COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS Rowan vs. Mount Union

Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.When: Noon.Radio/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 12-1, Rowan 11-1.Scouting report: Mount Union and Rowan both posted come-from-behind wins in quarterfinal games last Saturday. MUC overcame a 31-27 deficit on Mike Jorris' 3-yard TD strike to WR Anthony Antonucci on a third-and-goal quarterback scramble with 3:41 left in the game to give the Purple Raiders a 34-31 win. The clinching score capped an eight-play, 45-yard drive. Then on Capital's next offensive series, MUC defensive ends Justen Stickle and Greg Bauer and LB Mike Gibbons turned in big plays to finish off the Crusaders. Rowan, meanwhile, overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Delaware Valley (Pa.), 27-21. Mount Union, a seven-time national champion, is in the national semifinals for the 11th straight year. The Purple Raiders hold a 3-1 advantage over Rowan in their series. All three of MUC's wins were in the national final in 1993, 1996 and 1998. Rowan's win was in their last meeting in a national semifinal in 1999 to snap MUC's NCAA-best 54-game winning streak. The Purple Raiders went on to win an NCAA-record 55 straight games from 2000-03. Saturday's winner will face the survivor of the Wesley (Del.) (12-1) (Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0) semifinal. The championship game will be played Dec. 17 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va., at 1 p.m. Wesley advanced with a 46-7 win over Bridgewater (Va.) last Saturday, while Wisconsin-Whitewater moved on with a 44-41 decision over Linfield. Mount Union has two Youngstown-area players in the starting lineup. Both are 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 29 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. Manning, senior WR Scott Casto and backup senior QB Randy Mason (Girard) also were named to the Academic All-OAC team. Manning, who has a 3.77 GPA in history, and Casto, with a 3.69 GPA in political science, both were unanimous selections. Mason, with a 3.68 GPA in biochemistry, was an honorable mention. Mason has played in eight games and has completed 35 of 45 passes for 421 yards with two interceptions. Last year, Manning also was an Academic All-OAC pick while Casto was an honorable mention. MUC coach Larry Kehres is in his 20th season and has a 229-20-3 record. Rowan coach Jay Accorsi is in his fourth season with a 38-8 record. Jorris has completed 216 of 321 passes for 3,312 yards and 32 TDs with nine interceptions. Casto is MUC's top receiver with 74 catches for 1,186 yards and 11 TDs), while WR Pierre Garcon has 56 catches for 1,062 yards and 14 TDs. MUC's top rushers are RB Aaron Robinson (1,046 yards in 178 carries and 10 TDs) and RB Nate Kmic (874 yards in 126 carries and 14 TDs). LB Mike Gibbons leads the defense with 135 tackles, including 20.5 for losses and 6 sacks. Rowan is led by QB Joe Rankin (123 of 228 passes for 1,397 yards and 14 TDs with 10 interceptions. Top receivers are WRs Sakeen Wright (65 catches for 858 yards and seven TDs) and Phil Silva (42 catches for 590 yards and nine TDs). Top rushers are RBs Ulysses Encarnacion (835 yards rushing in 163 attempts and eight TDs) and Bob Richardson (378 yards in 73 attempts). Rowan's leading tacklers are LBs Randy Tosh (89 tackles), Zach Garren (86) and Todd Trout (85), while Tosh has 18.5 tackles for losses and 12 sacks and Trout 17.5 tackles. DB Dawaine Whetstone has 36 tackles, six interceptions and nine passes broken up.
Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.When: Noon.Radio/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 12-1, Rowan 11-1.Scouting report: Mount Union and Rowan both posted come-from-behind wins in quarterfinal games last Saturday. MUC overcame a 31-27 deficit on Mike Jorris' 3-yard TD strike to WR Anthony Antonucci on a third-and-goal quarterback scramble with 3:41 left in the game to give the Purple Raiders a 34-31 win. The clinching score capped an eight-play, 45-yard drive. Then on Capital's next offensive series, MUC defensive ends Justen Stickle and Greg Bauer and LB Mike Gibbons turned in big plays to finish off the Crusaders. Rowan, meanwhile, overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Delaware Valley (Pa.), 27-21. Mount Union, a seven-time national champion, is in the national semifinals for the 11th straight year. The Purple Raiders hold a 3-1 advantage over Rowan in their series. All three of MUC's wins were in the national final in 1993, 1996 and 1998. Rowan's win was in their last meeting in a national semifinal in 1999 to snap MUC's NCAA-best 54-game winning streak. The Purple Raiders went on to win an NCAA-record 55 straight games from 2000-03. Saturday's winner will face the survivor of the Wesley (Del.) (12-1) (Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0) semifinal. The championship game will be played Dec. 17 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va., at 1 p.m. Wesley advanced with a 46-7 win over Bridgewater (Va.) last Saturday, while Wisconsin-Whitewater moved on with a 44-41 decision over Linfield. Mount Union has two Youngstown-area players in the starting lineup. Both are 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 29 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. Manning, senior WR Scott Casto and backup senior QB Randy Mason (Girard) also were named to the Academic All-OAC team. Manning, who has a 3.77 GPA in history, and Casto, with a 3.69 GPA in political science, both were unanimous selections. Mason, with a 3.68 GPA in biochemistry, was an honorable mention. Mason has played in eight games and has completed 35 of 45 passes for 421 yards with two interceptions. Last year, Manning also was an Academic All-OAC pick while Casto was an honorable mention. MUC coach Larry Kehres is in his 20th season and has a 229-20-3 record. Rowan coach Jay Accorsi is in his fourth season with a 38-8 record. Jorris has completed 216 of 321 passes for 3,312 yards and 32 TDs with nine interceptions. Casto is MUC's top receiver with 74 catches for 1,186 yards and 11 TDs), while WR Pierre Garcon has 56 catches for 1,062 yards and 14 TDs. MUC's top rushers are RB Aaron Robinson (1,046 yards in 178 carries and 10 TDs) and RB Nate Kmic (874 yards in 126 carries and 14 TDs). LB Mike Gibbons leads the defense with 135 tackles, including 20.5 for losses and 6 sacks. Rowan is led by QB Joe Rankin (123 of 228 passes for 1,397 yards and 14 TDs with 10 interceptions. Top receivers are WRs Sakeen Wright (65 catches for 858 yards and seven TDs) and Phil Silva (42 catches for 590 yards and nine TDs). Top rushers are RBs Ulysses Encarnacion (835 yards rushing in 163 attempts and eight TDs) and Bob Richardson (378 yards in 73 attempts). Rowan's leading tacklers are LBs Randy Tosh (89 tackles), Zach Garren (86) and Todd Trout (85), while Tosh has 18.5 tackles for losses and 12 sacks and Trout 17.5 tackles. DB Dawaine Whetstone has 36 tackles, six interceptions and nine passes broken up.