2013 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs – First Round
Saturday, Nov. 23 – Noon – Alliance, Ohio (Mount Union Stadium – 5,600)
Audio: WJPA, 1450-AM (Mark Uriah, Randy Gore); http://www.msasports.net/broadcasts/2013-ncaa-d-iii-football-first-round-washington-jefferson-at-mt-union
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/mountunion/
Series: W&J leads 4-1
Series Streak: +1 Mount Union
Last Meeting: UMU 55, W&J 0 — 11/21/2009
First Meeting: W&J 35, UMU 0 — 9/27/1913
Last W&J Win: W&J 14, UMU 0 — 9/27/1941
Last UMU Win: UMU 55, W&J 0 — 11/21/2009
Last W&J Win at UMU: W&J 13, UMU 0 — 9/28/1940
Last UMU Win at UMU: UMU 55, W&J 0 — 11/21/2009
THE SERIES: The 2009 NCAA meeting between Washington & Jefferson and Mount Union was the first between the two schools since 1941. The annual scrimmage partners since 1985 have played five times throughout history and the winning team has posted a shutout each time, including the Purple Raiders’ 55-0 blanking in 2009. W&J’s victories over UMU came in 1941 (14-0), 1940 (13-0), 1914 (26-0) and 1913 (35-0).
THE HEAD COACHES: Mike Sirianni (Mount Union ’94) has notched a 101-23 overall record (.815) at W&J during his 11th season as head coach. He was selected as PAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time this week and is a two-time South Region Coach of the Year (2004, 2012). Entering the season, he ranked second among all active NCAA coaches in winning percentage (minimum 10 years). Vince Kehres (Mount Union ’98) is the Purple Raiders’ first-year head Coach. He spent the previous 13 years as a UMU assistant, including eight as defensive coordinator.
W&J vs. THE OAC: W&J sports a 46-23 (.667) all-time record against current members of the Ohio Athletic Conference. Prior to the 2009 W&J-UMU game, the Presidents last played an OAC team on Sept. 24, 1998, when defeating John Carroll 20-13. Below is a breakdown of the all-time records versus OAC teams:
Baldwin-Wallace (0-0), Capital (0-0), Heidelberg (0-0), John Carroll (15-14), Marietta (14-1), Mount Union (4-1), Muskingum (6-7), Ohio Northern (2-0), Otterbein (4-0), Wilmington (1-0)
W&J’S NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFF HISTORY:
1984 W&J 22, Randolph-Macon 21 at Randolph-Macon
Central (Iowa) 20, W&J 0 at Central (Iowa) (Nat’l Semis)
1986 Susquehanna 28, W&J 20 at W&J
1987 W&J 23, Allegheny 20 (OT) at Allegheny
Emory & Henry 23, W&J 16 at W&J
1989 Ferrum 41, W&J 7 at Ferrum
1990 W&J 10, Ferrum 7 at W&J
Lycoming 24, W&J 0 at W&J
1991 Lycoming 18, W&J 16 at Lycoming
1992 W&J 33, Lycoming 0 at Lycoming
W&J 51, Emory & Henry 15 at W&J
W&J 18, Rowan 13 at Rowan
Wisconsin-Lacrosse 16, W&J 12 (Stagg Bowl)
1993 W&J 27, Moravian 7 at W&J
W&J 28, Frostburg State 7 at Frostburg State
Rowan 23, W&J 16 at W&J (National Semifinals)
1994 W&J 28, Trinity (Texas) 0 at Trinity
W&J 37, Widener 21 at W&J
W&J 23, Ithaca 19 at Ithaca
Albion 38, W&J 15 (Stagg Bowl)
1995 W&J 35, Emory & Henry 16 at W&J
W&J 48, Lycoming 0 at W&J
Rowan 28, W&J 15 at W&J (National Semifinals)
1996 Albright 31, W&J 17 at W&J
1999 W&J 14, Lycoming 7 at Lycoming
Hardin-Simmons 51, W&J 3 at H-SC
2000 Bridgewater (Va.) 59, W&J 42 at W&J
2001 W&J 24, Western Maryland 21 at W&J
Widener 46, W&J 30 at Widener
2002 W&J 24, Christopher Newport 10 at W&J
Trinity (Texas) 45, W&J 10 at TU
2004 W&J 55, Bridgewater (Va.) 48 (2OT) at W&J
W&J 24, Christopher Newport 14 at W&J
Mary Hardin-Baylor 52, W&J 16 at W&J
2005 Bridgewater (Va.) 30, W&J 21 at Bridgewater
2006 W&J 27, Christopher Newport 23 at CNU
Mary Hardin-Baylor 30, W&J 27 at UMH-B
2007 North Carolina Wesleyan 35, W&J 34 (OT) at W&J
2008 W&J 35, Christopher Newport 29 at W&J
W&J 35, Millsaps 20 at Millsaps
Mary Hardin-Baylor 63, W&J 7 at UMH-B
2009 Mount Union 55, W&J 0 at UMU
2012 Johns Hopkins 42, W&J 10 at JHU
MOUNT UNION vs. THE PAC: Mount Union is playing an opponent from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference for the 38th time in history. MUC holds a 23-11-1 record against PAC teams. Prior to the W&J-UMU 2009 NCAA playoff contest, the Purple Raiders had not played a current PAC team since Geneva in 1987. Below is a breakdown of the all-time records versus current PAC teams:
Bethany (7-0-1), Geneva (4-3-1), Grove City (7-0-1), Saint Vincent (0-0), Thiel (0-0), Thomas More (0-0), W&J (1-4), Waynesburg (0-0), Westminster (4-4)
SCOUTING MOUNT UNION: The Purple Raiders enter the NCAA playoffs as the defending national champions and the No. 1 ranked team in Division III. Mount Union posted its eighth-straight undefeated regular-season and 22nd consecutive OAC title after defeating ninth-ranked John Carroll 42-34 at home Saturday. The Purple Raiders are making their 25th NCAA Tournament appearance and have a 78-13 record in the postseason. Mount Union has advanced to the Stagg Bowl 16 times and has won a record 11 national championships, all of which have been celebrated in the last two decades. UMU ranks second nationally in total offense (545.7 ypg) and fourth in total defense (227.7 ypg). Junior quarterback Kevin Burke, who is 20 total offense shy of 8,000 for his career, leads the nation’s second-best pass efficiency offense. Burke has thrown for 254.7 yards per game (29th in NCAA D-III) and 31 touchdowns (5th nationally). He is also a dual threat as the team’s second-leading rusher (726 yards, 8 TDs). Freshman running back Bradley Mitchell emerged as the starting running back and averages 7.3 yards per rush. Sophomore defensive tackle Tom Lally is tied for the team lead with 53 tackles, while producing a team-high seven sacks. Another sophomore, strong safety Alex Kocheff, owns a team-best 11 tackles for a loss and has recovered four fumbles.
THE LAST MEETING {UMU 55, W&J 0 — 11/21/09}: Mount Union took the first step in defending its 2008 NCAA Division III Football National Championship with a NCAA opening-round 55-0 victory over Washington & Jefferson on Saturday afternoon at Mount Union Stadium. The Purple Raiders forced a punt on the first of W&J’s seven three-play, first-half possessions and quarterback Kurt Rocco fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts on the second play of MUC’s first drive. The extra-point attempt missed and Mount Union led 6-0. Mount Union upped its advantage to 13-0 at the 8:58 mark on Scott Panchik’s 4-yard touchdown run. The score capped a six-play, 61-yard drive. Terrence Morring concluded a 73-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run with 5:02 left in the quarter to make it a 20-0 game. Rocco lofted a 55-yard touchdown pass to Shorts two minutes after Morring’s score and MUC led 27-0. Morring (four yards) and Panchik (nine yards) tacked on second-quarter scoring runs as the Purple Raiders opened a 41-0 halftime lead. Mount Union outgained the Presidents in the first half by a 400-16 margin and did not allow W&J to record a first down. Rocco completed 9-of-12 passes in the first 30 minutes for 213 yards. The Presidents notched their longest play of the game a minute into the third quarter as quarterback Gino Rometo hit wide receiver Craig Besong for a 34-yard pass play. Panchik provided the only scoring of the third quarter with a 9-yard touchdown jaunt at the 3:48 mark. Mount Union tacked on its eighth and final touchdown when Zac Lemmon ran in from four yards out midway through the fourth quarter. The Purple Raiders owned a 581-127 yardage advantage and amassed 28 of the game’s 36 first downs. Rocco completed 14-of-19 passes for 251 yards and two scores, while Morring (123 yds, 2 TD) and Panchik (102 yds., 3 TD) both topped 100 yards on the ground. Shorts caught seven passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. James Herbert finished with seven tackles and two sacks. Rometo completed 19-of-33 passes for 133 yards. Besong hauled in seven of those passes for 58 yards.
PAC CHAMPS: Saturday’s 38-13 victory over Waynesburg clinched W&J’s 23rd PAC championship and 23rd trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Presidents are making their PAC-record 23rd NCAA postseason appearance and only their opponent, Mount Union (25), has played in more national tournaments.
NICE NOVEMBERS: The Presidents own a 27-7 record under Head Coach Mike Sirianni during the month of November, including a 14-3 mark at home. W&J’s last November NCAA playoff victory came at Millsaps (Miss.) on Nov. 29, 2008 (35-29).
HISTORY LESSON: Washington & Jefferson has won 697 games throughout history in 122 varsity seasons (697-382-40). Only Wittenberg (727) and Mount Union (724) have won more among NCAA Division III schools. Ironically, the winner of the W&J-Mount Union game could face Wittenberg in round two. Among all NCAA divisions, Michigan leads with 911 victories and W&J is 25th.
ANOTHER SIMILARITY: W&J clinched its 30th consecutive winning season this year and ranks among the elite programs among all NCAA divisions. The Presidents’ active streak ranks fifth among NCAA schools (all divisions) behind Linfield (58), Florida State (37), Mount Union (35) and Florida (33; 4-6 thus far in 2013).
NFL TIES: W&J is proud of its alumni currently playing major roles in the National Football League. Commissioner Roger Goodell is a 1981 W&J graduate, while Miami Dolphins Head Coach Joe Philbin graduated in 1984. Philbin played one season as a tight end before becoming a student coach. 2001 graduate Chris Mosley serves as the assistant offensive line coach on Philbin’s staff in Miami. Mosley played fullback for two seasons for the Presidents and also spent time at his alma mater as an assistant coach.
PLAYOFF VETS: W&J’s 21 NCAA victories tie Central (Iowa) for six place in Division III history. Washington & Jefferson has posted a 21-22 record in NCAA play, including a 10-13 mark on the road. In first round games, W&J owns a 13-9 record (6-5 in road contests). Head Coach Mike Sirianni owns a 5-7 record in the NCAA postseason.
DYNAMIC DION: Senior running back/kick returner Dion Wiegand has sparked the Presidents during his first full season as the main ball carrier. He enters the postseason with 1,265 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns (20 rushing, 3 receiving, 2 kick returns). His rushing total is the most by a President since Curt Jones galloped for 1,327 yards during W&J’s NCAA quarterfinal run in 2008. Wiegand’s 25 touchdowns tie Jones (2008) for the second-most in W&J single-season history. Wiegand is 10th in the nation with 180.2 all-purpose yards per game.
RECORD YEAR: Senior wide receiver Alex Baroffio, the school’s all-time leading receiver with 257, teams with Wiegand for a dynamic 1-2 offensive punch. Baroffio continues to close in on another W&J record as he needs 83 receiving yards to pass W&J Hall of Famer Ryan Silvis ’01 for the program’s career yardage record. Baroffio has caught at least one pass in 33 consecutive games and his 257 career receptions rank second among active Division III receivers and seventh in all NCAA divisions. Baroffio has also proven to be an effective returner as he is 12th nationally in punt return average (13.2 ypr) and 14th in kickoff returns (29.5 ypr). Last week, Baroffio swung momentum in W&J’s favor with a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown during the third quarter which marked his first career scoring return on his 60th attempt.
SENIORITY RULES: The 2013 W&J senior class features 23 players, five student coaches and two cheerleaders. The Presidents’ seniors have combined for a 31-11 record since their arrivals on campus in 2010 and have made three postseason appearances (2010 ECAC, 2012 and 2013 NCAA). Senior defensive end Chris Heim is the only member of the senior class who has appeared in all 42 games.
FRESH START: Freshman Pete Coughlin is expected to get the start for W&J at quarterback Saturday as senior and three-year starter Matt Bliss suffered an injury against Waynesburg. Bliss passed for 6,216 yards as a Presidents and totaled 57 touchdowns (46 pass, 11 rush). Coughlin, who filled in for Bliss against both Grove City and Waynesburg, while also starting against Thiel, has completed 38-of-56 passes for 373 yards (one TD) and is the team’s third-leading rusher (132 yds, 1 TD).
SACK MASTERS: The W&J defense led the PAC and ranks 34th in Division III with 28 sacks, the most by the Presidents since 2009 (37). Senior Jon Lowery has recorded 7.5 of his 15 career sacks this year and ranks 54th nationally. A total of 10 different Presidents have notched a sack.
ALL IS COMLY: Senior cornerback Sam Comly had a career-best game Saturday versus Waynesburg with nine tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions. The PAC and ECAC South Defender of the Week leads the team with 22 pass breakups.
LEADERS OF THE PAC: W&J garnered 18 All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference awards earlier this week, including three-time, first-team choice Alex Baroffio. The Presidents had eight first-team, All-PAC players.
BALL SECURITY: The Presidents finished the regular season with the fourth-fewest interceptions thrown (3) in Division III. Only Wisconsin-Whitewater (1), Greenville (2) and Luther (2) turned the ball over less through the air. Overall, W&J turned the ball over only 12 times all year which ranks 20th in the country.
BALL MAGNET: Senior safety B.J. Monacelli intercepted a deflected pass versus Waynesburg for his fifth pick of the season and 11th of his career (6th all-time at W&J). He has intercepted a pass in four of his last five games and has led the Presidents in the category in each of the last three seasons.
