UMAC Game of the Week: MacMurray vs. Martin Luther - Football
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each Wednesday during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
***UPDATE***
Martin Luther wins 40-6 to clinch share of UMAC title
The Matchup
Saturday, Nov. 3 - MacMurray College at Martin Luther College, football, 12 p.m. in New Ulm, Minnesota
What's at Stake
- UMAC Title - The winner of Saturday's contest will remain undefeated in conference play and guarantee at least a share of the conference title. It would be the first for MacMurray and the first since 2009 for Martin Luther.
- First AQ - Should Martin Luther win Saturday, the Knights would lock up the automatic qualifying (AQ) bid to the NCAA tournament despite outcomes on the final weekend. A win for MacMurray would put the Highlanders in a position to get the AQ in a number of different ways in the final weekend. This would be a first-ever NCAA appearance for both teams.
Previously in Action
- MacMurray earned a 27-20 comeback win on the road against Greenville University Saturday to move to 6-0 in conference play.
- Martin Luther used a huge second half to take down the University of Minnesota Morris 41-28 on the road Saturday to go to 6-0 in the UMAC.
Need to Know
- Scoring margin - MacMurray has defeated won five of its six UMAC games by a margin of seven points or less, while five of Martin Luther's six victories were by double digits.
- Offense vs. Defense - The top offense will face off against the top defense in the UMAC Saturday. Martin Luther boasts a league-best 38.3 points per game, while MacMurray allows the fewest points per game with 13.5. The Knights also average a conference-best 500.3 yards of offense per game and the Highlanders hold opponents to a league-low 227.0 yards per game.
- Run game - The run game will be critical to success of either team. Martin Luther rushes for over 279.3 yards a game and owns a league-most 22 rushing TDs and MacMurray allows just 98.0 yards which is third-best. MacMurray rushes for 152 yards per game but is second in rushing touchdowns with 12. The highlanders will face the top rush defense in the Knights (65.5 yd/g).
Players to Watch - MacMurray
- Marquez Ellison, Sr., RB - 43.8 yd/g (rush), 6 TD
- Javon Muhammad, Sr., DL - Defensive Player of the Year last season, Leads NCAA in TFL/g (3.92); UMAC Stats: 7.8 T/g, 30 solo, 10 sacks (1st), 23.5 TFL (1st) , 9 PBU
- CJ O'Rourke, Sr., LB - UMAC Stats: 53 T, 8.8 T/g, 3 PB
Players to Watch - Martin Luther
- Zach Bloomquist, So., QB - UMAC Stats: 182.7 yd/g (pass), 152.8 pass eff. (1st), 59.1% comp. (1st), 10 TD (pass), 8 TD (rush), 217.3 yd/g (total)
- Austin DeNoyer, So., RB - UMAC Stats: 98.2 yd/g (1st), 5.6 yd/carry, 145.8 yd/g (all-purpose, 1st), 6 TD (rush), 2 TD (pass)
- Dan Gensmer, Jr., DL - UMAC stats: 7.5 sacks, 15.5 TFL, 2.58 TFL/g, 35 T, 5.8 T/g
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2018-19 Game of the Week Archives