SWC75
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The first round of the NCAA Division III plays has already been played. The teams below were the winners, listed along with their won-lost record, point differential, poll ranking, all time post-season records and the number of national championships they have won.
MOUNT UNION (Ohio) 11-0 (527-146) #1, 78-12 (11)
They beat Washington and Jefferson (Pennsylvania: 8-3) 34-20 in the first round. The Purple Raiders didn’t have their usual easy time of it after taking a 21-7 first period lead. They could never pull away but the Presidents were never able to get within 8 points, either. Kevin Burke threw four touchdown passes.
LINFIELD (Oregon) 10-0 (537-120) #2, 33-20 (4)
They beat Pacific Lutheran (Washington: 8-2) 42-21 in the first round. The Wildcats built up a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted from there. Josh Yoder three for three touchdowns and ran for two more. They were actually outgained for the game, 355-379
MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR (Texas) 11-0 (533-140) #3, 22-11 (0)
They beat Redlands (California: 7-3) 35-7 in the first round. The “Cru”, (short for Crusaders), had no problems with Redlands- all the scoring was in the first three quarters. Elijah Hudson and Zach Anderson both scored twice. The yardage was fairly close, 373-304 and turnovers were equal but the Cru got the big plays, including a 68 yard run from Anderson and a 90 yard punt return from Eric Allen
NORTH CENTRAL (Illinois) 11-0 (506-140) #4, 9-8 ((0)
They beat Albion, (Michigan: 8-3) 63-7 in the first round. This one was 42-0 at the half. The Cardinals flew past the Britons, who won the DIII title back in 1994, with 557 yards of total offense to 258. Spencer Stanek threw four TD passes.
WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER 11-0 (424-87) #5, 35-7 (4)
They beat St. Norbert (Wisconsin 8-3), 31-7 in the first round. After a slow start, the Warhawks pulled away with two fourth quarter touchdowns to subdue the Green Knights. Whitewater was pretty much in control throughout, outgaining St. Norbert 414-169. The Warhawk’s TDs came from 4 different players.
BETHEL of Minnesota 11-0 (480-159) #6, 8-7 (0)
They beat St. Scholastica (Minnesota) 70-13 in the first round. Bethel sacrilegiously built up a 30 point halftime lead on St. Scholasitca and added four more second half touchdowns. They had a 530-188 total offense advantage. Brandt Marquardt ran for 4 first half scores and Eric Peterson threw 3 second half TD passes, tow to Mitch Hallstrom.
WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE 10-1 (431-248) #7, 1-1 (0)
Lost to Wisconsin-Whitewater 16-35 on 11/2
They beat Concordia of Wisconsin 54-20 in the first round. Platteville took a 28-7 halftime lead and pushed it to 38-7 midway through the third quarter and coasted form there. Andy Puccini sang, err.. ran for two scores and John Kelly passed for three more, two to Paul Reit. The potent Pioneers passed for 496 yards and had 679 total yards of offense.
HOBART (New York) 10-0 (367-132) #8, 7-9 (0)
They beat Gallaudet (D.C.: 9-2) 34-7 in the first round. Hobart rolled, grabbing a 27-0 halftime lead. Steven Webb ran for three scores, on from 58 yards out. The yardage was actually pretty close, 304-276. The Statesman got one score on a fumble return. Gallaudet is a school for the deaf. They’ve been playing football since 1881
WITTENBERG (Ohio) 10-1 (524-175) #12, 21-13 (3)
Lost to Butler 24-49 on 9/7, (and then won 10 in a row)
They beat Lebanon Valley (Pennsylvania: 8-3) 58-17 in the first round. The Tigers led 38-3 at the half. Desi Kirkman bobba-looed his way to four touchdowns: pass receptions of 65, 41 and 24 yards and 90 yard punt return. Wittenberg had 600 yards total offense, 256 running, 344 passing.
WESLEY (Delaware) 9-2 (342-212) #15, 20-9 (0)
Lost to Mary Hardin0Baylor 7-35 on 9/21 and Rowan 17-24 on 10/19
They beat John’s Hopkins (Maryland: 10-1) in the first round. The Wolverines spoiled Johns Hopkins’ undefeated season when Joe Callahan threw his fourth TD pass, to Steve Koudossou from 33 yards out with 13 seconds remaining. They’d been outgained on the day 311-382.
FRANKLIN (Indiana) 8-3 (503-185) #20, 5-6 (0)
Lost to Mount Union 27-30 on 9/7, Butler 28-31 on 9/14 and Bluffton 17-24 on 11/9
They beat Washington-St. Louis (Missouri-8-3) 17-10 in the first round. Franklin rallied for 10 fourth quarter points, the last on a 35 yard pass from Jonny West to Kendall Butler with 19 second left. The Grizzlies outgained the bears, (I kid you not) 297-232 in the defensive duel.
ITHACA (New York) 9-2 (240-168) #24, 28-14 (3)
Lost to Hartwick 9-21 on 10/5 and Cortland State 24-28 on 11/16
They beat Framingham State (Massachusetts: 9-2) 20-17 in the first round. Ithaca is back in the playoffs but far from the powerhouse they used to be, winning five games by a touchdown or less. In this one, they rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit, scoring on a 10 yard pass from Tom Dempsey, (?), to Vito Buffoli with 3:32 left for the Bomber’s only lead of the game. They only gained 164 yards, to 292. Just win, baby! Well, that’s what they do.
ST. JOHN FISHER (New York) 9-2 (360-224) #25, 9-4 (0)
Lost to Salisbury 35-42 on 10/19 and Ithaca 22-25 on 10/26.
They beat John Carroll (Ohio) 25-16 in the first round. The Cardinals topped the Blue Streaks by scoring 10 late points to wipe out a 14-16 deficit. The Blue Streaks, (I love that nickname) had scored the first 13 points of the game and outgained St. John’s 272-335. Tyler Fenti ran and passed for a score.
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY (Virginia) 9-2 (390-200) UR, 1-5 (0)
Lost to Christopher Newport 7-17 on 9/14 and to Shenandoah 35-36 on 10/26
They beat Maryville (Tennessee) 42-34 in the first round. It was a wild, back and forth game that wasn’t clinched until a touchdown in the final minute. After nine first half touchdowns, the Tigers led 35-27 at the half. The defenses then took over but the Scots found the end zone on Travis Fielder’s third touchdown run midway through the third quarter to make it 35-34. The game hung in the balance until Nah Nance, (another great name), threw his fourth TD pass to Michael Mey, (gotta love the illiteraiton) with 39 seconds left.
ROWAN (New Jersey) 9-2 (234-173) UR, 31-14 (0)
Lost to Delaware Valley 27-35 on 9/7 and Morrisville State 21-41 on 10/12
They beat Endicott (Massachusetts: 8-3) 24-0 in the first round. The Professors blanked the Gulls, (more great nicknames) and outgained them 384-113. Withler Marcelin ran for 223 yards and a score.
WARTBURG (Iowa) 9-2 (345-184) UR , 6-9 (0)
Lost to Bethel of Minnesota 17-30 on 9/14 and Coe 10-24 on 11/2
They beat Illinois Wesleyan (9-2) 41-7 in the first round. Why would call a school “Wartburg when that’s not even the name of the town it’s in, (Waverly)? Anyway, the Knights jousted with the Titans and came out on top, grabbing a 21-0 halftime lead and closing the scoring early in the fourth. Brandon Dnmeyer scored three times. They outgained Wesleyan 328-195.
The Round 2 pairings:
Wittenberg vs. Mount Union
Hamden-Sydney vs. Linfield
Rowan vs. Mary-Hardin Baylor
Wisconsin-Platteville vs. North Central
Franklin vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater
Wartburg vs. Bethel
St. John Fisher vs. Hobart
Ithaca vs. Wesley
Comment: New York used to be well-represented in this tournament with Ithaca playing for the tittle seven times and winning it three times. Wagner won a title and Union twice made it to the finals. But we haven’t gotten a team that far since Ithaca last won it in 1991. Three New York teams survived the first round. Unfortunately, two of them, (St. John Fisher and Hobart) are paired with each other in the second round and the third one has Wesley College, which had been a tough customer in recent years. At least we know we’ll get somebody in the quarterfinals, probably Hobart, which has been the best New York team the last couple of years with two undefeated regular seasons.
Nationally, Mount Union is the defending champs and favorites to win their 12th national title but their nemesis, Wisconsin Whitewater is back with an undefeated team. Whitewater played Mount Union for the title 7 times in a row from 2005-2011 and won four times, including the last three. They slipped to 7-3 last year and didn’t make the playoffs. It was actually refreshing to see another team in the final, (St. Thomas of Minnesota). The last time neither Mount Union or Whitewater were in the final was 2004 when Linfield beat Mary Hardin-Baylor for the title. They are both in the field this year, also undefeated. Meanwhile Mount Union’s next opponent will be Wittenberg, another small Ohio schools who was the closest thing to Mount Union back in the 60’s and 70’s when they had the highest winning percentage in all of NCAA football for each of those decades and won 2 of the first 3 Division III championships after winning a poll championship, (over what would now be Division II, FCS and even some current FBS schools) before there was a tournament. So the Purp0le Raiders of Mount Union, now under long time coach Larry Kehres son Vince, will have plenty of completion for this year’s title.,
MOUNT UNION (Ohio) 11-0 (527-146) #1, 78-12 (11)
They beat Washington and Jefferson (Pennsylvania: 8-3) 34-20 in the first round. The Purple Raiders didn’t have their usual easy time of it after taking a 21-7 first period lead. They could never pull away but the Presidents were never able to get within 8 points, either. Kevin Burke threw four touchdown passes.
LINFIELD (Oregon) 10-0 (537-120) #2, 33-20 (4)
They beat Pacific Lutheran (Washington: 8-2) 42-21 in the first round. The Wildcats built up a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted from there. Josh Yoder three for three touchdowns and ran for two more. They were actually outgained for the game, 355-379
MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR (Texas) 11-0 (533-140) #3, 22-11 (0)
They beat Redlands (California: 7-3) 35-7 in the first round. The “Cru”, (short for Crusaders), had no problems with Redlands- all the scoring was in the first three quarters. Elijah Hudson and Zach Anderson both scored twice. The yardage was fairly close, 373-304 and turnovers were equal but the Cru got the big plays, including a 68 yard run from Anderson and a 90 yard punt return from Eric Allen
NORTH CENTRAL (Illinois) 11-0 (506-140) #4, 9-8 ((0)
They beat Albion, (Michigan: 8-3) 63-7 in the first round. This one was 42-0 at the half. The Cardinals flew past the Britons, who won the DIII title back in 1994, with 557 yards of total offense to 258. Spencer Stanek threw four TD passes.
WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER 11-0 (424-87) #5, 35-7 (4)
They beat St. Norbert (Wisconsin 8-3), 31-7 in the first round. After a slow start, the Warhawks pulled away with two fourth quarter touchdowns to subdue the Green Knights. Whitewater was pretty much in control throughout, outgaining St. Norbert 414-169. The Warhawk’s TDs came from 4 different players.
BETHEL of Minnesota 11-0 (480-159) #6, 8-7 (0)
They beat St. Scholastica (Minnesota) 70-13 in the first round. Bethel sacrilegiously built up a 30 point halftime lead on St. Scholasitca and added four more second half touchdowns. They had a 530-188 total offense advantage. Brandt Marquardt ran for 4 first half scores and Eric Peterson threw 3 second half TD passes, tow to Mitch Hallstrom.
WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE 10-1 (431-248) #7, 1-1 (0)
Lost to Wisconsin-Whitewater 16-35 on 11/2
They beat Concordia of Wisconsin 54-20 in the first round. Platteville took a 28-7 halftime lead and pushed it to 38-7 midway through the third quarter and coasted form there. Andy Puccini sang, err.. ran for two scores and John Kelly passed for three more, two to Paul Reit. The potent Pioneers passed for 496 yards and had 679 total yards of offense.
HOBART (New York) 10-0 (367-132) #8, 7-9 (0)
They beat Gallaudet (D.C.: 9-2) 34-7 in the first round. Hobart rolled, grabbing a 27-0 halftime lead. Steven Webb ran for three scores, on from 58 yards out. The yardage was actually pretty close, 304-276. The Statesman got one score on a fumble return. Gallaudet is a school for the deaf. They’ve been playing football since 1881
WITTENBERG (Ohio) 10-1 (524-175) #12, 21-13 (3)
Lost to Butler 24-49 on 9/7, (and then won 10 in a row)
They beat Lebanon Valley (Pennsylvania: 8-3) 58-17 in the first round. The Tigers led 38-3 at the half. Desi Kirkman bobba-looed his way to four touchdowns: pass receptions of 65, 41 and 24 yards and 90 yard punt return. Wittenberg had 600 yards total offense, 256 running, 344 passing.
WESLEY (Delaware) 9-2 (342-212) #15, 20-9 (0)
Lost to Mary Hardin0Baylor 7-35 on 9/21 and Rowan 17-24 on 10/19
They beat John’s Hopkins (Maryland: 10-1) in the first round. The Wolverines spoiled Johns Hopkins’ undefeated season when Joe Callahan threw his fourth TD pass, to Steve Koudossou from 33 yards out with 13 seconds remaining. They’d been outgained on the day 311-382.
FRANKLIN (Indiana) 8-3 (503-185) #20, 5-6 (0)
Lost to Mount Union 27-30 on 9/7, Butler 28-31 on 9/14 and Bluffton 17-24 on 11/9
They beat Washington-St. Louis (Missouri-8-3) 17-10 in the first round. Franklin rallied for 10 fourth quarter points, the last on a 35 yard pass from Jonny West to Kendall Butler with 19 second left. The Grizzlies outgained the bears, (I kid you not) 297-232 in the defensive duel.
ITHACA (New York) 9-2 (240-168) #24, 28-14 (3)
Lost to Hartwick 9-21 on 10/5 and Cortland State 24-28 on 11/16
They beat Framingham State (Massachusetts: 9-2) 20-17 in the first round. Ithaca is back in the playoffs but far from the powerhouse they used to be, winning five games by a touchdown or less. In this one, they rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit, scoring on a 10 yard pass from Tom Dempsey, (?), to Vito Buffoli with 3:32 left for the Bomber’s only lead of the game. They only gained 164 yards, to 292. Just win, baby! Well, that’s what they do.
ST. JOHN FISHER (New York) 9-2 (360-224) #25, 9-4 (0)
Lost to Salisbury 35-42 on 10/19 and Ithaca 22-25 on 10/26.
They beat John Carroll (Ohio) 25-16 in the first round. The Cardinals topped the Blue Streaks by scoring 10 late points to wipe out a 14-16 deficit. The Blue Streaks, (I love that nickname) had scored the first 13 points of the game and outgained St. John’s 272-335. Tyler Fenti ran and passed for a score.
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY (Virginia) 9-2 (390-200) UR, 1-5 (0)
Lost to Christopher Newport 7-17 on 9/14 and to Shenandoah 35-36 on 10/26
They beat Maryville (Tennessee) 42-34 in the first round. It was a wild, back and forth game that wasn’t clinched until a touchdown in the final minute. After nine first half touchdowns, the Tigers led 35-27 at the half. The defenses then took over but the Scots found the end zone on Travis Fielder’s third touchdown run midway through the third quarter to make it 35-34. The game hung in the balance until Nah Nance, (another great name), threw his fourth TD pass to Michael Mey, (gotta love the illiteraiton) with 39 seconds left.
ROWAN (New Jersey) 9-2 (234-173) UR, 31-14 (0)
Lost to Delaware Valley 27-35 on 9/7 and Morrisville State 21-41 on 10/12
They beat Endicott (Massachusetts: 8-3) 24-0 in the first round. The Professors blanked the Gulls, (more great nicknames) and outgained them 384-113. Withler Marcelin ran for 223 yards and a score.
WARTBURG (Iowa) 9-2 (345-184) UR , 6-9 (0)
Lost to Bethel of Minnesota 17-30 on 9/14 and Coe 10-24 on 11/2
They beat Illinois Wesleyan (9-2) 41-7 in the first round. Why would call a school “Wartburg when that’s not even the name of the town it’s in, (Waverly)? Anyway, the Knights jousted with the Titans and came out on top, grabbing a 21-0 halftime lead and closing the scoring early in the fourth. Brandon Dnmeyer scored three times. They outgained Wesleyan 328-195.
The Round 2 pairings:
Wittenberg vs. Mount Union
Hamden-Sydney vs. Linfield
Rowan vs. Mary-Hardin Baylor
Wisconsin-Platteville vs. North Central
Franklin vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater
Wartburg vs. Bethel
St. John Fisher vs. Hobart
Ithaca vs. Wesley
Comment: New York used to be well-represented in this tournament with Ithaca playing for the tittle seven times and winning it three times. Wagner won a title and Union twice made it to the finals. But we haven’t gotten a team that far since Ithaca last won it in 1991. Three New York teams survived the first round. Unfortunately, two of them, (St. John Fisher and Hobart) are paired with each other in the second round and the third one has Wesley College, which had been a tough customer in recent years. At least we know we’ll get somebody in the quarterfinals, probably Hobart, which has been the best New York team the last couple of years with two undefeated regular seasons.
Nationally, Mount Union is the defending champs and favorites to win their 12th national title but their nemesis, Wisconsin Whitewater is back with an undefeated team. Whitewater played Mount Union for the title 7 times in a row from 2005-2011 and won four times, including the last three. They slipped to 7-3 last year and didn’t make the playoffs. It was actually refreshing to see another team in the final, (St. Thomas of Minnesota). The last time neither Mount Union or Whitewater were in the final was 2004 when Linfield beat Mary Hardin-Baylor for the title. They are both in the field this year, also undefeated. Meanwhile Mount Union’s next opponent will be Wittenberg, another small Ohio schools who was the closest thing to Mount Union back in the 60’s and 70’s when they had the highest winning percentage in all of NCAA football for each of those decades and won 2 of the first 3 Division III championships after winning a poll championship, (over what would now be Division II, FCS and even some current FBS schools) before there was a tournament. So the Purp0le Raiders of Mount Union, now under long time coach Larry Kehres son Vince, will have plenty of completion for this year’s title.,
