COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Division III playoffs

WABASH (12-0) vs. MOUNT UNION (11-0)
When: Saturday at noon.
Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.
Scouting report: Mount Union, riding college football's longest winning streak of 39 games, is coming off a 42-21 win over Wheaton last Saturday in a second-round game. The Purple Raiders, coached by Larry Kehres, are six-time national champions (1993-96-97-98, 2000-01), and won their eighth straight outright Ohio Athletic Conference championship this year. They enter Saturday's quarterfinal with wins in 92 of their last 93 games. Wabash, meanwhile, advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over MacMurray (42-7) and Wittenberg (25-14) last Saturday, and are riding a 19-game winning streak. The Little Giants, coached by Chris Creighton, set a school record with their 12th win, and won the North Coast Athletic Conference championship. The 12 wins surpassed the previous mark of 11 in 1977, when Wabash was runner-up in the nation. Saturday's winner will advance to play the John Carroll-Brockport State winner. Mount Union is led by Dan Pugh, a senior RB who has been nominated for the Gagliardi award. Pugh has 1,161 yards rushing in 265 attempts for a 6.2-yard average and 30 touchdowns. He leads the nation in scoring. Another offensive standout is Rob Adamson, a senior QB who has passed for 1,743 yards on 100-for-168 and 21 TDs with eight interceptions. Heading the receiving corps is Randall Knapp, a junior WR with 40 catches for a 17.6-yard average and seven TDs; and Josh Liddell, a senior TE with 33 receptions for a 15.1-yard average and three TDs. MUC's defensive leaders are Matt Campbell, a senior All-American DE with 81 hits, including 20 tackles for losses and 10 sacks; Stan Watson, senior LB from Austintown Fitch with 67 hits and six tackles for losses; Josh Church, senior MLB with 59 hits; and Chris Kern, senior All-American CB with 41 hits, four interceptions and eight pass break-ups. Wabash is led by Jake Knott, a senior QB (216-for-372 passing for 2,789 yards, 34 TDs and nine interceptions). Knott is the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year. He is only one of 16 players in NCAA history to pass for over 10,000 yards and 100 TDs. Another offensive leader is Chris Morris, junior RB (1,338 yards rushing in 229 attempts for a 5.8-yard average and 19 TDs). Top receivers are Ryan Short, a senior All-American TE (67 receptions, 10-yard average and 17 TDs), who is Wabash's career leader in receptions (239); and Brandon Clifton, a sophomore WR (41 receptions, 19.1-yard average and four TDs). The Little Giants' defensive bellwethers are Nate Boulais, a senior MLB (94 hits, 8.5 tackles for losses), who was the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year;; Nick Fanelli, a junior LB (74 hits, 5.5 tackles for losses), Blaire Hammer, a junior E (55 hits, 16 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks); and Dustin Dino, sophomore CB (36 hits, six interceptions and four blocked kicks).
Scouting report: Mount Union, riding college football's longest winning streak of 39 games, is coming off a 42-21 win over Wheaton last Saturday in a second-round game. The Purple Raiders, coached by Larry Kehres, are six-time national champions (1993-96-97-98, 2000-01), and won their eighth straight outright Ohio Athletic Conference championship this year. They enter Saturday's quarterfinal with wins in 92 of their last 93 games. Wabash, meanwhile, advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over MacMurray (42-7) and Wittenberg (25-14) last Saturday, and are riding a 19-game winning streak. The Little Giants, coached by Chris Creighton, set a school record with their 12th win, and won the North Coast Athletic Conference championship. The 12 wins surpassed the previous mark of 11 in 1977, when Wabash was runner-up in the nation. Saturday's winner will advance to play the John Carroll-Brockport State winner. Mount Union is led by Dan Pugh, a senior RB who has been nominated for the Gagliardi award. Pugh has 1,161 yards rushing in 265 attempts for a 6.2-yard average and 30 touchdowns. He leads the nation in scoring. Another offensive standout is Rob Adamson, a senior QB who has passed for 1,743 yards on 100-for-168 and 21 TDs with eight interceptions. Heading the receiving corps is Randall Knapp, a junior WR with 40 catches for a 17.6-yard average and seven TDs; and Josh Liddell, a senior TE with 33 receptions for a 15.1-yard average and three TDs. MUC's defensive leaders are Matt Campbell, a senior All-American DE with 81 hits, including 20 tackles for losses and 10 sacks; Stan Watson, senior LB from Austintown Fitch with 67 hits and six tackles for losses; Josh Church, senior MLB with 59 hits; and Chris Kern, senior All-American CB with 41 hits, four interceptions and eight pass break-ups. Wabash is led by Jake Knott, a senior QB (216-for-372 passing for 2,789 yards, 34 TDs and nine interceptions). Knott is the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year. He is only one of 16 players in NCAA history to pass for over 10,000 yards and 100 TDs. Another offensive leader is Chris Morris, junior RB (1,338 yards rushing in 229 attempts for a 5.8-yard average and 19 TDs). Top receivers are Ryan Short, a senior All-American TE (67 receptions, 10-yard average and 17 TDs), who is Wabash's career leader in receptions (239); and Brandon Clifton, a sophomore WR (41 receptions, 19.1-yard average and four TDs). The Little Giants' defensive bellwethers are Nate Boulais, a senior MLB (94 hits, 8.5 tackles for losses), who was the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year;; Nick Fanelli, a junior LB (74 hits, 5.5 tackles for losses), Blaire Hammer, a junior E (55 hits, 16 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks); and Dustin Dino, sophomore CB (36 hits, six interceptions and four blocked kicks).