The Gustie defense makes a gang-tackle.
Senior wide receiver Kerry Zajicek moved past 1,000 career receiving yards against Hamline.
Running back Mitch Anderson busts through the line against St. Thomas.
Sophomore wide receiver Chad Arlt leads the MIAC in receptions and receiving yards.
Welcome
Gustavus welcomes the St. Olaf College to Lloyd Hollingsworth Field today for a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup. The Gusties are 2-1, 1-1 in the MIAC after last weekend’s 20-8 win at Hamline. St. Olaf enters today’s contest with a 4-0 overall record, 2-0 in the MIAC after a 68-17 home win over Augsburg last weekend.
Gustavus celebrates some of its greatest student-athletes this weekend, inducting nine individuals into its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2006 inductees include Debbie Jungwirth Borman ’87 (Volleyball), Tina Pulido Draper ’87 (Gymnastics), John Huepenbecker ’80 (Football), John Jambeck ’62 (Swimming), Deanne Sand Johnson ’89 (Tennis), Dick Kumlin ’55 (Basketball), Dan Prochnow ’78 (Golf), Jeri Ree ’88 (Basketball), and Stacey Rodman ’89 (Swimming).
The Series
Gustavus and St. Olaf will be facing each other for the 54th time today. The Gusties hold a 35-18 advantage in the all-time series. Gustavus has won 11 of 16 games in the series dating back to the 1990 season, but St. Olaf has won the last three meetings. The last time Gustavus registered a victory in the series was 2002 when Coach Jay Schoenebeck’s Gusties eked out a 24-23 win in Northfield.
Meet the Head Coaches
Gustavus Head Coach Jay Schoenebeck (’80) is in his 13th season directing his alma mater. Schoenebeck has compiled a record of 59-64 overall, and 53-53 in the MIAC. Schoenebeck’s squads have placed in the top four in the MIAC in six of the past eight seasons. Chris Meidt is in his fifth season directing the efforts of the Ole football program. A 1992 graduate of Bethel College, Meidt has posted a 28-16 overall record, including 19-15 in the MIAC.
A LOOK AT TODAY’S GAME
A Glimpse of the Gusties
Gustavus got back on the winning track last Saturday, evening its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record at 1-1 with a 20-8 victory over Hamline in St. Paul. The Gusties trailed 8-6 at the half, but rallied with two third-quarter touchdowns.
The Pipers got on the scoreboard first with a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the second quarter. The Gusties responded with 1:31 to play in the first half as junior quarterback Jordan Stolp found tight end in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown play to cut the Piper lead to 8-6. Gustavus’ attempt at a two-point conversion failed, as did a 34-yard field goal attempt by Jordan Stolp as the first half came to a close.
Gustavus scored touchdowns on both of its drives in the third quarter. The first score came as Adam Lukes ran it in from two yards out, capping a 13-play, 63-yard drive. The second came as Stolp connected with wide receiver Kerry Zajicek for a 13-yard touchdown, giving Gustavus a 20-8 lead. The Gusties nearly added to their lead early in the fourth quarter, driving to the Hamline 1-yard line, but the Pipers recovered a Gustavus fumble in their own end zone to end the threat with a touchback.
Gustavus outgained Hamline 317-196 in total offense, holding the Pipers to 105 yards passing and 91 yards on the ground. The Gusties got what they needed through the air as Stolp went 20-of-29 for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Chad Arlt led all Gustie receivers with eight grabs for 94 yards, while Zajicek hauled in six balls for 63 yards. Ray Wilson was the leading ground-gainer for the Gusties with 26 yards on eight carries. Defensively, Gustavus linebacker Adam Miron led all players with 10 tackles, while defensive lineman Nick David added six tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Field position played a large part in Gustavus’ second half success. During the final two quarters, the Gusties’ average starting position was their own 45-yard line. All but one of Hamline’s drives all afternoon started inside its own 30-yard line.
A View of the Oles
St. Olaf rolled to a 68-17 win over visiting Augsburg last Saturday in Northfield. The Oles outgained the Auggies 547 yards to 350 yards on offense and scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions during the game. The 68 points by St. Olaf and 85 combined points both rank as seventh-most in St. Olaf school history. St. Olaf, which is now 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC, is off to a 4-0 start for the second consecutive year with impressive wins in 2006 over Valley City State (31-14), Luther (35-16), Hamline (31-6) and Augsburg. The only other time St. Olaf started 4-0 in consecutive seasons was 1969-70.
Matt Penz was 14-of-16 for 300 yards and three touchdowns playing only in the first half against the Auggies, while reserve quarterback John Haberman added 75 rushing yards on seven carries with three touchdowns on the ground during the second half. Running back Evan Endsley ran for two scores and caught another for the Oles. Senior defensive back Jeremy Lund led the St. Olaf defense against Augsburg with six tackles (five solo) and a pass break-up, while first-year defensive tackle Nick Tolen added five stops, including four for a loss, and a sack. Lund is the team’s leading tackler with 28 stops this season (23 solo).
Endsley has been Matt Penz’s most frequent target, catching a team-high 18 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield, while all-conference performer Horace Gant has team-highs with 273 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions on 15 grabs. Andrew Schmiesing (14 rec., 244 yds.) and Preston St. John (8 rec., 132 yds.) have also contributed significantly.
St. Olaf’s offense ranks as one of the most potent in the MIAC this season, scoring 41.25 points per game, while its defense is holding opponents to 13.25 points per game. The Oles are averaging 442.8 yards of total offense through four games and rank in the top one-third of the league in both pass and rush offense. The St. Olaf defense is allowing an average of 303.0 yards per game.
St. Olaf Statistics
Game Notes
Huepenbecker Headed to Gustavus Hall of Fame — John Huepenbecker ’80, one of the most prolific receivers in Gustie football history, will be inducted into the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Huepenbecker, a three-year letterwinner, graduated as the program’s career leader in receptions (107) and receiving yardage (1,674), marks that still rank third and fourth, respectively, all-time. Huepenbecker becomes the 93rd football player inducted into the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame. Nine Gustavus head football coaches have also been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including current head coach Jay Schoenebeck as a player in 2000.
Zajicek Moves Past 1,000 Yards Receiving — With his 13-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter of last Saturday’s win at Hamline, Gustavus senior wide receiver Kerry Zajicek moved past the 1,000 receiving yard plateau for his career, making him only the 17th Gustavus player to do so. Zajicek currently has 1,005 career receiving yards and needs 39 receiving yards to pass current Gusties Head Coach Jay Schoenebeck for 16th place on the list (1,043 yards, 1976-79).
Climbing the Ladder – Zajicek also has 90 career receptions, placing him 12th on the Gustavus all-time list. His next reception will place him in a four-way tie for ninth, while he sits three receptions away from seventh place and six away from sixth place. St. Olaf’s Horace Gant and Andrew Schmiesing are also working their way up the Ole career receiving charts this season. Gant (92 career rec.) needs only three catches to pass Brian Sprout for fifth place on the career receptions chart and 21 receiving yards to pass John Best (1,546 yards) for fourth on the career yardage chart, while Schmiesing moved into seventh place on the career receptions chart with 78 after making two grabs against the Auggies. Gant also ranks fifth in St. Olaf school history with 13 receiving touchdowns.
Stolp Jumps Into Fourth Place – With his first completion of the day at Hamline last weekend – a 16-yard pass to Adam Lukes – Jordan Stolp moved past Dean Kraus into fourth place on the Gustavus career passing yardage chart. Stolp now has 4,481 career passing yards, 353 behind Brad Baker (4,834 yards; 1976-79). Stolp also tied Sean Smith for sixth on the career touchdowns list with 34 with a pair of scoring strikes against the Pipers and has moved into fifth place in career total offense with 4,389 yards.
Go For It! — The Gusties were a perfect 4-for-4 on fourth-down conversions last weekend against Hamline. For the season, Gustavus is 7-for-10 when needing all four downs to advance the ball. Only Bethel has more fourth-down attempts (17) and successful conversions (8) in the MIAC, while St. Thomas has the best percentage in the league (86.7%).
Something’s Gotta Give — Today’s match-up pits St. Olaf’s potent offense, ranked first in the MIAC at 442.8 yards per game, against a tough, experienced Gustavus defense, which is second in the league at 234.0 yards allowed per game. Gustavus’ pass offense ranks first the MIAC, holding opponents to 98.0 yards through the air. That defense will be tested by an Ole passing attack that sits second in the league at 272.5 passing yards per game.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Gustavus Adolphus College
Offense
11 Jordan Stolp