Sept. 6, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University Vikings (1-1) vs. St. Cloud State University Huskies (2-0) at Civic Stadium (FieldTurf-4,400 capacity) in a non-conference contest at 6 p.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Bellingham, Wash.

Western opened its season with two road games, defeating Mesa State CO, 49-20, on Aug. 27, and losing 31-21 to D2Football.com/NCAA Division II No.25-ranked Washburn KS last Saturday.

St. Cloud State, ranked No.15 in the American Football Coaches Association/NCAA II Top 25 Poll and No.13 in the D2Football.com national poll, is coming off a 53-7 win at Minnesota-Crookston last week after blanking Wayne State NE 35-0 in its season and home opener.

Western has dropped both its previous meetings with the Huskies, losing 44-29 last year at St. Cloud, Minn., and falling 44-27 in 2003 at Bellingham.

The Vikings finished 6-4 overall last year and tied for second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 3-3 record. Western has won league titles four of the last six years and six crowns in 10 seasons. St. Cloud State was 8-3 in 2004 and finished in a three-way tie for third place in the North Central Conference at 4-2. The Huskies began that campaign with seven straight wins, but lost three of their final four games, including a three-point overtime decision to North Dakota in the first round of the NCAA II national playoffs.

Western joins the NCC as a football-only member next fall. The Vikings have played six games with NCC opponents over the past three seasons, winning two and losing four. They split with Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State, while losing twice to St. Cloud State.

HOME COOKING: The Vikings are 12-4 in home openers, but have won just two of their last six, and are 61-19 (.763) overall at Civic Stadium since Smith became head coach in 1989. They defeated Fort Lewis CO, 27-25, in their 2004 home opener.

SERIES HISTORY: Western trails 0-2 in its series with St. Cloud State, losing 44-29 last year at St. Cloud, Minn., and 44-27 in 2003 at Bellingham.

RADIO: KBAI (930 AM-Bellingham) is broadcasting all Western football games live this season with sports director Doug Lange handling the play-by-play duties for the 10th consecutive season. Providing the color commentary for the eighth straight year is former Viking quarterback Jason Stiles. The pre-game show with host Mark Scholten begins at 5 p.m. PT. The KBAI broadcast can also be heard on KLAY (1180 AM-Tacoma) and picked up via the Internet at wwuvikings.com.

The game also will be aired on WJON (1240 AM-St. Cloud, MN) and heard online at www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics. Jay Caldwell returns for his eighth season as the play-by-play announcer and will be joined by color analyst Joe Erickson.

2004 RESULTS: Western finished 6-4 and tied for second in the GNAC at 3-3. St. Cloud State was 8-3 and finished in a three-way tie for third in the NCC at 4-2. The Huskies began that campaign with seven straight wins, but lost three of their final four games, including a three-point overtime decision to North Dakota in the first round of the NCAA II national playoffs.

WESTERN REPORT: The Vikings are 1-1 after last week's 31-21 loss at Washburn, the seventh time in the last nine years Western's record has been even after two games.

Western's offense is off to an outstanding start, averaging 35.0 points and 447.5 yards a game. The key cog in the offensive attack is senior wide receiver Andy Olson, a preseason All-American in three publications who entered the year in the top four in school history in all career receiving categories.

Olson, who has caught a touchdown pass in 11 consecutive games and has 29 career touchdown receptions, just one short of the school record, has 14 receptions for 226 yards and two scores through the first two games, and added another touchdown last week on an 8-yard run. He has 13 100-yard receiving games, including a current streak of four in a row.

At quarterback, junior James Monrean has completed 42-of-69 passes for 532 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also run for 73 yards in 15 attempts, including a 58-yard dash that led to the first touchdown against Washburn.

In three career starts, Monrean has thrown 12 touchdown passes, ing a school record with five touchdown tosses in his only start last season.

Senior running back Duncan Sherrard missed last week's game after rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown in the triumph over Mesa State. Senior Jake Carlyle has rushed for 107 yards on 25 carries, and redshirt freshman Jordyn Jackson has added 58 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts. Overall, the Vikings are averaging 177.5 yards a game on the ground, running behind an experienced offensive line anchored by senior center Loren Winter, a first-team all-GNAC pick last season.

On defense, Western had some struggles in the first half last week, but recovered to play a strong second half, giving up just 124 yards after halftime and not allowing Washburn to get inside the Western 20.

Redshirt freshman strong safety Steve Davis leads Western in tackles with 18, and another newcomer, sophomore linebacker Shane Simmons, a transfer from Idaho, has 14 stops. He shares the team lead in tackles for loss at 2.5 with the other outside linebacker, senior Adam Klingenberg, who has 13 stops overall. In the middle at linebacker is senior Craig Keenan, who has 10 tackles and led Western last year with 85 stops.

Along with Davis in the secondary, junior free safety Todd McClellan has 10 tackles, and senior cornerback Ekene Agwuenu, a transfer from Nevada, has Western's lone interception of the season.

On the defensive line, redshirt freshman tackle Junior Aumavae and sophomore end Ryan Conwell each have seven tackles, including two each for loss. Senior end Geoff Hise also has seven stops.

On special teams, sophomore Corbin Anderson is averaging 33.9 yards a punt and has put three of his nine kicks inside the 20. Freshman Ace Younggren has connected on all 10 of his extra-point attempts. In the return game, Jackson has averaged 27.8 yards on five kickoff returns, and Olson has returned two punts, one for 32 yards, the other for 19.

ST. CLOUD STATE REPORT: The Huskies, ranked nationally in three preseason polls, return 19 starters from last year's 8-3 national playoff team, including four preseason All-Americans.

Three of the preseason award winners return on a high-powered offense that is averaging 549.0 yards per game this season. They are led by senior running back Matt Birkel, who rushed for 1,689 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2004. Birkel was a first-team All-NCC and Daktronics Northwest Region First all-star in 2004. He also led the NCC in rushing and scoring, and was seventh among NCAA II rushers.

Birkel, who is a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy - the annual award for the best player in Division II, has carried the ball 37 times for 333 yards and five touchdowns this season, including a 222-yard effort against Wayne State NE two weeks ago. Last Saturday versus Minnesota-Crookston, he had 111 yards on the ground and three touchdowns in just one half of action.

Birkel has had 20 100-yard rushing games during his career, scoring a school career record 46 touchdowns. In his two games against Western, Birkel has run 51 times for 401 yards (7.9 apc) and four touchdowns.

Joining Birkel in the backfield is senior quarterback Daniel Kaczor who completed 168 of 295 passes for 2,403 yards and 23 touchdowns in his first season as a starter in 2004. Kaczor has completed 74.4 percent of his passes this season and has thrown for 441 yards and four touchdowns in two games. Last year, he was a second-team all NCC pick and tied a school record against Western when he threw five touchdown passes.

Kaczor's top targets are senior wide receivers are Ryan Koch and Ed DeShazer, a first-team all-NCC pick in 2004. Koch has 24 career touchdown receptions, including four this season. DeShazer, a preseason All-American, made 41 catches for 698 yards and nine scores in 2004.

What the Huskies' offensive line lacks in experience, it makes up for with size. All but one lineman weighs more than 300 pounds. The lone exception is the unit's only senior, co-captain Jon Scovill, who is a three-year starter. Redshirt freshman tackle Adam Koss checks in at 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds.

The St. Cloud State defense has done its part to match the standout start of the offense. The Huskies have surrendered just seven points in two games, limiting opponents to 172.5 yards of total offense per game. The unit is led by junior free safety Mitchell Denne, who was an All-American in three preseason publications. He made 85 tackles, defended 11 passes and had seven interceptions in 2004.

Senior defensive end Charlie Cosgrove, a second-team all-NCC pick in 2004, leads the defensive line. Cosgrove has four tackles for a loss and two sacks so far this season.

Mark Henderson, the team's leading tackler in 2004 with 85, returns at middle linebacker. He was a second-team all-conference selection in 2004. Henderson and senior outside linebacker Chad Ely lead the Huskies with 11 tackles each this season.

On special teams, senior Shaun Braunagel (7-9 PATs, 1-2 FGs) handles placekicking duties, while redshirt freshman Brian Cristan (37.9 avg.) is the Husky punter.

WESTERN INJURY REPORT: Starting running back Duncan Sherrard (knee) did not play last week and is questionable for St. Cloud State. Also questionable is reserve wide receiver Chris Robinson (hamstring). Defensive end Matt Overton may return this week for long-snapping duties after missing the Washburn game with a sprained knee. Starting defensive tackle Ryan Lucas sprained his ankle last week, but is expected to play against St. Cloud State.

OLSON STREAKS AND MILESTONES: Senior wide receiver Andy Olson is working on a school and GNAC record string of touchdown catches in 11 consecutive games (two in seven of those contests). He ranks No.3 among Western career leaders in touchdown catches (29, 1 short of record), receptions (164, 17 short of record) and receiving yards (2,706, 562 short of record).

Olson has caught passes for over 100 yards in four consecutive contests and in eight of his last 11 games. Last year, Olson set school and league records by making 15 touchdown catches. He had 68 receptions overall for 1,075 yards. He ranked No.9 nationally in receiving yards per game (107.5 avg.) and broke his own GNAC record. He also finished No.12 nationally in receptions per game (6.8).

In two games this season, Olson has 14 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

WESTERN NOTES: Monrean was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Mesa State. In three career starts, including two this season, Monrean has thrown 12 touchdown passes ... Senior running back Duncan Sherrard ranks fifth among school career leaders in rushing yards with 2,352. He needs 286 to move into fourth place ... Sherrard's 61-yard touchdown scamper against Mesa State was the Vikings' longest run from scrimmage since 1999 ... Western's 49 points against the Mavericks were the most scored by the Vikings in an opener since 1929.

COACHES: Rob Smith (Washington, 1981) is in his 17th year as head coach and his victory total (106-57-1) and winning percentage (.649) are the best in Western history. Smith has directed the Vikings to their only five national playoff berths in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999, and guided them to their best regular-season (No.1, 1995) and final (No.1, 1995) national rankings. He was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003, Columbia Football Association Coach of the Year in 1989, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000, and American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

Randy Hedberg (Minot State, 1977) is 35-33 in his seventh season at St. Cloud State and 80-56-2 overall in 15 seasons as a head coach. In 2002, Hedberg directed St. Cloud to just its second NCC title in the school's history, and the Huskies earned the right to host to a national playoff game last season. Hedberg previously coached at Central Missouri State and Minot State, his alma mater. At Minot State ND, Hedberg was an honorable mention All-American quarterback, and the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Hedberg in 1977. He played two seasons with Tampa Bay and also played one year each with the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders.

TURNOVER/TAKEAWAY RATIO: Western has had six takeaways and three turnovers in two games this season. The Vikings have had a minus turnover/takeaway ratio over the past two seasons after being on the positive side in that category for 12 straight campaigns.

VIKINGS JOIN NCC IN FOOTBALL BEGINNING IN 2006: Western has been admitted as a football-only member of the North Central Conference, one of the nation's most prestigious NCAA II alignments. The Vikings, along with arch-rival Central Washington, will begin playing a full slate of eight NCC games in 2006. The two schools had been competing as part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The NCC, founded in 1921, currently has seven members - Augustana SD, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State Mankato, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State MN, and South Dakota. Over the past three years, the NCC has had three of its member institutions leave to move up to NCAA Division I. North Dakota State and South Dakota State left after the 2003-04 academic year, and Northern Colorado left after 2002-03. In 2004, NCC member North Dakota finished 11-3 and reached the semifinals of the NCAA II national playoffs. St. Cloud State, which reached the first round of the playoffs, and NCC champion Nebraska-Omaha each had 8-3 records. North Dakota played in the NCAA II national championship game in 2003 and won a national title in 2001. Last season, Western split a pair of games with NCC schools, defeating Nebraska-Omaha, 31-21, and losing to St. Cloud State, 44-29. The Vikings have played six games with NCC foes over the past three seasons, splitting with Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State, and losing twice to St. Cloud State.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA PICKS: Western senior wide receiver Andy Olson was named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette preseason All-America Team for the second straight year. He also was a second-team preseason All-American on www.CollegeSportsReport.com and d2football.com. Senior offensive center Loren Winter was a third-team www.CollegeSportsReport.com pick.

GNAC PRESEASON POLL: For the first time in nine years, Western is neither the favorite nor co-favorite to win a league title in football. This season, the Vikings were voted second behind arch-rival Central Washington in the GNAC Coaches Preseason Poll. The only other time during the past decade that they were not favored was in 1996.

The Vikings placed second in the GNAC in 2004 with a 3-3 record. They have won four league championships over the past six years, and six crowns in the last 10 campaigns. Western's lowest finish during that stretch was second in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2004.

Western got one first-place vote in this year's poll, with Central receiving the other three. The Wildcats finished with 15 points on the 4-3-2-1 system, with Western getting 12, Humboldt State nine and Western Oregon four.

LAST WEEK: Washburn took the lead midway through a wild first half, then held off Western in a scoreless second half and claimed a 31-21 victory in a non-conference football contest at Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kan. The Vikings fell to 1-1 on the season with the loss despite rolling up 403 yards of total offense.

The Ichabods, ranked No.25 nationally in the D2football.com NCAA II Top 25, improved to 2-0 behind a rushing attack that netted 226 yards on 42 attempts.

The game was played in 90-degree heat and 50-percent humidity. Western's Andy Olson extended his school and GNAC record streak of games with a touchdown reception to 11. He opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run on a reverse on Western's first possession. The play was set up through a 58-yard scramble by quarterback James Monrean that put the ball on the Washburn 12.

But the Ichabods took control of the game by scoring 31 points in a 14-minute span. Connor Sabel started the charge with a 41-yard field goal, then Washburn got two touchdowns just 15 seconds apart late in the first quarter. Ra'Shawn Mosley scored on a 4-yard run, then on the first play after the kickoff, Fletcher Terrell intercepted Monrean and returned the pick 23 yards for another score, giving the Ichabods a 17-7 lead. Washburn backup quarterback Brandon Walker continued the onslaught with a 78-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, then running back Trent Hearn completed it with a 19-yard touchdown rush to make the score 31-7 with 6:17 left in the first half.

The Vikings responded with a pair of touchdowns late in the half. Monrean hit Olson deep in the end zone for a 35-yard score, then with 11 seconds left in the half, Monrean and fourth-string running back Darrius Tuggle combined for a touchdown on a 28-yard screen pass, narrowing the gap to 31-21.

Monrean completed 22-of-39 passes for 266 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Olson had six receptions for 105 yards and a score. The touchdown reception was the 29th of his career, just one short of the school record.

After the two teams combined for 52 points in the opening half, neither seriously threatened to score after halftime. Western had the ball in Washburn territory on four drives, but never got past the Ichabod 16, and had two of those drives end because of fumbles.

The Ichabods played much of the game without senior wide receiver Sam Sissom, Washburn's career touchdown reception leader with 36. Sissom left after being injured on a punt return in the second quarter and didn't return, but Mike Odupitan filled the spot with six catches for 119 yards and also added 64 yards on three kickoff returns. Washburn quarterback Jordan Brill completed 11-of-18 passes for 199 yards, but Western sacked him six times. Hearn led rushing attack for the Ichabods with 94 yards on 16 carries.

TWO PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH SCSU:

Sept. 11, 2004 at St. Cloud, Minn.

St. Cloud State 44, Western 29

Despite a late rally, Western suffered its first loss of the season, falling to nationally ranked St. Cloud State, 44-29, in a non-conference game at Husky Stadium.

SCSU quarterback Daniel Kaczor tied a school record with five touchdown passes, all in the first half, leading the Huskies to a 42-13 lead at halftime. But Western rallied, closing to 44-29 early in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard pass from Steve Nichols to tight end Nick Yoney and an ensuing 2-point conversion pass to James Laurence.

Western then reached the Husky 12 with just under eight minutes left, but a penalty moved the ball back to the 22. Two incomplete passes ended the drive, and the Vikings did not cross midfield in their last two possessions.

Nichols completed 27-of-45 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Two of the interceptions came in his first three attempts of the game, but he did not throw another until a desperation bomb was intercepted in the final minute.

Western wide receiver Andy Olson had 10 receptions for 119 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Kaczor completed 15-of-25 passes for 279 yards, throwing scoring passes to five different receivers, and was intercepted once, helping SCSU to a 503-409 edge in total offense.

After being stopped on the opening series of the game, the Huskies scored on six consecutive possessions, the first two being set up by interceptions, and held a 42-13 lead at halftime. SCSU had 429 yards of offense in the first half, with Kaczor going 12-of-16 for 254 yards.

Running back Matt Birkle ran for 188 yards on 27 carries, including a 42-yard touchdown run on a draw play late in the first quarter.

Western running back Jake Carlyle, who ran for 70 yards on 13 carries and added 56 yards on four receptions, had Western's first touchdown on a 1-yard run in the first quarter.

The Vikings scored on the opening possession of the second half, going 76 yards in seven plays, capped on a 15-yard pass from Nichols to tight end Rick Carte. SCSU got its final points later in the third quarter on a safety which made the score 44-21.

Sept. 4, 2003 at Bellingham, Wash.

St. Cloud State 44, Western 27

Running back Matt Birkel rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring runs of 56 and 33 yards, leading St. Cloud State to a 44-27 victory over Western in a night contest at Civic Stadium.

The game, which was the season opener for the Vikings, featured 1,112 yards of offense, with SCSU holding a 589-523 advantage. Husky quarterback Keith Heckendorf, who finished in the top three in the voting for the 2002 Harlon Hill Trophy awarded to the NCAA II Player of the Year, completed 23-of-34 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, directing the Huskies to eight scores in a stretch of 10 drives after they punted on the first two possessions of the game.

Western quarterback Steve Nichols completed 24-of-39 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns, but the Vikings never got closer than 10 points after SCSU took a 30-20 lead midway through the third quarter on a 42-yard pass from Heckendorf to Ed DeShazer.

A blocked punt by Taylor Hutton gave the Vikings the ball at the Husky 46 late in the third period, but SCSU defensive end Ryan Walker stripped the ball from Nichols on the following play, and the Huskies recovered, moving 54 yards in eight plays, capped by a four-yard run by Birkel 2:16 into the fourth quarter, to take a 37-20 lead and effectively put the game out of reach.

Birkel, who averaged 8.9 yards a carry on 24 attempts, had opened the second-half scoring with a 33-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-one play that gave SCSU a 23-13 lead.

Western wide receiver Andy Olson had seven receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and Ryan Van Diest added seven catches for 123 yards. The 71 combined points came despite a tightly played first quarter that ended with the score tied, 3-3. Western had a second-and-goal from the Husky one early in the second quarter, but losses on consecutive plays led to a 30-yard field goal missed wide right by Michael Koenen, who also connected on attempts of 47 and 45 yards.

SCSU responded by marching 80 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Heckendorf to Ryan Koch, but the Vikings came back less than three minutes later to tie the score, 10-10, on a 42-yard pass from Nichols to Olson.

On the first play of the following series, Heckendorf bobbled the snap and Western appeared to recover the ball, but the play was blown dead by an inadvertent whistle. Three plays later, Birkel burst 56 yards down the right sideline, giving SCSU a 16-10 lead as the extra point failed, and the Huskies led the rest of the way.

NEXT GAME: Western is back on the road, traveling to Grand Forks, N.D., to face AFCA/NCAA II No.4 and D2Football.com No.3-ranked University of North Dakota (2-0, at Winona State on Sept. 10) on Sept. 17 (11 a.m. PT) in the Potato Bowl at the Alerus Center. The Fighting Sioux, who reached the Division II national semifinals last season (won national title in 2003 and reached championship game in 2004), have won 19 straight home games.

WEBSITE: For the latest results, statistics and updates, including reports on all Western athletic events, visit the Vikings website at wwuvikings.com.

PROBABLE TWO DEEPS
WESTERN WASHINGTON
OFFENSE
TE  13  Nick Yoney (6-3, 240, Sr.-2V, Arlington, WA)    86  Logan Cullen (6-2, 235, Fr.-RS, Anacortes, WA)LT  70  Brandon Torrey (6-3, 290, Jr.-2V, Graham, WA/Bethel)         59  Dale Moore (6-2, 270, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Evergreen)LG  67  Peter Van Datta (6-2, 270, Jr.-2V, Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap)    57  Zach Myers (6-2, 295, So.-TR, Sammamish, WA/Skyline)C   53  Loren Winter (6-1, 270, Sr.-3V, Bothell, WA/Juanita)         66  Dan Trask (6-2, 275, Fr.-RS, Aberdeen, WA)RG  64  Tyler Sleeman (6-1, 305, Jr.-2V., Black Diamond, WA/Tahoma/EWU)    78  Phil Hayes (6-4, 335, Fr.-RS, Renton, WA/O'Dea)RT  56  Will Freitag (6-3, 265,Sr.-1V,Maple Valley,WA/East.Cath./Minn.-Crookston)         74  Tyler Ashby (6-4, 290, Fr.-TR, Seattle, WA/Ballard/UW)SB       19  Brett Upchurch (6-1, 175, So.-1V, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake)    82  Travis McKee (6-5, 215, 20, R-Fr., Bothell, WA (Bothell)         8  Chris Robinson (5-10, 200, So.-1V, Lakewood, WA/Clover Park)WR   1  Andy Olson (6-2, 210, Sr.-3V., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West)    87  Zach Russell (6-2, 180, Jr.-1V, Bothell, WA/Lake Washington)WR   9  Matt Wilson (5-10, 185, So.-1V, Auburn, WA)    81  Casey Dell (5-11, 185, So.-1V, Moxee, WA/East Valley)RB  27  Jake Carlyle (5-7, 195, Sr.-3V, Olympia, WA/Capital)          5  Jordyn Jackson (5-9, 175, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)         29  Duncan Sherrard (5-9, 200, Sr.-3V, Seattle, WA/Roosevelt)QB  14  James Monrean (6-1, 230, Jr.-1V., Bellingham, WA/Sehome)          6  Adam Perry (6-0, 185, Fr.-RS, Longview/R.A. Long)
DEFENSE
E   72  Geoff Hise (6-2, 260, Sr.-3V, Snoqualmie, WA/Mount Si)    51  Noel Tafoya (6-2, 245, Sr.-1V, Pittsburg, CA (Pittsburg/Diable Valley JC)N   94  Ryan Lucas (6-5, 275, Jr.-1V, Vancouver, BC/North Delta/Simon Fraser)    75  Kyle Winkley (6-3, 280, Fr., Tumwater, WA/Black Hills)T        71  Junior Aumavae (6-1, 280, Fr.-RS, Palmer, AK)    97  Richard McCrae-Lauba (5-10, 230, Fr.-RS, Bellevue, WA/Sammamish)E        99  Ryan Conwell (6-5, 225, So.-1V, Kent, WA/Kentwood)         30  Chase Schmidtz (6-1,210,Sr.-TR,Bellingham,WA(Meridian/EWU/Moorpark JC)OLB     46  Adam Klingenberg (5-11, 215, Sr.-3V, Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla)    34  James Day (5-10, 195, So.-1V, Vancouver, WA/Mountain View)MLB     32  Craig Keenan (6-0, 225, Sr.-1V, Salem, MA/Hamilton-Wenham/Palomar JC)         49  Brandon Elliott (6-2, 235, So.-1V, Auburn, WA/Fife)OLB 39  Shane Simmons (6-1, 215, So.-TR, Kent, WA/Kentlake/Idaho)         47  Tieba Bropleh (5-10, 215, So.-1V, Bremerton, WA)LC  18  Ekene Agwuenu (6-1, 205, Sr.-TR, Chino Hills, CA/Ayala/Nevada)         28  Anthony Rosso (5-10, 185, Fr.-RS, Walla Walla, WA (Walla Walla)RC   4  Sly Whitfield, Jr. (5-8, 170, Jr.-2V, Seattle, WA/Garfield)          7  Kevin Jones (5-10, 180, Jr.-TR, Seattle, WA/Kentwood/C.of Siskiyous)SS  33  Steve Davis (5-9, 190, Fr.-RS, Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin)    25  Mike Schmit (5-10, 180, So.-SQ, Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)FS  22  Todd McClellan (5-10, 200, Jr.-2V, Lacey, WA/Timberline)          2  Jason Barton (5-9, 185, Sr.-3V, Gig Harbor, WA)
SPECIAL
K   83  Ace Younggren (6-0, 175, Fr., Snohomish, WA)         31  Bobby Peck (6-0, 180, Fr.-TR, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale/Edmonds CC)P       45  Corbin Anderson (6-0, 190, So.-TR, Veradale, WA/University/EWU)    88  Josh Lider (6-2, 190, Fr., Bellevue, WA/Sammamish)H   15  A.J. Porter (6-1, 215, So.-1V, SeaTac, WA/Kennedy)    19  Brett Upchurch (6-1, 175, So.-1V, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake)LS  93  Matt Overton (5-11, 245, Jr.-TR, Tracy, CA/Diablo Valley JC)         15  A.J. Porter (6-1, 215, So.-1V, SeaTac, WA/Kennedy)    99  Ryan Conwell (6-5, 215, So.-1V, Kent, WA/Kentwood)SS  93  Matt Overton (5-11, 245, Jr.-TR, Tracy, CA/Diablo Valley JC)         99  Ryan Conwell (6-5, 215, So.-1V, Kent, WA/Kentwood)PR      22  Todd McClellan (5-10, 200, Jr.-2V, Lacey, WA/Timberline)         25  Mike Schmit (5-10, 165, R-Fr., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)          1  Andy Olson (6-2, 210, Sr.-3V., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West)KR  87  Zach Russell (6-2, 180, Jr.-1V, Bothell, WA/Lake Washington)          9  Matt Wilson (5-10, 185, So.-1V, Auburn, WA)          5  Jordyn Jackson (5-9, 175, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)          7  Kevin Jones (5-10, 180, Jr.-TR, Seattle, WA/Kentwood/Utah State)
PROBABLE TWO-DEEPS
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
OFFENSE
TE  84  John Hackett (6-2, 255, Sr., Praire Du Chien, WI)    88  Anders Johnson (6-4, 255, Jr., St. Cloud, MI)LT  71  Adam Koss (6-6, 340, R-Fr., Stoughton, WI)    74  Ryan Knoll (6-5, 337, R-Fr., St. Paul, MN)LG  74  Ryan Knoll (6-5, 337, R-Fr., St. Paul, MN)         64  Brad Burns (6-4, 312, R-Fr., Verona, WI)         67  Jeff Dirkes (6-4, 335, R-Fr., Albany, MN)C   65  Henry Smith (6-1, 325, Jr., Minneapolis, MN)    64  Brad Burns (6-4, 312, R-Fr., Verona, WI)RG  77  Matt Plautz (6-6, 310, So., Appleton, WI)         75  Joe Brennan (6-0, 288, Sr., Glencoe, MN)    79  Craig Reesor (6-3, 280, So., Jacksonville, FL)RT  78  Jon Scovill (6-3, 295, Sr., Wayzata, MN)    76  Scott Peters (6-10, 300, So., Litchfield, MN)QB  16  Daniel Kaczor (6-1, 195, Sr., St. Cloud, MN)     7  Mike Hammerseng (6-3, 196, So., Minnetonka, MN)    10  Jon Quesnel (6-6, 205, So., Eagan, MN)RB  30  Matt Birkel (5-9, 230, Sr., Ellsworth, WI)    34  Tyson DesCamps (5-9, 205, R-Fr., Aberdeen, SD/Roncalli)WR   9  Ed DeShazer (6-0, 200, Sr., Milwaukee, WI)    80  Nate Johnson (5-11, 185, R-Fr., Austin, MN)WR  12  Daryn Ploeckelman (6-1, 207, Sr., Mukwonago, WI)     1  Ryan Jensen (6-5, 218, So., Underwood, MN)WR   8  Ryan Koch (6-0, 190, Sr., Madison, WI)    24  Cody Rysewyk (6-0, 188, R-Fr., Green Bay, WI)
DEFENSE
E   58  Eli Baumann (6-5, 250, Sr., Sharon, WI)    56  Barrett Flatt (6-2, 235, Jr., Hastings, MN)    95  Sean Stokes (6-2, 256, Jr., Kenosha, WI)NT  94  Cory Johnsen-Lehr (6-1, 300, Sr., Aberdeen,  SD)    98  Rick Blaul (6-2, 315, Jr., Cascade, WI)T   97  Jordan Kroll (6-4, 280, Jr., Mukwonago, WI)    91  Joe Niehaus (6-2, 280, Jr., Osakis, MN)E   18  Charlie Cosgrove (6-2, 270, Sr., Minneapolis, MN)    93  Ryan Kees (6-5, 240, R-Fr., Eagan, MN)WLB 44  Kelly Gilchrist (6-1, 235, Jr., Minneapolis, MN)    52  Adam Stromberg (5-11, 205, So., St. Paul, MN)MLB 54  Mark Henderson (5-10, 235, Sr., Madison, WI)    45  Nolan Oliver (6-0, 227, R-Fr., Moorhead, MN)SLB 10  Chad Ely (6-1, 230, Sr., Two Rivers, WI)    51  Aaron LaPointe (5-11, 215, So., Elk River, MN)LC  21  Tate Wheeler (5-11, 180, Jr., Neenah, WI)    22  Darius Dotch (5-10, 180, R-Fr., St. Paul, MN)RC   4  Philip Hedlof (6-1, 188, So., Blomkest, MN)    23  Matt Jensen (5-10, 178, R-Fr., Mequon, WI)SS  20  Justin Biebighauser (5-10, 195, Jr., Nisswa, MN)    29  Matt McLagan (5-11, 210, R-Fr., Minneapolis, MN)FS   6  Mitchell Denne (6-2, 180, Jr., St. Cloud, MN)    29  Matt McLagan (5-11, 210, R-Fr., Minneapolis, MN)
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK  17  Shawn Braunagel (6-0, 180, Sr., Fargo, ND)P   13  Pat Neumuth (6-1, 180, Jr., Waukesha, WI)         19  Brian Cristan (5-10, 186, R-Fr., Mahtomedi, MN)H   80  Nate Johnson (5-11, 185, R-Fr., Austin, MN)LS  10  Chad Ely (6-1, 230, Sr., Two Rivers, WI)    56  Barrett Flatt (6-2, 235, Jr., Hastings, MN)SS  56  Barrett Flatt (6-2, 235, Jr., Hastings, MN)KR  21  Tate Wheeler (5-11, 180, Jr., Neenah, WI)         38  Dan Kamin (5-11, 215, Jr., Menomonee Falls, WI)    34  Tyson DesCamps (5-9, 205, R-Fr., Aberdeen, SD)PR   8  Ryan Koch (6-0, 190, Sr., Madison, WI.)