COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Saturday's games

MOUNT UNIONvs. WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.
Last year: Mount Union 44, Wisconsin-Whitewater 21.
Scouting report: The Purple Raiders, who have won seven Division III national championships, including last year when they went 14-0, return 47 letterwinners, including seven offensive and four defensive starters. Back offensively are three All-Ohio Athletic Conference first-team selections -- right tackle Larry Kinnard, left guard Brent Miller and wide receiver Randall Knapp. Returning defensively are tackle Antoine Dillard, an All-OAC second-team pick; and Matt Caponi, an All-OAC honorable mention. Also back is cornerback Mike Miller, an All-OAC honorable mention in 2001 who missed last season with an injury. Wisconsin-Whitewater, which was 5-5 last year, has nine offensive and eight defensive starters returning. The team is led by senior RB Chad Wurth, the only back in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards. He has done so in each of his previous three seasons. Defensively, Whitewater returns five of its eight leading tacklers, including the leader, LB Andy Lobdell, who had 71 tackles.
WESTMINSTER vs. WALSH
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton.
Last year: Walsh 28, Westminster 26.
Scouting report: The Titans open their 110th season of football. They have lost the last two games played against Walsh. Westminster has a 3-1 record at Fawcett Stadium. Senior Kevin Huber (Newton Falls High) will start at QB for the Titans. Walsh was 8-3 a year ago, and is ranked No. 21 in the NAIA Preseason poll.
HIRAM vs. GROVE CITY
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Robert E. Thorn Field, Grove City, Pa.
Last year: Grove City 30, Hiram 7.
Scouting report: Hiram hasn't defeated Grove City since a 26-21 win in 1988. The Terriers enter the game on a 15-game losing streak dating back to 2001, including 0-10 last year. Grove City has not won a season opener at home since 1994. Last year, the Wolverines outgained Hiram by 471-64, and didn't allow an offensive point. Junior Brandon McGlothin led that win as a sophomore with 93 yards.
ALLEGHENY vs. BALDWIN-WALLACE
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The George Finnie Stadium, Berea
Last year: Baldwin-Wallace 22, Allegheny 2.
Scouting report: The Gators return 44 lettermen and 14 starters from last year when they went 5-5. Allegheny is led by senior QB Bubba Smith, a two-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference selection; sophomore RB Jamie Sye and senior All-NCAC WR Joe Turner. The Yellow Jackets have not had a losing season since 1966. Their 36-season streak is the third-longest in all of college football. B-W was 8-2 last year, including 7-2 in the OAC. The Yellow Jackets return 39 lettermen, including 16 starters from last year. Back are QB Dan Larlham, senior RB Mark Anders and a host of receivers including Nate Wilder (Cardinal Mooney), a junior tight end. Other holdovers are offensive lineman Sean Baker (United) and junior cornerback Matt Walker (Springfield).
THIEL vs. JOHN CARROLL
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Don Shula Stadium, University Heights.
Scouting report: Thiel is launching its 99th season of football. The Tomcats have not faced John Carroll since 1988 when they lost, 40-7. Kennard Davis, a junior DB and All-American from Farrell High, is back to lead the Tomcats' defense. Senior RB Justin Napotnik (Sharpsville) is an offensive threat. He enters the season needing only 363 yards rushing to rank No. 5 on the school's all-time rushing list. Senior Ryan DeGeorge, who has 2,000 career yards rushing, encores to lead the offense. DeGeorge will try to pick up the slack left by QB Tom Arth, who has graduated. Arth passed for over 10,000 yards in his career.
MALONE vs. GEORGETOWN (KY.)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Rawlings Stadium, Georgetown, Ky.
Scouting report: Malone was 4-6 last year, including 1-5 in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast. But four of its losses were by a touchdown or less. The Pioneers have played Georgetown only once before, losing 46-41 in the first round of the 1999 NAIA playoffs. Georgetown was 12-1 last year. The Tigers have played in the NAIA national title game for the last four years, winning the national crowns in 2000 and 2001. Last year, Georgetown lost to Carroll (Mont.) in the national final, 28-7.
-- Vindicator staff reports