NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS Manning, Watson help propel Mount

The Purple Raiders are home on Saturday against Augustana.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- Two Youngstown-area players again will be in the starting lineup for the Mount Union College football team Saturday, when the Purple Raiders play host to Augustana (Ill.) in an NCAA Division III second-round game at noon at Mount Union Stadium.
Ross Watson (Austintown Fitch), a senior defensive back, and Tom Manning (Ursuline), a senior offensive tackle, both have played prominent roles for Mount Union's success the past two seasons.
Mount Union (10-1), a seven-time national champion, and Augustana (10-1) will be meeting for the fourth time in the playoffs, each going 2-2 with the Purple Raiders winning the last engagement in the 2001 playoffs, 32-7.
Last Saturday, Mount Union advanced with a 49-6 win over Mount St. Joseph in a first-round game at Mount Union Stadium, while Augustana moved on by beating Lakeland, 49-22.
Saturday's winner will advance to meet the Capital (9-2) - Wabash (11-0) survivor on Dec. 3 in a quarterfinal.
Watson eyes record
Watson, the younger brother of former Mount Union star linebacker Stan Watson, is closing in on the school single-season record for interceptions.
Ross has nine interceptions for 89 yards and needs one more pickoff to tie the school record of 10 interceptions 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 Watson also has seven pass breakups and a team-fifth-best 22 tackles.
Watson recently was named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team, after making the second team last year.
His brother, Stan, also was an All-OAC selection when he played for Mount Union.
Manning anchor in line
Manning, meanwhile, has been an anchor in the Mount Union offensive line the past two seasons, and one of the big reasons for the team's success gaining yards through the air and on the ground.
An All-OAC second-team choice this year after making the first unit last season, Manning has helped to provide protection for quarterback Mike Jorris to complete 185 of 279 passes for 2,855 yards and 28 TDs with nine interceptions.
Jorris passed for 225 yards against Mount St. Joseph to climb into the No. 3 spot on the school's all-time single-season passing list with 2,885 yards.
And Manning has helped to pave the way for junior running back Aaron Robinson to rush for 1,046 yards in 178 carries and 10 TDs. Robinson went over the 1,000-yard mark against Mount St. Joseph with 85 yards.
Jorris and two targets star
Jorris' favorite targets are senior wide receiver Scott Casto (67 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 TDs) and sophomore wide receiver Pierre Garcon (42 receptions for 816 yards and 11 TDs).
Other standout ball carriers have been senior fullback Kelechi Ibeh (437 yards in 65 attempts and four TDs) and freshman running back Nate Kmic (336 yards in 51 attempts and nine TDs).
Kmic has bloomed into a real ground-gainer. Against Mount St. Joseph, he rushed for career highs of 157 yards and three TDs.
Mount Union's defensive leaders in tackles are senior linebacker Mike Gibbons (106), sophomore safety Matt Kostelnik (56) and senior tackles Jesse Wells (55) and Buddy Wolf (50).
kovach@vindy.com