Cal Lutheran Offensive Line Receives National Honor

Kingsmen to face Linfield in post-season opener

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 10:00 am

Cal Lutheran has rushed for 2,346 yards and 36 touchdowns through nine games this season.
Credit: Joe Bergman (D3Photgraphy.com) Hi-res image

Release by Scott Chisholm (CLU Sports Information)

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The starting five on the Cal Lutheran football team's offensive line received D3football.com National Team of the Week honors for its performance during Saturday's road win over Occidental.

Release: National Team of the Week

Cal Lutheran rushed for 346 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-20 victory over the Tigers. The Kingsmen tied the program's single-game scoring record en route to clinching a third straight SCIAC title and perfect conference record.

The "no-names" are now at the front and center of everyone's attention. The starting unit includes Jordan Austin, Ty Olson, John Schactner, Gio Lapp and Marc Valdez.

"Those guys really deserve it," said CLU Head Coach Ben McEnroe. "They have put together outstanding performances throughout the season and it is great to receive this national attention."

As a team the Kingsmen have rushed for 36 touchdowns (averaging four per game) and totaled 340-plus yards on the ground in three different contests this season. Sixteen different players carried the ball against Occidental led by Daniel Mosier's 154 yards and two touchdown effort.

Cal Lutheran was effective through the air completing 7-of-9 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line did not allow quarterback Jake Laudenslayer to get sacked and the signal caller also rushed four times for 28 yards and a score against Occidental.

Several times this season the Cal Lutheran coaching staff has rotated players in at the line position during lopsided contests. Despite the opposition's awareness of CLU's intent on offense to become a run-heavy second half team, the Kingsmen have still been able to outscore its opponents 145-7 in the third quarter alone and 189-80 in the second half this season.

No. 8 Cal Lutheran will play No. 5 Linfield in McMinville, Ore. on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Noon in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. It marks the third straight season the Kingsmen will faced the Wildcats at Maxwell Field in the first round.