By Ryan Tipps
D3sports.com
It's hard not to already imagine the smell of the grill in the parking lot or the sound of pads popping against each other on the field. I'd even venture a guess that these things have been on your minds for weeks now -- maybe even months. Soon enough though, the countdown to opening day will be down to mere hours.
While this year's Kickoff broke down teams into their smaller components and let readers see what's going to make this season tick, I'm going to tell you about the 10 games in the mid-Atlantic that will be the ones to watch. They might be the deciding factor en route to the playoffs. Or they might be a chance for a team to make its mark on the region. Or they might just be a competitive game, where the most significant thing on the line is pride.
There's, of course, no way to make this list all-encompassing, and many other important or interesting games will be discussed in the weeks to follow. But this roundup of the very best of the region, brought to you by your new regional columnist (more about me later), should help you get ready for the season.
In chronological order:
Widener at N.C. Wesleyan on Sept. 8
This should be the year's the most exciting nonconference matchup involving two teams from the mid-Atlantic. The Pride and the Bishops are my picks to win their conference titles, so this game will be an interesting test of abilities. Also, the winner here could easily be propelled into a spot in the D3football.com Top 25 poll. Both teams return strong offenses, so expect the scoring to be high. NCW has the edge on defense, though Widener's new rushers will be pushing the Bishops' linebackers every step of the way.
Christopher Newport at Mary Hardin-Baylor on Sept. 8
The two teams met last year in Newport News, Va., in one of the best defensive battles I have ever seen -- right down to the red-zone stand that CNU put up in the closing minutes. At the time, CNU was playing its second game of the season; UMHB its first. That is no different this year. What is different is that this time the No. 23 ranked Captains will be on the road, traveling roughly 1,500 miles to play the No. 4 ranked Crusaders. Both teams are returning key players, though CNU has lost its star rusher and cornerback. And one factor not to be underestimated: The Crusaders will be looking to avenge a loss that last year caught many people by surprise.
Rowan at Wilkes on Sept. 15
Tension will be high in this rematch of last season's Round 2 playoff game. The Profs walked away with a seven-point win that Saturday, but Wilkes will be looking to step up its defensive strengths and take advantage of a team that may come up short on playmakers. Wilkes, which needs to look solid here in case the automatic bid falls through, will also be Rowan's toughest test this season as the Profs take on a strictly Division III schedule.
Guilford at Greensboro on Sept. 29
The "Soup Bowl," which started as a crosstown rivalry in 1997, has emerged as a competitive matchup as of late. The series is tied at five wins apiece, and the games in the past two years have been separated by just one score -- one point in 2005, six points in '06. This early season nonconference game has pep, and a good cause: The entry fee is a canned good. To date, nearly 22,000 canned goods have been collected and donated to charity.
Delaware Valley at Lebanon Valley on Oct. 6
The Aggies and the Flying Dutchmen will likely be wrestling near the top of the MAC, and a head-to-head like last year would be thrilling. The '06 game ended with a Delaware Valley rally to bring about a one-point victory. This early-season matchup will be critical in keeping both teams in the running for the conference title, or else keep them on the edge of Pool C contention.
Bridgewater at Washington & Lee on Oct. 27
The ODAC title will likely be on the line here, as the Eagles' high-powered offense steps up against defending conference champ and defensive stalwart Washington & Lee. Last season, Bridgewater rallied from a two-game slide for the win, and the team's 27 points was the most scored on the Generals in the regular season. Washington & Lee will look to supplement its improved defense with an offense that will test the prowess of the Eagle secondary.
N.C. Wesleyan at Christopher Newport on Oct. 27
I've long been speaking highly of this year's Bishops. With few losses from last year's squad, N.C. Wesleyan returns a hefty roster of playmakers. Senior Cedric Townsend was the conference's No. 1 passer and leads a team that was the best in total offense. Of course, this game won't be easy. Christopher Newport has a top-notch defense and, possibly the biggest mental factor of all, will be playing at home. CNU has not lost a home game to a conference foe since Sept. 29, 2001, which was only the third game the Captains had ever played. That streak is on the verge of collapse this fall.
Ursinus at Dickinson on Nov. 10
The Bears' visit to Biddle Stadium in the last regular season game is chock full of conference-title potential. In 2006, Ursinus put the only wrinkle in Dickinson's otherwise perfect run through the conference -- and the Bears should have the edge again this year. The Red Devils will need to rely on their solid rush defense, which includes returning Centennial player of the year Eric Dube, to keep Aaron Harper in check and keep the Bears from controlling the clock.
Widener at Wilkes on Nov. 10
The newcomers on Wilkes' defense will be fully battle-tested by the time they line up against Widener -- and those rookie starters will have some of the MAC's best defensive players next to them to bring the team together. However, they will be challenged by a Pride offense that has matured since 2006 and will be ready with both a ground and air game that will try to pick apart the Colonels.
Moravian at Muhlenberg on Nov. 10
This rivalry, on the cusp of its fifth full decade of play, once again has the perk of being a conference game thanks to Moravian's shift to the Centennial Conference, where the Greyhounds have a legitimate shot at the conference crown. However, in the past, playoff hopes for either team have rarely been in sight, and this game has fed off of pride. The 2006 matchup highlighted that point: Moravian, walked away with not only a loss for the day, but also a losing record for the season. In most of the recent years, the tide of the series has been heavily in the Mules favor.
A little bit about me
It was nearly two decades ago, but I still remember the first time I saw a Division III football game. My dad is a Wabash College graduate and had decided to take my family on a road trip to Albion College on a fall afternoon around 1990.
We lived along the Indiana-Michigan border, so a trek a little ways north was no big deal. That day, the leaves were damp, the skies were gray, and black squirrels bounced near Albion's entrance. I remember the stadium being smaller than what I was used to -- I grew up around Notre Dame football, which meant crowds in the tens of thousands. Of course, it was different at Albion. Though on the visitor's side, I was impressed to see a large volume of Wabash fans filling the seats, packing my diminutive self between giant shoulders.
I was only just beginning my teen years, but I could grasp the proudness of the fans and the intensity of the game. Over the years, I've learned how deep loyalty at Wabash runs. Fans travel well to the games, and at home, it's a unified boisterous voice like no other I've heard. More compelling than Notre Dame, to be sure. The Fighting Irish followers have their band, their celebrations and their passion. But sitting in Albion's smaller stadium, sandwiched between deep cheering voices, I learned that Division III has something big-school programs don't -- a personal touch.
Years later, it was an easy decision to follow in my dad's footsteps and myself become a Wabash man. During my last three years at the college (after an injury kept me out of a second cross-country season) I trolled the sidelines during football games with my camera in hand -- the action barely a click away.
When I moved to Virginia in the summer of 2004, I found my way back to the sidelines, shooting a handful of Christopher Newport games as well as the 2006 Stagg Bowl for D3football.com. I've also done two stints as a reporter for the Kickoff, last year covering the USA South, this year the Old Dominion.
As a fan, meeting people from around the region, and even from around the country, has given backbone to the D3 landscape. At the 2004 Stagg Bowl, my wife and I got big victory hugs from a Linfield mom, who was a stranger to us barely three hours earlier. And a year later, I tailgated with a pack from Mount Union. Last fall, I met up with Stone Station in Delaware for the South region playoff final. Moments like these fuel my anticipation for Saturdays, and as different as games can be, they are marked by the common threads of excitement and camaraderie.
It was the spirit of the game and the century of tradition at Wabash that got me into small-college sports, and it's the continued love of the game -- including the opportunity to write, photograph, travel and converse -- that keeps my enthusiasm running.
