Mavs open conference play against Vikings
Sean Owens
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports
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One year ago at this time, the Mavericks went on the road to face the Vikings of Western Washington and came home with a 38-10 win. This year the No. 8 ranked UNO Mavericks, coming off of a historical comeback win over then No. 2 Northwest Missouri State, face a tough Western Washington team that knows how to win.
"We're picked to be the let down team of the week," said Head Coach Pat Behrns about a report he read. "We're picked to lose, and to me it's embarrassing that it is even considered about our program. I think this team will respond."
The Vikings will come into Caniglia Field this Saturday with an earned swagger in their step. Last week the unranked Vikings pulled their biggest upset in school history. In front of an estimated 9,690 hostile fans, they defeated the D-I FCS (I-AA) Aggies of UC Davis on the road. The win also earned them their fourth in a row dating back to last season.
"Two years ago UC Davis beat Stanford University," Behrns said about the D-I FCS team. "Any time you go into that place and beat them, it's an awfully big win."
The Western Washington offense is led by quarterback Adam Perry. Perry, a 6' 195 pound junior, threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over UC Davis, earning him NCC player of the week honors. Perry's offensive pieces consist of senior wide receiver Casey Dell, junior WR Travis McKee and sophomore WR Rick Copsey, who had a combined 19 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's upset.
The Vikings also bring an efficient running game. Sophomore running back Craig Garner eclipsed the 100 yard mark in four of their last five contests dating back to last season. The lone sub-100 yard game came against the defense of D-I FCS (I-AA) UC Davis last week.
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