Area school update: Saturday's games to watch

By JOEL RIPPEL, Star Tribune

Last update: October 16, 2009 - 12:14 AM

SATURDAY'S GAMES TO WATCH

St. Thomas (5-0, 4-0 MIAC) at St. John's (6-0, 4-0), 1 p.m.

The winner of this game will take a big step toward the MIAC title, by moving into sole possession of first place with three games remaining. St. Thomas, which is ranked No. 15 in the Division III poll, is coming off a 31-17 victory over Concordia (Moorhead). The Tommies have scored 166 points in four MIAC games. The Tommies have lost 11 consecutive games to the Johnnies and haven't won in Collegeville since 1986. St. John's, ranked No. 6, is coming off a 41-10 victory over Hamline. The Johnnies have allowed only 53 points in four conference games. The Johnnies beat the Tommies 12-9 in St. Paul last year and have won 15 of the past 16 games between the two, giving them a 48-28 lead in the series.

St. Cloud State (4-3, 3-0 NSIC North) at Minn. Duluth (6-1, 3-0), 1 p.m. St. Cloud state has won four consecutive games since opening the season 0-3. The huskies have scored 160 points in their past three games -- victories over Upper Iowa (57-10), Bemidji State (38-27) and Minn.-Crookston (65-7). Minn. Duluth, ranked No. 9 in the NCAA Division II poll, has won five consecutive games since a 13-10 loss to Central Washington on Sept. 3. The Bulldogs, who defeated Northern State 42-0 last Saturday, have won 16 consecutive NSIC games. Isaac Odim has rushed for 1,142 yards and scored 22 touchdowns.

Wayne State (5-2, 2-1 NSIC South) at Winona State (5-2, 3-1), 1 p.m.

Wayne State, ranked No. 24 in Division II, will try to rebound from a 21-10 loss at Bemidji State last Saturday. Wildcats quarterback Silas Fluellen passed for 150 yards and became the NSIC's all-time leader in career passing yards (7,759). Winona State, which lost to Bemidji State 24-19 on Sept. 12, is coming off a 46-9 victory at Upper Iowa. Warriors quarterback Greg Preston passed for 350 yards -- the seventh-highest total in school history -- as the Warriors scored on nine of their 13 possessions.

PLAYERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Jordan Becker, Gustavus, QB

Becker, a senior from Easton, Minn., passed for 310 yards and five TDs in a 34-33 victory over Pacific Lutheran. On the season, he has thrown for 1,120 yards and 11 TDs.

Dan Fehlberg, MSU Mankato, LB

Fehlberg, a junior from Champlin, leads the Mavericks with 59 tackles. Fehlberg has 19 tackles in the past three games, in which the Mavericks have allowed only 22 points.

BY THE NUMBERS

Kicks blocked by Minnesota State Mankato in its 54-3 victory over Concordia (St. Paul). The Mavericks blocked two punts and two field-goal attempts, all in the first half.

Points allowed by Augustana in a 29-7 victory Saturday over Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn. SW Minnesota State went into the game ranked third in the nation in scoring (42.3 points per game). It was the Vikings' 12th consecutive victory over the Mustangs.

Touchdown passes thrown -- five by each team -- in Gustavus' 34-33 victory over Pacific Lutheran. The Division III record for touchdown passes in a game is 12, set by St. Thomas and Bethel in 1993. Each team had six in that game.

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