Monday Afternoon QB: St. Michael Airs it Out for 28-14 Win

The talk heading into the 2011 season about the St. Michael-Albertville offense was about how new coach Jared Essler was going to throw the ball a bit more than the Knights did back in 2010.

“We could be pretty one-dimensional at times.,” Essler said. “We were pretty good at running the football, but in some games it would have been nice to have that option of stretching it out.”

In Game One of the 2011 season, a 21-0 shutout over former Mississippi 8 rival Princeton, the Knights couldn’t find that passing game quite yet. Cole Krutzig, junior quarterback, connected on just two passes with nine attempts. But, the Knights won with more than 200 yards rushing.

Last week was a different story.

Krutzig brushed up on his timing, and was able to throw the ball on the run a bit more accurately–completing 11 of 17 for 180 yards and a touchdown that essentially iced the game.

“We think, as a line, we can give our quarterback better time to throw this season,” said lineman/tight end Cory Rothstein.

The Knights rushed for 157 yards, in comparison.

Something special on special teams

If you were at the Princeton contest, you know Michael Weise had his chances on punt returns to break “the big one.”

Turns out the best was yet to come, but for another kick returner.

Joe Williams took the opening kick of the second half 86 yards for a 14-7 St. Michael-Albertville lead, and the Knights never looked back. They would score 21 unanswered, with Williams’ game-breaker starting that streak. Once Ryan Lyzhoft scored from 18 yards out in the fourth quarter, STMA had a 28-7 lead.

Junior leadership

Krutzig and Lyzhoft (who had 127 yards on the ground Friday) are two juniors who key the offense, but the defense is also anchored by a junior.

Junior Bennie Wilson had a huge game vs. Princeton, and will be a key for the Knights all season in the middle, if he can stay healthy.

Fellow junior Tyler Berhow, a defensive back, was the Knights’ leading tackler at Becker Friday with 10. And Junior Mike Kessler had the team’s lone sack.

“There are some good players at that junior level. We’re interested to see how they all grow into their roles,” Essler said. “From last Friday to the Becker game, we made some pretty big strides.”

Rogers Rivalry Renewed

That passing attack, with Krutzig at the helm, will be key Friday when St. Michael-Albertville hosts Rogers. But what might be the main ingredient in the Knights' recipe for success will be the defense, which would make honored coach Earl Bauman proud.

Two scores in two games, especially after Becker hung 40 on Buffalo, is impressive.

Last year, the Knights couldn't slow down the Royals, who eventually rode their offense to a state final appearance.

Monticello held the Royals to 29 points. If the Knights can contain Rogers' key players, they can win.