Friday at Hodapp Field, 7 p.m.
What's at stake?
This is the conference opener for both. Willmar wants to right its ship after sinking in the second-half (outscored 18-0) by the Bemidji Lumberjacks; Fergus is coming off a huge win over Moorhead and wants to maintain the early momentum. A particularly big game for Willmar, which must travel to Brainerd next week.
Cardinal notes
The quarterbacks, junior Mark Dunham and senior Alec Saunders, got mixed reviews. Each did some things well the first half but struggled in the second half. Look for a two-quarterback rotation to continue for now. The rushing game provided only 51 yards at Bemidji. The lack of aggression on the offensive line was a disappointment to coaches. Special teams also got low marks.
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The Otters
The Otters (3-3 CLC in 2007) cooked the Spuds 37-13. Senior running back Matt Mithaugen, a 6-1, 193-pound senior, rushed for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns and teamed up with quarterback Derek Hansen for a 57-yard score. Josh Campion, the Otters' 6-foot-5, 252-pound senior lineman, intercepted a pass and returned it for a score. Running back Ike Carlson gives Fergus Falls three returning All-CLC players. The Otters' strength is in the running game and ball possession (Moorhead got only a dozen touches the second half) but Hansen showed he can use his receivers well in the opener, throwing for two touchdowns.
Coach's comments
Willmar's Ken Heitzman: "We played an average football game (last week). It's disappointing because we did not play up to our potential. We made a lot of rookie mistakes that are correctable. We didn't elevate our level of play as the game went on. As far as Fergus Falls, they have some playmakers and we'll have to know where they are. We can't be giving up the big plays."
