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Grand Valley State (11-1) at Minnesota-Duluth (11-1)
Coach Bob Nielson said the Bulldogs played
their best game of the season last week in their 42-7 victory over
Nebraska-Kearney. It was a good time for it, considering it was playoff time,
but this week, they will need that same type of performance if they want to
advance into the NCAA Division II Playoff semi-finals.
Isaac Odim had another outstanding performance
as he rushed for three touchdowns in the win last week, and freshman quarterback
Chace Vogler tossed one and ran for another in the win.
. Let's face it we know that the Bulldogs have
an outstanding offense, led by their powerful and unstoppable rushing attack
Last week, Odim went over 100-yards rushing for the 12th time this season, in
12-games, additionally Odim became Minnesota Duluth's All Time leading rusher,
with 3,379-yards. Not bad for a guy in his second season at Minnesota Duluth. I
don't know who is going to get the Harlon Hill Trophy, but I can tell you who
would get my vote, none other than Isaac Odim.
However, what has been overlooked in all of
this is the one thing that sets them a part from everyone else, it's their
defense. On the season the Bulldogs have been nothing short of phenomenal, last
week they held Nebraska Kearney's offense to just 63-yards through three
quarters of football. That wasn't a middle of the road NSIC team they beat, it
was 11-2 Nebraska Kearney, a team that came into the game rushing for over
3,100-yards on the season. The Bulldog defense rendered that offense useless. In
fact, through five playoff games in the last two seasons the Bulldog defense has
only given up five touchdowns, including Minnesota Duluth's 19-13 win over Grand
Valley in Allendale.
In that game Odim rushed for 130-yards and a
touchdown, while the Bulldog Defense held Grand Valley to less than 300-yards of
total offense. In fact, statistically the game was pretty even, but Duluth
picked off Grand Valley quarterback Brad Iciek three times in the contest, one
of those interceptions set up an early score, the second ended the game in
overtime.
This season Grand Valley Iciek has only been
intercepted twice, while throwing for over 2,600 yards and 29-touchdown passes.
James Berezik has been the Lakers leading rusher on the season, rushing for
1,153 yards and four touchdowns. The offensive line has been tremendous only
giving up six sacks, and creating enough room to rush for 2800-yards on the
season. Defensively the Lakers have been able to put some heat on opposing
quarterbacks recording 42-sacks this season, led by Danny Richard with 10-sacks.
Enrique Shaw has the team lead in interceptions; he has intercepted three of the
Lakers 14 INT's on the season.
Then there's this other little factor, in
Minnesota on Thanksgiving weekend, this little thing we like to call winter. If
there is one thing I have learned about the weather this year in Minnesota is
that just when you think you have it figured out, it changes. A cold October,
followed by what has been an abnormally warm November. But along the North Shore
the forecast is calling for a seasonal 38-degree with mostly sunny conditions.
That's about as nice as you can get for a November 28th game, in Duluth,
Minnesota.
Considering I am the Northern Sun columnist I
don't think my pick is going to surprise anyone, I am going to take the Bulldogs
to emerge. Expect it to be close, the whole way through, but I'm going to go
with the home team in this one.
Extra Point: Grand Valley quarterback Brad
Iciek has thrown just two interceptions in 273-pass attempts this season. His
pass interception rate is just over seven-tenths of 1-percent on the season.
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