Mount Union plays host to Dela. Valley

Staff report

ALLIANCE

The Mount Union football team continues its quest for a sixth consecutive appearance in the Stagg Bowl today, when the Purple Raiders play host to Delaware Valley in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Mount Union Stadium.

Mount Union (11-0), ranked No. 2 nationally all season behind defending champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, defeated St. Lawrence (N.Y.), 49-0, last week in its opening-round playoff game.

Senior wide receiver Cecil Shorts caught three touchdown passes from Neal Seaman in the Purple Raiders’ victory, and the Mount Union defense had four sacks, including two by senior defensive end Lambert Budzinski, who is second in Div. III with 15 sacks on the year.

Shorts has scored 10 touchdowns the last three games — eight receiving, one on a kickoff return and one on a punt return. He has a school-record 229 career receptions for 4,223 yards and 59 touchdowns in 51 career ames.

Also for Mount Union, Nick Driskill had his team-leading fifth interception of the week against St. Lawrence.

Delaware Valley (9-2) defeated Salisbury (Md.) 23-12 last week in the playoff opener. The Aggies are led by running back Matt Cook, who holds every school single-season and career rushing record. This season he has 1,183 yards and 18 TDs on the ground, and was named offensive player of the year in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

Quarterback Mark Hatty has thrown for 2,373 yards with 20 touchdowns, but 10 interceptions. Dan Heiland is the leading receiver with 50 catches for 733 yards and two touchdowns, while Joe Gionfriddo has 37 receptions for 492 yards and seven TDs.

Defensively, Delaware Valley is allowing 230 yards and 11.8 points per game. Linebacker Kule Gesswein was named MAC defensive player of the year and is a returning All-American. He has 67 tackles this season, including nine for losses, and has blocked two kicks. He’s the school’s all-time leader with 39 sacks.

Today’s winner will advance to the national quarterfinals against the winner of the Alfred (N.Y.)-Cortland State (N.Y.) game.