{"id":1155,"date":"2011-11-18T14:00:08","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T20:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/?p=1155"},"modified":"2011-11-18T04:41:09","modified_gmt":"2011-11-18T10:41:09","slug":"d-iii-first-round-precaps-mount-union-bracket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/2011\/11\/18\/d-iii-first-round-precaps-mount-union-bracket\/","title":{"rendered":"D-III: First Round Precaps, Mount Union Bracket."},"content":{"rendered":"

Handy precaps for the four games in the Mount Union bracket of this week’s D-III playoff first round.
\n
\n8 Benedictine (IL) (7-3) at 1 Mount Union (10-0)<\/strong><\/span>
\nMount Union Stadium, Alliance OH, 12pm ET
\nAudio available via StretchInternet<\/a>. Live Stats available via PrestoSports<\/a>.
\nSeries: first meeting.<\/p>\n

Benedictine Eagles<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Lisle IL
\nColors: Cardinal and White
\nPlayoff appearances: 2 (2010, 2011)
\nCoach: Jon Cooper (7th year, 37-34)
\nKey games: 38-20 loss to North Park on 9\/10; 58-19 loss at Kalamazoo on 9\/24; 43-21 win at Concordia (IL) on 10\/1; 23-21 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran on 11\/12
\nOffense: 29.6 ppg, 389.6 ypg
\nDefense: 23.4 ppg, 330.1 ypg
\nPassing offense: 185.9
\nPassing defense: 167.7
\nRushing offense: 203.7
\nRushing defense: 162.4
\nTurnover margin: +5
\nKey players: QB Matt Brown (55.6%, 1819 yds, 17 TD, 7 INT), RB John Borsellino (234-1282, 128.2 ypg, 17 TD), DB Matt McWilliams (5 INT), DL Ben Lockton (23 TFL)
\nOther notes: Even if they were reaching the playoff field from a strong conference, their statistical splits would be awful. They’re not. They were horrible in the non-conference, and the only impressive note on their resume is the win over Concordia.<\/p>\n

Mount Union Purple Raiders<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Alliance OH
\nColors: Purple and White
\nPlayoff appearances: 23, 69-12, 10 titles (1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993<\/strong>, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998<\/strong>, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002<\/strong>, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006<\/strong>, 2007, 2008<\/strong>, 2009, 2010, 2011)
\nCoach: Larry Kehres (26th year, 313-23-3)
\nKey games: 41-17 win over Wisconsin-Oshkosh on 9\/10; 14-6 win at Ohio Northern on 10\/1; 25-20 win over Baldwin-Wallace on 11\/5
\nOffense: 41.9 ppg, 488.7 ypg
\nDefense: 7.1 ppg, 172.7 ypg
\nPassing offense: 221.1
\nPassing defense: 106.5
\nRushing offense: 267.6
\nRushing defense: 66.2
\nTurnover margin: +21
\nKey players: QB Matt Piloto (66.0%, 1362 yds, 14 TD, 4 INT), RB Jeremy Murray (221-1322, 132.2 ypg, 15 TD), DB Nick Driskill (5 sacks, 13 TFL), LB Charles Dieuseul (5.5 sacks, 12 TFL)
\nOther notes: Mount Union has suffered the loss of starters at three key positions — QB, WR, and CB — and just kept rolling. System football at its finest. Those losses may bite back later in the playoffs, but not yet.<\/p>\n

Jon’s Prediction:<\/span>
\nMount Union 48, Benedictine 0. Union’s defense is just too much, and it’s nothing like anything Benedictine’s seen this year.<\/p>\n

7 Illinois College (9-1) at 2 Wabash (10-0)<\/strong><\/span>
\nByron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium, Crawfordsville IN, 12pm ET
\nVideo available via Wabash<\/a>. Live Stats available via Wabash<\/a>.
\nSeries: Wabash leads 3-1 (last: 1950)<\/p>\n

Illinois College Blueboys<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Jacksonville IL
\nConference: Midwest
\nColors: Blue and White
\nPlayoff appearances: 1 (2011)
\nCoach: Garrett Campbell (4th year, 23-17)
\nKey games: 34-30 win at Millikin on 9\/3; 55-14 loss to Monmouth (IL) on 9\/24; 48-34 win over Saint Norbert on 10\/8
\nOffense: 40.8 ppg, 499.1 ypg
\nDefense: 32.0 ppg, 411.7 ypg
\nPassing offense: 301.6 ypg
\nPassing defense: 254.8 ypg
\nRushing offense: 197.5 ypg
\nRushing defense: 156.9 ypg
\nTurnover margin: +14
\nKey players: QB Michael Bates (62.0%, 2936 yds, 28 TD, 13 INT), RB Cecil Brimmage (143-1062, 106.2 ypg, 10 TD), FB Matt Williamson (73-233, 25.9 ypg, 11 TD), WR Brock Thompson (69-895, 89.5 ypg, 12 TD), DB Eric Fisher (6 IN), DB Dylan DeFauw (5 INT)
\nOther notes: The Blueboys can rack up yardage and points on anyone; the problem is anyone can do the same to them. In the playoffs, they’re going to have to hope that impressive turnover margin isn’t illusory, because they’re going to need takeaways to get anything done.<\/p>\n

Wabash Little Giants<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Crawfordsville IN
\nConference: North Coast
\nColors: Scarlet
\nPlayoff appearances: 7, 8-6 (1977, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
\nCoach: Erik Raeburn (4th year, 37-6; 94-32 overall including eight seasons at Coe)
\nKey games: 19-7 win at Wooster on 9\/10; 49-7 win at Chicago on 9\/24; 24-3 win over Washington (MO) on 10\/8; 28-17 win over Wittenberg on 11\/5
\nOffense: 34.0 ppg, 353.4 ypg
\nDefense: 10.0 ppg, 245.0 ypg
\nPassing offense: 183.9 ypg
\nPassing defense: 180.8 ypg
\nRushing offense: 169.5 ypg
\nRushing defense: 64.2 ypg
\nTurnover margin: +13
\nKey players: QB Chase Belton (54.5%, 1745 yds, 18 TD, 5 INT, 121-441 rushing, 44.1 ypg, 8 TD), RB Vann Hunt (126-596, 59.6 ypg, 4 TD), PR\/KR Wes Chamblee (20-446 PR, 3 TD, 10-297 KR, 1 TD), LB C.J. Gum (8 TFL), DL Pat Clegg (15 TFL), LB A.J. Akinribade (6 sacks, 10 TFL)
\nOther notes: Can anyone run on Wabash? Well, yes, some teams in this field are going to blow up that 64.2 ypg. But even if you double it, it’s still not much. Still, we have to advise caution; Wabash had a lot of teams with weak offenses on that schedule.<\/p>\n

Jon’s Prediction:<\/span>
\nWabash 38, Illinois College 26. The problem here for Illinois College is going to be getting their running game untracked. But even if they do, they’re going to have a hard time stopping Wabash from scoring. They have a hard time keeping anyone from scoring.<\/p>\n

6 Dubuque (9-1) at 3 North Central (9-1)<\/strong><\/span>
\nBendetti-Wehrli Stadium, Naperville IL, 1pm ET
\nVideo available via Naperville Community Television<\/a>. Audio available via StretchInternet<\/a>.
\nSeries: Dubuque leads 3-0 (last: 1969)<\/p>\n

Dubuque Spartans<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Dubuque IA
\nConference: Iowa IAC
\nColors: Royal Blue and White
\nPlayoff appearances: 3, 0-2 (1979, 1980, 2011)
\nCoach: Stan Zweifel (3rd year, 18-12; 41-27-2 overall including four years at Minnesota-Morris)
\nKey games: 42-39 loss to then #20 Wartburg on 10\/8; 49-42 win at Coe on 11\/5
\nOffense: 44.4 ppg, 507.9 ypg
\nDefense: 21.6 ppg, 353.6 ypg
\nPassing offense: 330.1 ypg
\nPassing defense: 207.4 ypg
\nRushing offense: 177.8 ypg
\nRushing defense: 146.2 ypg
\nTurnover margin: +6
\nKey players: QB Wyatt Hanus (74.5%, 3229 yds, 42 TD, 7 INT), RB Justin Spaulding (195-1260, 126.0 ypg, 13 TD), WR Michael Zwiefel (127-1780, 178.0 ypg, 24 TD), DB Trevor Kinnett (5 INT), DL Stephen Vassalotti (7.5 sacks, 12.5 TFL)
\nOther notes: For any team Dubuque faces, task one is going to be shutting down Mike Zwiefel. The NCAA all-division record-holder for receptions isn’t a deep threat so much as he is a first down machine. The Spartans do, and will, rely on him more against tougher rushing defenses.<\/p>\n

North Central Cardinals<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Naperville IL
\nConference: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
\nColors: Cardinal and White
\nPlayoff appearances: 6, 5-5 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)
\nCoach: John Thorne (10th year, 87-23)
\nKey games: 35-29 loss at Redlands on 9\/3; 70-26 won over Bethel (TN), an NAIA playoff team, on 9\/10; 24-0 win at then #15 Illinois Wesleyan on 10\/22; 33-7 win over then #13 Wheaton on 11\/5
\nOffense: 43.7 ppg, 421.4 ypg
\nDefense: 10.9 ppg, 219.1 ypg
\nPassing offense: 198.8 ypg
\nPassing defense: 166.5 ypg
\nRushing offense: 222.6 ypg
\nRushing defense: 52.6 ypg
\nTurnover margin: +17
\nKey players: QB Tyler Dicken (51.7%, 1294 yds, 10 TD, 2 INT), RB Nick Kukuc (109-957, 95.7 ypg, 8 TD), PR Caleb Bednarz (9-162, 2 TD)
\nOther notes: There are no stars on this team, really; the offense spreads around, and the defense operates as a unit. It’s almost impossible to run against these guys, and they’re liable to just take the ball away from you a couple of times a game.<\/p>\n

Jon’s Prediction:<\/span>
\nNorth Central 36, Dubuque 23. Dubuque is going to have their chances, and North Central’s pass defense is soft enough that the Spartans can attack through the air. The problem is that if that’s all the Spartans CAN do, it’s going to be a long, long day. Ultimately, the difference in this game is going to reflect the difference in the team’s scoring defenses, and North Central has about a 10-point edge there. Throw in some cushion for home field, and voila.<\/p>\n

5 Hampden-Sydney (8-2) at 4 Centre (9-1)<\/strong><\/span>
\nFarris Stadium, Danville KY, 12pm ET
\nVideo available via College TV Ticket<\/a> and NMTV Sports<\/a>. Audio available via WFLO<\/a>. Live Stats available via Centre<\/a>.
\nSeries: Hampden-Sydney leads 15-5-1.<\/p>\n

Hampden-Sydney Tigers<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Hampden-Sydney VA
\nConference: Old Dominion
\nColors: Garnet and Gray
\nPlayoff appearances: 5 (0-4) (1977, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
\nCoach: Marty Favret (12th year, 89-34)
\nKey games: 34-27 loss at Huntingdon on 9\/24; 42-35 win over Washington & Lee on 11\/5; 48-35 loss at Randolph-Macon on 11\/12
\nOffense: 42.0 ppg, 474.5 ypg
\nDefense: 27.3 ppg, 404.7 ypg
\nPassing offense: 334.0 ypg
\nPassing defense: 273.9 ypg
\nRushing offense: 140.5 ypg
\nRushing defense: 130.8 ypg
\nTurnover margin: +1
\nKey players: QB Travis Lane (61.4%, 3244 yds, 28 TD, 10 INT), RB Kirk Rohle (191-968, 96.8 ypg, 16 TD), WR Kyle Vance (93-1288, 128.8 ypg, 14 TD), DB Zach Morgan (7 INT), LB Kenny Fryman (15 TFL)
\nOther notes: The offense is pretty much Lane-to-Vance, and Lane-hands-off-to-Rohle. Despite this, they rack up the yards. Unfortunately, they give them up prodigiously as well, but against ground-based teams this isn’t as critical a problem.<\/p>\n

Centre Colonels<\/span>
\n\"\"
\nLocation: Danville KY
\nConference: Southern CAC
\nColors: Gold and White
\nPlayoff appearances: 1 (2011)
\nCoach: Andy Frye (14th season, 87-52)
\nKey games: 38-21 win at Hanover on 9\/3; 42-35 win over Washington & Lee on 9\/17; 45-20 win at then #24 Birmingham-Southern on 10\/15; 20-14 loss at then #18 Trinity (TX) on 11\/5
\nOffense: 33.4 ppg, 360.3 ypg
\nDefense: 18.9 ppg, 321.2 ypg
\nPassing offense: 172.9 ypg
\nPassing defense: 188.9 ypg
\nRushing offense: 189.4 ypg
\nRushing defense: 132.3 ypg
\nTurnover margin: +13
\nKey players: QB Tyler Osterman (58.8%, 1535 yds, 13 TD, 3 INT), RB Jonathan Pinque (171-767, 85.2 ypg, 10 TD), RB Monte Scotton (111-616, 68.4 ypg, 11 TD), K Jordan Gay (9-13, long 51)
\nOther notes: Balance all the way round is the key here. Dual threats from the backfield open up a modest passing game, and a penchant for turnovers doesn’t hurt.<\/p>\n

Jon’s Prediction:<\/span>
\nCentre 39, Hampden-Sydney 28. The Tigers aren’t going to get shredded defensively, but Centre’s more than capable of putting points up. Look for Centre to take advantage of HSC’s porous passing defense to enable the running game to break loose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Handy precaps for the four games in the Mount Union bracket of this week’s D-III playoff first round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10,7],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-1155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-division-iii","category-division-news-and-notes","tag-d3"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p185sV-iD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1155"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1162,"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1155\/revisions\/1162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jonfmorse.com\/tog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}