Some years, Mount has not needed to play well in any of the first three rounds to advance. Not sure that is true this year. But generally, this Mount team is just as good as previous years at spreading the ball around on offense, keeping the chains moving and getting to the opposing quarterback.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Listen, your guess is as good as ours. The best hope may be to see if something happens late in a tight game because personnel aren't accustomed to making plays and executing with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. These weren't high-leverage moments because Mount Union was up by four touchdowns, but in the second half against Marietta, Mount Union was sacked three times and threw an interception.
This season's turning point:
No turning point needed so far. Full speed ahead for the Purple Raiders.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.494 (134)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
229.6/271.6
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
39.7/163.4
Yards per play/allowed per play:
7.4/3.4
Leading passer:
Braxton Plunk, 240.9 ypg
Leading rusher:
DeAndre Parker, 86.1 ypg
Leading receiver:
Wayne Ruby, 82.8 ypg
Leading tackler:
Mason McMillen, 80 (25 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Rossy Moore, 10.5
Leader in interceptions:
Josh Jones, 6
How far can they go?
The bracket is definitely set up for them to return to Salem.
Susquehanna River Hawks
Seed:
Likely No. 2, Mount Union bracket
Last Top 25 ranking:
No. 9, Week 11 2023
Location:
Selinsgrove, Pa.
Enrollment (FT undergrads):
2106
Stadium:
Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Doug Arthur Stadium (3500)
The opposing defense can't account for Josh Ehrlich's mobility. When he's able to get out and run, it also makes Tommy Grabowski more effective in the run game. Plus, Kyle Howes remains a threat in the passing game as well.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
A defensive line can contain for Ehrlich or a linebacker can spy him effectively and turn him into a passer.
This season's turning point:
Scoring three times in the final four and a half minutes at Cortland to come away with an unexpected 38-35 win, this one week after needing a deep bomb and a last-second field goal to survive 6-5 against Brockport.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.547 (33)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
243.1/182.0
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
80.3/139.9
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.0/4.2
Leading passer:
Josh Ehrlich, 147.2 ypg
Leading rusher:
Tommy Grabowski, 96.3 ypg
Leading receiver:
Kyle Howes, 78.0 ypg
Leading tackler:
Drew Robinson, 58 (20 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Garrett Carter, 5.0
Leader in interceptions:
Jake Schultes, Josh Lesesne, 2
How far can they go?
Grove City is one big unknown and one would expect Cortland to play the full 60 minutes if there's a rematch. This whole pod of four teams is a bit of a crapshoot.
Clayton Marengi and Shane Aylward are connecting for big plays and the ground game is able to keep opposing defenses from selling out to stop the pass. The defense is able to pressure the quarterback and keep them off-balance.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Aylward gets contained or shut down and there's no second receiver to step up and no way to push the ball vertically. Clayton Marengi has to run to move the chains rather than running when the opportunity arises.
This season's turning point:
Bouncing back from a potentially heart-breaking loss to Ithaca and blowing out Hardin-Simmons on a memorable Friday night.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.573 (18)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
159.9/223.6
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
99.4/115.4
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.8/3.6
Leading passer:
Clayton Marengi, 148.1 ypg
Leading rusher:
Anthony Cagginelli, 59.5 ypg
Leading receiver:
Shane Aylward, 67.9 ypg
Leading tackler:
Colin Campbell, 52 (27)
Leader in sacks:
Ismar Kandic, 3.5
Leader in interceptions:
Joseph Pagett, 3
How far can they go?
Even with the home field, the draw is not ideal for advancing to the second round, but perhaps the Gulls will recapture lightning in a bottle.
... any of a number of things. Alma is capable ot beating quality opponents with a pass-heavy attack or a run-heavy one, which helps at this stage. On defense, stopping the run is the difference between allowing four touchdowns and allowing fewer.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense can't get off the field and can't force stops or takeaways. Trine racked up a season-high 356 yards against Alma, but turned it over eight times.
This season's turning point:
None. Alma came out of the gate ready to
Strength of schedule (rank):
.502 (112)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
211.7/287.7
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
93.6/235.0
Yards per play/allowed per play:
7.3/4.3
Leading passer:
Carter St. John, 266.6 ypg
Leading rusher:
Eddie Williams, 58.4 ypg
Leading receiver:
Devon Frenchko, 102.5 ypg
Leading tackler:
Odin Soffredine, 65 (35 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Jerome Roberson, 6.0
Leader in interceptions:
Soffredine/Drew Humm, 4
How far can they go?
A matchup against Mount Union would be interesting to see, but hard to envision getting past the Purple Raiders at this point in time.
Gus Baumgartner and Caden Whitehead are effective runners. The Tigers have a solid duo of running backs that demand attention. When they are effective, positive matchup opportunities present for Nathan McCahill and a trio of big play receivers -- Robby Ballentine, Jaylon Smith, and Gabe Quigley. DePauw's offense is very difficult to defend when the running game is clicking.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
There hasn't been much evidence of DePauw playing poorly in their 10-0 season, but in their near miss at Wittenberg, DePauw's defense did find themselves susceptible to big plays in the passing game, surrendering touchdowns of 81 and 66 yards. It's only a minor weakness, but one that will be tested in DePauw's portion of the bracket.
This season's turning point:
Ethan Lowry blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by Wabash. That kick could have won the Monon Bell rivalry game and the NCAC title after the Tigers fumbled in the first half of the overtime period.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.476 (161)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
191.3/269.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
72.6/185.8
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.6/4.1
Leading passer:
Nathan McCahill, 247.4
Leading rusher:
Gus Baumgartner, 83.0
Leading receiver:
Robby Ballentine, 75.3
Leading tackler:
Luke Marsh, 65 (28 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Luke Nolan, 6.5
Leader in interceptions:
Ryland Irvin, Cortez Stoudemire, Matthew Coons, 3
How far can they go?
If you follow a chain of results from DePauw to Alma that goes through Rose-Hulman and Albion, it doesn't look pretty.
The defensive line is stuffing the run and the offensive line is opening holes for the running game (which includes QB Zac Boyes's ability to scramble) and providing enough time for Boyes to target his favorite receivers Cole Burgess (10 TDs, 16.5 yards per catch) and JJ Laap (11 TDs, 19.1 yards per catch).
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense is giving up a lot of rushing yards, forcing their potent counterparts on offense to be stuck on the sideline.
This season's turning point:
The surprising 38-35 loss to Susquehanna in Week 3. The Dragons defense and special teams allowed 14 points with only 2:20 remaining in what was otherwise a win for Cortland. The Dragons picked themselves up and won seven straight games, including last weekend's 38-28 Cortaca victory.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.626 (3)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
246.9/280.6
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
99.9/164.0
Yards per play/allowed per play:
7.4/4.7
Leading passer:
Zac Boyes, 256.7
Leading rusher:
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 89.0
Leading receiver:
Cole Burgess, 91.7
Leading tackler:
Jack Winey, 89 (32 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Nick Lardaro, 4.5
Leader in interceptions:
Luke Winslow, 3
How far can they go?
First-round road placement is a puzzler but Cortland should be favored in the first round and we have to believe they can beat Susquehanna, even if they didn't finish that game off. Basically, the answer is as far as Boyes and the boys can carry them.
The offense is balanced (201 rush and 184 passing yards per game average) and the defense is stuffing the run (holding opponents to under 3 yards per carry this season).
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense is giving up long pass plays and the offense fails to convert more than 50% of their third down conversions.
This season's turning point:
The Week 3 and 4 stretch of beating Case Western in overtime on the road and then going up 21-0 on Carnegie Mellon at home. Those two victories catapulted Grove City into the position of being able to clinch their first PAC title and 10-0 season (which is a long way from their 0-33 days).
Strength of schedule (rank):
.500 (118)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
200.5/183.9
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
73.5/180.7
Yards per play/allowed per play:
5.9/4.5
Leading passer:
Logan Pfeuffer, 171.4 ypg
Leading rusher:
Nico Flati, 106.5 ypg
Leading receiver:
Scott Fraser, 87.7 ypg
Leading tackler:
Jack Jolie, 68 (40 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Ben Bladel, 15.0
Leader in interceptions:
Dominic Magliocco, Gabe Dunlap, 3
How far can they go?
Super underseeded and also, of course, untested outside of the conference makes for an interesting conversation for Grove City. First round has the potential to be one of the best games of the bracket.
Justin Horvath is able to average more than 10 yards per attempt passing and also avoid getting sacked, while the defense is making people run because the passing attack is being slowed, rather than the opponents running to shorten the game and run out the clock.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense can't get any pressure on the opposing quarterback (one sack or less in three of four losses) and the ground game has nowhere to go but backwards.
This season's turning point:
Finishing 3-3 in non-conference play after a 1-2 start. The non-conference wins allowed Alfred State to win the ECFC tiebreaker and represent the conference in the postseason rather than Anna Maria (5-4) or Gallaudet (4-5).
Strength of schedule (rank):
.417 (217)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
164.1/177.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
159.9/185.7
Yards per play/allowed per play:
5.8/5.0
Leading passer:
Justin Horvath, 174.0 ypg
Leading rusher:
Jake Palmer, 81.8 ypg
Leading receiver:
Jazir Francois, 74.6 ypg
Leading tackler:
Jeremiah Nixon, 69 (37 solo)
Leader in sacks:
Jalen White, 5.5
Leader in interceptions:
Rylie Van Fleet, 6
How far can they go?
Good way to celebrate their tenture in the ECFC, which is in its final seasons.
Mount Union Purple Raiders
Susquehanna River Hawks
Endicott Gulls
Alma Scots
DePauw Tigers
Cortland Red Dragons
Grove City Wolverines
Alfred State Pioneers