By Matt Florjancic
D3sports.com
Two seasons ago, the Ohio Northern Polar Bears made the trip to Alliance for a game against the nation's top-ranked team, Mount Union. Under the direction of coach Dean Paul, a Mount Union graduate, the Polar Bears upset the Purple Raiders 21-14.
The loss for Mount Union was the first to an OAC opponent since 1994, breaking a string of more than 100 consecutive regular season wins. Following the contest, the teams went in different directions. The Purple Raiders won the NCAA Championship for the eighth time, while Ohio Northern struggled to finish teams down the stretch and narrowly missed the postseason.
The next meeting between the teams, also in Alliance, was much different as the Purple Raiders left little doubt in a 49-7 victory over the Polar Bears in 2006.
This Saturday's contest will be the first in Ada since before the upset of 2005. It is the second trip to Dial-Roberson Stadium for Mount Union. Their first trip resulted in a 41-27 victory over Ohio Northern.
If all of the recent history between the teams has yielded any lesson, it is simply that the record books need to be thrown out the window. This season, both teams are undefeated and led by dominant offenses. Defensively, each team is among the nation's best in points allowed.
"The first thing you're going to have to do is you're going to have to take great care of the football," Paul said Sunday night. "That's been proven for a long time playing these guys that if you don't win the turnover battle, your chances to be successful are very minimal.
"That's going to be a tougher challenge with the defense they have," he added. "They have, without question, a phenomenal defense that's very fast and aggressive. It's going to be a good challenge for us."
Mount Union's defense has allowed 24 points in the first four games of the season. Opponents have gained 477 total yards of offense on 230 plays, which averages to 2.1 yards per snap.
Surviving the first half against the aggressive defense is tough. Overall, the Purple Raiders have forced five interceptions and six lost fumbles this season.
While Mount Union has been putting up staggering statistics, the Polar Bears have been busy picking their opponents apart.
Ohio Northern has an opportunistic defense that prides itself on getting to the quarterback, registering 23 sacks for a loss of 150 yards. Two weeks ago, the Polar Bears set a school record with 10 sacks against John Carroll.
"You want to have a very short memory in football," said Mount Union coach Larry Kehres. "They beat us here a couple years ago. It was a great victory for them. A lot of the guys playing now weren't playing then.
"If you can just put last week's game behind you and prepare for each game in a similar manner, really respect your opponent regardless of who your opponent is, that puts you in position to have a chance to win," continued Kehres. "Ohio Northern's a very good team on their home field. We want to handle (the long road trip) without losing focus. They're very good at pressure defense. We've got to deal with their talent and keep our mistakes at a minimum."
One key for each team Saturday afternoon will be the ability to stop the opponent's rushing attack. Junior All-American Nate Kmic has rushed the ball 45 times for 439 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ohio Northern standout R.J. Meadows has also gained 439 yards, scoring five touchdowns.
"It's very important in every football game for every football team," Kehres said of developing a running game. "I think it's important that (Nate) has a good game. The start is no more important than the middle or the finish.
"We're not going to give up on our running game if we don't get a great start," he added. "That's one key thing with playing on the road. Sometimes you don't get a great start. You don't want to lose your poise and panic. We want Nate to have a good game consistently from start to finish."
In last year's meeting, the Mount Union defense limited Meadows to 13 yards on eight carries. Conversely, Kmic ran the ball 24 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns against the Polar Bears.
"R.J.'s one of our better players, (one of) our go-to guys on offense," said Paul. "Two years ago, he had a real good game and last year, they kind of shut him down. Those games were completely different in the outcome.
"They've been so successful in creating big plays," Paul said of Mount Union. "We're going to have to try and slow them down."
While both teams continue preparing for the game, the coaches try to handle taking things one day, one play at a time.
"This is a great football team we're playing this Saturday," Paul said. "We think we have some guys who have the ability to play at a higher level than they have played.
"They're going to make a play or two, hopefully not dozens of plays," he added. "To be successful against a team of this ability, you're going to have to answer and be able when the momentum changes to do something to try to get it back in your favor. It's a great opportunity and we really have to focus on keeping our poise."
The focus for Mount Union will be limiting their opponents and not playing against a former Purple Raider.
"I'd like to see our defense play a solid game," Kehres said. "Then, I'd like to see our special teams unit be good. Northern's got a good punt and kickoff return unit that's done real well.
"This is a young guy who was a captain for the Mount Union team he played on," Kehres said of Paul. "He's a great young guy and I know his family well. Last week was another young guy, the Heidelberg coach (Mike Hallett) is a former Mount Union player. I really want those men to succeed in coaching, but at the same time, I've got to get my team to play its best the day we have that game."
Spartans continue to score points in bunches
Last weekend, Case Western Reserve defeated Gallaudet in Washington, D.C., by the score of 52-13. It was the fifth-straight win for the Spartans this year. They have already equaled their 2006 win total with half a season to go.
While the defense was expected to be tough, the Spartans have surrendered 17.4 points per game. In three of their five games, Case has held opponents to 15 points or less. However, the offense is attracting the attention.
Wide receiver Tim Cowdrick is leading the University Athletic Association with 37 receptions for 539 yards. Quarterback Dan Whalen continues to pick apart opposing secondaries, throwing for ten touchdowns against two interceptions. The sophomore has thrown for 1,037 yards.
After a much-needed bye week, the Spartans will travel to Pittsburgh for the Academic Bowl with Carnegie Mellon on Oct. 13. The Spartans are in search of their first victory against the Tartans since 2004. However, it will not be easy. The Tartans have a strong running game that averages over 300 yards per game.
News and Notes
The Washington and Jefferson Presidents continue with their assault on the record books. Last weekend at St. Vincent, the Presidents broke two NCAA Division III records. Washington and Jefferson beat the marks for most yards in a game, previously held by Westminster (Mo.) and most first downs co-held by Mount Union and Upper Iowa. The Presidents gained 863 yards and converted 41 first downs in a 64-6 victory over St. Vincent.
Capital continued rolling this week with a 27-0 win at Marietta. Matt Spitz set a career-long with a 47-yard field goal in the first quarter against the Pioneers. Capital has not yet surrendered an offensive touchdown to the opposition. The lone touchdown was a fumble return against the Capital offense by Heidelberg.
Hope went into Albion's backyard and did something it had not since 1982, defeat the Britons on the road. The 42-35 victory was the first for the Flying Dutchmen this season. They are 1-3 overall, 1-0 in the MIAA, while Albion has fallen to 0-4 overall. Hope running back David Booko ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Jake Manning tossed for three more scores in the victory.
Ohio Wesleyan rushed for 401 yards in a 35-27 victory over Kenyon. Two running backs eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Kyle Adams ran for 137 yards, while Steven Brown gained 102. Each athlete scored two touchdowns. Kenyon had a more balanced offense with 220 yards in the air and 214 on the ground.
Great Lakes Region teams in D3football.com's Top 25
No. 1 Mount Union (OAC): No change following 62-3 victory at Heidelberg
No. 8 Capital (OAC): Up two spots with 27-0 victory at Marietta
No. 9 Ohio Northern (OAC): Up two spots with 27-14 victory at Otterbein
No. 13 Washington and Jefferson (PAC): Up two spots after 64-6 win at St. Vincent
No. 16 Wabash (NCAC): Up two spots with 54-20 victory over Earlham
No. 17 Baldwin-Wallace (OAC): Down seven spots after 20-17 overtime loss at John Carroll
No. 24 John Carroll (OAC): Into the Top 25 with 20-17 overtime victory over Baldwin-Wallace
Others receiving votes: Wittenberg (NCAC), Defeated rival Wooster 58-7 at home
Games of the Week
Thiel Tomcats (2-3, 1-1 PAC) at Washington and Jefferson Presidents (4-0, 1-0 PAC), Saturday, 2 p.m.:Washington and Jefferson's defense has only given up 436 yards on the ground in four victories this season. The Thiel Tomcats have two capable runners in Dan Hess (369 yards, three scores) and Steve Minton (324 yards, two touchdowns) who will challenge the front seven on the Presidents defense.
John Carroll Blue Streaks (3-1, 2-1 OAC) at Capital Crusaders (4-0, 3-0 OAC), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.:Following a loss at Ohio Northern in which the Blue Streaks gave up ten sacks, John Carroll got back into the OAC title hunt by defeating the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets in overtime 20-17. Capital is rolling, but the Crusaders may have to do without the services of quarterback Marty Assmann. The sophomore quarterback was injured in the fourth quarter at Marietta and as of Sunday, his return to the starting lineup was unknown. Derick Alexander, who got into one game, is done for the season but could pursue a medical redshirt.
