Wheaton Preview

Raiders To Host Thunder In Division III Playoffs

Mount Union College will host Wheaton College (IL) in the second round of the Division III Football Playoffs on Saturday, November 30. Kick off from Mount Union Stadium is set for noon.

"The Thunder" (10-1) advanced to the second round of the playoffs by avenging an early season loss to Alma College (MI), 42-14, in first round playoff action on Nov. 23.

In that contest, Wheaton junior/quarterback Chad Bradley connected on 20-of-32 passes for 291 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Junior/running back Dan Price (163 car/808 yds/4.9 ypr/16 TDs in ?02) scored three rushing touchdowns while junior/wide receiver Andrew King (56 rec/10.2 ypr/4 TDs) had 10 receptions for 172 yards and one score.

Wheaton's defense held Alma's offense to just 206 total yards while "The Thunder" amassed 458 yards of offense in the contest.

Mount Union and Wheaton met once before during the second round of the 1995 playoffs with the Raiders coming away with a 40-14 victory in that contest.

Wheaton, which has won two of the last three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships, is led by Mike Swider (49-18/7th year), who recently was named CCIW Coach of the Year.

Offensively, Wheaton produced four First-Team All-CCIW performers, quarterback Chad Bradley (155-of-242/.614/2,067 yds/14 TDs/11 INTs), junior/offensive lineman James Hoxworth senior/wide receiver Jonathan Wills (45 rec/12.4 ypr/1 TDs) and sophomore/wide receiver Brad Musso (56 rec/1,091 yds/11 TDs).

Defensively, Wheaton is led by CCIW Defensive Player of the Year, senior/linebacker Justin Knapp (95 hits/5.5 tfl), and First-Team All-Conference selections, junior/defensive back Michael Drach (53 hits/9 pbu), and senior/tackles John Diggs (49 hits/7.5 tfl/3 sacks) and Dane Lundgren (52 hits/9 sacks/11.5 tfl).

The Purple Raiders (10-0), who enter the contest riding college football's longest current winning streak (38), have won or shared 11 consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Championships. The Raiders are 33-7 all-time in post-season play.

The six-time National Champions ('93, '96, '97, '98, '00, '01), coached by Larry Kehres (188-17-3/17th year), have won 92 of their last 93 games played and are making their 12th playoff appearance in the last 13 years.

Offensively, Mount Union is led by senior/running back Dan Pugh (229 att/1,467 yds/6.4 ypc/26 total TDs), who set a Raider single-season rushing record and a new conference mark for touchdowns in a season this fall. Senior/quarterback Rob Adamson's (85-of-140/.607/1,478 yds/20 TDs/8 INTs) favorite targets are senior/tight end Josh Liddell (29 rec/14.6 ypr/3 TDs) and junior/wide receiver Randell Knapp (33 rec/17.3 ypr/6 TDs).

Defensively, the Purple Raiders are paced by senior/end Matt Campbell (73 hits/19 tfl/9 sacks), who led the team in hits and set a Raider single-season mark for tackles for losses in ?02, senior/outside linebacker Stan Watson (59 hits/6 tfl) and senior/defensive back Chris Kern (34 hits/4 INTs/8 pbu).

Tickets for Saturday's contest are available by calling 330-821-6759 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the week. Tickets can also be purchased in person at Mount Union's Hoover Price Campus Center Information Desk.

The game will be broadcast live on WRMU 91.1 FM (Alliance) and WDPN 1310 AM (Alliance). The game will also be televised via tape delay on WBNX TV55 (Cleveland) at 11 p.m. Saturday evening and on WIVM TV52 (Canton) at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

The winner of this contest will play the winner of the Wabash (IN) (11-0) - Wittenberg (10-1) survivor on December 7.