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Nebraska-Kearney (11-1) at Minnesota Duluth
(10-1)
The University of Minnesota Duluth and
Nebraska-Kearney meet for the first time this week in the second round of the
Super Region 3 Playoffs.
The Bulldogs come off a bye and find themselves
as the number one seed in the tournament, having won 10-straight games coming
into it. This time of year though, the road gets a little tougher for all of the
remaining teams in Division II Football, the Bulldogs though I think have the
toughest match up they've had in quite a few weeks this week.
Nebraska-Kearney lost their season opener at
Wayne State 21-16. Since that time the Lopers have won 11-straight games. The
Bulldogs lost their second game of the year, so since that point, they have won
10-straight, so 21-straight wins combined between these two teams who will meet
up on Saturday.
The nice thing for the University of
Minnesota-Duluth they enter the playoffs relatively healthy. Chace Vogler has
played most of the season at quarterback, so that is nothing new for the Bulldog
team, outside of that, they should have everyone healthy.
On paper, the Lopers have a balanced and
explosive offensive attack. Like the Bulldogs they have run the ball for over
3-thousand yards this season, their rushing attack is led by Rustin Dring, who
is over 1,500-yards on the season to this point. Quarterback Jake Spitzlberger
(excuse me) is a dual threat. He has thrown for 2,241 yards 24 touchdowns,
additionally though he ran for 674 yards and nine touchdowns. Additionally,
receiver Kyle Keiser is explosive averaging 24.5 yards per catch on the season,
which included a 99-yard touchdowns reception during the season. Duluth's
defense has given up only 12-points a game this season, and has allowed only 600
yards rushing all season and when a defense can do that, you will find yourself
in almost any football game.
I think the match up to watch in this game will
be the Duluth offense against the Kearney rush defense. I say that because
Duluth is not the balanced offensive team they were a season ago, they have
reverted to Jim Malosky football, which means power running, and winning games
on the ground. Through 11-games, and 10-starts this season Vogler has attempted
150 passes, that's an average of just 14 per game. Maybe it's because they have
been playing with a lead all season, but the Kearney run defense is no slouch.
All season long, I have sung the praises of
Isaac Odim, Brad Foss and the rest of the Duluth rushing offense,
Nebraska-Kearney through 12-games this season has given up only 999-yards on the
ground.
That is probably one of the reasons that since
taking over the Bulldog program, Bob Nielson has been a proponent of offensive
balance. The best offense's keep the defense's guessing, by keeping them off
balance. In order for Duluth to do that, they may need to show more balance.
That is the one thing that we remain to see
from the young Vogler. I have said it before, but reminds me of a young Ted
Schlafke, now we'll see if he has the ability to be that same type of player.
He is going to have to throw the ball
successfully Saturday to lead the Bulldogs to a win, because he will certainly
expect to see a tough rush defense loaded for the run, but I think he'll get it
done and lead Duluth to a victory.
Extra Point: Lost in a lot of the NCAA Division
II Championship hoopla, last year, was RMAC member Chadron State last year
giving Duluth their toughest battle of the playoffs in their first playoff game.
It was a difficult 20-10 win for the Bulldogs, who had to scratch and fight to
get past the Eagles, the Lopers are also a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference.
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