Saturday, November 29, 2003
WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE (10-1) VS.
MOUNT UNION (10-0)
What: NCAA Division III second-round playoff game.When: Saturday, noon.Where: Mount Union Stadium in Alliance.Scouting report: Mount Union and La Crosse will be meeting for the fourth time, with La Crosse holding a 2-1 advantage in the series. The teams last met in the 1996 playoffs with MUC posting a 39-21 win and going on to win the national crown. The Purple Raiders had a first-round bye last week, while La Crosse opened with a 52-13 romp past Concordia (Wis.) in a first-round contest. The MUC-La Crosse winner will play the survivor of the Baldwin-Wallace-Wheaton (Ill.) second-round game also slated Saturday at noon at Wheaton. Mount Union is in the playoffs for the 12th straight year, and is riding the nation's longest winning streak at 52 games. MUC has won 106 of its last 107 games. The Purple Raiders are led by junior QB Zac Bruney, who has completed 117 of 178 passes for 2,075 yards and 21 touchdowns, and senior QB Jesse Burghardt with 56-for-79 for 1,019 yards and 12 TDs. The leading receivers are seniors Randell Knapp and Nick Sirianni. Knapp has 54 catches for a 21.6-yard average and 11 TDs, while Sirianni has 34 receptions for a 21.1-yard average and 10 TDs. The top rusher is junior RB Rick Ciccone with 656 yards in 149 carries and 10 TDs. The key defensive player is Shaun Spisak, a MLB with 84 tackles. He is reinforced by senior lineman Antoine Dillard with 63 tackles, including 11 for losses and four sacks; DB Mike Miller (39 tackles), DB Matt Caponi (40 tackles and five interceptions) and end Johnny Josef (35 tackles). La Crosse has a 14-6 record in the NCAA Div. III playoffs, winning national titles in 1992 and 1995. The Eagles formerly were in the NAIA and appeared in nine NAIA Div. II playoffs and posted a 12-6 record, winning the 1985 national title. La Crosse is ranked No. 7 in dfootball.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette, and No. 9 in the American Football Coaches Poll. Mount Union is ranked No. 1 in all three polls. LaCrosse is led by sophomore QB Steve Tennies, who has passed for 2,414 yards on 165-for-209 and 10 TDs and eight interceptions. Senior TB Andrew Mocadlo has rushed for1,767 yards in 293 attempts and 12 TDs. He is averaging 6.0 yards per run and 160.6 per contest. Junior WR Scott Burnoski has a school-record 1,066 receiving yards on 72 receptions and nine TDs. Junior LB Dustin Powell leads the Eagles in tackles with 82, including a team-high 48 solo stops; while junior Adam Schneider is No. 2 in tackles with 65, including 34 solo hits. Senior DT Jeremy Derr leads La Crosse is sacks (6) and tackles for losses (16), while ranking fourth overall in tackles (57).
What: NCAA Division III second-round playoff game.When: Saturday, noon.Where: Mount Union Stadium in Alliance.Scouting report: Mount Union and La Crosse will be meeting for the fourth time, with La Crosse holding a 2-1 advantage in the series. The teams last met in the 1996 playoffs with MUC posting a 39-21 win and going on to win the national crown. The Purple Raiders had a first-round bye last week, while La Crosse opened with a 52-13 romp past Concordia (Wis.) in a first-round contest. The MUC-La Crosse winner will play the survivor of the Baldwin-Wallace-Wheaton (Ill.) second-round game also slated Saturday at noon at Wheaton. Mount Union is in the playoffs for the 12th straight year, and is riding the nation's longest winning streak at 52 games. MUC has won 106 of its last 107 games. The Purple Raiders are led by junior QB Zac Bruney, who has completed 117 of 178 passes for 2,075 yards and 21 touchdowns, and senior QB Jesse Burghardt with 56-for-79 for 1,019 yards and 12 TDs. The leading receivers are seniors Randell Knapp and Nick Sirianni. Knapp has 54 catches for a 21.6-yard average and 11 TDs, while Sirianni has 34 receptions for a 21.1-yard average and 10 TDs. The top rusher is junior RB Rick Ciccone with 656 yards in 149 carries and 10 TDs. The key defensive player is Shaun Spisak, a MLB with 84 tackles. He is reinforced by senior lineman Antoine Dillard with 63 tackles, including 11 for losses and four sacks; DB Mike Miller (39 tackles), DB Matt Caponi (40 tackles and five interceptions) and end Johnny Josef (35 tackles). La Crosse has a 14-6 record in the NCAA Div. III playoffs, winning national titles in 1992 and 1995. The Eagles formerly were in the NAIA and appeared in nine NAIA Div. II playoffs and posted a 12-6 record, winning the 1985 national title. La Crosse is ranked No. 7 in dfootball.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette, and No. 9 in the American Football Coaches Poll. Mount Union is ranked No. 1 in all three polls. LaCrosse is led by sophomore QB Steve Tennies, who has passed for 2,414 yards on 165-for-209 and 10 TDs and eight interceptions. Senior TB Andrew Mocadlo has rushed for1,767 yards in 293 attempts and 12 TDs. He is averaging 6.0 yards per run and 160.6 per contest. Junior WR Scott Burnoski has a school-record 1,066 receiving yards on 72 receptions and nine TDs. Junior LB Dustin Powell leads the Eagles in tackles with 82, including a team-high 48 solo stops; while junior Adam Schneider is No. 2 in tackles with 65, including 34 solo hits. Senior DT Jeremy Derr leads La Crosse is sacks (6) and tackles for losses (16), while ranking fourth overall in tackles (57).