Similar styles. Similar results.
While the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg football team won't be lining up against themselves in today's state Class A semifinal game at the Metrodome, the team the Fighting Saints will face -- Goodhue -- has a lot of the same qualities.
Game time is 10:15 a.m.
"It looks like a pretty even game," said KMS coach James Cortez. "We both like to run the ball and take our chances with the pass. They're mainly a wishbone team. They don't do a lot of things, but they do those things well."
How similar are the Saints and the Wildcats?
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n Goodhue has outscored its opponents 469-169; KMS has outscored its foes 415-186.
n Eric Ryan leads the Wildcats with 1,608 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns; Joel Bauman leads KMS with 1,806 yards and 22 TDs.
n Both teams have good second rushers: Goodhue's Micah Huneke has 802 yards and 12 TDs; KMS' Mark Skoglund has 795 yards and 15 TDs.
n Wildcat quarterback Kelby Buck has passed for 1,460 yards, 16 TDs and four interceptions; Fighting Saints QB Kevin Steinhaus has thrown for 1,225 yards, 18 TDs and eight INTs.
"You definitely have to slow them down," Cortez said of Goodhue. "You have to make them earn all of their points. Defensively, we have to read keys and play smart defensively. We have to come up with stops on fourth down."
When asked if he was more concerned about scoring enough points or keeping Goodhue from scoring points, Cortez followed the age-old axiom about "defense winning championships."
"You hope you get some defensive stops and not give up 40 points. We're capable of putting up points, too," he said. "We're never really concerned offensively. Our kids have a pretty good understanding of what we want to do."
