SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus football team is looking to extend its three-game winning streak Saturday as it travels to Carleton for a 1 p.m. MIAC matchup. The Gusties enter the game 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the MIAC, while the Knights are 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the league.
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The Series
Saturday’s game marks the 44th all-time meeting between Gustavus and Carleton on the gridiron with the Gusties holding a 26-14-3 advantage in the series. Last season the Gusties blanked the Knights 52-0 in the final game of the year at Hollingsworth Field. The Black and Gold offense excelled under the leadership of quarterback Michael Veldman who returned from injury after missing four games. Veldman completed 20-of-28 passes with 322 yards and four touchdowns, including a career-long 83-yard touchdown pass. Gustavus outgained the Knights 544-150 in yards of total offense, while the Gustie defense forced two Carleton fumbles and three interceptions to end the season on a high note.
Stout Defense
After allowing more than 300 yards of total offense in the first four games of the season, the Gustie defense has since held opponents to less than 200 total yards in the past three games. It’s the first time since 1987 that Gustavus has held its opponents to less than 200 total yards in three-straight games. The recent defensive display includes three-straight games of allowing less than 100 yards rushing and two consecutive games of less than 100 yards passing. It’s also the first time since the start of the 2013 season that the Gustavus defense has held opponents to less than 100 rushing yards in three consecutive games.
Scouting the Gusties
Gustavus is looking to extend its winning streak to four game Saturday after three-straight decisive victories. Another strong defensive performance paired with a scoring outburst in the first half propelled the Gustavus football team to a 42-0 shutout victory over Augsburg last Saturday afternoon at Hollingsworth Field. The convincing win marked the 500th all-time victory for the Gustavus football program, which is in its 102nd season. Gustavus is now one of 57 NCAA Division III institutions with at least 500 wins with an all-time record of 500-359-21.
Augsburg was limited to 59 yards on the ground and just 39 through the air. The 98 total yards are the fewest allowed by the Gusties since 2014. Conversely, Gustavus amassed 289 total yards with 108 on the ground and 181 through the air.
Through seven games this season, the Gusties average 25.6 points and 313.9 yards of total offense per game. They’ve moved the chains on 47-of-100 third down attempts, leading the MIAC with a 47 percent third down conversion rate. On the defensive side of the ball, Gustavus has caused 16 fumbles and totaled 570 tackles – third most in the MIAC.
The return game continues to be a strength with the Black and Gold averaging 14.2 yards per punt return (2nd/MIAC) and 19.7 yards per kick return (3rd/MIAC). Gustavus has proven itself to be disciplined as the least penalized team in the MIAC with an average of just 4.6 penalties per game. After three consecutive games with less than 100 yards rushing, the Gusties have found a balanced offensive attack, averaging 105.4 yards on the ground and 208.4 yards through the air (3rd/MIAC).
David Peal (Fy., Worcester, Mass.) leads the rushing attack with 72 carries for 279 yards and five touchdowns. Michael Veldman (Sr., Becker, Minn.) has completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 1449 yards (3rd/MIAC), 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Brice Panning (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.) continues to be the top target, averaging 76.1 receiving yards per game (3rd/MIAC) and 18.4 yards per catch (3rd/MIAC). Inside linebackers Matt Berkner (Sr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) and Jake Boykin (Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.) lead the defense with 57 and 40 tackles, respectively. Berkner’s 8.1 tackles per game rank fifth in the MIAC.
Scouting the Knights
Carleton has won two of its past three games, most recently falling 68-0 at St. Thomas last Saturday. Prior to the lopsided loss, the Knights defeated Hamline 42-26 and then beat Augsburg 36-34.
It’s no secret that Carleton likes to air it out on offense as it leads the league in passing attempts (388) and is second in passing yards per game (246.4) and total passing yards (1971). The Knights’ 23 passing touchdowns are most in the MIAC along with their 96 passing first downs. Carleton is also dangerous in the redzone, leading the conference with an 86 percent completion rate from 20 yards and in.
Christian Zaytoun has completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 1887 yards, 23 touchdowns (1st/MIAC), and 15 interceptions. He averages 235.9 yards per game. Mack Journell is the leading receiver with 55 catches for 560 yards and six touchdowns.
With such a pass-heavy attack the ground game has suffered, averaging a league-worst 38.9 rushing yards per game. The Knights have yet to reach the endzone on the ground. Sean Goodman Jr. has carried the ball 99 times for 370 yards. Carlos Lua Pineda and Kwaku Bodom lead the defense with 65 and 64 tackles, respectively.