GAME NOTES
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team will take to the road for the first time as it faces Hamline University on Saturday in St. Paul.
Where:
Klas Field – St. Paul, Minn.
When:
Saturday at 1 p.m.
Video/Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hamline/
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
Social Media:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CSSSAINTSFB
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/cssfootball08
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/StScholasticaFootball
St. Scholastica Saints
Record: 0-1, 0-1 MIAC
What You Need To Know about St. Scholastica:
-The Saints are coming off a 54-14 loss in their season and MIAC debut against Augsburg University last Saturday at Public Schools Stadium.
-It was CSS' first game in 680 days, while it was the Auggies' third game of the season.
-The Saints started 14 players between both sides of the ball that had never appeared in a collegiate game.
-Starting quarterback
Giuliano Villalpando (Houston, Texas/Clear Lake HS) was injured on the first play from scrimmage in the defeat.
-Villalpando's backup
Byron Bishop (Sublimity, Ore./Regis HS) threw a touchdown pass in the defeat.
-The Saints were held to a program-low 58 yards passing.
-Senior
Mitchell Adrian (Altoona, Wis./Altoona HS) had six of the team's nine receptions on the day.
-On the bright side, senior running back
Bryceton Butkiewicz (Kettle River, Minn./Moose Lake HS) ran for a career-high 136 yards and a touchdown.
-That one game total puts him at the top of the conference in rush yards per game.
-Junior
Jake Kukowski (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin HS) and freshman
Anthony Vo (St. Paul, Minn./Roseville HS) led the defense with 11 tackles each.
-Freshman
Jamari Thompson (Little Rock, Ark./Waller HS) recorded nine tackles, forced and recovered a fumble.
-These teams were already scheduled face each other this season down in Hamline before the Saints' move to MIAC was made official.
Upcoming Opponent:
Hamline Pipers
Record: 2-1, 0-1 MIAC
What You Need to Know about Hamline:
-The Pipers are coming off a 35-7 loss to Carleton College last week in their MIAC opener.
-Hamline's two wins this season came against Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) teams Crown College (54-38) and the University of Minnesota Morris (30-28).
-Saturday will be Homecoming at Hamline.
-Hamline leads the conference and ranks 13
th nationally in time of possession at an average of 34:59 per game.
-The Pipers rank second in the MIAC and 10
th nationally, converting 55% of their third downs (Augsburg was 10-of-15 on third downs against the Saints last week).
-Senior quarterback Connor Leavens averages 228.0 yards through the air and has seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
-Leavens ranks 14
th in NCAA Division III, completing 69% of his attempts.
-His favorite target is senior Triston Thomas who has 23 receptions for 204 yards on the year.
-Thomas ranks 16
th in the nation, averaging 7.7 receptions per game.
-On the ground, Nikolas Rocafort averages 73.3 yards per game and has two touchdowns.
-Defensively, junior linebacker Sam Fritz ranks third in the MIAC averaging 10.3 tackles per game.
-Godmar Gach has 2.5 sacks to lead the Pipers.
-Hamline ranks eighth in the MIAC, allowing 33.7 points per game.
Series Record: First meeting between the two programs
Series History: First meeting between the two programs
Looking Ahead: The Saints return home to face Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday, October 9. That game will take place at Minnesota Duluth's Malosky Stadium.
