Raiders keeping busy preparing for title game

They are getting ready for Whitewater Saturday, and also taking final exams.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- Mount Union College football players weren't thrilled earlier this week when they had to deal with final exams and preparation for the NCAA Division III national championship game.
To say they were stressed would be mild.
Take offensive lineman Tom Manning, who had two finals on Monday and two on Tuesday, including one history exam in Eastern Asia before 1800.
He's also studying for Wisconsin-Whitewater before Saturday.
That's the team Mount Union is playing in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the Division III national championship.
Former Ursuline standout
"Yep, I've been pretty busy," the former Ursuline High athlete said earlier this week as the Raiders (13-1) prepped for Whitewater (14-0) before leaving for Salem, Va., where they'll play for their division's ultimate prize.
Although he has a ring from Mount Union's 2002 championship season, Manning played a limited role, only getting in the tail end of games.
"At that time, [current student assistant coach] George Momirovic was the left tackle and he was a junior," Manning said.
"The entire offensive line, except for the center, was juniors so I had to wait my time," Manning said.
He saw more action as a sophomore when he played both guard and center. He made the playoff roster and got snaps in some playoff games.
Started as a junior
The 6-foot, 255-pound left tackle started the first game of his junior season against the University of Washington at St. Louis and did so in 26 more without interruption.
The 22-year-old Manning, seeking a degree as history major and education minor, will be facing Whitewater for the first time.
"From watching film, they've got a lot of size and one of the best running backs in the nation and a defense that's very fast and strong. We'll have our hands full, but we wouldn't expect anything less in a national championship."
Not just Manning, but all the guys on the defense are talking about Justin Beaver, who's gained 2,295 yards on 398 attempts.
Manning isn't anywhere near the size of Raiders' 6-5, 315 right tackle Jason Lewis, but he has learned how to compensate -- and survive.
"Many times, I'm smaller than the guy I'm going against, but [position] coach Matt Campbell taught me great skill and technique to stay in the game to make a fight out of it. I have to rely on that little more than some guys."
He uses that leverage to his advantage.
Leadership and knowledge
Manning's knowledge of football may be his primary asset, but more importantly, his leadership and rapport with the rest of the offensive line serves him well as a motivator.
The son of Tom and Alice Manning considers himself a much better run blocker than pass blocker.
If Mount Union has the better linemen on Saturday, Manning will help Nate Kmic and possibly Aaron Robinson pick up good yardage. Kmic assumed the main running back duties when Robinson pulled a hamstring in early November.
The offensive line did extremely well against Augustana and Capital, but didn't play particularly well against Rowan.
"Running the football is something we take pride in," he said. "Hopefully, this week, we want to come out and play better as a unit."
Tough responsibilities
Manning's success Saturday will depend on how he handles his responsibilities against defensive ends Eric Kosterman and Ryan Ogrizovich.
"They're very good," Manning said. "They switch sides with the formation's strength and weakness."
Basically, the Warhawks are assignment-sound and very disciplined.
From his standpoint, Manning and the offensive line needs to play its best game of the season.
"I realize that it's my last game and I'll probably never play competitive ball again. I just want to give anything and everything I can to help our team win. We have hard-working guys and we want to experience being national champion. I think we deserve to win.
"We just have to go out and beat a great football team and, by 4 p.m. Saturday, make sure we're where we want to be and not on the other side of it."
bassetti@vindy.com