Friday, September 27, 2013

Area college football previews for Sept. 28

Linfield (2-0) at Case Western Reserve (1-2)

When: Noon

Where: Case Field

What to watch for: Talk about a difficult Homecoming opponent. Linfield, a 2,566-student school in McMinnville, Ore., is ranked No. 2 in the D3football.com poll. The Wildcats lead the nation in points (61.5) and yards per game (658.0). They are also balanced, averaging 287.5 rushing and 370.5 passing yards per game. Case rushed for 294 yards in last week's 36-33 loss to Frostburg State. Junior Ricky Hanzlik (Mentor) rushed for 105 yards in the loss.

Notre Dame College (2-1, 1-1 Mountain East) at Charleston (1-2, 1-1)

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, W.Va.

What to watch for: Notre Dame College is 2-1 for the first time in school history and could match last year's win total with a victory over Charleston. With Colton Wallace and Mikhail Morgan trying to play through injuries, senior Jack Foy has become a big-play target for quarterback Ray  Russ (South). Foy has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in all three games. He leads the Mountain East Conference with 35 receptions and 364 receiving yards. Russ completed a school-record 32 passes in last week's 34-25 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan. Charleston defensive back Isaiah Gibson has 5 1/2 tackles for losses and has forced two fumbles.

Otterbein (1-1, 1-0 OAC) at John Carroll (2-0, 1-0)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Shula Stadium

What to watch for: John Carroll enters its first home game after crunching St. Norbert, 41-0, and Baldwin Wallace, 27-7. The Blue Streaks have outgained their opponents, 1,032-297. Wide receivers Marshall Howell (Benedictine) and Aramis Greenwood (Fairport native) are off to fast starts. Howell, a freshman, has caught 10 passes for 263 yards. Greenwood has 13 catches for 240 yards. Otterbein was picked to finish fourth, one spot ahead of John Carroll, in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Cardinals went 8-2 and defeated John Carroll, 21-7, last season. This year's team fell to nationally-ranked St. John Fisher, 28-0, in Week 1.

Lake Erie College (1-2, 1-1 GLIAC) and Saginaw Valley State (2-1, 2-0)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Harvey Randall Wickes Stadium, Saginaw, Mich.

What to watch for: Another Lake Erie College game. Another shootout? The possibility for some instant offense exists. LEC averages 39 points and 534.7 yards per game. Saginaw Valley State averages 39.3 points and 485.3 yards. The Storm's secondary will face a major test. Saginaw Valley State quarterback J. Jennings has completed 51 of 80 passes for 905 yards and his nine touchdowns lead the GLIAC. Seniors Jeff Janis and Mark Thrash have combined for 549 receiving yards. LEC sophomore Anthony Bilal (Riverside) has three straight 100-yard rushing games and leads the GLIAC with 517 yards on 86 carries. Quarterback Brendan Gallagher has developed into a dual threat for the Storm. The senior has produced 667 passing and 220 rushing yards.

-- Guy Cipriano |  @newsheraldguy







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