Week of

import

for city

squads

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- It will be a big week for all three football teams in New Ulm as all will face huge games that not only will have ramifications in respective conference races but also will determine postseason seedings.

Friday night, New Ulm High will host St. Peter in a key South Central Conference matchup while New Ulm Cathedral will travel west to take on the high-flying Knights from Sleepy Eye St. Mary's.

Saturday night at Johnson Park, Minnesota Valley Lutheran will host the defending Class 1A champions -- Sleepy Eye High.

ST. PETER AT NEW ULM HIGH, 7 P.M. FRIDAY

Not only is this a big SCC meeting, it is also the Eagles' homecoming. Both teams are coming off wins with the Saints crushing Fairmont 40-0 and New Ulm High using another solid defensive effort to beat Blue Earth 12-7.

"(St. Peter) did do some things different with their offense last week in that they went with a single back with two wings and then one of the wings would go in motion to kind of make it look like a broken-bone offense," said New Ulm High coach Rick VanRoekel. "They have not done that a whole lot in the past but we may see some of that ."

VanRoekel said that the Saints' front line "is bigger than we are but speed-wise, we are comparable."

Leading the Saints is quarterback Adam TeBrake.

"He is a decent quarterback and has good size (6-3, 200) and is not afraid to carry the ball," VanRoekel said. "We not only have to worry about their running backs (Kurt Gostomzik and Jon Fitch) but also TeBrake. He can run or throw the ball. That will give us a few problems also."

St. Peter, which lost to Waseca 14-12 earlier in the year, uses its standard Radar defense that has become its staple over the years.

"We have had some success against that lately as we have made some adjustments," VanRoekel said. "We have had some good linemen that have helped us along with the backs. We have had success running the ball and we will keep doing that until they can stop us."

While the Radar defense is the Saints' strong point, New Ulm High's "Purple Reign" defense has been outstanding. In the last 12 quarters, New Ulm High has allowed only seven points.

"It is a big game because if we win and Waseca (also unbeaten in the SCC) both win," VanRoekel said, "we would be right up there."

Linebacker Charles Ganske should be near 100 percent for the game, according to VanRoekel.

New Ulm High will also have its "Tailgate Night" prior to the game with hot dogs, chips, beans and pop to go on sale at 5:30 p.m. courtesy of Cashwise Foods in New Ulm.

CATHEDRAL AT ST. MARY'S, 7 P.M. FRIDAY, SLEEPY EYE

There are rivals and then there are rivals. This is a rivalry and a big game for both teams.

"I think that they have a quality team," said Greyhounds coach Denny Lux.

Last week, it was the running of McLeod West's Tyler Evans. Friday night, it will be an air show provided by the arm of Chad Armbruster.

"We will see a completely different offense," Lux said. "He has about three or four guys that he will throw to and they also have some quick backs that we need to be concerned about."

Lux said the Knights offense means a new defensive scheme for the Hounds.

"This game, we need to get some speed in our secondary and speed at our outside linebackers," he said. "We feel that we have that speed to match up with them as far as their passing game."

That means some personnel changes on defense with Tony Moldan starting as a defensive back with Shane Balbach and Luke Schmitz as outside linebackers. Jacob Mertz and Jimmy Vancura will start in the secondary.

"We are also going to have to have some solid defensive end play to keep Armbruster from getting outside. If he has any kind of time, he can throw the ball and he can run the ball," Lux said.

Mike Kuehn will return after sitting out with an ankle injury and Schmitz will return after suffering a concussion early in the game with McLeod West.

Lux commented the Knights "are a good run defense. They did a great job against Tyler Evans. They have some good size on the inside and they have active linebackers. We are going to have to earn every yard."

Dusty Wilfahrt, who took over for Tony Moldan last week, will start at quarterback for Cathedral.

Lux feels that the 24-14 advantage that Cathedral held over McLeod West in the fourth quarter last week may carry over to this game.

"We feel that that game was a better game than our first two losses of the year to Sleepy Eye Public and Red Rock Central," he said. "We felt that we did some things on offense. I think that the kids had a good taste in their mouth after that game. This is a big game for both teams and will have a lot to do about the section seedings."

SLEEPY EYE HIGH AT MVL, 7 P.M. SATURDAY

This is a big game for both teams. MVL is coming off of a 48-7 shelling of Cedar Mountain/Comfrey while the Indians also won last week, topping Springfield 42-32.

"They are very well coached," said Chargers coach Jim Buboltz. "Dean Deibele and his staff do a great job of not only getting their kids prepared but also make key game-time adjustments. Last week, they did that and won."

The Indians have a high-powered offense in quarterback Bryce Belseth along with Cody Walter, Jose Saenz and Josh Hadley.

"You cannot center in on one area or player," commented Buboltz. "They have a very good offensive line and their specialty people are very good. They are dangerous on every play ... They have diverse personnel. They all can hurt you.

The Indians will use a 4-4 or a 5-3 defense "and bring a lot of pressure from their defensive ends (Belseth and Saenz)," Buboltz said.

"This is one of those games -- especially after last year's loss to them in the sectionals -- you need to win," Buboltz said. "We want to be able to finish with a high sectional seed and challenge for a conference title. 'We want to stay up with teams in our sectional like Windom and (United South Central) so that we can obtain homefield advantage for the playoffs."