Last Meeting (2001): St Cloud Tech 30, Willmar 7
What's at stake?
Since Tech is in the Class AAAAA division, this would be a huge win for the Cardinals for section seeding. As for Tech, they are one of four Central Lakes Conference teams with one league loss, all trailing unbeaten Sartell (5-0).
Around the Central Lakes
Rocori, Willmar's Oct. 13 foe, fell 24-21 to the Sartell. The Sabres' Luke Sweeter ran for 125 yards in 27 carries and caught four passes for an addition 54 yards. Spartan quarterback Brad Olson threw for 226 yards, including touchdown tosses covering 62 and 66 yards to Brian Hansen ... . St. Cloud Tech drilled Little Falls 28-6 as Taylor Ford motored for 129 yards in 28 attempts and Ty Dill threw for 77 yards. Little Falls had less than 50 yards rushing and 125 throwing ... Sauk Rapids improved to 4-1, beating Bemidji 21-14 in a non-conference game...Also in non-conference, Moorhead overcame Alexandria 31-28.
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The Tigers' den
The Tigers rely on the running of Tyler Ford and the bullrushes of 250-pound converted tight end Adam Wheeler. Aaron Fruth is a 6-foot-5 target with good speed for QB Ty Dill.
What coach Ken Heitzman said:
On Tech: "The coaches are very impressed with the film we saw. Tech is big, physical. They run a pro-style offense with multiple sets and are adapt running or throwing. This will be a great challenge, a real test."
On output against Fergus: "The dry conditions gave us a chance to see what we're capable of doing. We showed good balance running 37 times and passing 20. Under the right conditions, we can do that."
On Clark Field atmosphere: "It's like a little bowl. The crowd is right on top of you; it seems too small for a football field but it fits. It's just an exciting place to play."
Extra yardage
Junior outside linebacker Jarod Hennen made his first start Friday, getting in on eight tackles ... Rene Vallejo, a backup linebacker and special team's player, was in on seven stops ... Junior signalcaller Michael Dunham now has started the equivalent of a full season. He became the starter five games into the 2005 campaign ... The last time Willmar played at Clark was 2000. The Cards came in 7-0 but fell 21-7 to the Tigers and ended up sharing the CLC crown with Brainerd.
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The bottom line
It will take an all-out effort for Willmar to upset the Tigers and maybe a lucky bounce, but Willmar's offense should get better every week here on out. This could be the most physical opponent the Cardinal defense has yet faced.
- Rand Middleton
