Saturday's area college football to watch

By JOEL RIPPEL, Star Tribune

Last update: September 25, 2009 - 12:42 AM

SATURDAY'S GAMES TO WATCH

Concordia of Moorhead (2-1, 0-1 MIAC) at Bethel (2-1, 1-0), 1 p.m. Concordia is coming off a 31-19 loss to St. John's in Moorhead. The Cobbers trailed only 17-12 at halftime but the Johnnies scored twice in the third quarter. Cobbers quarterback Andrew Larson, who played safety last season, passed for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for a touchdown. Bethel is coming off a 42-7 victory over Carleton in Northfield. The Royals rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns to grind out the victory. Logan Flannery has rushed for 325 yards in the Royals' three games. Concordia defeated Bethel 24-7 in Moorhead in 2008.

MSU Mankato (4-0, 3-0 NSIC) at Winona State (3-1, 2-1), 1 p.m. Going into this season, MSU Mankato was 0-5 in program history in overtime games. This season, the Mavericks are 2-0. On Sept. 5, the Mavericks defeated Bemidji State 37-34 in one overtime. Last Saturday, the Mavericks, ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division II poll, defeated No. 20 Wayne State 37-34 in two overtimes. Winona State is coming off a 45-24 victory over Concordia (St. Paul). The Warriors' only loss was 24-19 at Bemidji State on Sept. 19. The Warriors have scored 116 points in three conference games.

St. John's (3-0, 2-0 MIAC) at Gustavus Adolphus (1-1, 1-0), 1 p.m. St. John's, ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division III poll, is coming off a 31-19 victory over Concordia in Moorhead. Johnnies senior Kyle Schroeder recovered two Cobbers fumbles inside the 5-yard line in the first half to help the Johnnies hold off Concordia. Joe Boyle has passed for 659 yards and six touchdowns (with only one interception) in the Johnnies' first three games. Gustavus is coming off a 30-24 double-overtime victory over Hamline. It was the first victory for Gusties first-year coach Peter Haugen. The Gusties opened the season with a 27-24 loss to Coe. Cameron Maurer has 12 receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns in two games. St. John's defeated the Gusties 31-17 in 2008.

PLAYERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Jake Aberg, MSU Mankato running back The redshirt freshman from Winterset, Iowa, rushed for 205 yards (in 23 carries) in the Mavericks' 37-34 victory over Wayne State. Aberg is only the third back in school history to rush for more than 200 yards in a game.

Ben Wartman, St. Thomas running back Wartman, a junior from Prior Lake, rushed for 134 yards and scored three TDs in the second half of the Tommies' 27-16 victory over St. Olaf. He finished with 176 yards as he reached 100 yards for the ninth time in the past 10 games.

BY THE NUMBERS

7 Losses by seven or fewer points in the past nine MIAC games for Hamline. Hamline lost to Gustavus 30-24 in two overtimes last Saturday. Six of the Pipers' eight MIAC losses in 2008 were by seven or fewer points -- five by three or fewer.

13 Consecutive victories in the NSIC by Minn. Duluth. The Bulldogs have also won 13 consecutive road games going into Saturday's game in Bismarck, N.D., against Mary.

3,615 The attendance (a standing-room-only crowd) for the inaugural game at Concordia-St. Paul's Sea Foam Stadium last Saturday. Winona State defeated the Golden Bears 45-24.