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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 1595199, member: 289"] QUARTERFINALS St. Thomas crushed Wabash 38-7. “St. Thomas held Wabash (12-1) to their lowest scoring total in 45 games.” They had a three touchdown third quarter that extended a 17-0 halftime lead to 38-0. They were led by their special teams which produced a punt return touchdown, recovered a fumbled punt, blocked another, scored on a fake field goal, recovered an on-side kick, made 6 placekicks and produced four touchbacks on kick-offs. [URL]http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2015/contrib/201512059nu019[/URL] In 2004, Linfield beat Mary Hardin-Baylor for the title, 28-21, the last time either Mount Union or Wisconsin-Whitewater didn’t win the title. The Wildcats also beat the Crusaders 53-21 in 2009 and 31-28 in last year’s playoffs. Their dominance continued with a 38-35 comeback win last week. “Wildcats quarterback Tom Knecht passed for 492 yards and five touchdowns, completing 38 of 54 passes while playing in place of injured starter Sam Riddle.” That’s depth. [URL]http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2015/contrib/20151205tvwtei[/URL] Just as Linfield has been Mary Hardin Baylor’s nemesis in the playoffs, so has Mount Union been bad news for Wesley, beating them in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014. The 2013 was one of the most amazing football games ever played. The Purple Raiders got off to a 31-0 lead after the first quarter, then withstood an incredible 633 yard 8 touchdown performance by the Wolverine’s Joe Callahan to barely hold on to win 62-59. That taught them to keep the pedal to the medal and last year Mount Union built up a 70-0 lead before allowing three late scores in a 70-21 win. This year’s game had elements of both games. Mount Union got off to a 21-0 lead, gave up a couple of scores, then scored four more touchdowns for a 49-14 halftime lead. Then they gave up three scores in a row to make it 49-355 befroe adding on an insurance tally to win 56-35. [URL]http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2015/contrib/20151205sb9y9s[/URL] And, of course Wisconsin-Whitewater has been Mount Union’s nemesis. They will meet them again after avenging their only regular season defeat to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 31-29. The difference is, because of that loss, Whitewater has been bracketed on the same side as Mount Union, so they will meet in the semi-finals instead of the finals. And they will play the Purple Raiders on their own field instead of a neutral place. Whitewater, who had lost to Oshkosh 7-10 in the regular season,, won the first period 10-0. Oshkosh won the second period by the same score. Whitewater won the third period 21-6 to take a 31-16 lead. They withstood a 13 point Oshkosh rally, including a failed two point conversion with in the fourth quarter to advance. [URL]http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2015/contrib/20151205uen8jr[/URL] SEMI-FINAL MATCH-UPS LINFIELD (Oregon) 12-0 (605-128) Rank: #2. Post-Season: 40-22 (4) 3:30 Saturday December 12, TV: ESPN3 At ST. THOMAS (Minnesota) 13-0 (697-121) Rank: #3. Post-Season: 15-8 Nobody came within 24 points of Linfield until Cortland State in the second round and that was a 38-10 game until Cortland State got a couple of late scores to make it 38-22. So the Mary Hardin-Baylor game was their first close game all year. Their average margin has been 50-11. St. Thomas, whom Mount Union defeated the last time they won the title three years ago, (Whitewater had had a three loss regular season and missed the playoffs). They aren’t used to close games, either. No one has come within 19 points of them, even in the playoffs. Their average score is 54-9. So this is quite a collision in its own right, even with Mount Union-Whitewater in the other semi. In fact, it wouldn’t shock me to see the winner of this game win the title this year. At least we can hope for a change, can’t we? WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER 12-1 (530-161) Lost to Wisconsin-Oshkosh 7-10. Rank: #8. Post-Season: 45-7 (6) Noon Saturday December 12, TV: ESPN3 At MOUNT UNION (Ohio) 13-0 (715-99) Rank: #1. Post-Season: 87-14 (11) The Purple Raiders had their usual absurdly dominant regular season and as usual have steamed though the playoffs. They’ve won by an average of 55-7, (vs. Whitewater’s 41-12). As usual, it means nothing against Whitewater, who has beaten them the last 5 times they played them, all in the national title game. The Warhawks must have the best strength and conditioning program in D3 and the best line coach because that’s where the tend to dominate the Purple Raiders: up front. Let’s see if it happens again. And let’s see if home field advantage means anything in this series. And then let’s see if someone else can beat the winner in the finals. (Both games will be shown tape delay on ESPNU Sunday at 8AM and 11AM respectively) The championship will be Friday, December 18th at 7PM on ESPNU [/QUOTE]

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