Two teams ranked in the NAIA top ten collide in Des Moines on Saturday as third ranked Grand View hosts eighth rated St. Ambrose. The winner will grab sole possession of the lead in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. Grand View is 7-0 and this will be the Vikings fifth rated foe.
Grand View coach Mike Woodley says they have “unquestionably” played the toughest schedule in the NAIA and responded. He expects a close and hard fought game.
“Every year we play St. Amborse it has been a real dogfight,” Woodley says. He points out his team’s win was the only loss St. Ambrose suffered last year.
This game will also match two outstanding quarterbacks in St. Ambrose senior Eric Williamson and Grand View sophomore Derek Fulton. Woodley says Williamson is a 3-year started who throws the ball well, and can also make plays with his feet. He says Fulton is a younger version of Williamson.
St. Ambrose coach Mike Magistrelli says this series is quickly becoming a rivalry with both teams in the state. This game will match league’s top ranked offense from St. Ambrose against Grand View’s top ranked defense. “They are very fast, very physical and it will be a great matchup for our offense, and it will be exciting to see,” Magistrelli says.
The Grand View defense gives up only 63 yards of rushing per game and Magistrelli says the Fighting Bees need to find some success on the ground.
St. Ambrose is 5-1.