Mount Union preview \ Today’s game
RANDOLPH-MACON (6-4) vs. MOUNT UNION (10-0)
When: Noon.
Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.
What: First-round game of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Series record: First meeting.
Radio-TV-Internet: WDPN-AM 1310 (Alliance), WRMU-AM 91.1 (Alliance); TV: WIVM-52/WIVN-29, taped, aired today, 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.; SportsTime Ohio, taped, aired today, 10 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m.
Scouting report: No. 1-ranked Mount Union rolled to a 49-0 win at Marietta last Saturday to conclude its 14th undefeated regular season. The Purple Raiders won their 17th straight and 20th Ohio Athletic Conference title to claim the OAC’s automatic bid to the playoffs. Mount Union is making its 20th NCAA playoff appearance with a record of 56-10 (.848) in the playoffs with nine national championships (1993, 1996-98, 2000-02, 2005-06). The Purple Raiders have played in the national-championship Stagg Bowl 10 of the last 12 seasons. Randolph-Macon, meanwhile, is making a comeback this season. After starting the year 2-4, the Yellow Jackets reeled off four straight wins, including a 31-21 victory last Saturday over Hampden-Sydney. But the Yellow Jackets needed help to get into the playoffs. They managed to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship and automatic playoff berth thanks to Bridgewater’s (Va.) win over Catholic (D.C.), 37-26, last Saturday. Randolph-Macon is in its second playoff appearance and first since 1984, when the Yellow Jackets lost a first-round game at home to Washington & Jefferson, 22-21. The winner of today’s game will advance to play next Saturday at noon against the winner of today’s first-round game between Lycoming (Pa.) and Hobart (N.Y.).