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Opponents from East are puzzled about how to overpower defense
By Stephanie Storm Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
At first glance, it appeared the sometimes wacky folks at the NCAA must have been a little bored this season. Perhaps with some extra time on their hands, the collegiate watchdogs decided simply to shake things up because they could.
Instead of using the same formula to construct the Division III football bracket, they changed a few things. Most noticeably: placement of No. 1 seed and back-to-back defending champion Mount Union.
Instead of being seeded in the usual North bracket, the Purple Raiders were slotted in the East, and thus could play teams they've never faced, such as first-round opponent Ithaca and this week's opposition, College of New Jersey.
''I was a bit surprised by the bracket,'' Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres said. ''But the D3 football committee had logic on their side. I'm sure they were trying to arrange the regions as best they could and try to follow that 500-mile limitation on transportation.''
The outcome has been fresh opponents for the Purple Raiders, whose tapes are scaring the bejabbers out of their new visitors.
When asked what his 9-2 squad needs to do to succeed against Mount Union's stingy defense today at Mount Union Stadium, College of New Jersey coach Eric Hamilton first had to recover from a long laugh.
''Well, you need to score, and not many people have done that,'' Hamilton said. ''It's the inevitable mountain you have to climb when you play them. You need to control the ball.
''But you watch film for two days and you just wonder how you're going to be able to do that because they're such a formidable defense.''
The 11-0 Purple Raiders entered the playoffs allowing a Division III-record 2.4 points per game. They featured a first-unit defense that had not allowed a touchdown all season while posting a Division III-record seven shutouts.
Although undaunted Ithaca racked up 337 yards (the most against the Purple Raiders since the 2005 Stagg Bowl), the Bombers still lost 42-18. Mount Union junior running back Nate Kmic rushed for four touchdowns in the first-round win.
Hamilton isn't so sure it will help his team that Ithaca proved the Raiders' defense is human.
''That might give some people hope,'' Hamilton said, ''but you can also say they upset them and just got the hornets' nest stirred.
''Either way, we know what we're up against. We'll be the underdogs. But let's see what we can do. It is a great barometer and experience for us, our kids and our school.
''Every team should get a chance to play in this environment against their program. There is a lot to learn there.''
And with this year's bracket, a handful of Division III programs will get that opportunity as Mount Union continues its quest for a third consecutive championship and 10th overall title.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
At first glance, it appeared the sometimes wacky folks at the NCAA must have been a little bored this season. Perhaps with some extra time on their hands, the collegiate watchdogs decided simply to shake things up because they could.
Get the full article here.
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