Dec. 15, 2007

Sioux Falls
Head Coach DeBoer Opening
We were confident coming in not because we feel that Carroll wasn't a good team but because the way we are playing and the crew we had and the experience of being here last year.  We had lot of things we can do offensively and have a good defense. Today we didn't come out on top.  I am not going to take anything away from our guys. Just have to give Carroll the credit.  They found a way to win today.

Changing the playbook....
Pretty much all of it.  We like to get lot of match-ups through shifting and motioning.  We like to use lot of different misdirection that wasn't very effective today.  We were only able to run it one time. 

On the long championship run...
Recruiting HS kids that want to come in and be a part of a winning program is so important.  They are going to build a foundation and when you have a couple of areas you have to fill such as a QB you bring in a player like Chad (Cavender) and Trey (Erickson) that are going to be your core.

What you learned from this game...
I don't think we learned too much from this game. We went out that and threw it on the line and gave an effort and hoping the ball would bounce the right way and get a turnover, get a big play.  It did couple of times but we didn't take advantage of it.  When it bounced Carroll's way they did.

#41 Trey Erickson
On the playing conditions...
Obviously it was huge part of the game.  We didn't move the ball at times. I had one of the fumbles and dropped a couple of punts so it plays a huge role.  Both teams still made plays and we can't blame it on the weather.

#11 Chad Cavender
Field conditions...
Middle of the field had not too much grass but a little bit better footing on the outside. I wish we played somewhere with a little bit better footing but both teams have to play and we can't blame it on the field.

#33 Robb Tiff
What you saw on the field...
I thought at first we took care of them pretty well but in the second half we struggled a little but found our game again.  Out outside linebacker and defensive line played pretty well in the middle but when they bounced outside we struggled a little bit in the second half.

CARROLL
Head coach Van Diest opening...
This is an unbelievable team.  Our coaches thought this team is pretty special.  We didn't have one guy with an ego.  There are lot of people that contributed.  It's a great team and one of most fun teams to be around not because of 15-0 but to be at practice everyday was fun.

Conditions suiting the team...
We talked about, before going on the field, on whoever can run the football and who ever is going to stop the run and going to win the game.  First half was real key.  We had better field position even though it was only a 3-0 game.  They didn't have any scoring chances.  That was the key.  I think our guys did a good job in the running game.

After losing in playoffs last season and coming back to win this season...
Last year I don't think we were good enough to win it all.  Last year, we lost eight seniors on offense from the previous year and six on defense.  We thought we were better than what we finished last year.  This year if our offense wasn't doing well the defense picked it up and if our defense struggled like today in the second half the offense answered the bell.  We have lot of talent and a good football team.

Talk about Gabe...
He had been a perfect running back for the last three games.  He held on the football.  He had a little problem last spring fumbling the ball.  That was a concern of ours.  He was second string coming in this season.  But you give them a chance to play. 

#13 John Barnett
Footing...
Footing outside the hashes was pretty good so we tried to keep it outside the hashes.  I didn't have to do too much but just hand the ball off to Gabe.

#20 Gabe Le
What was different from 1^st half to 2^nd half...
I don't think anything was really different.  Our offensive line came out with little bit more urgency and we got it done.

On Offensive line...
Our offensive line is playing really well. We were waiting for them to click and we just turned it on in the playoffs when we needed it.

#51 Owen Koeppen
What they (Sioux Falls) are going to do...
We know they were going to throw a little bit more in the second half.  We were ready for anything.  Our d-line played well today.  I have to give credit to everyone around me today and the coaches.