By John Regenfuss
D3sports.com

A thrilling weekend of first-round postseason play saw six Midwest teams in action and featured two come-from-behind victories, one blowout, one near upset, and three region teams advance to the second round.

Super-sub QB brings Eagles back for victory
Led by backup quarterback John Schumann, UW-La Crosse scored 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to knock off St. Norbert in a first playoff game hosted by the Eagles. La Crosse outscored the Green Knights 34-6 in the second half in the 37-23 win. 

Down 20-3 nearing the midpoint of the third quarter, Schumann sparked the turnaround, hitting Robin Finco with a 23-yard scoring pass to pull La Crosse within ten. St. Norbert kicker Bob Forstrom added a field goal early in the fourth quarter, his third of the game, to stretch its lead to 13. But then the Eagles offense ignited. In the final seven minutes of the game, the unsuspecting hero Schumann tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers to give La Crosse its first lead of the game at 30-23. Receiver Scott Burnoski, playing defensive back for a game-ending Hail Mary, capped off the victory by returning an interception 94 yards for a touchdown.

Schumann, a sophomore, replaced the ineffective Steve Tennies in the third quarter and completed 8 of 14 passes for 145 yards and the four touchdowns. Corey Geldernick was a workhorse on the ground for the Eagles, carrying the ball 31 times for 138 yards. Burnoski, La Crosse's top receiver, caught just three passes for 18 yards but had the two critical fourth-quarter touchdowns.

St. Norbert quarterback Ryan Hartman threw for 209 yards and one touchdown but had four costly interceptions. Casey Meehan, one of the nation's top rushing and scoring threats, ran for just 84 yards and was held without a score. 

Carthage edges Alma in postseason thriller
An opportunistic defense, a nose-bloodying rushing attack, and unconventional special teams lifted Carthage to its first postseason victory in program history, defeating Alma 31-28. 

Linebackers Mike Pelkowski and Brandon Fox helped Carthage overcome a 21-7 halftime deficit, returning fumble recoveries for touchdowns within a span of five minutes in the third quarter. Pelkowski's return went for ten yards while Fox brought his find back 83 yards. Fox and strong safety Franko Shenault recorded key interceptions in the game, giving the Redmen a school-record 28 picks this season.

Redmen running back Dante Washington pounded the Alma defense with 56 carries, rumbling for a total of 260 yards. The senior also scored the game-winning touchdown, a two-yard jaunt with 3:23 remaining. Washington's rushing performance helped Carthage claim a 43:00-17:00 time of possession advantage.

Carthage punter/free safety Donovan Moore had an active day on several fronts. Moore punted seven times, with a long of 56 yards, dropping three inside the 20-yard line. He also carried out an amazing three fake punt attempts, completing a pass for 47 yards in one and running for 14 yards in another.

Alma quarterback Josh Brehm managed to crack the tough Carthage defense for 231 passing yards but that total was well under the team's average for the season. Clayton Sims had 74 yards of receiving and one touchdown while Matt Lambourn rushed for 99 yards on 9 carries and one score.

The Thunder storms on offense and defense to advance
Wheaton shredded the vaunted Mt. St. Joseph defense and stymied the Lion offense to secure a first round playoff win, 31-7. The Thunder rolled up 500 yards of offense while limiting MSJC to just 190 yards. It also held a 30-7 advantage in first downs and a 93-41 advantage in offensive plays. The victory gave Wheaton 10 wins for the third-consecutive season, something never before attained in program history.

The watchword for the day for Wheaton was balance. It amassed 236 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 264 yards and two scores through the air. Four different players scored touchdowns, three backs had 43 or more yards rushing and three receivers notched four or more receptions. 

Thunder quarterback Jeremy Chupp threw for 222 yards and hit his top two targets, Brad Musso and Colin Sinclair, for touchdowns. Musso led all receivers with seven receptions for 111 yards. Garrett Granberg was Wheaton's top rusher, gaining 73 yards on 19 carries. Drew Thornfelt and Mark Hamstra scored touchdowns on the ground on runs of one and seven yards, respectively. 

Receiver Andy Wellendorf, Mount St. Joseph's top offensive weapon, scored the Lions' lone touchdown, catching a 49-yard pass from Bryan Hamrock in the second quarter. Wellendorf finished the game with 101 yards receiving but had just three catches.

The Lions defense had a busy day with four players, Matt Lawless, Brooks Klosterman, Andrew Ackerman, and P.J. Volker, reaching double-digit figures in tackles.

Sutton strikes again, ends Aurora upset bid
Wooster running back Tony Sutton, the nation's leader in rushing, scoring, and all-purpose yards, lived up to his billing, torching Aurora for 209 rushing yards and five touchdowns to lead the Scots past the Spartans 41-34. His five rushing scores tied an NCAA single-game playoff record and helped Wooster attain its first-ever postseason victory. 

Sutton came up big when Wooster needed it the most: late in the game. In a span of a minute and a half in the fourth quarter, the senior ran for touchdowns of 41 and 34 yards to put the Scots ahead for good. He also scored on run of one, 37, and 10 yards.

Aurora, which was a heavy underdog to No. 6 Wooster, gave the Scots all they could handle. The Spartans held the lead three times during the first two quarters, including a 20-17 halftime advantage. Spartan quarterback Andrew Hornung threw three touchdown passes in the first half to help nurture that lead. Hornung finished the game with 215 yards passing but had one interception and was sacked five times. Rob Bieritz, Hornung's favorite target, caught eight passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Daniel Whalen was also key to Aurora's offensive success, rushing for 142 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter.

For Wooster, in addition to Sutton's show-stealing performance, an ensemble cast played important roles in the victory. Richie McNally demonstrated his versatility by kicking two field goals of 31 and 37 yards, catching two passes for 59 yards, and recovering an onside kick late in the game. Cornerback Keith Adams returned five punts for 91 yards, including a 39-yarder in the second quarter that set up a field goal. Defensive end Andy Mizak recorded eight tackles and three sacks. 

Regular season +1
Defiance played the final Midwest region regular season contest on the opening day of the 2004 playoffs, losing to previously winless Bethany of the Presidents' Athletic Conference, 35-28. Defiance (1-9) rallied in the fourth quarter, getting rushing touchdowns from running back Marshall Weathers and quarterback Nate Fitton to knot the game at 28-28. But a late Bethany (1-9) touchdown ended the Yellow Jackets' bid for a season-ending victory.

Running back Darin Lomason highlighted the Defiance offensive effort, running for 141 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. Most of the Yellow Jackets' troubles in the contest came mainly on the defensive side of the ball. Bethany outgained Defiance 429-246, earned twice as many first downs (22-11), and had nearly a seven-minute advantage in time of possession. 

Midwest Region Second Round Playoff Previews
No. 13 UW-La Crosse (7-3) at No. 2 Linfield (9-0) 
Maxwell Field, McMinnville, Ore., 12:00 p.m.

Playoff qualification
Linfield: Automatic qualifier as champion of the Northwest Conference. The No. 1 seed in its bracket.
UW-La Crosse: Automatic qualifier as champion of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The No. 3 seed in the Linfield bracket.

Team statistics

Players to watch
Linfield: QB Brett Elliott, 6-3, 200, Jr.; WR Casey Allen, 6-3, 220, Jr.; WR/PR/CB Brandon Hazenberg, 5-11, 185, Jr.; LB Brandon Olson, 6-0, 205, So.; M Josh Ort, 5-11, 212, Jr.; CB Chris Boock, 5-8, 175, Jr.
UW-La Crosse: QB Steve Tennies, 6-1, 195, Jr./QB John Schumann, 6-2, 200, So.; RB Corey Geldernick, 5-11, 200, So.; WR Scott Burnoski, 6-2, 200, Sr.; CB Steve Teeples, 6-0, 165, So.; FS Kenneth Halvorson, 5-11, 205, Jr.; LB Dustin Powell, 6-1, 245, Sr.; DE Matt Buelow, 6-3, 245, Sr.

Key wins
Linfield: UW-Stevens Point, 46-35; Whitworth, 38-27; Willamette, 48-14.
UW-La Crosse: UW-Stevens Point, 35-14; UW-Whitewater 35-10; St. Norbert, 37-23.

Analysis: Folks, welcome to the Brett Elliott show. Linfield's one-man wrecking crew from the quarterback position has been the nation's best at the position this season, posting numbers that belong more on the screen of a video game than on a stat sheet. The transfer from Division I-A Utah, has thrown for 3,201 yards and 44 touchdowns this season in leading the Wildcats to their fifth-consecutive Northwest Conference title. Elliott heads Division III in passing efficiency and is ranked No. 2 in total offense. Not only does Linfield's offense begin and end with Elliott but likely the fortunes of the entire team. The challenge for UW-La Crosse will be not to stop him, but slow him down and not let him make big plays.

The Linfield defense has struggled at times this season, so there may be opportunities for the La Crosse offense. The question is, will they be able to take advantage of them? Again, limiting turnovers will be key to that success. Deciding on a quarterback would also be a help. The second round of the playoff is not a good time to have a potential quarterback controversy, especially when you are trying to match the nation's best quarterback, but that's what La Crosse may have. John Schumann played so well in the stead of Steve Tennies in the win over St. Norbert, it will be difficult to deny him the start. However, coming off the bench as opposed to starting a playoff game are very different situations, especially for a relatively inexperienced sophomore like Schumann. 

Surprisingly, despite being separated by 1,936 miles and two time zones, Linfield and UW-La Crosse shared a common opponent this season -- UW-Stevens Point. Linfield topped the Pointers in Stevens Point in a shootout, 46-35. La Crosse dominated Stevens Point, scoring a 35-14 victory. 

In the end, while La Crosse has the distinct size advantage, Linfield's speed and athleticism may be too much for the Eagles. 

My pick: Linfield 45, UW-La Crosse 31.

No. 16 Carthage (10-1) at No. 6 Wooster Scots (11-0)
John P. Papp Stadium, Wooster, Ohio, 12:00 p.m.

Playoff qualification
Wooster: Automatic qualifier as champion of the North Coast Athletic Conference. The No. 2 seed in the Mount Union bracket. 
Carthage: Automatic qualifier as champion of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The No. 3 seed in the Mount Union bracket. 

Team statistics

Players to watch
Wooster: RB Tony Sutton, 5-10, 200, Sr.; WR/PK/P Richie McNally, 6-2, 200, Sr.; CB/PR Kieth Adams, 5-11, 170, So.; DE Andy Mizak, 6-1, 225, So.; DT Joe Kearney, 6-4, 305, Sr.; CB Brian Kight, 5-9, 180, Sr.
Carthage: QB Ferni Garza, 6-6, 210, Sr.; RB Dante Washington, 6-0, 214, Sr.; CB Brett Barnes, 5-9, 182, Jr.; CB Brandon Fox, 6-0, 195, So.; LB Mike Pelkowski, 6-0, 210 Jr.

Key wins
Wooster: Wabash, 33-30; Wittenberg, 64-58 (OT); Ohio Wesleyan, 24-6; Aurora, 41-34.
Carthage: Lakeland, 18-14; North Central, 27-24; Wheaton, 39-21; Alma, 31-28.

Analysis: For the second consecutive week, Carthage will face one of the top offenses in the nation in Wooster. The Scots entered their first-round game with Aurora as the No. 4 team in the nation in scoring and their 41-point output did nothing to belie that ranking. However, as it proved against Alma last weekend, the Redmen defense is well-equipped to and very capable of making big plays and getting key stops against a talented offense.

The backfield battle between Wooster's Tony Sutton and Carthage's Dante Washington will surely be one for the ages. Both are seemingly unstoppable forces and both are coming off monster first-round performances. Sutton is a perfect blend of speed and power, making him a serious threat to break one from anywhere on the field each time he touches the ball. Washington is an indefatigable grinder and smasher who could carry the ball 100 times in regulation and still have energy for overtime. Carthage may have an slight edge defensively, though, as its unit is allowing fewer average yards per game this season than Wooster's. Its astounding plus-24 turnover margin won't hurt its chances either.

Each team has other players besides Sutton and Washington, both on offense and defense, that will undoubtedly have a major impact on the game. Richie McNally is Mr. Versatility for Wooster and is another reason why the Scots are so highly rated nationally in scoring offense. The wide receiver/kicker/punter is ranked fifth in Division III in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. Patrolling the defensive side of the ball from his end spot is Andy Mizak. The sophomore notched three sacks versus Aurora, giving him 13 on the season. Cornerback Brian Kight is Wooster's leading tackler (86) and interceptor (4). 

For Carthage, Ferni Garza, its power-forward sized quarterback, doesn't put up big numbers every game but always seems to make at least one huge, game-altering play a contest. On defense, Carthage brims with playmakers, including Brett Barnes, Brandox Fox, Mike Pelkowski, and Franko Shenault.

This game is, by far, the toughest to pick of the three playoff games this weekend. I think it could go either way and could depend on which team does a better job of slowing up the opposition's star running back. 

My pick: Wooster 28, Carthage 24.

No. 14 Wheaton Thunder (10-1) at No. 1 Mount Union (10-0)
Mount Union Stadium, Alliance, Ohio, 12:00 p.m.

Playoff qualification
Mount Union: Automatic qualifier as champion of the Ohio Athletic Conference. The No. 1 seed in its bracket. 
Wheaton: At-large (Pool C) qualifier. The No. 4 seed in the Mount Union bracket.

Team statistics

Players to watch
Mount Union: QB Zac Bruney, 5-10, 182, Sr.; RB Jeff Strauch, 5-11, 192. Sr.; RB Rick Ciccone, 5-9, 191, Sr.; WR Jason Cavell, 5-9, 179, Sr.; LB Mike Gibbons, 5-9, 191, Jr.; LB Shaun Spisak, 5-11, 205, Sr.; DB Jesse Clum, 6-2, 190, Sr.; DE Justen Stickley, 6-0, 223, Sr.; DE Johnny Josef, 6-3, 255, Sr.
Wheaton: QB Jeremy Chupp, 6-2, 189, So.; RB Garrett Granberg, 5-8, 191, Sr.; WR Brad Musso, 6-0, 204, Sr.; WR Colin Sinclair, 6-1, 189, Sr.; LB Phil Montes, 5-10, 225, Sr.; DB Todd Travis, 6-4, 201, Jr.; DB Caleb Walters, 5-10, 181, Sr.

Key wins
Mount Union: Capital, 49-7; Ohio Northern, 41-27; Baldwin-Wallace, 24-7.
Wheaton: Hope, 45-28; North Central, 17-7; Augustana, 39-38; Mt. St. Joseph 31-7.

Analysis: If Wheaton is fond of challenges, then it will be deliriously happy with the mother of all challenges it has before it this week. Playing Division III goliath Mount Union is never a treat but facing Mount Union at home in the postseason is tantamount to climbing Mount Everest in your skivvies. 

Both teams bring in potent offenses but the Mount Union defense has been flat-out untouchable all year, giving it the definite overall advantage. Still, it will be interesting to see how the extremely talented Wheaton receiving duo of Brad Musso and Colin Sinclair fares against the strong Purple Raider secondary. Mount Union's offense is spearheaded by quarterback Zac Bruney. The undersized signal caller ranks third in the nation in passing efficiency.

To state the obvious, if Wheaton is to have any success, it must limit turnovers. The Thunder is the only team mentioned in this column this week with a turnover ratio in the negative for the season (-2).

The numbers Mount Union has accumulated throughout the course of the 2004 season are mind-boggling and reflect the devastation it has wrought upon its opponents this season. The Purple Raiders are ranked in the top ten nationally in six categories (two on offense, four on defense), including scoring offense (No. 7), total offense (No. 10), rushing defense (No. 1), scoring defense (No. 2), total defense (No. 2), and passing efficiency defense (No. 7). But the most frightening number of all concerns its history at home in the postseason. Mount Union defeats its playoffs opponents on its home field by the average margin of victory of 45.6 points. Add that factor to the outcome of last year's postseason matchup between these two teams, a 56-10 Mount Union victory, makes my pick even easier. 

My pick: Mount Union 45, Wheaton 17.