Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Opinion: MNU needs to avoid falling into trap game

MidAmerica Nazarene University’s face-off with Central Methodist University on Saturday is what is known, in sports parlance, as a “trap game.”

The Pioneers are 5-0, and it would only be human nature for them to overlook 1-4 Central Methodist in anticipation of a gigantic homecoming match-up with fellow unbeaten Missouri Valley College the following week. The Eagles, meanwhile, will have the home crowd behind them and will play in what, for them anyway, is one of the biggest games of the season.

So how do the Pioneers keep from falling into the trap and coming back from Fayette, Mo., with a disappointing loss?

One way that some coaches keep players focused during a “trap” week is to convince them that they’re far from perfect and have a lot to improve on.

That could be tough for Stugart to sell his players, considering they’re coming off a 51-7 pasting of Evangel University. But there are still a few weapons the Pioneers could get more involved against the Eagles.

One is junior Bryant Jestes, the leading returning receiver this year. Jestes is averaging just under two catches per game after catching nearly four per contest a year ago.

Part of that is because senior quarterback Stinson Dean has spread the ball around masterfully on his way to leading the Heart of America Athletic Conference in passing yards, and sophomore receiver Brock Drumm is having a breakout year. But Jestes’ HAAC-leading 26.3 yards per catch suggests he can seriously spread a defense, and it might behoove MNU to get him more touches.

That sort of criticism is admittedly nit-picky when it comes to an offense that is averaging a league-best 514.4 yards per game.

But the unit that got most of the criticism last year, the defense, has been similarly hard to find fault with this season. MNU has given up an average of only 14.2 points per game and is second in the HAAC to Missouri Valley in most defensive categories.

Sacks are the one area in which the defense is still lagging behind. The Pioneers have only four on the season, which puts them ninth in the HAAC.

That also may be a bit deceptive because MNU has put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, who have barely been able to get off passes (and often not good ones). Still, it’s one more thing the Pioneers can work on against Central Methodist.

If pointing out those areas for improvement aren’t enough to keep the Pioneers focused this week, Stugart can always turn to another tried and true motivational tool: recent history.

Last year the Pioneers barely held on for 21-13 win against Central Methodist at home. That would seem to suggest that the Eagles won’t just roll over on their home field simply because MNU trots in with a perfect record.

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