Football preview: Crystal City at St. Vincent

Crystal City (2-3) at St. Vincent (2-3)

Last week: Valle 50, Crystal City 6; St. Vincent 21, St. Pius 12

Last year: Crystal City 39, St. Vincent 32

Outlook: These teams have more in common than 2-3 records. Both teams have lost their No. 1 quarterbacks to injury.

St. Vincent lost Tim Schumer for six to eight weeks with a knee injury during a Week 3 victory. Crystal City lost senior

Neil Slabby for the season with a knee injury in Week 1. The losses were a blow to both teams. Schumer was the Indians' lone returning starter to the same position on offense from last season. Slabby was all-conference in the MAFC Blue division as a junior when he passed for more than 2,500 yards and rushed for more than 700 yards. He accounted for a combined 33 touchdowns running and throwing as the Hornets won the Class 2 District 2 title last season.

"They still have a lot of weapons and lot of things they do well at times," St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer said.

Nic Rothweiler, a senior, has stepped in at quarterback for Crystal City. Rothweiler had 74 of the Hornets' 95 yards rushing in last week's loss to Valle.

Junior receiver Stacey Thorton had nearly 1,000 yards receiving as a sophomore.

The Hornets run a spread offense with senior running back David Washington the primary run threat. The Hornets also try to utilize Thorton in the running game.

Crystal City's two wins came against two first-year varsity programs: Lift for Life Academy and O'Fallon Christian.

"We're going to have to take advantage of any opportunities we're given, especially early on," Sauer said. "This is one team I think we can compete with if we'll come out of the gate and kind of jump on them. Likewise, if we miss opportunities early and give them momentum, it's a team we're going to struggle against."

Junior Taylor Sauer and sophomore Trent Elder have shared the quarterback duties since Schumer's injury. Sauer got his first start against St. Pius last week but was moved back to center during the second quarter to stabilize the offensive line. Elder came on and threw his first varsity touchdown later in the period and finished the game. Elder will start at quarterback against Crystal City.

The Indians defeated St. Pius despite 134 yards of offense. They struggled on the ground for the second straight week with 79 yards rushing on 39 carries.

"Last week we squandered three good field positions against St. Pius, but we were still fortunate enough to come out on top," Sauer said. "I think this week if we squander three opportunities, I think we're going to have dug ourselves so deep in a hole we're not going to recover."

-- Jeff Breer