If last year’s game is any indication, Saturday’s homecoming game against Concordia College (2-2) should be a tough, tight game. So far this season, the Tommies, ranked 15th nationally in Division III, haven’t seen any close battles.
In 2008, St. Thomas squeaked out a 14-13 win in Moorhead in a game in which St. Thomas didn’t have the lead until the fourth quarter.
Concordia will come to O’Shaughnessy Stadium with a balanced attack on offense – averaging 149 yards rushing and 153 yards passing per game – and a defense that allows about 325 yards each game. Concordia has yet to win a game in the MIAC, so the Cobbers will be playing with something to prove.
The Cobbers’ offensive anchor is senior quarterback Andrew Larson. He currently leads the team in rushing yards (2.6 yards per carry), passing yards (140 yards per game) and touchdowns (4).
Senior linebacker Tommy Becker said the defensive strategy for bottling up the Cobber offense is fairly simple.
“We just have to be defensively sound,” he said. “It’s a good week to play responsible football, knowing everyone will do their job. They are a disciplined team with a great system that allows them to compete in the MIAC and with other good teams.”
On defense the Cobbers rely on junior safety Zach Debeltz, senior linebacker Jed LaPlante and junior linebacker Guy Rudolph. All three have recorded 27 or more tackles this season.
“Our main goal is ball security,” said senior wide receiver Tony Margarit. “We’ve done pretty good so far this year – I think we’ve lost only one fumble – but it’s really important this week. They have an experienced defense made up of mostly seniors.”
Though the offensive styles of the Tommies and the Cobbers couldn’t be more different – Concordia runs an old-school, triple-option attack and St. Thomas a more pro-style offense – their basic philosophies couldn’t be more similar: Dominate the opponent and impose your will on every snap.
Concordia’s two wins came against non-conference opponents Willamette University and Valley City State University. The Cobbers lost to Saint John’s University and Bethel University.
The Tommies are coming off 45-12 win over Gustavus Adolphus College.
Matt Wolfgram can be reached at mnwolfgram@stthomas.edu