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Preview: Today’s area small-college football games

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff writer 10:50 PM Friday, September 3, 2010

Urbana at W.Va. Wesleyan (1-0)

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Cebe Ross Field, Buckhannon, W.Va.

Notable: One of Urbana’s biggest benefits is its experience at quarterback, as junior Evan Gehlert passed for 1,284 yards in the first six games before he was injured and backup David Gerber, a sophomore, passed for 916 yards in the next six games. The Blue Knights also boast defensive lineman Travis Brisco, who totaled 110 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last season. Urbana topped West Virginia Wesleyan 20-19 with a 33-yard field goal as time expired last season. WVW opened with a 35-28 victory against St. Paul’s, in which QB Adam Neugebauer threw for 222 yards and 2 TDs.

Olivet at Wittenberg

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Edwards-Maurer Field, Springfield

Notable: The conversation about Wittenberg starts with its defense, which led all of Division III last season by allowing just 8.8 points per game. The Tigers also return the D-III national player of the year in defensive lineman Eddie Vallery, who totaled 22 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks last season. In short, Wittenberg’s defense was completely dominant, and it returns seven starters. The Tigers won last season’s matchup with Olivet 23-8, and Olivet finished the season 0-10.

Wilmington at Mount St. Joseph

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Schueler Field, Cincinnati

Notable: Wilmington’s biggest weapon is senior LB Bryce Martin, who was named to the D3 Senior Classic Preseason All-America team and totaled 123 tackles last season. RB Marc Otte, a Marion Local product, enters the season with 1,354 yards for the Quakers, who are trying to improve on a 1-9 finish last season with first-year coach Ken Minor. Mount St. Joseph is the preseason pick to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference after finishing 9-2 and 7-0 in the conference last season. MSJ returns RB Jake Davis, who rushed for 891 yards and 12 TDs last season.

Central State vs. West Virginia State

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Welcome Stadium

Notable: The Marauders return several key players, including QB Jeff Brooks and RB Josh Anderson on offense and LB Darius Wilson and DB DeJuan Pratt on defense to begin the season with optimism in this Dayton Classic VI matchup. The Marauders went 1-10 last season, and one of the losses was a 6-0 defeat against West Virginia State in the opener, during which CSU gained just 134 total yards. WVSU finished 3-7 and used returning wide receiver threats Jermain King (53 catches, 692 yards) and Landon Johnson (30, 464) to make passing a majority of its offense.

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