Surging Haskell aiming for two straight wins / LJWorld.com

Archive for Saturday, September 20, 2008

September 20, 2008

Not since the start of the 2005 season has Haskell Indian Nations University won back-to-back football games.

The Fightin' Indians will have another chance at back-to-back victories today when they tangle with winless MacMurray College. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. at Haskell Stadium.

Haskell shrugged off two early blowout losses to trim Bacone College, 29-22, last Saturday, thanks in large part to a new no-huddle offense that generated yardage in crucial situations.

"The key was play-making," HINU coach Eric Brock said. "Guys stepped up and made plays. We had a lot of third-down conversions."

Freshman quarterback Ryan Alden, making his first college start, threw three touchdown passes - two to wide receiver Casey Wilson who finished with seven grabs for 102 yards.

Alden, a 6-3, 200-pounder from Walla Walla, Wash., ran the Indians' offense like a veteran and completed 16 of 29 passes for 216 yards with one interception.

MacMurray College is an NCAA Div. III school struggling with a 12-game losing streak. The Highlanders were 0-10 last year and have dropped their first two this season. The Jacksonville, Ill., school hasn't won since the finale of the 2006 season.

Aurora College spilled MacMurray, 30-18, last week despite quarterback Demarien Hampton's three TD passes that had given the Highlanders an 18-14 halftime lead. In its opener, MacMurray bowed to Beloit College, 27-17.

MacMurray's primary bugaboo has been the inability to establish a running game. The Highlanders are averaging only 18.5 yards per game on the ground and rank 221st among the 235 NCAA Div. III schools.

Haskell will also be home next Saturday against Waldorf (Iowa) College.