9-man: Stephen-Argyle stays with what works; Nicollet wings it

Just as they did 10 years ago, Stephen-Argyle and Nicollet meet this morning in the Prep Bowl for the Nine-man football championship.

Both coaches, who were with their respective teams in 1999, are hoping for cleaner execution in this game.

A decade ago, the two teams combined for 11 fumbles and 12 penalties -- six on each side -- in an 18-8 Storm victory.

"It was a good, physical game, and really a lot of good defense was played in that game," said Stephen-Argyle coach Mark Kroulik, who -- not surprisingly -- was in charge of the Storm's defensive unit in '99. "That was probably the difference."

Kroulik has been involved with Nine-man football in Minnesota since 1974. Venues, players and coaches have changed since then. So, too, have offensive formations, especially in the past 10 years.

Today, he'll coach against a Nicollet team that prides itself on running a spread offense, with quarterback Jordan Rudenick more often than not lining up in a shotgun formation. In a 36-35 semifinal victory over Ada-Borup last week, Rudenick threw for 290 yards and five touchdowns.

The Storm, meanwhile, roll with what's worked for years: the old-fashioned wing-T offense.

"We're behind the times," Kroulik joked.

Perhaps. But when you're playing for a seventh state championship since 1999, why bother to change?

It's clear everyone has taken notice.

Said Raiders coach Tom Murphy: "It's always a good thing if you're playing Stephen-Argyle, because it probably means you're at least in the [state] semifinals."

BRIAN STENSAAS