It's hard to ignore when more than 4,000 people (that's an official estimate by Wright County deputies, mind you) show up in your backyard.
"The crowd support at homecoming was incredible," said head coach Jared Essler as he spoke, briefly, to the St. Michael-Albertville Rotary Club this week. "We think we play a kind of football that is entertaining for people. So far, so good."
Blame Essler's North Dakota roots for the humility, but so good is 6-0, his best start ever in three years as head coach and the Knights' best start to a season in recent memory.
They'll put that record on the line this week against a team that's given them fits, however. The Cambridge-Isanti BlueJackets handed the Knights a loss last season in the home opener, and are hoping the same formula spells success this trip to St. Michael.
"They're big. They're always big. They've got something going on up there where they just have big kids," Essler said with a smile. "Lumberjacks."
The Jackets don't do anything fancy. It's a line-em-up, knock-em-down offense that stays on the ground.
The Knights have been stout against the run, with a defense that's allowed just nine points per game, the bulk of those against a Chisago Lakes offense that put up 26. The rest - 0, 6, 12, 3 and 7.
The temptation, though, is out there. The Knights are headed on a collision course with Rogers, as the two meet up Wednesday, Oct 16 in Rogers. Both could be 7-0 at the time.
"You can't let yourself do that," Essler said. "We've got to beat Cambridge first."
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at the STMA Middle School West field.
The game will be broadcast here, on High School Cube.
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