NORTHWOOD, Iowa – The big game Monday won’t be found on ABC’s Monday Night Football.

Saturday, November 03, 2001

NORTHWOOD, Iowa – The big game Monday won’t be found on ABC’s Monday Night Football. At least not in Northern Iowa.

The second round of the high school playoffs features Northwood-Kensett at Fredericksburg in what figures to be one of the best quarterfinal matchups in the state. The Vikings are ranked No. 4 in Class 1A, Fredericksburg No. 3.

&uot;I think both coaches of a lot of respect for the other team,&uot; said Northwood-Kensett coach Dave Capitani. &uot;I think it will be a heck of a ballgame.&uot;

Neither team has lost a game this year. Both are 10-0, though the edge in playoff experience goes to the Vikings, making their sixth consecutive appearance. Fredericksburg is in for the second year in a row.

The Vikings, who ended their final two regular-season games by the 50-point rule early in the fourth quarter, were impressive in an opening-round 33-6 playoff victory over Rockwell-Swaledale. It was the first time in 36 games that the Rebels’ John McLaughlin – the No. 3 rusher in Iowa high school history – was held under 100 yards. Fredericksburg edged Postville 7-6 in the first round of the playoffs.

Capitani has viewed plenty of Fredericksburg game film and is impressed.

&uot;They’re very fast,&uot; said Capitani. &uot;They have four outstanding backs that can all beat you. They have good receivers. Their linemen are very athletic. They’re a very skilled football team. They’re not big overall, but they’re very fast and hard-nosed kids.&uot;

They’re also primarily a rushing team, which is the Vikings’ offensive forte.

Like Fredericksburg, four backs carry the load for N-K. Three have rushed for more than 650 yards while quarterback Trevor Madsen has ran for 359.

The biggest improvement, according to Capitani, has been in the defense, led by linebackers James Erickson and Brian Klitzke and linemen Nathan Loberg, Jake Gentz, Jared Avelar and Josh Reindl.

&uot;It’s really a team effort on defense, but our inside has been consistently strong for us all year,&uot; said Capitani. &uot;Our outside people have really improved. That’s been a big key for us, and it will be again Monday night.&uot;