2022 Mount Union bracket
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Mount Union Purple Raiders
| Seed: | No. 1, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 2, Week 11 2021 |
| Location: | Alliance, Ohio |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1919 |
| Stadium: | Mount Union Stadium (5450) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | OAC |
| Head coach: | Geoff Dartt (Mount Union '08) |
| Career record: | 27-1 (.965) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 4-2-5 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 107-19 (1985-86, 1990, 1992-2019, 2021) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017 |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 480 | 79 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, OAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Braxton Plunk has more receiving options downfield than he knows what to do with. Undoubtedly one of the best passing attacks in the nation, Plunk averages 308 passing yards per game, and with a veteran receiving corps, MU was unstoppable through the air during the regular season. And look for the Purple Raider defense to be coming up with some key takeaways; they've forced 15 interceptions and recovered five fumbles. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The opposing offense is picking up first downs on the ground. A stout defensive front against the run, nobody has rushed for more than 100 yards against UMU this season, so if they're allowing the opposing running back to move the chains in a short-yardage rushing situation, it qualifies as a challenging day. |
| This season's turning point: | When Braxton Plunk's pass bounced off a Baldwin Wallace defender's helmet, into the hands of Wayne Ruby, allowing Mount Union to win the OAC automatic bid on the last play of the game. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .498 (126) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 183.3/332.9 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 45.1/126.4 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 7.3/3.0 |
| Leading passer: | Braxton Plunk, 308.7 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | DeAndre Parker, 95.3 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Wayne Ruby, 132.1 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Mason McMillen, 81 (30 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Rossy Moore, 8.0 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Josh Jones, 4 |
| How far can they go? | Even after a puzzling Week 10 and Week 11, this team should at least get to the semifinals again. |
Delaware Valley Aggies
| Seed: | Likely No. 2, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 14, Week 11, 2022 |
| Location: | Doylestown, Pennsylvania |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1761 |
| Stadium: | James Work Stadium (4500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | MAC |
| Head coach: | Duke Greco (Delaware Valley '03) |
| Career record: | 80-12 (.870) |
| Base offense: | Multiple |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 12-10 (2004-05, 2009-11, 2014, 2017-19, 2021) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 287 | 65 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, MAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | The offensive line gives quarterback Louie Barrios time to throw, the Aggies get a two-score lead, and their ultra-quick defensive line creates havoc in the opponent's backfield. Defensive ends Mike Nobile and Yusuf Aladinov give opposing quarterbacks very little time to make a decision and, when they don't have to worry about the run, it becomes a feeding frenzy. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | They get behind the chains on offense, either because they can't run the ball consistently or they put themselves in long yardage situations with penalties. Halfback Jay White finished second in the MAC in rushing yards per game and the offensive line has played well during the second half of the year. But the Aggies need both facets of their offense to work for either to be effective. |
| This season's turning point: | In a meeting between the top two teams in the MAC preseason poll, Delaware Valley travelled to Stevenson and came home with a 26-7 win. The Aggies seized control quickly when, on Stevenson's first drive, Anthony Nobile intercepted a pass and returned it to the Mustangs' one-yard line, setting up a Barrios rushing touchdown. Barrios had two touchdowns on the ground and two through the air, and the Aggies had cleared their biggest obstacle to another unbeaten run through the MAC. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .572 (16) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 191.1/188.4 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 57.0/176.8 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.3/2.9 |
| Leading passer: | Louie Barrios IV, 174.8 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Jay White, 93.6 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Tahmir Barksdale, 62.6 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Nick Chapman, 56 (24 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Michael Nobile, 12.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Blaine Netterman, 2 |
| How far can they go? | With an offense that has shown signs of life this year, the Aggies have a chance to win a couple of playoff games. |
Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets
| Seed: | Likely No. 3, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 16, Week 11 2022 |
| Location: | Ashland, Virginia |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1513 |
| Stadium: | Day Field (4000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ODAC |
| Head coach: | Pedro Arruza (Wheaton '95) |
| Career record: | 123-67 (.647) |
| Base offense: | Pro style |
| Base defense: | 3-3-5 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 1-4 (1984, 2008, 20162, 2018) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 444 | 136 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, ODAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | The rushing attack is wearing the opponent down, and taking time off the clock as RMC puts together long drives to the end zone. The Yellow Jackets average 267 yards per game on the ground, eighth best in the nation. And defensively, look for Wade Grubbs to be having a big day. The defensive tackle anchors a physical RMC defense that is allowing just 2.4 yards per carry. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The pass coverage breaks down. Opponents have had the majority of their success against the Yellow Jacket defense through airing the ball out, having picked up 102 first downs on passes, compared to just 41 on rushing plays. Also, if quarterback Drew Campanale is well under his completion rate of 79.2 percent, you know RMC might be struggling, considering he was incredibly consistent and accurate throughout the regular season. |
| This season's turning point: | In a homecoming contest against Bridgewater in Week 7, RMC solidified itself in the national conversation, handing Bridgewater its lone loss in ODAC play, with a dominant 44-7 victory. That win ultimately kept the Yellow Jackets in sole possession of first place in the league, with a clear path to the postseason. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .496 (129) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 268.4/227.1 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 58.5/213.7 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 7.2/4.7 |
| Leading passer: | Drew Campanale, 201.8 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Kwesi Clarke, 84.7 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | David Wallis, 111.1 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Cade Jones, 45 (33) |
| Leader in sacks: | Wade Grubbs, 7.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Brandon Evans, Cade Jones, Silas James with 2 |
| How far can they go? | They may not even be favored at home in the first round ... or they could go to the quarterfinals. Hard to tell based on who they've played this year. |
Susquehanna River Hawks
| Seed: | Likely No. 4, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 11, Week 11 2022 |
| Location: | Selinsgrove, Pa. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 2291 |
| Stadium: | Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Doug Arthur Stadium (3500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | CC |
| Head coach: | Tom Perkovich (Canisius '03) |
| Career record: | 56-26 (.683) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 3-6 (1986, 1991, 2009) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 402 | 137 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, Centennial champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Quarterback Michael Ruisch has time to spread the ball around his talented group of receivers and the defense is stuffing the run and creating a lot of 3-and-outs to get Ruisch and company back on the field. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The defense is giving up long pass plays and the offense struggles to sustain drives due to struggles in the running game. |
| This season's turning point: | Surviving the Week 9 and 10 gauntlet against Johns Hopkins and Muhlenberg, which they hadn't been able to accomplish since they joined the Centennial Conference after leaving the Liberty League in 2009. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .488 (138) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 174.1/262.5 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 86.6/183.1 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.4/4.3 |
| Leading passer: | Michael Ruisch, 235.3 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Frankie Negrini, 71.1 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Kyle Howes, 77.1 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | John Nicosia, 63 (30 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Salvatore Gurnari, 4.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Andrew Wells, 4 |
| How far can they go? | It's been a hot minute since this program was in the playoffs but getting to the second round seems logical. |
Cortland Red Dragons
| Seed: | Likely No. 5, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 17, Week 11 2022 |
| Location: | Cortland, N.Y. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 6203 |
| Stadium: | Stadium Complex (6500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | E8 |
| Head coach: | Curt Fitzpatrick (St. John Fisher '04) |
| Career record: | 20-2 (.910) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 7-10 (1988-90, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2021) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 468 | 157 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, E8 champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | QB Zac Boyes is able to spread the ball around to a strong group of RBs and WRs and the defense is able to get stops to keep the Dragons offense on the field. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | QB pressures lead to turnovers and causes the defense to have to defend a short field. Boyes scrambles and runs out of necessity, rather than by choice. |
| This season's turning point: | They will be looking for one in the first round after struggling mightily in Week 11 in the Cortaca Jug game. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .545 (38) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 240.1/271.0 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 95.0/180.8 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 7.8/4.4 |
| Leading passer: | Zac Boyes, 250.8 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Jaden Alfanostjohn, 108.6 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | JJ Laap, 83.6 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Devin McArthur, 55 (23 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Nick Lardaro, 5.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Joshua Cordero, 6 |
| How far can they go? | This bracket still sets up well for a run to the quarterfinals if the Red Dragons can find the magic again. |
Utica Pioneers
| Seed: | Likely No. 6, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Utica, N.Y. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 2810 |
| Stadium: | Charles A. Gaetano Stadium (1200) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | E8 |
| Head coach: | Blaise Faggiano (Ithaca '93) |
| Career record: | 75-71 (.514) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | First trip |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 351 | 218 |
| How they got here: | Pool C |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | The offense and defense are playing complementary football, with the offense successfully mixing up the run and pass and the defense doing a good job of the "bend-but-don't break" approach. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The offense can't sustain drives and the defense gets burned by long passing and running plays, like we saw in Week 8's lopsided 48-21 loss to Cortland. |
| This season's turning point: | The officiating crew swallowing their whistles on the final play which listed Utica to a 20-1,7 last-second win over Morrisville State in Week 9. The win kept Utica's Pool C hopes alive, and the national committee overruled the Region 2 advisory committee to put Utica ahead of Johns Hopkins, sealing the deal. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .519 (62) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 123.9/404.8 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 193.3/179.6 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.3/5.9 |
| Leading passer: | Braeden Zenelovic, 264.3 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Jimmy Polito, 52.0 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Nate Palmer, 122.2 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Jimmie Warren, 78 (26 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Jimmie Warren, 9.0 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Terrance Toussaint, Dan Amady, Joey Lipani, 2 |
| How far can they go? | Apparently they can do better than Johns Hopkins did at Susquehanna, so we shall see what that means. |
Salisbury Sea Gulls
| Seed: | Likely No. 7 seed, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 21, Week 1 2022 |
| Location: | Salisbury, Md. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 7081 |
| Stadium: | Sea Gull Stadium (2500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | NJAC |
| Head coach: | Sherman Wood (Salisbury State '84) |
| Career record: | 175-74 (.703) |
| Base offense: | Spread option |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 10-12 (1983, 1985-86, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010-12, 2015, 2019, 2021) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 366 | 146 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, NJAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | The Gulls are running the ball at a 6 yards per carry clip, while the defense is shutting down the run (have held opposing offenses to 2.6 yards per carry and only allowed 6 rushing TDs all season). |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The passing game leads more to interceptions than TDs and if the defense can?t make a stop in the red zone, like what we saw happen in the Week 11 36-33 close call against CNU. |
| This season's turning point: | After a Week 2 35-21 setback against Stevenson, the Gulls regrouped and outscored their opposition 200-39 over the next six weeks. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .507 (106) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 352.1/65.0 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 76.0/166.5 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.3/4.0 |
| Leading passer: | Ben Hutchins, 51.1 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Joey Bildstein, 121.5 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Hunter Cleaver, 28.5 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Caleb Brubaker, 58 (37 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Jimmy Celentano, 9.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Caleb Brubaker, 7 |
| How far can they go? | Generally option-based teams do not perform well against the elite in Division III football. |
Gallaudet Bison
| Seed: | Likely No. 8, Mount Union bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1005 |
| Stadium: | Hotchkiss Field (1000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ECFC |
| Head coach: | Chuck Goldstein (Salisbury '01) |
| Career record: | 53-62 (.461) |
| Base offense: | Triple-option |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 2013 (0-1) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 264 | 242 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, ECFC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | The Bison are gaining more than 5 yards per play on offense, and the defense is getting into the backfield, collecting sacks and tackles for loss while also picking off the opposing quarterback. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The Bison fall behind early and have to go to the passing game and struggle with turnovers. Gallaudet has thrown four interceptions in its two losses this season. |
| This season's turning point: | Moving Brandon Washington from slotback to quarterback in the team's triple-option offense. Gallaudet has been able to take better care of the ball with the sophomore playmaker running the offense and the Bison have controlled the clock in key situations. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .397 (225) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 273.3/67.3 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 132.3/191.7 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 5.4/5.2 |
| Leading passer: | Nicholas Maccini, 55.8 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Brandon Washington, 105.6 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Brandon Washington, 29.2 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Jacob Hartman, 69 (42 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Jacob Hartman, 5.0 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Andrae Green, 3 |
| How far can they go? | It's been a good run. |