NCAA FOOTBALL Saturday's quarterfinal playoff

MOUNT UNION vs. CAPITAL
Where: Mount Union Stadium, AllianceWhen: NoonRadio/TV/Internet: WRMU-FM 91.1 (accessed via the web at www.muc.edu/wrmu) and WDPN-AM 1310 (Alliance); (52, Canton), (29, Tuscarawas County), (52, Mount Union campus TV), (21, Massillon), (585, Time Warner Digital, Stark County), all taped and aired Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.); live scoring summary at www.muc.edu.Records: Mount Union 11-1, Capital 10-2Scouting report: Mount Union defeated Augustana (Ill.), 44-7, in a second-round game last Saturday at Mount Union; while Capital is coming off a 14-11 win over Wabash. Mount Union defeated Capital earlier this season on Oct. 1 in the Purple Raiders' homecoming game, 42-24, to take sole possession of first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Mount Union went on to win its 14th straight OAC title. The Purple Raiders lead the series between the two schools, 28-12, and have won the last 18 games since the Crusaders last won in 1987, 26-25. But this is the first playoff game between the two teams. The winner of this quarterfinal will advance to play the survivor of Saturday's other quarterfinal between Delaware Valley (Pa.) (12-0) and Rowan (N.J.) (10-1) on Dec. 10 in a semifinal. Mount Union, seven-time national champion, has two Youngstown-area players in the starting lineup, both seniors -- cornerback Ross Watson (Austintown Fitch) and offensive lineman Tom Manning (Ursuline). Watson has nine interceptions for 89 yards and needs one more pickoff to tie the school record of 10 shared by Perry Bourn (1968) and Bruce Ensminger (1951). Watson is tied for the interceptions lead in the OAC with Rusty Midlam of Ohio Northern, and he also has seven pass breakups and 24 tackles. Watson recently was named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team, after making the second team last year. Manning was selected to the 2005 All-OAC second team after being a first-team selection last year. Mount Union coach Larry Kehres is in his 20th season and has a 228-20-3 record. Capital coach Jim Collins is in his ninth season with a 47-45 record. Capital has two Youngstown-area players on the roster, including junior defensive end Anthony Floyd, a Woodrow Wilson High graduate and a transfer from Muskingum College. Floyd has been battling injuries this season but now is healthy and is expected to start against Mount Union. Floyd has registered 27 tackles, including 18 solo stops, to rank No. 14 on the team. He also has nine tackles for losses of 42 yards and 6.0 sacks for 37 yards. Also on the Capital roster is junior placekicker Jared Zerillo (East Liverpool) who hasn't played since the second game of the season. Zerillo kicked the first two games before being replaced in the lineup by sophomore Matt Spitz. Zerillo is 2-for-2 in field goals and 9-for-13 in extra-point kicks for 15 points to rank No. 6 in scoring on the team. Spitz is 13-for-15 in field goals and 33-for-36 in extra points for 72 points to rank No. 2 in scoring on the team. Mount Union's and Capital's QBs both have passed for big numbers. MUC's Mike Jorris has completed 193 of 289 passes for 2,997 yards and 29 TDs with nine interceptions, while Capital's Rocky Pentello is 259-for-397 for 2,859 yards and 24 TDs with 12 interceptions. MUC's top receiver is WR Scott Casto (69 catches for 1,134 yards and 11 TDs), while the leading rusher is RB Aaron Robinson (1,046 yards in 178 carries and 10 TDs) and RB Nate Kmic (697 yards in 88 carries and 13 TDs). LB Mike Gibbons leads the defense with 124 tackles, including 20.5 for losses and 6.0 sacks. Capital's leading receivers are WR Lewis Howes (72 catches for 776 yards and six TDs) and WR Kive Kraft (63 catches for 731 yards and nine TDs), while the top rusher is RB Colin O'Reilly (921 yards in 238 carries and 13 TDs). O'Reilly is the top scorer on the team with 78 points. LB Joel Sickmeier tops the defense with 90 tackles, including 8.5 for losses and 2.0 sacks, while DB Kyle Hausler has six interceptions and 50 tackles.
Where: Mount Union Stadium, AllianceWhen: NoonRadio/TV/Internet: WRMU-FM 91.1 (accessed via the web at www.muc.edu/wrmu) and WDPN-AM 1310 (Alliance); (52, Canton), (29, Tuscarawas County), (52, Mount Union campus TV), (21, Massillon), (585, Time Warner Digital, Stark County), all taped and aired Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.); live scoring summary at www.muc.edu.Records: Mount Union 11-1, Capital 10-2Scouting report: Mount Union defeated Augustana (Ill.), 44-7, in a second-round game last Saturday at Mount Union; while Capital is coming off a 14-11 win over Wabash. Mount Union defeated Capital earlier this season on Oct. 1 in the Purple Raiders' homecoming game, 42-24, to take sole possession of first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Mount Union went on to win its 14th straight OAC title. The Purple Raiders lead the series between the two schools, 28-12, and have won the last 18 games since the Crusaders last won in 1987, 26-25. But this is the first playoff game between the two teams. The winner of this quarterfinal will advance to play the survivor of Saturday's other quarterfinal between Delaware Valley (Pa.) (12-0) and Rowan (N.J.) (10-1) on Dec. 10 in a semifinal. Mount Union, seven-time national champion, has two Youngstown-area players in the starting lineup, both seniors -- cornerback Ross Watson (Austintown Fitch) and offensive lineman Tom Manning (Ursuline). Watson has nine interceptions for 89 yards and needs one more pickoff to tie the school record of 10 shared by Perry Bourn (1968) and Bruce Ensminger (1951). Watson is tied for the interceptions lead in the OAC with Rusty Midlam of Ohio Northern, and he also has seven pass breakups and 24 tackles. Watson recently was named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team, after making the second team last year. Manning was selected to the 2005 All-OAC second team after being a first-team selection last year. Mount Union coach Larry Kehres is in his 20th season and has a 228-20-3 record. Capital coach Jim Collins is in his ninth season with a 47-45 record. Capital has two Youngstown-area players on the roster, including junior defensive end Anthony Floyd, a Woodrow Wilson High graduate and a transfer from Muskingum College. Floyd has been battling injuries this season but now is healthy and is expected to start against Mount Union. Floyd has registered 27 tackles, including 18 solo stops, to rank No. 14 on the team. He also has nine tackles for losses of 42 yards and 6.0 sacks for 37 yards. Also on the Capital roster is junior placekicker Jared Zerillo (East Liverpool) who hasn't played since the second game of the season. Zerillo kicked the first two games before being replaced in the lineup by sophomore Matt Spitz. Zerillo is 2-for-2 in field goals and 9-for-13 in extra-point kicks for 15 points to rank No. 6 in scoring on the team. Spitz is 13-for-15 in field goals and 33-for-36 in extra points for 72 points to rank No. 2 in scoring on the team. Mount Union's and Capital's QBs both have passed for big numbers. MUC's Mike Jorris has completed 193 of 289 passes for 2,997 yards and 29 TDs with nine interceptions, while Capital's Rocky Pentello is 259-for-397 for 2,859 yards and 24 TDs with 12 interceptions. MUC's top receiver is WR Scott Casto (69 catches for 1,134 yards and 11 TDs), while the leading rusher is RB Aaron Robinson (1,046 yards in 178 carries and 10 TDs) and RB Nate Kmic (697 yards in 88 carries and 13 TDs). LB Mike Gibbons leads the defense with 124 tackles, including 20.5 for losses and 6.0 sacks. Capital's leading receivers are WR Lewis Howes (72 catches for 776 yards and six TDs) and WR Kive Kraft (63 catches for 731 yards and nine TDs), while the top rusher is RB Colin O'Reilly (921 yards in 238 carries and 13 TDs). O'Reilly is the top scorer on the team with 78 points. LB Joel Sickmeier tops the defense with 90 tackles, including 8.5 for losses and 2.0 sacks, while DB Kyle Hausler has six interceptions and 50 tackles.