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Coe Review

I've still been chewing rolaids since Saturday and wondering how a team whose defense gives up just 191 yards and six points LOSES a game. That's what happended Saturday as Coe defeated Luther 22-19 in overtime for its fifth straight win over the Norse.

First things first, Luther felt Saturday like Buena Vista felt the previous week. BV outgained 265-161, had 77 offensive plays compared to Luther's 56, including many more inside the opponents terrority and had the ball for four more minutes. Good fortune and karma giveth. Good fortune and karma taketh away.

On the positive side, this Norse defense continues to impress. The defense it's self has given up nine points in the last three games. 161 yards given up. 3.7 yards per play. 2.9 yards per rush. 8 of Coe's 16 possessions were three and out. Seven tackles for a loss. Two sacks. Three takeaways. It's unfortunate that such an effort was not rewarded Saturday afternoon.

Special teams was a vast disappointment. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Coe fumbles the ball and to his credit, Chad Reifschneider for Coe picks up the ball, plays to the whistle and takes it in for six. Weird play. One guy plays to the whistle on the field. Later in the game, Jesse Kent tries to field a punt inside the ten yard line, fumbles into the end zone and Coe recovers for six points. To be fair to Jesse, he was trying to make a play and by letting the ball go with Kohawks all around him, the ball could have been downed inside the five yard line. But if you're going to do that, a-you have to be smart and b-you have to secure possession and take care of the ball. Otherwise the high risk, high reward proposition turns to disaster.

Another week, another missed extra point. Granted, you don't know how the game would have played out but the safety that tied the game would have led to a one point deficit for Coe. Five extra points in seven games. Unacceptable. The Norse kicking game has been an adventure this year. But scoring touchdowns and getting six on the board instead of seven cannot continue to happen.

Offensively, the consistency just hasn't been there. Saturday, the running game failed to get going. 2.5 yards per carry this week. 1.7 yards per carry last week. Unacceptable. No matter how many plays you can make in the passing game, teams need to run the ball consistenly to win. And I don't believe it's a one or two person problem. It's a team issue. All persons involved in the running game must step up and improve that facet.

The timing of the passing game was off all day Saturday. Chris Reynolds was not on his game, due in part to the Coe defense putting more pressure on him than any other defense this season. And when Reynolds was on target, Luther receivers often dropped catchable balls. The difference between the offense against Buena Vista and Coe was key plays at key times. Against BV, the offense made one extra play, got one first down instead of a three and out and held the ball for nine minutes when the Beavers had the wind. Luther often on Saturday put themselves behind the eight ball by negativity on first and second down. Long story longer, consistency just wasn't there. Coach Durnin always talks about whoever is on the field the expectation is to perform. That's what it's gotta to be in the final three weeks.

A win against Coe could have made this week huge. A little bit of luster is off but the Norse can also knock Wartburg out of the top spot in the league with a win this week. 1-0 this Saturday. That will be the goal. Conference title hopes are still alive, but now you need some help. The entire focus needs to be Wartburg. Dreaming big is nice. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. A win Saturday could bring a little more excitement to the last two weeks. A loss Saturday and you're playing out the season.

Published Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 7:49 AM by Darin Svenson

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