Football

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE
INDIVIDUAL FOOTBALL GAME RECAPS

Date: 9/8/01

Opponent: St. Olaf College

Location: Northfield, MN

Conference game: No

Team	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
St. Olaf	28	7	35
Martin Luther	7	14	21

Team	Rushing	Passing	Total Offense
St. Olaf	115	317	432
Martin Luther	53	295	348

Rushing Leader's	Attempts	Total Yds	TD
St. Olaf - Tim Baer	10	61	0
St. Olaf - Manuel Spriegl	11	48	1
MLC - Ben Kuerth	6	27	0
MLC - Paul Mattek	25	44	2

Passing Leader's	Att	Comp	Yds	TD	Int
St. Olaf - Joe Hammond	24	14	148	3	0
St. Olaf - Brian Senske	19	10	169	1	0
MLC - Ben Kuerth	45	22	295	1	2

Receiving Leader's	Catches	Yards	TD
St. Olaf - Steve Ryan	6	116	1
St. Olaf - Brian Sprout	5	74	2
MLC - Mike Feuerstahler	6	78	0
MLC - Stephawn Coleman	4	85	1

Defensive Leader's	Tackles	Sacks	Int
St. Olaf - Dave Busselman	12	0	0
St. Olaf - Matt Lafferty	9	0	0
MLC - Jared Rathje	11	0	0
MLC - Ben Troge	9	0	0

GAME RECAP - It was too little too late for the Knights in their 35-21 loss to the Ole’s of St. Olaf College. On a day that was cloudy and overcast, the Knights looked overcast as the Ole’s jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead in the second quarter. Mental mistakes were the key to MLC's downfall as failed assignments and bad execution hurt the Knights overall.

The Knights were forced to punt after their first possession. Sophomore Joel Schwartz got off a booming punt but it was called back after the Knights failed to line up enough men on the line of scrimmage. St. Olaf then took the punt down to the MLC 38 yard line on the return and from their turned it into their first touchdown.

After the Ole's first touchdown defense played a big part in the game until the Ole's scored two more touchdowns, one that came off a Ben Kuerth interception. MLC got on the board late in the first half after a 10 play 77 yard drive that was capped off with a 1 yard run by Paul Mattek. The scoring was not over for the half though as St. Olaf's Maunel Spreigl added a one yard run for a touchdown with 26 seconds left in the half.

In the second half the Knights put together an timpressive 18 play 81 yard drive that was once again capped off by a 1 yard run by Paul Mattek. The Knights completed the two point conversion with a completion to Mike Feuerstahler.

As the fourth quarter started, MLC was only down 35-14 and the mood on the sideline was still upbeat, with the players directing encouragements at each other not to give up because the game was not over yet. The Knights however, could not convert that enthusiasm into points. Twice in the final quarter the Knights had the ball inside the Ole 20 yard line, but both times turned the ball over. The Knights final touchdown came after a St. Olaf fumble, in which Kuerth found Stephawn Coleman in the end zone for a 32 yard touchdown pass.

The Knights travel next week to Carthage College in Kenosha for a 1:00 pm meeting on Saturday, September 15th.

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