2008 Woodie Awards
No longer perfect in NSIC, MSU looks to start new streak
Mavericks and Golden Bears face off for first time since 2005
by Josh Berhow
Issue date: 10/9/08
Section: Mens Sports
After losing its first conference game of the season Saturday to Augustana, the Minnesota State football team hosts Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium.
Though the Mavericks are coming off a loss - in a game they could have easily won - head coach Todd Hoffner expects his team to come out ready to play against the Golden Bears.
"It's very important we come out with inspired energy and enthusiasm to compete right out of the gate," Hoffner said.
The Mavericks enter Saturday's game 4-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and have won their four previous games up to last weekend's defeat.
It's been a long time since MSU was 4-0 in the conference, which it was before last weekend. Hoffner, however, doesn't believe it was the pressure of an undefeated conference record that led to his team's first conference loss.
"We were as calm as we could have been last week," Hoffner said. "It was a clear and defining loss, 41-38. [Augustana] plays very well at home."
The Mavericks head into Saturday's game with the obvious statistical edge, averaging 33.4 points per game to CSP's 15.
The Mavericks defense shouldn't be tested as much as last week, when Joe Clark ran for 208 yards against them, as the Golden Bears are averaging just 2 yards per carry a game.
Redshirt-freshman Spencer Ohm led the Golden Bears offense to an away win last weekend against Mary. Ohm threw for 133 yards and was 13 of 22 through the air.
Kickoff for the South Division game between the Mavericks (4-2, 4-1 NSIC) and Golden Bears (2-3, 3-3) is slated for 1 p.m.
Notes: MSU was ranked sixth in the first edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings released Tuesday.
The Mavericks are in "Super Regional Three," which includes three teams from the NSIC, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Minnesota-Duluth and Augustana join the Mavericks as NSIC teams in the region. Grand Valley State of the GLIAC - who joins the Mavericks' region - is the top-ranked team in the nation.
The top six teams in each region make the NCAA postseason, with the top two teams receiving byes.
Josh Berhow is the Reporter sports editor
Though the Mavericks are coming off a loss - in a game they could have easily won - head coach Todd Hoffner expects his team to come out ready to play against the Golden Bears.
"It's very important we come out with inspired energy and enthusiasm to compete right out of the gate," Hoffner said.
The Mavericks enter Saturday's game 4-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and have won their four previous games up to last weekend's defeat.
It's been a long time since MSU was 4-0 in the conference, which it was before last weekend. Hoffner, however, doesn't believe it was the pressure of an undefeated conference record that led to his team's first conference loss.
"We were as calm as we could have been last week," Hoffner said. "It was a clear and defining loss, 41-38. [Augustana] plays very well at home."
The Mavericks head into Saturday's game with the obvious statistical edge, averaging 33.4 points per game to CSP's 15.
The Mavericks defense shouldn't be tested as much as last week, when Joe Clark ran for 208 yards against them, as the Golden Bears are averaging just 2 yards per carry a game.
Redshirt-freshman Spencer Ohm led the Golden Bears offense to an away win last weekend against Mary. Ohm threw for 133 yards and was 13 of 22 through the air.
Kickoff for the South Division game between the Mavericks (4-2, 4-1 NSIC) and Golden Bears (2-3, 3-3) is slated for 1 p.m.
Notes: MSU was ranked sixth in the first edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings released Tuesday.
The Mavericks are in "Super Regional Three," which includes three teams from the NSIC, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Minnesota-Duluth and Augustana join the Mavericks as NSIC teams in the region. Grand Valley State of the GLIAC - who joins the Mavericks' region - is the top-ranked team in the nation.
The top six teams in each region make the NCAA postseason, with the top two teams receiving byes.
Josh Berhow is the Reporter sports editor
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