Great Culture and Great Coaching in Our D3 Game of the Week
Sep 07, 2024 3:26 pm
Coach -
As Division 3 football kicks off this weekend, a highly anticipated match-up pits two nationally ranked teams against each other with the #7 Alma Scots hosting the #17 UW-River Falls Falcons.
Alma is coming off its best season in school history. They look to build on an impressive 12-1 finish in 2023, which included a quarterfinal appearance in the national playoffs and a second consecutive MIAA Championship. With back-to-back historic seasons, the Scots are poised to continue their winning tradition.
On the other side, UW-River Falls is riding the momentum of a winning 7-3 season, highlighted by a historic 5-0 start and record-breaking performances. The Falcons have established themselves as a force, leading the WIAC in several statistical categories, including points per game and total offense.
Under the strong leadership of Head Coach Matt Walker, UW-River Falls has consistently ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation. In his 13th season, Walker guided the Falcons to a historic 2023 campaign, reaching as high as No. 4 in the national rankings and remaining in the top 25 throughout the season. This success follows back-to-back Isthmus Bowl Championships in 2022 and a nine-win season in 2021, where Walker was named WIAC Coach of the Year and Hansen Rating National Coach of the Year.
Their explosive "Top Gun" offense, combined with a stingy red zone defense, makes them a tough challenge for any opponent.
Alma Scots - KILT Style
There's plenty to talk about in this match-up starting with Alma Head Coach Jason Couch's culture philosophy built on what they call "Kilt Style."
"Kilt Style" is the unique identity concept created by Coach Couch. It originated from a playful idea of Coach Couch wearing a kilt on the sidelines, which evolved into a meaningful acronym that defines the core values of the team: Kinship, Integrity, Love, and Tenacity.
These principles form the foundation of the Scots' culture both on and off the field. The team is taught to embody these values in their interactions with each other, their approach to the game, and their conduct within the broader college community.
Coach Couch built their "Kilt Style" culture by starting with the coaches. He asked them to be vulnerable in order to build the relationships and the bonds that drive a group of people committing to a common goal. He explains it in this video:
The culture is thriving under Coach Coach's leadership as the Scots have progressed from 2-8 in 2018 to 12-1 in 2023. They are looking to take another step forward in 2024.
Two High Powered Offenses
Both teams are built on powerful offenses that accumulate plenty of yards and points. Alma averaged 48.65 points per game and 484.8 yards per game, while UWRF averaged 43 points per game and 526.6 yards per game.
Alma Offensive Coordinator Zach Riepma creates a "next play rhythm" to get the chains moving and be aggressive. He explains the philosophy in this video:
UWRF Offensive Coordinator Joe Matheson utilizes tempo as well, and the RPO is the driving force behind how they are able to move fast. He explains how the RPO game provides them the answers they need to move at a fast pace in this video:
This should be an exciting fast-paced game with two-high powered offenses and two team cultures that have propeled both programs to new heights.
Enjoy all the games this weekend, and good luck in your own game.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski