has happened in program history.
Out in Front Early: The Saints have yet to allow a single point in the first quarter of the first four conference games … CSS is outscoring UMAC opponents 51-0 in the first quarter and 79-9 in the first half.
Block Party: The Saints blocked a key field goal attempt at the end of the first half last week at Northwestern … That gives St. Scholastica four blocked kicks this season, which ranks fifth in NCAA Division III … In 2016, CSS finished third in the nation with eight blocked kicks.
Milestone Watch: Kenneth Jinkins (West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) broke the program record for career punt return yards last week (451) …
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) can become the third Saint in program history to record 20 touchdown receptions with his next touchdown.
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
Iowa Wesleyan Tigers
Record: 1-4, 1-3 UMAC
The Tigers are coming off a 49-18 loss at home to Eureka College (Ill.) last Saturday … The Iowa Wesleyan defense allowed six rushing touchdowns by Eureka's LeAnthony Reasnover … The Tiger defense has allowed at least 30 points in each of the first five games … The lone victory was a 41-34 triumph over Crown College in week two … Quarterback Alex Payne leads the offense … Payne is one of only five seniors on the roster … Payne ranks third in the conference averaging 185.8 yards passing per game … However, he has been picked off a league-high nine times … His go-to receiver is Rodolfo Amezcua, who leads the conference with 29 receptions and 416 yards receiving … Akenyon Bagley leads the ground game, but is only averaging 31.2 yards per game … Look out when Iowa Wesleyan receives a kickoff as Joseph Mosely has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including one last week and leads the UMAC 27.6 yards per return … Defensively, Kameron Banks ranks fourth in the conference, averaging 10 tackles per game … He is also tied for fourth with 3.5 sacks and eight tackles for a loss.
Series Record: CSS leads 4-0
(Last Meeting: 45-7 CSS – 10/8/2016)
Series History: CSS has scored at least 40 points in all four meetings against the Tigers … The Saints have allowed only touchdown in three of those four contests.
Looking Ahead: The Saints are back at home, but move to Public Schools Stadium for a conference contest against Martin Luther College on Saturday, October 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
