Week 4: Willmar (1-3) vs. Sartell (3-1)
Friday at Sartell, 7 p.m.
What's at stake?
Sartell is one of four Central Lakes Conference teams with one loss chasing Fergus Falls (3-0, 4-0). Willmar would like to start a winning streak at the midway point.
Cardinal notes
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Willmar will need big games from running backs Isaiah Streed and Stevin Carlson to keep pace with the Sabres ... The rushing game logged 165 yards against Little Falls. Willmar's offensive line will be the key with center Scott Skaalerud, guards Marshal Swoyer and Joe Wetterling and tackles Chris Duscher and Ryan Filipek ... The three-man defensive line uses Wetterling at nose guard, Elijah Nash and Duscher at tackles with Patrick Schueller and Joel Hedlof also seeing regular duty ... Head coach Ken Heitzman, who joined the Willmar school system in 1988, is a 1983 Sartell graduate ... Attendance at homecoming was officially 2,299.
The Sartell file
The Sabres led 20-12 at halftime at St. Cloud Apollo and hung on to win 20-18, stopping a last-gasp Eagles' march with an interception. Top running back Josh Kraemer, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Brent Lazier (47 yards last week) and junior Cole Jenkins (10-13-87-0) are first-year starters. Senior 230-pound LB/WR Nick Rengel, a Gophers' recruit, helped the Sabres reach the Class AAAA semifinal round at the Dome last fall when he had 51 catches. The Sabres, who have good team speed, have also beat Little Falls 47-14 and St. Cloud Tech 20-17 while losing to Fergus Falls 27-18.
Coach's comments
KEN HEITZMAN -- On Little Falls game: "We got up early and didn't let up. We kept our foot on the gas. We want to keep improving and get more physical on both offense and defense. Sartell runs a version of the wing-T. They have some nice athletes. They'll present different looks on defense. Offensively, they're versatile."
