COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Saturday's games

MOUNT UNION (0-0)vs. WASHINGTON (0-0)
When: 2 p.m.Where: Francis Field in St. Louis, Mo.Scouting report: Mount Union is coming off a 13-1 season in 2003 that ended with a 24-6 loss to St. John's (Minn.) in the NCAA Division III national championship game. The Purple Raiders, who set an NCAA record with 55 straight wins from 2000 to 2003 before losing to St. John's, return 40 lettermen, including five offensive and six defensive starters. The offense is headed by senior QB Zac Bruney, senior RBs Rick Ciccone and Jeff Strauch and senior TE Drew Hanley. Bruney passed for 2,439 yards and 28 TDs last year and led Division III in passing efficiency (182.2). Ciccone and Strauch combined for 1,322 yards and 18 TDs, Hanley had 21 receptions and five TDs. Defensive anchors are senior MLB Shaun Spisak, senior OLB Anthony Frate, senior E Johnny Josef, senior T Josh Ludwig (East Liverpool) and junior CB Ross Watson (Austintown Fitch). Spisak posted 123 tackles and made All-American, while Frate had 57 tackles, Josef 44, Ludwig 46 and Watson 57. Washington returns 67 lettermen from last year's team (6-4, 4-0 in the UAA), including eight offensive and eight defensive starters.
Radio: WDPN-AM (1310), WRMU-FM (91.1)
WESTMINSTER (0-0)vs. OHIO NORTHERN (0-0)
When: 1:30 p.m.Where: Dial-Roberson Stadium in Ada.Scouting report: Westminster will help Ohio Northern inaugurate its refurbished stadium. The Titans were 5-5 in 2003, including 3-2 in the PAC for third place. It was the school's 48th winning season (.500 or better) in the past 52 years. Coach Jerry Schmitt (23-16) returns for his fifth season. Two of Westminster's three captains are area players -- Tony Ventresco, a senior DT from Boardman, and Don Waldron, a senior DE from Lakeview. The other captain is Scott Froelich, a senior RB. Ventresco, a two-year starter, registered 67 total tackles (44 solos, 23 assists) last season with two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and a team-high 10 tackles for losses. Waldron had 59 total tackles (27 solos, 32 assists) while adding four pass breakups, five tackles for losses, and three quarterback sacks to earn to All-PAC first team honors. Froelich rushed for 1,486 yards -- third-most in school history -- and 15 TDs and was named PAC and ECAC South Region Player of the Year. He also caught 15 passes for 193 yards and two TDs and threw a pair of TD passes. Ohio Northern went 4-6 last year, including 4-5 in the OAC for fifth place. The Polar Bears have a new coach in Dean Paul, a 1990 Mount Union graduate who compiled a 40-12 record as the Thomas More coach from 1999-2003. ONU has four area players: junior Craig Bates, DL from West Branch; sophomores Derek Garrod, RB from Columbiana, and Chase Axelson, WR from Canfield; and freshman Phil Faraglia, WR from Chaney.Radio: WWNW-FM 88.9, internet at www.msasportsnetwork.com, WCN-TV (taped, aired Sunday, 7:30 p.m., on NWC-TV 9 and AC-TV 10).
HIRAM (0-0)vs. CARNEGIE MELLON (0-0)
When: 1 p.m.Where: Charles A. Henry Field, Hiram.Scouting report: Coach Mike Lazusky begins his first season after serving as defensive coordinator last year. Hiram lists seven area players on the roster, including returning starters Paul Pancoe, junior DT from Cardinal Mooney; and Patrick Whitmore, sophomore DT from LaBrae. Other area players are junior Darrin Brounce, wide receiver from Newton Falls; sophomore Matt Clark, running back from Hubbard; and freshmen Brian Szorady, defensive back from Newton Falls; Michael Paes, running back from Springfield, and Ryan Trimble, linebacker from Western Reserve. Coach Rich Lackner is 127-50-2 in 18 seasons at Carnegie Mellon, which has a streak of 30 non-losing seasons. Carnegie Mellon returns seven starters on offense, including five seniors.
ALLEGHENY (0-0)vs. BALDWIN-WALLACE (0-0)
When: 1 p.m.Where: Robertson Field, Meadville, Pa.Scouting report: Allegheny went 7-4 last year, including 7-0 in the NCAC to win the championship and make the NCAA Division III playoffs. Senior FS Adam Klimas (Boardman) is a returning starter. Other area players are senior Nick Sciarro (New Castle), sophomores Pat Bokesch and Conor Dockry, both from Austintown Fitch; and Patsy Malie (Cardinal Mooney), and freshman punter Jason Black (Champion). Baldwin-Wallace posted a 10-2 record last year, including 8-1 in the OAC for second place, and advanced to the Div. III playoffs. Senior All-American TE Nate Wilder (Cardinal Mooney) had 20 receptions for 294 yards and a team-best six TDs. Two other area holdovers are junior Brendon Moran (Poland) at DE and senior Matt Walker (Springfield) at DB.
GROVE CITY (0-0)vs. MANCHESTER (0-0)
When: 1:30 p.m.Where: Robert E. Thorn Field, Grove City, Pa.Scouting report: Grove City went 5-5 last year, including 2-3 in the PAC. The Wolverines return 16 starters. Coach Chris Smith (79-109-2) returns for his 21st season. Grove City has eight area players, including four returning starters: Greg Verch, senior SE from Champion; Adam Wargo, junior WB from Champion; B.J. Arnold, senior C from Brookfield; and Ross Trimmer, junior FS from Hickory. Verch is a three-year letterman while Arnold is in his fourth straight year as a starter. Wargo rushed for 409 yards last year for a 4.6-yard average in his first season as a starter. Manchester (Ind.), under new coach Shannon Griffith, is trying to rebound from a 2-8 season last year, including 1-5 in the Heartland Conference.
THIEL (0-0)vs. WISC.-PLATTEVILLE (0-0)
When: 1 p.m.Where: Alumni Stadium at Stoeber Field, Greenville, Pa.Scouting report: Thiel is launching its 100th season of football, and is seeking to bounce back from a 3-7 season last year, including 1-4 in the PAC. The Tomcats return 17 starters, including 11 All-PAC selections. Robert Drake (Chaney), a senior MLB, is one of Thiel's top returnees. He was the team's fourth-leading tackler last year with 50 stops, including five tackles for losses, and made the All-PAC first team. Drake has 202 career tackles. Also back is Tom McEntire (Reynolds), a junior WR who was the team's No. 3 receiver last year with 17 catches for 132 yards and two TDs. Wisconsin-Platteville was 3-7 last year. The team returns 11 starters, including five on offense and six on defense.
GENEVA (0-0)vs. WEST LIBERTY ST. (1-0)
When: 1 p.m.Where: Russek Field, West Liberty, W. Va.Scouting report: Geneva will rely on senior running back Josh Mullen, who was an all-conference back the past two seasons, Mullen seeks to become the first back in Geneva history to rush for three straight 1,000-yard seasons. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Sciarro will make his first start. Matt Nowaczynski, Geneva's top receiver last year, broke two fingers during the summer and may be out the entire season. Defensively, Geneva returns its top two tacklers from 2003 in Tom Contenta at free safety and Brian Hall at inside linebacker. West Liberty went 3-7 last year. They opened the season last Saturday with a 28-27 overtime victory over Urbana, led by Derrick Styles with 145 yards rushing.
WALSH (0-0)vs. OHIO DOMINICAN (0-0)
When: Noon.Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton.Scouting report: Walsh was 8-3 last year, including 5-1 in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast. Walsh returns 15 starters and 40 letter winners. Area players are Curtis Bohannon, junior TD from Niles; Chase Senk, sophomore QB from Warren JFK, Joe Phinisee, junior DB from Warren Harding; Derek Frederick, freshman OL from Salem High; and Dominic Dangelo, freshman OLB from United. Ohio Dominican begins its first season of football. The Panthers' coach is Dale Carlson, who formerly coached Tri-State.Radio: Fox Sports-AM 1350, WCER-AM 900.
Vindicator staff report