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ST. PAUL, Minn. - This Saturday at 1 p.m., the Concordia football team plays their first road game of the year against Minnesota, Crookston at Ed Widseth Field. Both teams will be hunting for their first win of the 2012 season in UMC's home opener.
Series Notes: Concordia vs. UM Crookston
The Golden Bears hold an eight game win streak over Minnesota, Crookston. The Golden Bears are 9-3 all-time against UMC and are 3-2 on the road. Concordia has won eight consecutive games against the Golden Eagles and two in a row on the road. In their last meeting in 2011, Concordia defeated UMC 38-20 at Sea Foam Stadium. Iin their last trip to Ed Widseth Field in 2010, Concordia defeated UMC 41-7.
Deer's Keys to the Game for the Golden Bears
Minimize Mistakes - Last week, the Golden Bears were flagged for over 100 penalty yards and committed five turnovers (4 INT's, 1 fumble). This week, expect a point of emphasis on playing turnover-free football from all facets of the offense - skill players, linemen and the quarterback play.
Defensive Aggression - Concordia's defense was looking stout early last week against the Marauders, limiting the visitors without a first down until early in the second quarter as they pressured the quarterback and flew around the ball. The Golden Bears typically post high tackle for loss and sack numbers, last week was a solid start with 12.0 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries and a sack.
Stuff the Run - Last year, the Golden Eagles rushed for 231 yards per game at the expense of abandoning the pass. Despite a new head coach, things didn't appear much different in UMC's season opening loss at Winona State. With a strong first week effort against U-Mary, Concordia's run defense should be up for the impending challenge.
Rydeen's Keys to the Game for the Golden Eagles
Get the Running Game Going - Minnesota-Crookston was held to only 119 yards rushing as a team last weekend at Winona State after averaging 231 yards per game last season. With NSIC rushing leader
Richard Haley (Sr., RB, Detroit, Mich.) returning this season he will be expected to carry much of the load offensively for the Golden Eagles. Watch for him to get the ball early and often in an attempt to get things rolling for the Golden Eagle offense. Last year, Haley rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts at Sea Foam Stadium in UMC's loss to the Golden Bears. Last week, he toted the ball 16 times for 75 yards against the Warriors while Keith McBride added 11 carries for 25 yards.
New Faces - The Golden Eagles will look to get their first win under first-year head coach Paul Miller. Miller was promoted in the offseason from his role as the team's offensive coordinator this past season. The new faces also extend to the field as 20 newcomers saw their first action for the team in last week's 58-6 loss at Winona State.
Pressure Peterson - A big key for Minnesota-Crookston this Saturday will be to get pressure from their defensive front on Concordia quarterback
James Peterson. The University of Mary Marauders forced 4 interceptions and 11 hurries against the Golden Bears last Saturday in their defeat of Concordia, while Peterson was also flushed out of the pocket numerous times with seven rushing attempts although at least one of those was a designed keeper on his 1-yard TD run. The Golden Eagles will need to create pressure to keep Peterson off-balance and out of rhythm to disrupt a potent Concordia offensive attack. Getting Concordia into 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations is a must.
Keys to the game for week two developed by Concordia's Sports Information office independent of the coaching staff.
