Knights' chance for redemption is today

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- For 20 days, the Martin Luther Knights have waited for today. Today, the Knights get a chance for redemption.

On Oct. 6, the Northwestern (Roseville) Eagles thumped MLC 39-6. MLC led 6-0 early, trailed only 12-6 at half and drove deep into Northwestern territory in the third quarter for what appeared to be a touchdown that would have at least tied the game.

An interception resulted in a touchback. One play later, Northwestern led 19-6. Fifty-four seconds later, Northwestern led 25-6.

At about 8 p.m. today, MLC (4-4, 4-1 UMAC) and NAIA No. 25 Northwestern (8-0, 5-0) will meet in a 1 vs. 2 UMAC rematch at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. And redemption is a factor.

"I think it's big," MLC coach Dennis Gorsline said. "I think we felt embarrassed that we didn't play real well. We were embarrassed that it looked like we gave up. We're ashamed of the way we played. Individually, a lot of our guys didn't have their best games. ... It's like, 'We're not as bad as you beat us.'"

Northwestern coach Kirk Talley knows the Knights are not as bad as the Eagles beat them.

"The score doesn't indicate the closeness of the talent of the teams," Talley said. "If you take away the three or four big plays that we got, it would have been a very different game."

Since the debacle in St. Paul, MLC has cruised to a pair of wins -- 35-7 over Trinity (N.D.) and 37-6 over Maranatha. Now, the Knights get what they wanted.

But the task will be no easier tonight than it was 20 days ago. Northwestern leads the UMAC in total offense, scoring and total defense.

The Eagles can run and they can throw equally effectively. Northwestern is averaging 454.1 yards of total offense per game -- rushing for 228.5 yards per game and passing for 225.6 yards per contest.

But the No. 1 priority for the Knights will be to stop Joe Wise. The Eagles' 5-foot-5, 155-pound senior tailback rushed for 228 yards and two touchdowns against MLC Oct. 6.

It was Wise who effectively turned a close game into a rout. It was Wise who went 80 and 54 yards for those two touchdowns that turned a 12-6 Northwestern lead into a 25-6 Northwestern lead.

"We have to stop the run," Gorsline said. "Mr. Wise, he's very good. Their line's very good. And they're very patient. They'll run him a lot."

The question is, can the Knights stop the Eagles' offense, and in particular, Wise?

MLC will junk its regular 4-3 defense in favor of a Split-6.

"We're going in with an entirely different defense, that we haven't run," Gorsline said. "You got to have penetration, you got to do some slanting, you got to come hard from the edge, you got to do some looping."

Gorsline installed the Split-6 just this week. He believes the Knights can execute it. But that also leaves open other areas for the Eagles to possibly exploit.

With as many as eight men committed to stopping the run, the Knights secondary could be vulnerable in the air. And the Northwestern has proven they can decimate a defense with its passing game.

Eagles senior quarterback Dave Griffieth was the UMAC Offensive Player of the Week last week, going 17 of 28 for 360 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-14 Northwestern rout of Mount Senario. On the season, Griffieth is the UMAC's leading passer hitting 121 of 209 (57.9 percent) for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns.

"We're approaching the game a little bit differently (than Oct. 6)," Talley said. "But nothing big. We'll make some adjustments, as will they, but ... we've been successful so we're not going to change a whole lot."

MLC will counter with an offense that is second in the conference, averaging 378 yards per game. Gorsline will start senior Ben Kuerth, who is second in the UMAC in passing (134-277, 1,702 yards, 8 TDs, 15 interceptions).

"I'm going to start Ben, because he's a senior," Gorsline said. "Go with his script, and then we're going to put Seth (Fitzsimmons) in and go with his script. Then I don't have a plan after that."

Whether it's Kuerth or Fitzsimmons, the Eagles will be equally wary.

"They're both real good," Talley said. "They're similar in a lot of respects. Kuerth has the senior savvy and Fitzsimmons is maybe more accurate. He's done really well to be able to compete as a sophomore with (Kuerth)."

The Knights have three of the UMAC's top six receivers. Senior Mike Feuerstahler leads the conference with 65 catches for 753 yards (11.6 yards/reception) and six touchdowns.

Both teams will enter the game fairly healthy. Talley lists no key players who will miss the game; Gorsline said wide receivers Stephawn Coleman (thigh contusion) and Casey Holtz (walking pneumonia) are listed as probable.

Senior running back Eli Cloute (ankle stress fracture) will be a game-time decision.

"If he can go at all, he's going to go," Gorsline said.

That's what this game means.