Area college football update

By JOEL RIPPEL, Star Tribune

Last update: September 17, 2009 - 10:25 PM

SATURDAY'S GAMES TO WATCH

St. John's (2-0) at Concordia of Moorhead (2-0), 1 p.m.

For the second consecutive season, these teams open their MIAC schedule against each other. Concordia won 9-6 last year at St. John's. Last week, the Johnnies, ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division III, rushed for 296 yards -- their most rushing yards in five years -- in a 35-27 victory over Wisconsin-Eau Claire. This game will be the 600th in the career of St. John's coach John Gagliardi. Concordia, ranked No. 23, is coming off a 43-28 victory over Valley City State. The Cobbers, picked to finish fourth in the MIAC preseason poll, opened their season Sept. 5 with a 24-17 victory over then-No. 8 Willamette (Ore.).

St. Olaf (2-0) at St. Thomas (1-0), 1 p.m.

The Oles opened with victories over Luther (33-13) and Pacific Lutheran (46-7) to start 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season. Last week, the Oles limited Pacific Lutheran to 104 yards in offense on the way to their 17th victory in their past 18 nonconference games. Oles quarterback John Haberman threw three touchdown passes. St. Thomas, which was idle last week, is ranked No. 18 in the Division III poll. The Tommies opened the season with a 54-14 victory over Macalester on Sept. 5. Sophomore Fritz Waldvogel returned two punts for touchdowns in the first quarter -- tying an NCAA all-division record.

Wayne State (3-0, 2-0 NSIC) at MSU Mankato (3-0, 2-0), 6 p.m.

Wayne State, ranked No. 20 in the NCAA Division II poll, has scored 103 points in its first three games. The Wildcats have scored 41 in back-to-back NSIC victories over MSU Moorhead (41-0) and St. Cloud State (41-20). Quarterback Silas Fluellen completed 29 of 32 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns against St. Cloud. Fluellen is fourth in NSIC career passing yards (6,568). MSU Mankato, ranked No. 7 in Division II, is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1993. The Mavericks defeated Mary 35-14, in Bismarck, N.D., on Saturday as Steve Pachan, making his first start, passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns. The Mavericks, who are averaging 34 points per game, beat the Wildcats 26-21 in Wayne, Neb., last year.

PLAYERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Logan Flannery, Bethel running back

The junior from Lakeville rushed 21 times for 139 yards in the Royals' 29-26 loss to Wheaton (Ill.), ranked No. 4 in Division III. Flannery scored four touchdowns in the Royals' season-opening 52-10 victory over Concordia (Wis.)

Steven King, Concordia (St. Paul) kicker

King, a junior from Johnston, Iowa, tied a school record by kicking three field goals in the Golden Bears' 45-35 victory at MSU Moorhead. King, a pitcher for the Golden Bears baseball team, was making his football debut.

BY THE NUMBERS

Passes attempted by Augsburg's Marcus Brumm in the Auggies' 34-21 loss at Wartburg (Iowa) on Saturday. Brumm completed 30 passes for 354 yards.

212

Receiving yards for Concordia (St. Paul) senior Jordan Schultenover in the Golden Bears' 45-35 victory over Minnesota State Moorhead. Schultenover, who had eight receptions, caught one touchdown pass and one two-point conversion pass.

2,085

Career rushing yards for Minnesota Duluth's Isaac Odim. The junior from Rochester, Minn., surpassed 2,000 in his 18th game -- the quickest to reach the mark in school history.

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