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Mount Union will try to keep powerful offense rolling in Division III playoff
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 29, 2008
No. 1 Mount Union tries to continue its march toward the NCAA Division III title with a second-round game today.
The Purple Raiders playNo. 23 Hobart (N.Y.) College at noon at Mount Union Stadium in Alliance.
The Purple Raiders advanced after cruising to a 56-0 first-round win over Randolph-Macon (Va.) College last week. Mount's high-powered offense steamrolled its way to a season-high 420 yards rushing and 676 yards of total offense. Senior running back Nate Kmic led the way with 290 yards rushing on 20 carries and four touchdowns.
Hobart advanced with a 33-15 victory over Lycoming (Pa.) College last Saturday. The Statesmen won the Liberty League and are making their seventh NCAA playoff appearance and fifth in a row.
''You have to know who you are going against and it is a challenge,'' said Mike Cragg, who is in his 14th season as coach at Hobart. ''It has been a dream of mine to play Mount Union, and we have a chance to make a dream come true Saturday.''
Cragg knows that a win won't be an easy task, even with a defense that has a knack for forcing turnovers.
''We have to try and stay balanced and somehow keep them off balance,'' he said. ''We must try to find a way to be in the game in the fourth quarter then see what happens.''
Hobart's defense made four interceptions in the first round against Lycoming, three of which were by senior safety Lance Boyington.
''They have a strong front seven that is big and physical,'' longtime Mount Union coach Larry Kehres said. ''The pressure from the front allows the secondary to be in position to get interceptions. Overall, they are a diversified defense that has played to match up with its opponent.''
Also against Lycoming, Statesmen senior quarterback Rich Doyle threw two touchdowns and rushed for another. Junior Zach Schulz caught a game-high seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore Andrew Marlier rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
''We think our players are playing their best football right now,'' Cragg said. ''Our defense is strong and offense has been up and down, but we have won some games and are here right now.''
Hobart won the previous two meetings, beating Mount Union 21-10 in 1972 in Alliance and then winning 28-7 in 1973 in New York.
Notebook
• Mount senior quarterback Greg Micheli was named ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-American of the Year and was also honored on the Academic All-America first team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Micheli joins former Purple Raiders running back Chuck Moore as the only football players in school history to be named to the All-America first team in back-to-back seasons.
• Junior punter Jay Carpenter was also named to the Academic All-America second team.
• Four Purple Raiders earned special awards as part of 16 football players named by the coaches to the 2008 All-Ohio Athletic Conference Football Teams. Kmic earned the Bob Packard Award as the conference's top offensive back. Junior wide receiver Cecil Shorts III received the Ed Sherman Award as the top wide receiver. Junior defensive end James Herbert (Nordonia) won the Paul Hoernemann Award as the top defensive lineman, and senior defensive back Daryl Ely was given the Lee Tressel Award as the top defensive back.
• All four were also All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team selections at their respective positions. Other Mount Union All-OAC first team selections included offensive linemen Luke Summers (Springfield) and Mike Nitz (Copley), along with defensive lineman Joe Millings (Copley) and defensive back Roger Stewart (Fairfield).
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
No. 1 Mount Union tries to continue its march toward the NCAA Division III title with a second-round game today.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 09:51 AM, 11/29/2008
Go Mount. Another Championship in the making!
