COLLEGE FOOTBALL \ Regional previews

MOUNT UNION vs. ST. JOHN FISHER (N.Y.)

When: 1:30 p.m. Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.

Series: Mount Union leads, 2-0.

Radio-TV: WDPN-AM 1310, WRMU-FM 91.1, www.muc.edu/athletics (simulcast and live statistics game tracker); WIVM-TV 52 (Stark County), WIVN-TV 29 (New Philadelphia), Time Warner Cable (365-Stark County, 99-Tuscarawas County), 21-Massillon Cable, 21-Wayne County and Clear Picture Cable (Wayne County), tape delay, 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Scouting report: Mount Union College begins its 111th football season. Both teams enter the contest nationally ranked as the Purple Raiders are the consensus No. 1 team, while the Cardinals have been ranked as high as No. 6 (USA Today) and are No. 10 in the D3Football.com Top 25. The teams have also met in the NCAA playoffs the last two seasons with Mount Union winning both (26-14 in 2006 and 52-10 in 2007). Coach Larry Kehres of Mount Union, one of the most successful coaches in college football history, has a 260-21-3 (.923) record entering his 23rd season. Under Kehres, the Purple Raiders have won eight Ohio Athletic Conference championships, including the last 16 in a row; and nine of the last 15 NCAA Division III National Championships.

MARIETTA vs. THIEL

When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Alumni Stadium, Greenville.

Series: Marietta leads, 4-1.

Radio: WPIC-AM 790, www.msasportsnetwork.com.

Scouting report: Thiel and Marietta will be meeting for the first time since 1925. The Tomcats have 20 lettermen, 10 each on offense and defense, as they open their 104th varsity football season. Thiel seeks to improve its 8-12 record of the past two seasons after going 11-1 in 2005 for the school’s most successful season. That year, the Tomcats went 6-0 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference to win the championship and advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time. Coach Jack Leipheimer has led the Tomcats to a 26-16 record over the past four years, including a perfect 10-0 regular season in 2005.

BETHANY vs. OTTERBEIN

When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Memorial Stadium, Westerville.

Series: First meeting.

Internet: www.teamline.cc (code 3724).

Scouting report: Bethany returns eight starters on offense, including four on the offensive line. The defense has back seven starters, three in the secondary. Eight area players are on the Bethany roster, including junior John Falconi, WR from Farrell; and sophomore Ryan Saunders, DB from Liberty. The others are freshmen Gary Sciortino, DB, and Jon Stockman, LB, both from Austintown Fitch; Kyle Nannah, QB from Sebring; Jake Hartley, DB from Farrell; Ryan Stowers, OL from East Liverpool; and Greg Iverson, DL from Hickory.

GROVE CITY vs. DICKINSON

When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Biddle Field, Carlisle, Pa.

Series: Dickinson leads, 3-0.

Radio: WSAJ-FM 91.1, www2.gcc.edu/sports.

Scouting report: Grove City returns six offensive starters and eight defensive starters. The game will be the first on Dickinson’s new artifical turf. Grove City has seven area players on the roster, including three from Mineral Ridge — junior FS Vance Keirsey and freshmen ILBs Kent Cunningham and Jason Ferguson. the Others are senior WR Stephen Mercer (Beaver Local), junior C Justin Macella from Lowellville, sophomore OT Pete Polesnak from Kennedy Catholic; and DE Jake Priester (Mercer).

ALLEGHENY vs. JUNIATA

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Knox Stadium, Huntingdon, Pa.

Series: Juniata leads, 2-1-2.

Scouting report: Allegheny is coming of a mediocre 2007 season as the Gators started the campaign with a 5-2 record but fizzled to finish at 5-5 and 3-4 in the NCAC. Allegheny returns 34 lettermen, including 10 starters headlined by All-NCAC senior defenders Bill Jones and Craig Lawrence.