October 30, 2009

MAC FOOTBALL - WEEK #9

This weekend begins a frantic three week push for the MAC title, with the key players facing each other Nov. 7 and Nov. 14. The current situation has Delaware Valley and Albright tied at 4-0 in the MAC, and LVC a game behind at 3-1. DVC and Albright will play each other next week; LVC plays Albright Nov. 14; and DVC has already beaten LVC. If the Aggies win out, they would win it outright. LVC has not won the MAC championship since it was tri-champ in 1969.

FDU - Florham (0-4, 1-6) travels to Albright (4-0, 7-0), the top ranked team in the East Region and #21 nationally. After a disappointing 7-6 loss at Wilkes last week, the Devils under the leadership of Bill Winters hope to get on the winning track. They will face Tanner Kelly, one of the MAC's top quarterbacks, and his favorite receiver Nate Romig. Offense is not all the Lions bring to the field as they have one of the top defense’s in Division III football - currently 14th in points allowed per game (13.00) and 15th overall in total yards allowed with 257.14 yards per game.

Delaware Valley (4-0, 6-1), ranked 3rd in the East Region and 23rd nationally, plays at King's (1-3, 2-5). King's hope to repeat last years performance as spoiler when they defeated conference NCAA tournament representative Lycoming. The Aggies lone loss this year was a 31-13 defeat on September 19 to Wesley (7-0), which is currently ranked third by the AFCA and D3Football.com. The accolades keep pouring in for Delaware Valley College junior defensive end Garrett Wooters as he was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southeast Defensive Player of the Week and earned a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week.

Lebanon Valley (3-1, 6-1), ranked eighth in the East Region, plays at Widener (1-3, 3-4). With a win Saturday, Lebanon Valley would go to 7-1 for the first time in program history, and ensure a seven-win season for the first time since going 7-3 in 1992. The Pride, hoping for a winning season, needs to stop the LVC running game of Charlie Parker and Ben Guiles if they are to prevail.

Wilkes (1-3, 4-3) is at Lycoming (2-2, 3-4). Two programs that have been in the MAC title chase in recent years are playing for pride on Saturday as a 2009 championship is not to be. Wilkes defeated Lyco last year, one of the few blemishes on first-year coach Mike Clark's 2008 trip to the NCAA tournament. Wilkes Rob Johnson leads the Colonels offense against a stout Warrior defense, ranked third in the MAC.