Football game Saturday features two elite quarterbacks

MEQUON, Wis. – Offense is expected to be on display Saturday at Tomasini Stadium when Augsburg College visits Concordia University Wisconsin. Both teams averaged over 27 points per game a season ago and both teams return a bevy of talent on the offensive side of the football.

Guiding those two offenses will be a pair of star quarterbacks in Falcon junior Austin Damaschke and Auggies sophomore Ayrton Scott. Damaschke was the Wisconsin Private College Player of the Year last season, while Scott was a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic First Team All-Conference selection.

CUW

Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.) will have plenty of weapons to work with this season as several of his top wide receivers are back this season. Last year's top receiver was junior Garrett Wenzelburger (Hartland, Wis.), a First Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference selection in 2012. Wenzelburger finished with 66 receptions for 763 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Also back this season are seniors James Saunders (Riverview, Fla.) and Cody Johnson (Brookfield, Wis.). Saunders had 42 catches a season ago for 442 yards, while Johnson hauled in 25 passes for 325 yards.

With those three returning it is no wonder why the expectations are high for Damaschke and the Falcons passing attack in 2013. Last season Damaschke led the NACC in completions (211), attempts (319), completion percentage (66.1) and touchdowns (25). Damaschke did all of that while throwing just six interceptions.

Damaschke has also shown he has the ability to do some damage on the ground as he led the Falcons with 252 rushing yards last season. He also scored three rushing touchdowns.

Augsburg

Scott took the MIAC by storm last season as he finished his freshman campaign ranked third in the country in total offense (368.10). The dual-threat quarterback guided an offense that put 40-plus points on the scoreboard six times.

Scott tossed 26 touchdown passes in his first year while guiding an offense that ranked 19th in the nation in scoring (38 points per game). He threw for 2,245 yards and completed 61.1 percent of his passes. Tight end Adam Carl also returns to the passing game after leading the team in receptions (53) and yards (640) last season.

While Scott was certainly good with the arm, he was even better with his legs. He ran for 1,436 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. His 143.6 rushing yards per game ranked eighth in the nation.

Certainly with both of these quarterbacks leading their squads the offenses will have high expectations for the season-opening contest. Both defenses will have their hands full as big plays could happen early and often Saturday afternoon.