GAME NOTES
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team looks to open the 2018 season with a win for the first time in three seasons Saturday in North Dakota.
Where:
Jerome Berg Field – Mayville, N.D.
When:
Saturday at 1 p.m.
Watch: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msucomets/
Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msucomets/
Social Media:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CSSSAINTSFB
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St. Scholastica Saints
2017 Stats
2017 Record: 7-3, 7-2 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
What You Need To Know about the Saints:
-The Saints had a bye on week one of the regular season for the first time since their inaugural season of 2008.
-After winning at least a share of the regular season crown from the 2011-2016 seasons, the Saints have had a two-year drought from the top of the UMAC standings and look to make their way back to the top in the 2018 campaign
-Last year the Saints allowed only 143.1 YPG through the air, ranking them 13
th in NCAA Division III passing defense.
-The Saints lost four defensive starters from last season, including three in the secondary. The offense lost six starters including four of the five starting lineman from a year ago.
-This is the first season for Interim Head Coach
George Penree, Penree along with the HC duties will oversee the special teams units and defensive backs. Making it the first time a Saints HC will not be calling the offense. Coach
Mike Heffernan returns to be the team's Offensive Coordinator in 2018.
Players to Watch on Offense:
-Senior wide receiver
Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) – Olson finished second with 742 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing two games in 2017. Is the only Saint receiver in program history to record back-to-back seasons with at least 10 receiving touchdowns and over 700 receiving yards.
-Junior quarterback
Zach Edwards (St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) – Edwards finished second in NCAA Division III in passing yards per completion (18.2) in 2017. He led the conference in passing yards (2,608) and touchdowns (27). The 2,608 matched a program record for passing yards in a season.
-Senior running back/slot receiver
Ben Buthe (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS) – Buthe finished third on the team in rushing yards (282) and receiving yards (313) last season. He led the team with six rushing touchdowns.
Players to Watch on Defense:
-Senior linebacker
Jonathan Senger (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) – Senger led the team with 78 tackles last season and finished tied for third in the UMAC with four interceptions.
-Junior linebacker
Cal Germain (Osceola, Wis./Osceola HS) – Germain was second on the team with 76 tackles and 7.5 tackles for a loss. He also tied for second on the team with three sacks.
-Senior defensive back
Donovan Blatz (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) – Blatz finished second on the team with three interceptions and tied for fourth on the squad with 58 tackles. Blatz will also be the team's kicker and punter.
Unfamiliar Territory: The Saints march into Mayville State to play them for the first time in program history. The Saints have played an NAIA school just one other time, which came against Presentation College (S.D.) in 2012 edging them narrowly in OT 20-17.
Opening Day: Saturday, the Saints will kick off their 11
th season in program history, in the past 10 season openers they hold a record of 3-7. The Saints currently have a three-game skid on openers, their last win coming in 2014 against Ripon College (Wis.) 28-27.
Letting it fly: Both teams come into Saturday's game with passing high on their list of play calling. Mayville State in 2017 was 24
th in NAIA Division I passing offense, this year they currently rank sixth after two contests. In 2017, the Saints liked to go to the air as well ranking 43
rd is passing offense amongst all NCAA Division III teams.
UMAC Preseason Poll
1. MacMurray – 57 points (4 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica – 55 points (2 First Place Votes)
3. Northwestern – 52 points (2 First Place Votes)
T-4. Greenville – 41 points (1 First Place Votes)
T-4. Westminster – 41 points
6. Martin Luther – 28 points
7. Iowa Wesleyan– 22 points
8. Minnesota Morris – 16 points
9. Crown – 12 points
Upcoming Opponent
Mayville State Comets
Record: 0-2, 0-0 NSAA
What You Need to Know about the Comets:
-Despite having a top caliber passing offense the last few seasons, the Comets have little to show for it. The Comets come into their first home game of the season looking to snap a 15-game losing streak that dates back to the 2016 season. Their last win came against 25
th ranked Dakota State on October 29 of that season.
-Junior QB Creighton Pfau is coming off a good sophomore campaign that saw him throw for 2433 yards in 10 games (243.3 YPG), and so far in 2018 looks to be another good season for Pfau. Through the first two games he has already thrown for 717 yards and six touchdowns.
-Trent Momon is his favorite target to use raking up 337 yards on 21 catches and four touchdowns.
-On the other side of the ball the Comets are giving up just over 600 yards per game this season (229 Rush YPG & 424 Pass YPG) and 15 total touchdowns. Comets have only one sack so far this season.
Series Record: First meeting between the two programs
Looking Ahead: The Saints open Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) on Saturday, September 15 at Crown College. That game will kick off at 1 p.m.
