PREVIEW Saturday's game

WHEATON (10-1, 6-1 CCIW)
vs. MOUNT UNION (11-0, 9-0 OAC)
Game time: Noon, Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.
Series history: Mount Union leads, 4-0.
Scouting report: Mount Union, the defending Division III national champion, rolled to a 49-0 win over Hope (Mich.) last Saturday in a first-round playoff game. The Purple Raiders qualified for the postseason by winning their 15th straight Ohio Athletic Conference championship. MUC is in the playoffs for the 15th consecutive year, and has won eight national championships under coach Larry Kehres. Wheaton advanced with a 42-28 win over Mount St. Joseph in the first round last Saturday. The Thunder emerged as co-champion of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, winning its fourth loop title in the past five seasons. Comparing coaches, Kehres has a 242-20-3 record (91.9 percent) in his 21st season as MUC coach; while Wheaton coach Mike Swider is 78-25 (75.7 percent) in his 11th season as skipper. Mount Union is averaging 49.6 points per game while restricting the opposition to 7.3. Wheaton is averaging 38.8 points while holding opponents to 13.5. MUC is led by QB Mike Jorris, who has completed 104 of 166 (62.7 percent) passes for 1,672 yards, 21 TDs and only five interceptions. He is reinforced by QB Greg Micheli with 70-for-93 (75.3 percent) for 891 yards and eight TDs. Nate Kmic leads the rushing game with 1,421 yards in 202 attempts and 20 TDs, while Pierre Garcon is the leading receiver with 51 catches for 1,004 yards and 14 TDs. MUC's defense is led by LB Matt Rees with 50 tackles followed by LB Tony DeRiggi (45), safety Matt Kostelnik (38), safety Nick Barren (36) and DL Justen Stickley (39) and Patt McCullough (37). Wheaton's offense is led by QB Jeremy Chupp (125-for-216 (59.9 percent) for 1,887 yards, 22 TDs and nine interceptions). RB Chaz Black is the leading rusher with 1,046 yards in 186 attempts and nine TDs, while receivers Noah Dreyer has 45 catches for 557 yards and eight TDs and Chris Fossum 43 receptions for 840 yards and seven TDs. On defense, the Thunder is led by DE Andy Studebaker (42 hits), LBs Steve Pagh (68) and Jonathan Toal (66), and DBs Pete Ittersagen (59 hits and four interceptions) and Kirk McKenney (52 hits). Steudebaker was named the CCIW 2006 "Don Larson" Defensive Player of the Year.
Scouting report: Mount Union, the defending Division III national champion, rolled to a 49-0 win over Hope (Mich.) last Saturday in a first-round playoff game. The Purple Raiders qualified for the postseason by winning their 15th straight Ohio Athletic Conference championship. MUC is in the playoffs for the 15th consecutive year, and has won eight national championships under coach Larry Kehres. Wheaton advanced with a 42-28 win over Mount St. Joseph in the first round last Saturday. The Thunder emerged as co-champion of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, winning its fourth loop title in the past five seasons. Comparing coaches, Kehres has a 242-20-3 record (91.9 percent) in his 21st season as MUC coach; while Wheaton coach Mike Swider is 78-25 (75.7 percent) in his 11th season as skipper. Mount Union is averaging 49.6 points per game while restricting the opposition to 7.3. Wheaton is averaging 38.8 points while holding opponents to 13.5. MUC is led by QB Mike Jorris, who has completed 104 of 166 (62.7 percent) passes for 1,672 yards, 21 TDs and only five interceptions. He is reinforced by QB Greg Micheli with 70-for-93 (75.3 percent) for 891 yards and eight TDs. Nate Kmic leads the rushing game with 1,421 yards in 202 attempts and 20 TDs, while Pierre Garcon is the leading receiver with 51 catches for 1,004 yards and 14 TDs. MUC's defense is led by LB Matt Rees with 50 tackles followed by LB Tony DeRiggi (45), safety Matt Kostelnik (38), safety Nick Barren (36) and DL Justen Stickley (39) and Patt McCullough (37). Wheaton's offense is led by QB Jeremy Chupp (125-for-216 (59.9 percent) for 1,887 yards, 22 TDs and nine interceptions). RB Chaz Black is the leading rusher with 1,046 yards in 186 attempts and nine TDs, while receivers Noah Dreyer has 45 catches for 557 yards and eight TDs and Chris Fossum 43 receptions for 840 yards and seven TDs. On defense, the Thunder is led by DE Andy Studebaker (42 hits), LBs Steve Pagh (68) and Jonathan Toal (66), and DBs Pete Ittersagen (59 hits and four interceptions) and Kirk McKenney (52 hits). Steudebaker was named the CCIW 2006 "Don Larson" Defensive Player of the Year.