PREVIEW | #24 MSJ Football travels to Hanover

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Who: Hanover College (3-3, 3-0 HCAC)
Where: Hanover, Indiana (Alumni Stadium)
When: Saturday, October 22^th | 1:30 PM
 
How we got here:
The Mount St. Joseph University football team continued their outstanding start to the season moving to 6-0, 3-0 in the HCAC with a dominant 59-3 win at Anderson a week ago. That win coupled with the Lions fantastic overall start to the season, helped the Lions break into the AFCA top-25. The Lions check in this week at #24 in the coaches poll and just outside the top-25 in the d3football.com poll. This is the first time the Lions have been ranked in the top-25 since late in the 2009 season. Consequently that 2009 season was the last time the Lions played in the Division III playoffs.
 
The Lions are looking to keep their run toward the 2022 playoffs alive this week with a matchup of one of the tougher opponents in the HCAC. Hanover comes into the game 3-3 on the season but 3-0 in HCAC games, which puts them in a first-place tie with The Mount, Rose-Hulman and Franklin. The Panthers come into the game fresh off of a 51-20 win on the road at Manchester a week ago.

This matchup along with the game being played between Franklin and Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute this weekend will go a long way in separating the top end of the HCAC this season.

When the Lions have the ball:
Reigning HCAC Offensive Player of the Week Cornell Beachem Jr. continues to be the feature of the Lions offense. Beachem is currently the leader nationally in all-purpose yards, averaging more than 200 total yards per game. Josh Taylor and the teams passing attack will look to bounce back after a bit of a struggle against Anderson. Taylor comes into this game second in the HCAC in yardage, first in passing touchdowns, and first in passing efficiency.

The Lions as an offense are first in the HCAC In points per game, averaging 46 points per game. The boast a deep and diverse group of pass catchers that should create matchup issues for the Hanover defense. That group is led by Joey Newton, Omar Porter Jr. and Austin Brock but has depth including Jake Ayler, Cooper Jones, Cam York, Kadin Pollard, Zane Dine, Zykeem Hunley and obviously Beachem out of the backfield.

Defensively Hanover boasts the third best scoring defense in the HCAC this season, allowing 26.0 points per game. They are led by Brody Luker who has 40 tackles on the season, 3 interceptions and 4 pass breakups. Caleb Brewster is second on the team with 34 tackles on the season. Devonte Hardiman leads the pass rush with 2.5 sacks on the season.

When the Panthers have the ball:
The Panthers boast one of the league's top passing offense, led by quarterback Mathew Weimer who leads the league in passing yards. They are currently second in the HCAC in scoring offense behind the Lions, averaging 34.7 points per game. Their rushing attack is led by Austin Oppel who is fifth in the league in rushing with 402 yards, he is averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Their receiving corp is led by Hunter Eads who is averaging 69 yards receiving per game with four touchdowns.

For the Lions it will be a matchup of strength on strength the Hanover passing game vs. the a Lions pass rush that has 16 sacks over the past two weeks. That group is led by Noah Hammond who is playing the finest football of his fantastic career at the Mount. The senior has registered seven sacks alone over the past two weeks. There will also be a lot of pressure put on the Lions defensive backfield. That group of Austin Price, Devon Donawerth, DeShawn Starks and Mason Owens will have to hold up against the prolific passing attack of the Panthers and prevent the chunk plays.

Up Next:
The Lions will return home for the annual homecoming game! They will welcome Bluffton to Schueler Field on October 29^th with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 PM.