Cathedral to meet Evans, McLeod West

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm High Eagles, the New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds and the Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers all are looking to extend their winning streaks to three games this weekend as the grid season nears its mid-way point.

Friday night, the Cathedral Greyhounds host Tyler Evans and McLeod West in a Southern Minnesota Conference football game while the New Ulm High Eagles hope to go 2-0 in the South Central Conference in a road game at Blue Earth.

Saturday afternoon, Minnesota Valley Lutheran will trek to Comfrey to meet Cedar Mountain/Comfrey in a 1:30 p.m. game.

MCLEOD WEST (4-0) AT NEW ULM CATHEDRAL (2-2) 7 P.M. FRIDAY

The Greyhounds have no reason to come out flat tonight in their game with McLeod West.

First, it is homecoming for the Hounds. Second, Cathedral has rolled off two straight wins after suffering two successive losses earlier in the year. And third, they are facing the top-ranked team in Class 1A in the Falcons and also the best high school running back in Minnesota this year in Tyler Evans.

It is a game that the Hounds need to be ready to play and coach Denny Lux feels that they will be prepared to meet all aspects of the Falcons' attack.

"They have Tyler Evans, but with any high school offense there are keys that their offensive line gives you and keys in their backfield," said Lux. "The thing that we have been working on in practice this week is that let's not focus on (Tyler Evans) the tailback. Let's focus on what is going on in front of the tailback as far as the offensive line and where the backs are stepping. We want to try and beat their offensive line to the ball and to the spot."

But it will be a hard task for a Hounds' defensive front that will be smaller that the Falcons' offensive line.

"They are bigger than we are," Lux said. "We do feel that we can be as quick as they are and in some spots of the field be quicker than them."

Lux hopes to combat the bigger offensive line by "our three interior men really holding their ground. We have some good linebackers that will get to the football. Staying on the line of scrimmage and not getting pushed off is the first order of business. From there, we need to read our keys because there are some things that they do that will take you to the play before the ball is actually there."

And Cathedral's defense has been opportunistic in the last two games, forcing a total of 12 turnovers.

"That is happening because we are getting pressure on the other team's quarterback. We have hit hard and that has been that all year," Lux said.

Cathedral will also be bolstered with players Billy and Dan Schreiber back, along with Minneota transfer Shane Balbach. Also back from surgery and ready to play is Dustin Wilfahrt.

"We know that we have a chance to play the top team in the state and it will be a great game," Lux said.

NEW ULM HIGH (2-2, 1-0) AT BLUE EARTH (3-1, 1-0)

New Ulm High hopes to stay in the hunt for the South Central Conference title when they play the Bucs Friday night in Blue Earth.

"They are a typical Blue Earth team. They run out of the I and do some veer. They will be a wide-open team that will run the ball but also can throw the ball when they need to," said Eagles coach Rick VanRoekel.

Leading the Bucs this year is fullback T.J. Stallmann, who returns to the Blue Earth backfield.

"He is a big back and is quick. They also have Shane Frederichson back at tight end," VanRoekel said.

On defense, Blue Earth will play a 4-3 defense with Frederickson at a linebacker.

"They will send people all game long (on blitzes)," said Van Roekel. "So our line play will be critical because they have to pick up the leaks. If they don't., we will have a hard time moving the ball. We had a problem doing that (in the first game of the season) against Luverne so hopefully, we have learned enough and can pick up those keys."

On defense, the Eagles have recorded two straight shutouts, which gives VanRoekel, who also handles the offense, reason for optimism.

"We used a lot of players (on defense) and they will play more. We can use that depth with the extra players, we can force turnovers and hold them in tact. That depth will really help because of the flu bug that is going around. That depth will be a key," he said.

New Ulm High will use Bobby Wellmann at quarterback.

"He has played well for us," VanRoekel said. "That will not change our offense. He has made some big strides there and he likes to go 100 miles an hour. He works hard and he can pass and run the option well.

"They will play a 4-3 defense against us. It is their homecoming so you know that they will be ready to play."

MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN (2-2) AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN/COMFREY, 1:30 P.M. SATURDAY

The Chargers want to extend their winning streak to three games when they take on the Cougars.

"They will show a lot of four wide receivers -- a West Coast style offense and their quarterback, Brook Christensen, has a strong arm and he is quick," MVL coach Jim Buboltz said. "He can run the ball well, also."

The Cougars offense is similar to the style used by Springfield last week.

"We made some mistakes (against Springfield) in our coverages but we have corrected that for this game," Buboltz said.

On defense, the Cougars will try to stop the run.

"They are a very ambitious group and get a good push forward. They will put anywhere from seven to nine players on the line," Buboltz said.

Buboltz feels his team has improved each game after losses to Sleepy Eye St. Mary's and McLeod West.

"We are improving each game and Joel Russow was able to run for 208 yards. That is the type of ball control that we want. We need to put all assets and facets of the game together Saturday," Buboltz said.

Buboltz added Russow along with Tim Nass have stepped up to lead the charge this year.

"Tim has done a fantastic job with the guys on the line.I would have to say Bryant Polzin, Tim Nass and Brady Lux have really helped everyone step up. But is has been a total team effort in the winning streak," Buboltz said.