Is this the year Cornell finally breaks its losing streak against Coe?

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Coe Kohawks won't have the same transportation issues for their game Saturday as they did last week for their season opener. That's guaranteed.

One of two buses carrying Coe players and coaches to Monmouth, Ill., broke down just south of Iowa City, with the team having to wait an hour and a half for a replacement. What turned out to be a 23-22 win got an hour delayed start as a result.

Talk about something you don't want to be an indicator of the season you're going to have.

"Who knows if that affects you or not?" Coe Coach Steve Staker said. "It's kind of one of the things I tell the guys. There are things you can control and things you can't. You can control your attitude, your effort and your focus. There was a prime example of something we had no control over. You've got to be able to adjust."

Coe players will have to walk about a block from campus to Clark Field this time around, so there should be no "getting there" issues. Playing a rival that thinks it can beat the Kohawks for the first time in 14 years, on the other hand, is another story.

Coe and Cornell continue the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi River at 1 p.m. This is the 123rd version of "The Big Game."

"Hey, we're going to have our hands full," Staker said. "They are good, they have experience. We've got to come to play, we can't just show up and win this ballgame. Number one, they're fired up, they had a great game last week. Our guys have got to understand that. It's going to be a knock-out, drag-down affair. They are going to be pumped up to go."

The majority of the last 13 meetings between these schools have not been close, and Coe will again be favored here. The Kohawks are ranked 22nd nationally in NCAA Division III by D3football.com.

But combine improvement in Cornell's program under fourth-year head coach Vince Brautigam, last week's results (Coe struggling to get by while Cornell blasted Lawrence, 45-14) and the simple law of averages, and you kind of expect this one to be close. Maybe even real close.

"I think we can play with them, if we execute," said Cornell offensive lineman Sam Cluck. "Of course, we're going to have to do all the right things. They are a very good team, and it's going to be a really good challenge for us."

"You always say the next game is the biggest game. You always focus on that game," said Cornell senior safety Nick Brautigam. "But we're not kidding anyone. This is definitely the biggest game of our season. We always look forward to it. I think this year more people are looking forward to it not just because it's Coe week, the Coe game, but because I believe we have a chance to win if we can go out and take care of our business."

Coe players are aware what has been little brother the last decade-plus feels it can finally rise up and punch big brother square in the teeth.

"That's what's going around," said running back Gage Mohs. "But we've just got to play our game and let the chips fall where they may."

"For us, we've got to have that mindset of, and I feel this way, that it's an honor to be a part of the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi River," said defensive lineman Mitch Montgomery. "That's pretty cool to be a part of. We've just got to come into it like we were playing Wartburg or Monmouth or anybody like that."

Expect a lot of points to be scored, regardless of which teams wins. Coe piled up 451 yards in a balanced offensive attack (213 rushing, 238 passing) last week, while Cornell had 453.

Both teams run up-tempo spread offenses, with senior quarterback Juan Flores holding all kinds of Cornell game, single-season and career passing records. Behind a strong line, Coe likely will run as much as pass.

Coe played two QBs last week in sophomores Josh Rekers and Mark Atwater.

"We feel we're old enough and deep enough now to compete," Vince Brautigam said. "We've played a lot of young kids up until now. But this group, I tell them everybody day that we need to worry about ourselves. If we go out and execute, with the team we have now and going forward, take care of the mistakes and get better from the previous week and continue to do well what we do well, then we have an opportunity in every game."

"I mean, it's the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. We've got to come ready to play," Montgomery said. "Mentally, we will be. And physically, too."

Coe holds the edge in the all-time series, 67-51-4.