By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com
Okay, John Carroll. I'm going to ask you a favor.
It's simple.
Beat Mount Union.
You don't have to make it a habit or anything. Just do it this once. This Saturday.
The thing is, we know you can beat them. You were oh-so-close in four of the past five seasons, having led the Purple Raiders or been tied with them in the second half of each of those games, right up until this year's 35-16 loss on Oct. 19.
Okay, forget that one.
This John Carroll team might be the chosen one, so to speak. You've won three games in a bracket away from Mount Union. You've survived Brockport, first by blocking an end-of-regulation field goal, then by winning in overtime. We see you've got the goods.
Now, you're the rest of Division III's best hope.
You know Mount Union better than anyone, having played them so well, so often.
You've got Tom Arth, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound NFL prospect who's thrown for 10,099 yards in his career, and sports a 3.6-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio (87 career TDs, 24 INTs). If that shoulder he separated against Mount Union is still bothering him, you could try backup Tony Beiting, who led you to three wins in Arth's absence.
You've got two receivers, Adam Therrien and Jeff Lerner, who have combined for 103 catches, 1,742 yards and 22 touchdowns, none of which came in that first game against Mount Union. They've got a chance to make that right.
Running back Ryan DeGeorge averages five yards a pop — and it's the defenders that get the "pop."
So you've got to worry about the Purple Raiders sharp, focused gang of experienced starters. Never mind that neither of their playoff opponents, a combined 21-1 heading into their Purple Raider games, came within 21 points of them. They're 35-7 in the playoffs, with 10 straight postseason wins? Who cares!
Never mind that they haven't trailed in a second half this season, that they have three capable quarterbacks or that Dan Pugh (1,796 yards, 32 touchdowns) is running as well as ever. Toss out the fact that they've beaten you in 12 straight and 15 of the past 19, including a 59-7 win in the 1997 quarterfinals.
You should beat them. "Should," as in I think it's about time. For a number of reasons.
Six national championships in nine years? Last loss in 1999?
Your Ohio Athletic Conference rivals are hogging all of the fun.
We've seen the conference prove its strength by separating you, the second-place team, from Mount Union, and watching you come through that East bracket. Nothing would make the nation bigger believers in the strength of the OAC than if another conference team made it to Salem, Va.
I like seeing different teams in the Stagg Bowl. This is by far the furthest you've ever been, why not make the most of it? Make alum Don Shula (yes, THAT Don Shula) proud.
As much as I think Trinity and St. John's would each like to beat Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl, I also have a funny feeling they wouldn't mind playing you guys instead.
Not that they'd have their normal offensive success against that defense of yours, one that's allowed 11 points per game, including only 27 in three playoff outings. You know, the one with OAC linebacker of the year Chris Cubero (134 tackles, 78 solo) in the middle. The one with three other players, a defensive lineman (end Joe Indriolo), a linebacker (Brian Brooke) and a defensive back (Scott Greenberg) each with more than 85 tackles.
Can I interest you all in a trip to the wonderful Roanoke Valley? I never exactly played in the Stagg Bowl, but watching and covering the past five has been pretty memorable. I'm sure you guys would have a good time in Virginia, even if this cold rain and accompanying ice keeps up.
So do we have a deal? You guys beat Mount Union, and I'll see you in Salem.
You're going to do me that one little favor. It isn't asking for too much, is it?
