area college update
GAME OF THE WEEK
Augsburg (3-0, 2-0 MIAC) at Bethel (3-0, 1-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: The top two offenses in the MIAC square off for a share of the conference lead. Augsburg, which is averaging 493.7 yards and 41.7 points per game, is coming off a 55-20 victory over Hamline. The Auggies are 10-3 since the start of the 2012 season. Bethel, which is ranked No. 5 in the d3football.com poll, has the top-ranked offense and defense in the MIAC. The Royals are coming off a 58-14 victory over Carleton. Bethel edged the Auggies 21-20 last year.
WEEK 5 STORY LINES
• Despite having to replace the MIAC MVP (RB Brett Baune) and the MIAC's top lineman (OT Tom Knowlton) from last season, Concordia (Moorhead) is 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC after a 24-14 victory at St. John's last Saturday. The Cobbers, who are ranked No. 23 in the d3football.com poll, are 12-2 since the start of the 2012 season.
• St. Thomas, coming off a bye week, will play host to Carleton on Saturday. The Tommies (2-1, 0-1 MIAC), ranked No. 6 in the d3football.com poll, lost to St. John's 20-18 on Sept. 21. That loss ended three winning streaks for the Tommies — 36 consecutive in the regular season, 27 consecutive in the MIAC and 18 consecutive at home.
• Mitch Hendricks, a 5-11 sophomore from Laporte, Minn., is the third Gustavus Adolphus starting QB in the past three seasons. Hendricks has passed for 623 yards and two TDs while leading the Gusties to a 2-1 start. The Gusties were 3-7 last season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brandon Marquardt, RB, Bethel: The 5-10 junior from Champlin Park rushed for a career-high 181 yards (in 13 carries) and three TDs in the Royals' 58-14 victory over Carleton in Northfield last Saturday. In three games this season, Marquardt has rushed for 401 yards — averaging 10.0 yards per carry — and surpassed his 2012 total of 272 yards.
Chichi Ojika, RB, Winona State: The 5-8 senior from New Brighton rushed for 242 yards — averaging 13.4 yards per carry — to highlight the Warriors' 49-14 victory over Minot State last Saturday. Ojika has rushed for 496 yards — averaging 7.2 yards per carry — and six TDs in four games.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 Times in his career that St. Cloud State DB Jack Moro has intercepted three passes in a game. Moro, a senior from Brookfield, Wis., had three interceptions in the Huskies' 31-6 victory over Augustana to tie the school record of 19 career interceptions.
44 Victories in 45 games for Sioux Falls at its home field — Bob Young Field.
