PREVIEW | #21 MSJ Travels to #22 Alma to Open NCAA Playoffs

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Who: No. 22 Alma Scots (10-0, 6-0 MIAA)
Where: Alma, Michigan (Bahlke Field)
When: Saturday, November 19^th | 12:00 PM

How we got here:
The Mount St. Joseph football team finished off their first perfect season since 2004 last weekend with a 40-31 over Rose-Hulman in the defacto HCAC Championship game. The win over the Fightin' Engineers earned the Lions the right to represent the HCAC in the NCAA Division III Championship playoffs. This will be the Lions first time in the playoffs since 2009, and the team will be looking to secure the first playoff win in program history.

They were able to defeat Rose-Hulman on the strength of their dominant rushing attack. The team ran the ball 48 times for 303 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. Josh Taylor and Cornell Beachem Jr. combined for 304 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Defensively the Lions forced four Rose turnovers, including three interceptions. 

Alma's season also came down to a winner take all game last weekend, as they squared off with Albion in the MIAA Championship Game. The win moved Alma to 10-0 on the season and earned them the right to host this first-round playoff game. For the Scots it has also been quite a while since they made the postseason, their last MIAA title came in 2004.

They took down Albion behind a balanced offensive attack that had 303 yards passing and 146 yards on the ground. They also forced four turnovers in their win.

When the Lions have the ball:
Offensive coordinator Caleb Corrill will continue to look to his pair of dual-threats in the backfield ot carry the load for the Lions. Taylor the newly minted HCAC Offensive Player of the Year, who has been outstanding of late especially on the ground and Beachem a first-team All-HCAC selection. Taylor has rushed for 340 yards and six touchdowns over the last two games, and Beachem finished the regular season leading the nation in all-purpose yardage. 

Everything that happens for the Lions offensively boils down to the play of the offensive line. Danny Mabe and Sam Martin were both selected as first-team All-HCAC players, and grouped with Aiden Stuteville, Devin Salyers and Colin Kandra the Lions have been fantastic upfront all season. 

When the Lions goto the air Joey Newton a first-team All-HCAC selection, Omar Porter Jr. and Zykeem Hunley both second team selections will likely be the feature targets. 

Their offense comes into this game sixth nationally in points per game and eigth nationally in total offense.

Alma's defense only gives up 17.1 points per game and 345 yards.

When the Scots have the ball:
Alma also possesses an extremely potent offense, They are just outside the top-25 nationally in both scoring and total offense. Freshman quarterback Carter St. John has thrown for 2112 and 23 touchdowns on the season. 

Another freshman leads their rushing attack, Eddie Williams has carried the ball 166 times for just shy of 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. They have a trio of recievers with mor thand 25 catches.

Defensively the Lions had multiple all-HCAC players on all three levels, led by defensive player of the year Noah Hammond and his single-season record tying 10.5 sacks. Jack Tucker and Decklan Brophy joined him along the defensive line and all league performers. At the linebacker spot Nate Owens and Nick Stephenson both were All-HCAC performers. In the defensive backfield it was DeShawn Starks and Austin Price who each had five interceptions during the season and Devon Donawerth who will look to control the Scots passing attack.


Up Next:
For the winner of this game, they will take on the winner of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Aurora in the second round of the NCAA Championships.