By Ryan Briggs
Grove City SID
Another year is set to commence throughout the Great Lakes Region. Last season provided numerous memories for fans throughout the area and there is no doubt that 2005 will be another exciting season in the MIAA, NCAC, OAC AND PAC.
Numerous questions abound entering the 2005 season. Will Ohio Northern be able to finally overtake Mount Union? Will Wittenberg return to the top of the NCAC? How will the wild and wacky MIAA shake down? Can Washington and Jefferson repeat as PAC champion?
Some of the answers might be found in D3football.com's comprehensive preseason publication, Kickoff. The other answers? Well, we'll find out as this season progresses.
Each weekend features numerous matchups that, at least right now, would appear to be headliners. That of course can change as the season moves along.
The premise of this exercise is simple. If I were at liberty to go to the region's top game (or games) each week, which ones would I pick?
Week 1 -- Sept. 3, 2005
Capital at Wittenberg: One of the OAC's finest visits a member of the NCAC's upper echelon under the lights in Springfield, Ohio. Both teams are coming off 7-3 seasons that each program considered somewhat disappointing.
Capital chalked up a 49-16 win over the Tigers in Bexley last season. The Crusaders jumped out to a 28-3 lead on its way to the impressive non-conference win. No doubt that Joe Fincham's squad is looking to turn the tables this Saturday.
Capital's defense smothered Wittenberg in 2004. Photo by Pat Coleman, D3sports.com |
Week 2 -- Sept. 10, 2005
Westminster (Pa.) at Allegheny: When these teams met in Meadville two years ago, Westminster slogged its way to a 3-0 double-overtime victory at muddy Robertson Field. (I have a copy of the game on tape and it is one of the crown jewels of my collection).
Both Western Pennsylvania programs are looking to return to glory after 5-5 marks in 2004. These schools often recruit against each other, so the winner could get a little bit of a leg up on the other.
The second week of the season features many interesting inter-conference clashes, including Hope at John Carroll, Ohio Wesleyan at Thiel and Carnegie Mellon visiting Grove City. In an uninteresting sidebar, working the CMU-Grove City game is my birthday present that afternoon.
Conference play also starts in the Great Lakes Region that day as Bethany hosts Presidents' Athletic Conference newcomer Thomas More in the PAC lidlifter.
Week 3 -- Sept. 17, 2005
Baldwin-Wallace at Ohio Northern: With the playoff field expanded this season, one would have to think that the OAC will get two teams selected to the playoffs. Considering Mount Union's track record, it is logical to assume that the Purple Raiders are a strong candidate to finish in the top two. That theory makes the Ohio Northern/Baldwin-Wallace clash even bigger.
This is both teams' OAC opener. Thus, the loser faces an uphill battle in the quest for a conference title and automatic berth in the playoffs.
Special mention: Wittenberg at Alma -- The Tigers' rugged non-conference schedule continues; Olivet at Ohio Wesleyan -- Olivet chewed up an NCAA-record 670 rushing yards in last season's 78-21 victory over the Battling Bishops.
Week 4 -- Sept. 24, 2005
Thomas More at Westminster (Pa.): Yeah, it is a rather thin week. The NCAC and MIAA don't open conference play for another week and none of the OAC tilts are real compelling. In keeping with the premise of this column, I'd head 12 miles west of my 1-acre compound to New Wilmington.
Week 5 -- Oct. 1, 2005
Capital at Mount Union: Jim Collins' Crusaders hit the road for the third time in four games, this time taking on the perennial OAC powerhouse. Again, playoff implications will probably hang in the balance.
Ohio Northern at John Carroll: Ohio Northern visits John Carroll in a battle of OAC heavyweights at Don Shula Stadium. Like in the ONU-BW game, playoff hopes could be dimmed with a loss.
Week 6 -- Oct. 8, 2005
Hope at Olivet: The Flying Dutchmen trek to Olivet in what could turn out to be an elimination game in the MIAA.
Special mention: Grove City at Thiel -- The 22nd annual battle for the Mercer County Cup; Ohio Wesleyan at Allegheny -- Two NCAC contenders duke it out in Meadville.
Week 7 -- Oct. 15, 2005
Wabash at Wooster: Wabash ventures to east-central Ohio to take on the defending conference champions. Wooster's 33-30 win at Wabash last season helped springboard the Scots to their first outright NCAC title.
Week 8 -- Oct. 22, 2005
Ohio Northern at Mount Union: We should have a pretty good idea as to how powerful these two squads are by this point. Mount Union grad Dean Paul makes his first trip to his alma mater as Ohio Northern head coach. The mentor-pupil angle between Paul and Larry Kehres will have driven into the ground by the preceding Thursday. Still, it definitely adds a little extra to what could be the Game of the Year in this region.
Week 9 -- Oct. 29, 2005
Case Western Reserve at Carnegie Mellon: With apologies to Albion-Hope and Mount Union vs. Baldwin-Wallace, it's time for the spotlight to shine on the UAA with the annual meeting in the Academic Bowl. Cleveland and Pittsburgh have a natural rivalry as it is and these two institutions always put on an interesting show.
CWRU and Carnegie Mellon are the UAA's two closest schools, in terms of geography. Both teams will be jockeying to unseat Washington University as UAA champ.
Week 10 -- Nov. 5, 2005
Alma at Albion: The MIAA title could be on the line when the Scot-gun rolls into Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium. Even if the title isn't decided this day, the result will likely go a long way in determining who earns the crown.
Week 11 -- Nov. 12, 2005
Wabash at DePauw: Ring Ring Goes the Bell.
Westminster (Pa.) at Waynesburg: Former Waynesburg head coach Jeff Hand makes his first trip to Jack Wiley Stadium as head coach of PAC rival Westminster. This game may or may not have any postseason implications but it is sure to be a charged atmosphere in the season finale.
A look at this week
Earlier, I mentioned Saturday's Capital-Wittenberg tilt. That is just one of several in-region games between Great Lakes schools scheduled for this Saturday.
Other games of note:
Ohio Northern at Westminster (Pa.): Westminster head coach Jeff Hand makes his debut against an Ohio Northern squad that is a consensus Top 10 team.
Allegheny at Baldwin-Wallace: Another NCAC-OAC clash as B-W and Allegheny open the season under the lights.
Washington and Jefferson at Tri-State: The homestanding Thunder could experience plenty of lightning from high-powered Washington and Jefferson this Saturday in Angola, Ind.
Wooster at Muskingum: After a 10-0 regular season last year, Wooster opens 2005 with plenty of new faces. A third NCAC-OAC fray.
Waynesburg at Denison: The Rick Shepas Era at Waynesburg begins as the Yellow Jackets (colors: orange and black) visit Granville. Denison closed last season strong and would appear to be on the rise.
