Knights looking for first victory

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- They're big and they're bad. Not much has changed with the Mount Senario Saints.

Except they're better.

There's also that Mount Senario mystique.

"I don't play that up, that we're the mighty Mount Senario," MSC coach Vince Brautigam said. "We treat every game the same way -- if we're mentally focused and we execute, we're going to have an opportunity to win."

No one will argue MSC (2-1) doesn't have that opportunity when the Saints meet Martin Luther (0-2) at 1 p.m. today in Ladysmith, Wis. The Saints are senior-laden, including an offensive line (four of the five, including two fifth-year seniors) that averages 308.8 pounds.

"They're really big up front, on both sides," MLC coach Dennis Gorsline said. "They got a running back that the pros are looking at, and they got their quarterback from two years ago back."

MSC now has two senior quarterbacks. Should starter Perry Myren (6-5, 222) falter, Zach Gustafson (6-3, 225) is ready to step in.

Myren is 22 of 48 (45.8 percent) for 386 yards and two touchdowns in 2000. His numbers may not be fantastic, but they don't have to be.

The Saints still have 5-foot-9, 166-pound tailback Chris Singletary. As a sophomore, Singletary shredded the Knight defense for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

In three games this season, and against quality nonconference competition, Singletary has shown no signs of slowing down. The junior from South Fork, Fla., is averaging 133.3 yards per game with four touchdowns.

"I think he's probably better," Brautigam said, "better from a perspective standpoint. He sees better. He let's it come to him now more. He's letting things develop more this year."

Defensively, MSC has allowed an average of 18 points per game, but is only allowing 241.7 yards of total offense.

Last year, the Knights rolled up 398 yards -- 315 through the air. That's where Gorsline expects to get most of the yards today.

"I don't think we're going to be able to run much against them," Gorsline said. "We have an awful time running the ball against those folks."

Brautigam is not so sure.

"He's got (Eli) Cloute back," Brautigam said. "We expect him to run the ball. He's a good, hard runner, so we expect Dennis to come out and try and run the ball."

Cloute -- a 5-foot-10, 174-pound junior -- returned last week and scored his first touchdown in two years, but was largely ineffective, rushing for four yards on 13 carries against Carthage in the Knights' 34-14 loss.

When the Knights pass, they'll be facing a pass rush just as hard as they faced against Carthage, but MLC did have success last season against MSC even though the Saints focused on Mark Jacobson. That opened up Mike Feuerstahler, who caught 15 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown.

This year, the Saints' focus will be on Feuerstahler, who has been the target of opposing secondaries in the Knights' first two games. Feuerstahler has 12 receptions for 152 yards without a touchdown in 2000.

The good news for MLC is the progress of Matt Schiebel -- a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior. Schiebel leads the Knights with 13 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown.

Feuerstahler and Schiebel will go up against a Saints' defense that already has five interceptions -- two each from cornerback Damon Landrum (6-0, 178) and strong safety Ronnie Thomas (6-0, 201). Both Landrum and Thomas are fourth-year juniors.

"We're thinking we're going to get bump coverage, they're going to try to jam us at the line," Gorsline said. "Last year, we threw a lot of short stuff. If you hang the ball up in the air, they'll fair catch it. They've got a lot of speed."

Gorsline will start junior Ben Kuerth at quarterback, but freshman Seth Fitzsimmons (6-2, 220) will likely play.

"I know they can throw the ball," Brautigam said. "But we always try to take the care of the line of scrimmage first. The truth is, I won't know what Dennis is going to do until we get to Saturday. They run a lot of multiple sets, and they've got a heckuva quarterback."

Now the conference schedule has started, and better or not, Brautigam knows the Saints will be the hunted. And records won't matter.

"We're so used to each other," Brautigam said. "It's all a matter of execution. Our records have no bearing on Saturday. They're going to be ready to play."