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Second-string QB, first-rate ‘D’
lead Scots to another MWC win
Release Date: September 26, 2006
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Last Saturday’s
Monmouth-Carroll matchup pitted two highly-touted defenses and two
quarterbacks making their first collegiate starts. The Fighting
Scots proved to have the better defense and the better new man under
center, as the result was a 38-7 victory that extended their winning
streak in the Midwest Conference to 20 games.
Neither Carroll’s Dan Clay nor Monmouth’s Jared Mundt was expected
to have a big day in their relief roles of Chris Rogers and Steve
Zidow, respectively. After all, Clay would be facing a Fighting Scot
defense that had allowed only six points in two conference games,
while Mundt would look across the line of scrimmage at a Pioneer
contingent that had allowed just two meaningless fourth-quarter
touchdowns in their first three contests.
Briefly, Clay & Co. had the upper hand, as Andrew Gorniak hauled in
a 50-yard scoring pass from Clay midway through the first quarter
for a 7-3 Carroll lead. But after that, it was all Monmouth, as the
Scots scored five straight touchdowns. The last two came on pass
plays of 34 and 59 yards from Mundt to preseason All-American Evan
Haffner.
“He’ll be the first to tell you there was a lot of room for
improvement,” said Monmouth coach Steve Bell of Mundt’s performance,
“but it was a good way for him start. The key to me was that he got
the ball to Evan.”
Haffner’s touchdowns completed a 191-yard day on 10 catches. He took
over the all-time reception lead at Monmouth with 124 and needs just
17 yards to pass Nathan Gaskill as Monmouth’ all-time leader in
receiving yards. For his efforts, Haffner was named the MWC’s
Offensive Performer of the Week.
The success in the passing game meant less yardage for senior Dante
Daniels, but the senior speedster still had a solid game, reaching
the century mark for the fourth straight time. Among his 114 yards
were TD runs of two, eight and eight yards. Daniels has rushed for
649 yards and nine touchdowns this season and is well on his way to
becoming Monmouth’s first 1,000-yard rusher in more than a decade.
The offensive story was not nearly as good for Carroll. Clay and his
successor, Jacob Krawze, combined to complete just 9-of-28 passes
for 127 yards. Take away Clay’s 50-yarder, and the Scots essentially
throttled the Pioneers’ air attack.
Cornerback Aaron Payette was a big part of that, as he picked off
two passes and would have had the trifecta had he not been ruled out
of bounds on what would have been his third interception.
Linebackers Marc Artozqui and Phil Kleckler combined for 19 tackles
and the Scots posted eight tackles for loss, including a pair of
sacks.
With four games behind them, Monmouth’s defensive unit is beginning
to log some impressive numbers. They are allowing the fewest points
in the conference (8.2 per game) and are tied for first in turnover
margin (+5), which includes a league-high 12 turnovers gained.
Monmouth also holds the top spot in pass defense efficiency (95.4),
fewest first downs allowed (54) and red zone defense (one touchdown
and one field goal allowed in seven trips inside their 20).
“We were tremendous in the red zone (vs. Carroll),” said Bell. “We
didn’t make all the plays we could have, but we came up with the big
plays when we needed to.”
Carroll ran 13 plays from the red zone and netted just one yard. A
big setback was Kleckler’s 10-yard sack of Krawze.
“I didn’t feel we played up to our potential,” said Bell. “We left a
lot of plays on the field. But it was a good win for us, because
Carroll is a team that’s been up and coming the last couple years.
To get them in that fashion made it a good win.”
Monmouth, now 3-1, will look for its fourth straight victory of the
season at Grinnell on Saturday. Among Bell’s concerns are taking
better care of the ball (the Scots have five turnovers this year)
and re-establishing a dominant run game.
Individually, Bell said that Grinnell quarterback Sean Pfalzer
(1,002 passing yards, 10 TDs) is a “tremendous athlete,” and that
the pass-catch tandem of Pfalzer and Kyle Perry (25 catches for 282
yards) needs to be contained.
“(Pfalzer’s) going to get something because he’s such a great
athlete with great feet,” said Bell.
A year ago, Pfalzer threw for 200 yards, but the Scots were able to
post a convincing 69-14 victory. This year’s Pioneers team is 0-4
and has given up at least 45 points in every game.
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