Offenses streaking
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On and Off with Carleton wide receiver Chris Gardner.
On the field … Carleton opened its 2007 season under coach Kurt Ramler with a bang, drubbing Minnesota-Morris 49-0 in Northfield. A huge piece of the victory was junior wide receiver Chris Gardner who hauled in eight passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns -- the third-best single-game total in the school’s record book. He was on the receiving end of touchdown throws of 61, 13, 57 and 56 yards. After one game, Gardner is closing in on his career high six touchdowns which he accumulated over 10 games last season.
Off the field … Gardner loosened up and answered the following questions for On and Off.
Hardest course this fall: Methods of Political research
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Gatorade or Powerade: Gatorade
If you could have dinner with anyone past or present: Jesus
President when I graduate: Hillary Rodham Clinton
Favorite TV show: The Office
Early riser or sleep in: Sleep in, definitely
2008 Super Bowl Champion: Vikings
Last book you read: The Art of War
Favorite place to study: My room
Do you read Post Patterns: No
Republican or Democrat: Independent
Notre Dame vs Michigan this week, who wins: Not Michigan
Girlfriend or single: Single (There was some serious contemplation before this answer)
What do you want to be upon graduation: No idea, get a job, go to grad school
Favorite Food: Fajitas
Three words to describe Coach Ramler: Energetic, Unique, Intelligent
Why Carleton: Great academic school with a unique environment.
Gardner and his Carleton teammates travel to Macalester this Saturday for an evening game under the lights. Macalester (2-0) and Carleton (1-0) play annually for the Book of Knowledge traveling trophy.
We’re going streaking
Two West Region teams extended significant regular season winning streaks on Saturday. Central overcame the absence of 2006 IIAC MVP Vance Schuring and a 17-14 halftime deficit to drop Hope 36-17. The Dutch extended their regular season win streak to 19 games. Occidental drubbed Lewis & Clark 52-0 to extend the longest active NCAA Division III regular season winning streak to 27 games and the longest active Division III losing streak to 19 in a row.
Halftime adjustments
On Saturday, St. John’s had another productive halftime. The Johnnies trailed UW-River Falls 10-0 at halftime and looked completely out of sync. After the break, the Johnnies pounced on the Falcons piling up 21 points on the ground, through the air and off of an interception returned for a touchdown. Over the past 94 games, the Johnnies have outscored their opponents 816-183 in the third quarter.
Sweet start, sour finish
Whitworth quarterback Kory Kemp wasted no time in trying to help Pirates fans forget former All-NWC quarterback Joel Clark. The Whitworth defense stopped Redlands on the first series of the game and then the Kemp era started at Whitworth. After two rushing plays for a combined five yards to running back Milton Nelson, Kemp kept the next one running 67 yards for a touchdown on his first carry of the season. The Pirates busted to a 10-0 lead. However, the Bulldogs ran off 24 straight points before Redlands took an intentional with seven seconds left. The upstart Bulldogs upset the 16th ranked Pirates, 24-12, and raised some eyebrows with the early season victory.
Two weeks, two points, two wins
Cornell is off to a 2-0 start for the second straight year but it has never been this nerve-wracking. After blocking an extra point last week to win at Northwestern (Minn.) the Rams came up with a huge stop against Alma for their second straight one-point win. The Rams won their opener 31-30 when Chris Gustafson blocked a game-tying extra point in the final minute. On Saturday, it took safety Don Bladt’s recovered fumble to halt an Alma drive at the Rams’ 8-yard line with four seconds remaining in the game for the 35-34 victory.
Take care of the ball
Slow starts have doomed St. Thomas this season as they enter conference play with an 0-2 record. In their opener, the Central Dutch returned a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown just two and a half minutes into the game. On Saturday, Loras ran an interception back to the 2-yard line before punching it in to take the lead after 90 seconds of action. The Tommies have thrown five interceptions this season and lost one fumble.
Notes, nuggets and things you might have missed
• St. John’s running back Aaron Blackmore’s 170 yards is the most by an individual Johnnie since Kent Crowley ran for 167 yards on Dec. 7, 2002, in the NCAA Division III Playoffs at Linfield, Ore. In addition, Blackmore’s 34 carries are the second-most in school history, tying Rick Bell’s 34-carry effort against Gustavus on Oct. 9, 1982.Linfield opened the season rushing for only six yards in a 32-20 loss to Division II Western Oregon.
• UW-Oshkosh’s 34-3 victory over Huntingdon was the program’s first ever game played in Alabama.
• With a 62-0 drubbing of Principia, the Macalester Scots are now 2-0 for the first time since taking their first two contests of the 1988 season and have posted their first shutout since 1967.
• UW-Platteville quarterback Michael Schmidt completed 19 passes in their 16-3 win over St. Ambrose -- including one to himself for minus-6 yards.
• The 35-point victory margin by Bethel is the largest by a Simpson opponent since 1997 when Mt. Union defeated Simpson 56-7 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Football Championships.
• Northwestern is 0-2, dropping both games by a combined six points.
• Pacific Lutheran held Cal Lutheran to minus-5 rushing yards in its 48-17 victory.
• Hamline first year head coach Jim Good won his first collegiate football game 24-19 over Martin Luther.
The record book
• Saint John’s quarterback Alex Kofoed finished the day 13-of-26 passing for 116 yards to become SJU’s all-time leader in total yards (8,252) and passing yards (8,151). Both records were formerly held by 1997 graduate and current Carleton head coach Kurt Ramler (1993-96).
• Macalester’s 628 yards of total offense destroys the old single-game mark of 505 set against Colorado College just a year ago. Their 90 plays from scrimmage tops the old record of 89 offensive plays set in 2002 against Carleton. Macalester also established a single-game record with 397 passing yards. Macalester's defense established a record with six interceptions (the old mark was five set in 1983 against Gustavus and 1986 against Bethel). Principia entered the season ranked No. 238 among 238 Division III teams, according to D3football.com’s Kickoff '07.
• Gustavus wide receiver Chad Arlt's 15 catches broke the school record for catches in a game which was previously held by Ryan Hoag with 13. His 221 yards receiving just missed breaking the 29-year old school record for yards receiving in a game which is 228 held by Rich Ryan.
Games to watch
No. 19 Hardin-Simmons at No. 15 Linfield, 4:30 p.m., McMinnville, Ore.: Both teams enter this game at 0-1 and whoever loses will likely fall from the top 25. Linfield struggled to get their offense on track last week against Division II Western Oregon. Hardin-Simmons was outmanned in their opener two weeks back against UW-LaCrosse. This should be a good battle but Linfield is the favorite playing at home. The Cowboys won last season 21-6 in Abilene, TX.
No. 2 UW-Whitewater at St. Cloud State, 7 p.m., St. Cloud, Minn. This is one of those games you have to give St. Cloud State credit for scheduling. If they win, critics say, “You were supposed to, you’re Division II.” If they lose it’s an embarrassment that a Division II team lost to a Division III team. Nonetheless, this one looks to be a pretty good showdown. Look for Justin Beaver to run and run a lot in setting the school’s all-time rushing mark -- he needs just 34 yards. Danny Jones gets a chance to show consistency after a strong showing in their opener.
Carleton at Macalester, 7 p.m. St. Paul: This may be the first time in history these two teams have entered their rivalry with undefeated records. Both teams come in with strong offenses led by Jacob McDonnell for the Scots and Chris Gardner for the Knights. Together they have 11 touchdowns over three games (McDonnell has seven of them). This game will come down to whose defense comes to play. The winner will hoist the Book of Knowledge -- the traveling trophy between the two highest ranked academic colleges in the state.