Scoreless In (Okay, Near) Seattle

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Week 13:

The good news, and big news, in the Division III Playoff Semi-Finals last weekend was that the perennial champion Mount Union had been taken down (at home!) by lowly eighth-seed Mary Hardin-Baylor (which is a university, not a woman). It was the Purple Raiders first home loss since 1999 and marks their first back-to-back years without the D3 championship since 1994-95. While the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders may see this as their year, most D3 teams would agree that nothing could be worse than the prospect of facing the mighty Mount Union in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, of which the Purple Raiders have won seven of the last eleven. For getting rid of the 800-pound gorilla from Ohio, the team that faces Mary Hardin-Baylor next weekend in the Stagg Bowl owes the Crusaders a big thank you.

The bad news from last weekend is that Rowan isn’t that team. After blowing out teams in their first two playoff games by a combined score of 101-21, my Profs traveled all the way out to McMinnville, Oregon just to be shut out by Linfield College, 52-0. Linfield's offense has earned a reputation this season as a scoring machine but Rowan, no strangers to the end zone themselves this season, had just as much trouble trying to overcome the Wildcats defense. Rowan's usually flawless quarterback Mike Orihel had three interceptions and was sacked twice in the Profs first shutout in nine years.

Rowan fans can feel good about this season and the near future. The Profs exceeded pre-season predictions while being guided by the sophomore Orihel. Orihel has proven he’s the real deal and will no doubt come back next fall wanting that Gagliardi Trophy that he led his team so closely to this year.

As for my high school alma mater, Holy Cross High, I’m happy to report that three Lancers (QB Rob Curley, OL Dennis Landolt, and OL Phil Costa - all seniors) made the Philadelphia Inquirer’s All-South Jersey Offense first team.