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Strong running game to help as it faces No. 1
By Stephanie Storm Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
Players from Ithaca College and Mount Union College have never met on a football field, but that doesn't mean the Bombers aren't well aware of the winning reputation of the nine-time Division III champion Purple Raiders.
Longtime Ithaca football coach Mike Welch was shocked last weekend to learn his 8-2 squad would face 10-0 and No.1-ranked Mount Union — on the Raiders' home field, no less — in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, which begin at noon today in Alliance.
''My initial reaction was I was surprised,'' Welch said. ''Just in the sense I wasn't aware of how the NCAA had positioned the top seeds this year. So while I was excited we were in, I wasn't quite sure how we got matched up with Mount Union.''
No doubt that's how many coaches have felt over the years as the Purple Raiders first have dominated their Ohio Athletic Conference, then run through the entire Division III football landscape as well.
Sometimes the hardest part for opponents is getting over what many locals refer to as the ''Mount Union Mystique'' and believing that anything can happen on any given Saturday.
''I don't think you can change what you're doing at this stage of the game,'' Welch said. ''Our team has to stay with what we've done the last six weeks.''
No. 1 seed Mount Union, the two-time defending Division III champion, ran through the season undefeated thanks in large part to a dominating defense whose first team did not allow a single touchdown. The team set a Division III mark for fewest points allowed in the regular season at a measly 24.
No. 8 seed Ithaca stumbled early in a pair of losses.
The Bombers lost 32-30 to Hartwick in Week 3, followed by a 37-16 defeat by No. 6-ranked St. John Fisher the following week. Since then, Ithaca has rebounded with six consecutive victories.
''Offensively, (Ithaca) brings a very strong running game,'' said Larry Kehres, coach of the Purple Raiders for the past 22 years. ''They also have a solid, very fundamental offensive line, an excellent fullback/blocker (Alex Baez) and a great power runner (Jamie Donovan) with quickness and speed at tailback.''
The Bombers have a little history on their side as well.
The game marks Ithaca's 16th playoff appearance, including three times in which the Bombers emerged as national champions (1979, '88 and '91). It also marks the third time Ithaca has faced the defending champion. In 1988, the Bombers beat defending champion Wagner in the opening round on their way to their second Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl victory.
For one week at least, Ithaca is among 32 Division III teams (out of 237) to have earned a postseason bid. The five-week tournament concludes Dec. 15 at the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va. The game, televised live on ESPN, will kick off at 4 p.m.
The winner will face the winner of the College of New Jersey (8-2) versus Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (8-1) in the second round Nov. 24.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Players from Ithaca College and Mount Union College have never met on a football field, but that doesn't mean the Bombers aren't well aware of the winning reputation of the nine-time Division III champion Purple Raiders.
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