Football Friday Preview: St. Michael-Albertville vs. Rogers

The St. Michael-Albertville community will honor Coach Earl Bauman tonight at the STMA vs. Rogers football game, giving the Knights a bit of "extra motivation" for a key, early-season game.

The Knights encourage ALL football alumni to help honor Bauman, as they present the coach with a plaque for his more than 30 years of service as coach, teacher and ambassador for STMA sports.

All football alumni–anyone who played for Coach Bauman–are invited to join in an on-the-field photo at halftime, to be taken from the press box.

"He's just a guy that's done so much for our school and for our program," said current coach Jared Essler. "It's going to be a great night to honor him and the work he's done for the Knights."

Players are pumped to honor their former coach, and to take on the conference rival Royals.

"It's one we'll have circled," said Kory Rothstein. "That's a big game."

FOOTBALL FRIDAY

St. Michael-Albertville (2-0, 1-0 Mississippi 8 Conference) vs. Rogers (2-0, 1-0 Mississippi 8 Conference)

PLAYMAKERS
-- Tyler Berhow (St. Michael-Albertville – Defensive back)
Junior leads the Knights with 18 tackles in two games.
-- Ryan Lyzhoft (St. Michael-Albertville – Running Back)
Has rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns so far this season.
-- Nic Schiebe (Rogers – Linebacker
Leads the team with 16 tackles in two games
-- Cyrus Biah (Rogers –  Linebacker)
Has 15 tackles and a team-best five tackles for loss

KNIGHTS WIN IF...
They can penetrate a tough Royal defense, which has not allowed a point all season and beat the Knights by a combined 73-0 last season in two games.

ROYALS WIN IF...
They continue to dominate the time of possession by running the ball against a senior-dominated defense.

2-MINUTE DRILL
SITE: St. Michael-Albertville Middle School
TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
WEATHER: Partly cloudy, 56 degrees
LAST MEETING: Rogers defeated St. Michael-Albertville 32-0 in the regular season and 41-0 in the playoffs.

ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE SCHEDULE
Thur Sep 1 Princeton W 21-0
Fri, Sep 9 at Becker W 28-14
Fri, Sep 16 Rogers
Fri, Sep 23 at Big Lake
Fri, Sep 30 Buffalo
Fri, Oct 7 at Cambridge-Isanti
Fri, Oct 14 Monticello
Wed, Oct 19 at Elk River

ROGERS SCHEDULE
Thur Sep 1 Sauk Rapids-Rice W 33-0
Fri, Sep 9 at MonticelloW 29-8
Fri, Sep 16 at St. Michael-Albertville
Fri, Sep 23 Buffalo
Fri, Sep 30 at Sartell
Fri, Oct 7 Big Lake
Fri, Oct 14 at Elk River
Wed, Oct 19 Cambridge-Isanti