RB Krisch running wild at St. Francis
SMALL COLLEGES | In his fifth game, Joliet Catholic product sets school mark with second 200-yard effort
Redshirt freshman Connor Krisch is back on his old turf and running like a new man.
Only five games into his college career, Krisch became the first St. Francis back to rush for 200 yards or more twice when he finished with 200 and three touchdowns in St. Francis' 19-0 victory Saturday at Waldorf (Iowa). He had 211 yards Sept. 26 at Iowa Wesleyan.
The 5-11, 224-pound Krisch walked on at Northern Illinois but didn't play, so he transferred to the familiar territory of St. Francis and Joliet Memorial Stadium, where he played for Joliet Catholic. The Saints (3-6, 1-4 Mid-States Football Association Midwest) are glad to have Krisch, who already owns two of the school's top five individual games in its 24-year football history.
The caliber is ''small,'' but the stakes are huge on big-game Saturday for NAIA offensive powerhouse Saint Xavier and Division III perennial power Wheaton.
Saint Xavier (10-0), which leads the nation in scoring with a no-huddle offense led by quarterback Anthony Kropp -- the NAIA leader with 35 touchdown passes -- will try to beat longtime nemesis St. Francis (Ind.)
''St. Francis has been our albatross,'' Saint Xavier coach Mike Feminis said. ''We have been a top-8 or -10 program in the last five years, but they are the hump we are trying to get over.''
The game is for the MSFA Mideast title, and a victory for the Cougars would all but guarantee a top-four seed in the NAIA playoff field and home field in the first two rounds. Saint Xavier is ranked sixth and Saint Francis (7-1) eighth with a loss to Division II Missouri Science & Technology.
After winning the Little Brass Bell game against Wheaton two weeks ago, North Central lost to Illinois Wesleyan in overtime on Saturday to create a three-way tie for first in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Wesleyan (7-1, 4-1) broke a six-game losing streak against North Central (6-2, 4-1), snapped the Cardinals' 16-game streak in the CCIW and can take a monumental step toward winning its first CCIW title since 1996 with a home victory against Wheaton (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday. North Central plays at Augustana (5-3, 3-2).
The D3football.com rankings this week have Wheaton 12th, North Central 18th and Illinois Wesleyan 19th. The state's highest ranked team is No. 8 Monmouth (9-0). Junior Alex Tanney (Lexington, Ill.) has passed for a Division III-high 3,044 yards and 36 touchdowns for the nation's No. 2 Division III offense. Senior defensive lineman Anthony Goranson (Belvidere) leads the Scots with six sacks, and junior defensive back Joe Daly (St. Patrick) has two interceptions and 18 solo tackles.
Khyree Copeland, who rushed for 135 yards in Concordia's overtime victory against Concordia Wisconsin on Saturday, has 2,071 career yards. Al Behnke (1961-64) owns the school record with 2,191.
• Carthage quarterback Evan Jones (Grayslake) leads the CCIW with 2,737 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Jones is third in Division III passing yards.
A victory for third-ranked Southern Illinois (7-1, 6-0) at No. 9 South Dakota State (7-1, 6-0) on Saturday would give the Salukis the Missouri Valley Football Conference title and an automatic playoff bid. South Dakota State leads the nation in defense with 11.4 points allowed.
Illinois State (4-4, 3-2) goes for its third straight win when it hosts Western Illinois (1-7, 0-5) on Saturday. Sophomore linebacker Josh Howe (Marian Catholic) has 17 tackles in the last two games, including nine in the Redbirds' 17-14 victory at Missouri State.
Eastern Illinois (6-2, 5-1) gets a week off after surviving a 16-10 scare at Murray State. The Panthers, ranked 14th after moving up six spots, can clinch a playoff berth with home victories against Tennessee Martin and Tennessee State.
Robert Morris University is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA preseason basketball poll.