Armstrong-Ringsted/Stanton preview: Mustangs vs. Vikings II
Will the sequel be just as good as the original?by David Swartz - Managing Editor
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Here we go again
Rewind 2007 or new version? The numbers and talent promise a whale of a game. The two teams are the highest scoring teams in the state regardless of class, and return familiar names from a year ago.
About the Vikings
The top-rated Vikings have a whole list of household names with several players sharing "the wealth." Stanton has 13 different players who have scored touchdowns this fall, led by Alex Whigham, a junior who has scored 268 points on 25 rushing journeys, 12 receptions, two punt returns and two kick off returns. He also has nine two point conversions and has kicked four PATs.
Seniors Grant McArdle and quarterbackk Chris Palmquist have 148 and 64 points respectively.
Whigham is already Iowa's career all-time pass receiver with 2,042 yards and the leading career receiver with 119, His 82 career touchdowns ties Jared Bruce of Aurelia (2005-07) for first) and his 33 receiving touchdowns is one behind Bruce. This season he bolted for 1,289 rushing yards with 540 receiving yards with 776 yards on punt and kickoff returns.
Palmquist has completed 105 of 179 passes with only three picks for 1,488 yards and 24 touchdowns. His career yardage of 5,379, while his 365 completions ranks second in Iowa and seventh nationally and his 88 TD aerials is second in Iowa and ninth nationally.
McArdle has rushed for 18 TDs while racking up 813 yards in just 72 carries. He also has three scoring receptions and has returned an interception for a score. The Vikings interior trio of Cam Lewellen (240), Jeremy Oltmanns (190) and Lucas Olson (290) often pave the way for the rushing attack, while Tyler Jones, Alex Cabbage, Nate Elwood, Grant Focht, Tanner Suddenbeck and McArdle are the leading tacklers.
About the Mustangs
Meanwhile, don't expect Armstrong-Ringsted to be in awe especially key personnel returning from last year's near upset. Running back Tyler Tonderum, a junior, and quarterback Ridge Christiansen return along with offensive and defensive lineman Willie Beeler (245).
Tonderum has tallied 216 points, the second straight season he has gone over the two century mark and has rushed for 1,859 yards on 177 carries. He has 3,676 rushing yards to date the last two seasons, good enough for sixth best all-time and is a strong candidate to break Sentral of Fenton's Kellen Madison's 8-player state record of 4,641 next fall. Tonderum has also caught two touchdown passes and has returned a punt and kickoff each for scores.
Christiansen is a running and passing threat. This season he has rushed for 1,489 yards and 26 TDs, while throwing for 716 yards and 15 scores. He has connected on 38 of 79 passes with only one interception.
Tanner LaBore, a senior, has been the Mustangs top receiver with 12 catches for 347 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also taken a kickoff to the house among his 84 points.
Place kicker Ethan Eisenbacher has converted on 65 of 76 placements. The defense is balanced with Christiansen, Tonderum, LaBore being joined by Seth Anderson and Craig Tigges as the leading tacklers.
Editor's note: Information was submitted by Bud Legg, Iowa High School Athletic Association Media Director
ARMSTRONG - Moments after the 2007 Eight-Man Championship game, three players from both Armstrong-Ringsted and Stanton gathered for postgame interviews.
As soon as they were done with the media, the Stanton players began asking the A-R players how many seniors they had. Discovering that Ridge Christiansen and Tyler Tonderum were underclassmen, the mood turned to one of anticipation as the players viewed a possible rematch in 2008.
On Friday, top-rated Stanton and fourth-rated A-R will meet for the sequel at the UNI-Dome-however this isn't for the championship game, but is the 1:30 p.m. semifinal.
The two teams feature the highest scoring teams in the state regardless of class. The Vikings are first with 808 points while the Mustangs have scored 647. (Lenox, which is in the other Eight-Man semifinal against Corwith-Wesley-Luverne, is third on the list with 559 points).
Looking back at last year's championship game, Stanton coach Don Hicks remembers a "well-playd hard-fought battle."
Stanton entered the 2007 playoffs with the closest game a nine-point victory. The eight-point win over A-R in the finals is still the Vikings' closest contest.
Looking at tape of A-R this season, Hicks sees an improved Mustang team.
"To me, they look a lot better than last year," he said. "I think Christiansen is the best running quarterback in the state."
A-R coach Robert Zotz said what he remembers from last season is the errors on both sides.
"We gave up three big pass plays, they gave up two," said Zotz. "I think both coaches' mindset is to not give up the big play."
For the second straight year, the Mustangs have been challenged during the regular season. In 2007, they suffered an early season loss to Ventura and one the quarterfinal and semifinal games by just a field goal.
Meanwhile Stanton's toughest contest was the 42-17 quarterfinal win over Coon Rapids-Bayard with most other games settled by 50 points or more.
"The varsity did not play very many quarters up until the playoffs," said Hicks.
The focus for the Vikings as been to dominate all opponents no matter which quarter it is.
"I think the area we've improved most on is defense," Hicks said. "It's not easy to limit teams in Eight-Man football."
The Vikings have the largest margin of victory, having given up only 128 points this season.
The Stanton coach said there a lot of adjustments to make to prepare for A-R.
"We haven't seen a team that runs the ball that well," Hick said. "We're emhasizing the mental game and good assignment football. No one can have a mediocre day."
Zotz said the Mustangs have been working on their game all season.
"They (Stanton) don't do anything that we haven't seen from other teams," he said. "We've been doing what we've done for the last few months. Hopefully a week of preparation won't counter what we've been working on all year."
