area college update

GAME OF THE WEEK

Concordia (Moorhead) at St. John's, 1 p.m. Saturday: Both teams are 3-0 after holding on for close victories in their MIAC openers last Saturday. The Cobbers held off St. Olaf 33-29, while the Johnnies outlasted St. Thomas 20-18. The Cobbers have been led by Griffin Neal, who has completed 63 percent of his passes for 630 yards. The Johnnies, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2009, are ranked No. 23 in the d3football.com poll. Josh Bungum leads them with 27 receptions. Last year, the Cobbers defeated the Johnnies 31-21 in Moorhead.

WEEK 4 STORY LINES

• MSU Mankato, ranked No. 2 in the AFCA Division II poll, has won 14 consecutive regular-season games. The Mavericks held on for a 21-17 victory at Minnesota Duluth last Saturday. The Mavericks' last regular-season loss was to the Bulldogs, 31-19 in the 2011 regular-season finale.

• St. Cloud State, which has moved up to No. 20 in the AFCA Division II poll, is 3-0 for the first time since 2007 after beating Concordia (St. Paul) 34-3 last Saturday. The Huskies will play host to Augustana on Saturday. It's the first meeting since 2010. The Vikings have won the last five meetings. The Vikings are coming off a 24-0 victory over Bemidji State.

• Minnesota Duluth, which had a 42-game home winning streak ended by MSU Mankato last Saturday, hadn't lost at home to an NSIC team since falling to Concordia (St. Paul 37-27 on Oct. 7, 2000. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 13 in the D-II poll, play at Wayne State (Neb.) on Saturday.

Duncan

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin Duncan, RB, Hamline: The 6-foot sophomore from New Orleans rushed for a school-record 298 yards (on a school-record 48 carries) in the Pipers' 20-17 overtime loss to Carleton. Duncan has rushed for 571 yards — 5.9 yards per carry — in two games this season. Duncan leads Division III in rushing yards per game.

Nathan Hancock, DB, MSU Mankato: The 6-1 junior from Independence, Mo., had a fumble recovery and interception and also forced a fumble in the Mavericks' 21-17 victory over Minnesota Duluth. Hancock, who is second on the Mavericks in tackles, also had 10 tackles.

BY THE NUMBERS

16 Career interceptions for St. Cloud State DB Jack Moro. Moro, a senior from Brookfield, Wis., has two interceptions this season and is three shy of the school record.

41 Points scored in the final 26 minutes by Winona State in its 65-21 victory over Minnesota State Moorhead. Winona led 24-21 early in the third quarter.

227 Rushing yards (on a school-record 37 carries) for Gustavus Adolphus' Jeffrey Dubose in the Gusties' 19-16 loss to Augsburg.

JOEL RIPPEL