Wheaton confident for 2nd-round test
Just moments after his team's victory over Benedictine in the NCAA Division III football playoffs, Wheaton College coach Mike Swider had his team looking forward. With one win down the players' attention is focused on Saturday's game against John Carroll University.
"I know John Carroll's good, but so are we," Swider said following the 43-14 home victory. "I told our players on the field that, you know, they got good players, they got real good players. But, you know, we got real good players too. They've got good coaches, we've got good coaches."
The 9-1 John Carroll team opened the playoffs with a 63-28 win against Centre College at home. Wheaton College will again be the host school for the noon kickoff Saturday.
Similar to Benedictine, John Carroll looks to attack on offense through the air. On the season it has nearly double the amount of passing touchdowns as rushing, and quarterback Mark Myers threw for 5 touchdowns in its opening playoff game. While not as successful, the Eagles dropped back to pass in roughly 80 percent of their plays against Wheaton.
"We've always prided ourselves on our ability to stop the run," Swider said. "But we do have a good pass rush. We got a guy, (Logan McRae), who can come off the edge."
On the other side of the ball, Wheaton will look to maintain its balanced offense. The steady diet of option runs and play-action passes led by quarterback Johnny Peltz has had teams on edge all year.
If Wheaton defeats John Carroll for the first time, it will be the Thunder's first 12-win season since 2003.
North Central:
Earning awards has become something of the norm for the North Central men's cross country team, and its coaching staff is no different. After winning the school's 16th Division III national championship on Saturday, coach Al Carius was named the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
This is the ninth time Carius has won the award and the fourth in the last six years. North Central has dominated not only the conference, winning 41 consecutive CCIW championships, but also the nation. The Cardinals have gone to all 42 Division III national championships and finished in the top two spots 31 times.
Wheaton College:
Starting in 2015 Jake DeClute will lead the Wheaton College men's soccer team.
DeClute returns to Wheaton from Navy after both playing and coaching for the Thunder previously. Current coach Mike Giuliano announced his retirement after the 2014 season in May. The team is preparing to play in the NCAA Division III semifinals in two weeks.
DeClute also is a former Major League Soccer assistant coach.