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.
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.
