Area small college update

Area college update

GAME OF THE WEEK

Augsburg at Wartburg (Iowa.), 7 p.m. Saturday: This game has two of the top QBs in Division III. Logan Schrader of Wartburg is the first-team preseason All-America QB picked by D3football.com after passing for 3,187 yards and 30 TDs in 2014. Ayrton Scott of Augsburg is a three-time all-MIAC first-teamer. Wartburg is ranked No. 6 after going 12-1 last season, including playoff wins over St. Thomas and St. John's.

Week 1 story lines

• Conference bragging rights are on the line Saturday with three games matching MIAC and UMAC teams: Northwestern (Roseville) at St. Olaf, Minnesota-Morris at Hamline and Gustavus at Crown.

• Reigning UMAC champ St. Scholastica will be at Ripon, Wis. Ripon was only 3-7 last season, but four of those losses were by a combined 15 points, including a 28-27 defeat to the Saints in last year's opener in Duluth.

• Hamline is hoping for the school's first .500 or better season since 1995. Chad Rogosheske's team was 4-6 a year ago in his second season as head coach, and he has senior RB Austin Duncan, the school record-holder for rushing yards and TDs.

Sam Sura, RB, St. John's: The former South St. Paul star set a school record with 1,769 rushing yards last season, earning the MIAC most valuable player award and consensus first-team Division III All-America honors.

Colton Blascyk, LB, Bemidji State: Despite missing the final two games of last season because of a leg injury, he recorded 79 tackles — eighth in the NSIC — including 13 tackles for losses and three sacks. The senior from Kensington. Minn., and West Central Area HS leads a defense hoping to rebound from last year's 3-8 record.

BY THE NUMBERS

27 Seniors on St. Thomas roster, the most in Glenn Caruso's eight seasons as coach.

11 Starters returning for Macalester from last season's 9-2 team that won the Midwest Conference title.