Briar Cliff heads south to face Haskell
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Saturday, October 07, 2006
Normally, this would have been a week off for the Briar Cliff University football team, a time to heal up and get ready for another Great Plains Athletic Conference foe.
The Chargers, however, decided to accept an offer from Haskell Indian Nations University and head to Lawrence, Kan., for a noon kickoff today.
Haskell, hailed as the No. 1 Native American University in the nation, has 1,000 students and holds dual membership in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and Central States Football League. The Indians (1-4) are coming off their first victory of the season, a 28-24 verdict over Southwestern (Kan.) last week.
"We have done well in the past coming off an open date, so I'm a little concerned that we're playing this week," said Briar Cliff Coach Dick Stritmatter. "But Haskell invited us down to play and college football players like to play games.
"Besides, it's the first overnight stay in the history of our program."
The Briar Cliff traveling party left on Friday morning and planned a practice in Auburn, Neb., in the afternoon. They spent the night in Holton, Kan., before traveling to Lawrence, which, of course, is also the home of the University of Kansas.
"I know a little bit about Haskell because we played them when I coached at Peru State," said Stritmatter. "They have some athletes on offense and really come after you on defense, sometimes with seven people at a time."
First and foremost, the Chargers must focus on Kenton "Bubba" Wills, a freshman who ranks third nationally on the NAIA rushing charts. Wills, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, has 661 yards in five games, but scored his first two touchdowns of the season last week.
Wills had 154 yards in the win, but sat out most of the third quarter after taking a blow to the head. His replacement, sophomore Roland Cheresposy, rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries.
Quarterback Marlon Dick passed for 154 yards and a touchdown while Hunter Smith, who caught six passes, hauled in a 41-yarder for a score.
Briar Cliff takes a 2-3 mark into today's game and is playing its first non-league foe. The Chargers lost to Hastings 28-3 last Saturday.
"It's no secret we need to get the offense going," said Stritmatter. "We have to have people make plays and it starts in the offensive line.
"We have to quit turning the ball over, plain and simple. We haven't put together a full four quarters, but I know our guys are going to work hard."
The Chargers will be without the services of starting offensive tackle Corey Roeder and will line up with three freshmen at interior lineman spots. Also, senior running back Michael Millage is out after injuring a knee last week. Stritmatter said sophomore Jerrod Gaskill and freshman Nick Henley will get the majority of the carries today.
Kyle Gerdes, a sophomore from Wahoo, Neb., will make his second straight start at quarterback. Gerdes rallied BCU from a 24-0 deficit against Concordia a couple of weeks ago, a game the Chargers eventually won 30-24. Gerdes has passed for 291 yards while Luke Roder, a sophomore from Bishop Heelan, has 17 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshman punter Kane Kuehl, another Heelan product, leads the Great Plains Athletic Conference with a 43.4 yard average.
The Chargers, however, decided to accept an offer from Haskell Indian Nations University and head to Lawrence, Kan., for a noon kickoff today.
Haskell, hailed as the No. 1 Native American University in the nation, has 1,000 students and holds dual membership in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and Central States Football League. The Indians (1-4) are coming off their first victory of the season, a 28-24 verdict over Southwestern (Kan.) last week.
"We have done well in the past coming off an open date, so I'm a little concerned that we're playing this week," said Briar Cliff Coach Dick Stritmatter. "But Haskell invited us down to play and college football players like to play games.
"Besides, it's the first overnight stay in the history of our program."
The Briar Cliff traveling party left on Friday morning and planned a practice in Auburn, Neb., in the afternoon. They spent the night in Holton, Kan., before traveling to Lawrence, which, of course, is also the home of the University of Kansas.
"I know a little bit about Haskell because we played them when I coached at Peru State," said Stritmatter. "They have some athletes on offense and really come after you on defense, sometimes with seven people at a time."
First and foremost, the Chargers must focus on Kenton "Bubba" Wills, a freshman who ranks third nationally on the NAIA rushing charts. Wills, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, has 661 yards in five games, but scored his first two touchdowns of the season last week.
Wills had 154 yards in the win, but sat out most of the third quarter after taking a blow to the head. His replacement, sophomore Roland Cheresposy, rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries.
Quarterback Marlon Dick passed for 154 yards and a touchdown while Hunter Smith, who caught six passes, hauled in a 41-yarder for a score.
Briar Cliff takes a 2-3 mark into today's game and is playing its first non-league foe. The Chargers lost to Hastings 28-3 last Saturday.
"It's no secret we need to get the offense going," said Stritmatter. "We have to have people make plays and it starts in the offensive line.
"We have to quit turning the ball over, plain and simple. We haven't put together a full four quarters, but I know our guys are going to work hard."
The Chargers will be without the services of starting offensive tackle Corey Roeder and will line up with three freshmen at interior lineman spots. Also, senior running back Michael Millage is out after injuring a knee last week. Stritmatter said sophomore Jerrod Gaskill and freshman Nick Henley will get the majority of the carries today.
Kyle Gerdes, a sophomore from Wahoo, Neb., will make his second straight start at quarterback. Gerdes rallied BCU from a 24-0 deficit against Concordia a couple of weeks ago, a game the Chargers eventually won 30-24. Gerdes has passed for 291 yards while Luke Roder, a sophomore from Bishop Heelan, has 17 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshman punter Kane Kuehl, another Heelan product, leads the Great Plains Athletic Conference with a 43.4 yard average.
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