As a former Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio) player for head coach Larry Kehres, Ohio Northern head coach Dean Paul knows the routine all too well.

Paul idolizes Kehres and deeply respects the way he prepares by worrying more about what his team could do rather than fretting what the opposition may bring. Like any coach, Kehres studies game film and tries to find ways to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses. But Paul remembers the Purple Raiders’ head coach worried more about taking care of its own business than the opposition’s.

A 1990 Mount Union graduate, Paul has applied similar coaching tactics with Ohio Northern, a rival of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference in Division III. It paid off when the Polar Bears ended Mount Union’s 110 game-winning streak with a 21-14 win Oct. 22.

‘We’ve had a pretty solid football program knocking on the door,’ Paul said. ‘There was no reason why we couldn’t knock the door in.’

But Mount Union hadn’t lost a game since 1994 for a reason. The Purple Raiders have been much more than the Southern California of Division III. During its 11-year run, Mount Union captured seven Division III titles in arguably one of the strongest conferences in Division III.

No matter what an opponent did, it never proved enough against Mount Union. But during his weekly preparations, Paul seemed confident in his team’s chances against his alma mater. In its 41-27 loss to Mount Union last year, Ohio Northern played with ferocity, but allowed it to die down in the fourth quarter for Mount Union to take advantage.

‘I think we have Coach Paul,’ senior defensive back Wes Hostetler said as a key factor in the victory. ‘He knows the way (Mount Union) runs their system inside and out. We were the most prepared team that played them. That’s why we won.’

Throughout the week, Paul drilled in his player’s heads that they had what it takes to beat Mount Union; they only needed the confidence to carry it out. During drills, Paul made sure his team finished with full force. Paul and Hostetler thought over the years the Purple Raiders made sure to perform momentum-inducing plays so they could build on that throughout the game.

In Ohio Northern’s case, it worked on the first play. The Polar Bears squibbed their opening kickoff, and Shawn Noal recovered the ball on his own 46-yard line. Nine plays later, Ohio Northern opened a 7-0 lead against the then 11-year undefeated team in Division III. Leading 14-0 just before halftime, Ohio Northern stopped Mount Union at the goal line as time expired. Kehres said after the game the stop before halftime ‘was probably the most critical point in the game.’

Hostetler and his teammates received increased recognition for the win but have now just check-marked their Mount Union victory off their list of goals for the season. There are many other tasks, including winning the Ohio Athletic Conference and a Division III championship that still need to be penciled in.

‘It’s one of the biggest challenges (to stay focused) because we certainly had more media attention,’ Paul said. ‘There’s a difference between using success as a pedestal and using success as a springboard.’

Connecticut (+14.5) at No. 18 West Virginia

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ESPN2

During preseason, many tabbed Saturday’s other Big East game – Pittsburgh-Louisville – as a critical matchup that would ultimately determine the Big East Championship. But with mediocre seasons from the Panthers and the Cardinals, the pendulum has swung in West Virginia’s favor. The Mountaineers ironically were favorites last year to dominate the conference, but fell through. They were picked in 2005 to finish in the middle of the pack, but have carried the upper hand throughout, standing 4-0 so far in conference play.

Pick: West Virginia 21, Connecticut 7

No. 14 Wisconsin (+9.5) at No. 10 Penn State

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC

Penn State received a big blow two weeks ago when freshman star receiver Derrick Williams suffered a likely season-ending injury against Michigan. Overlooking the Nittany Lions’ minor miscues in their 33-15 victory over Purdue on Saturday, PSU hasn’t missed a beat. Like its early season success against Minnesota and Ohio State, the Lions won’t falter against the Badgers in a game that likely determines the Big Ten title.

Pick: Penn State 24, Wisconsin 21

Tennessee (+7.5) at No. 8 Notre Dame

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. NBC

Tennessee dropped out of the Top 25 this week, the first time the program has done so in three years. As evidence of Notre Dame’s success, new head coach Charlie Weis signed a 10-year contract extension with the Irish this week. The Volunteers will soon figure out the Fighting Irish is here to stay. Coming off a bye week, ND quarterback Brady Quinn will look for a third straight 300-yard performance.

Pick: Notre Dame 32, Tennessee 10

No. 23 California (-1) at No. 15 Oregon

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC

Oregon will try to succeed without leading man Kellen Clemens, the Ducks quarterback who broke his left fibula two weeks ago against Arizona and is out for the season. Besides throwing for an impressive 2,406 yards and 19 touchdowns, Clemens took the role of establishing the Ducks’ new spread offense. The coaching staff even admits newcomers Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf are green and hopes it won’t take long to familiarize themselves with the offense.

Pick: California 24, Oregon 17

No. 5 Miami (+6) at No. 3 Virginia Tech

Saturday, 7:45 p.m. ESPN

Each week, college football enthusiasts have been waiting for the big upset against undefeated teams USC, Texas and Virginia Tech. It hasn’t happened yet, but Miami has the biggest chance to do so this week. Still, the Hokies are undefeated for a reason. Virginia Tech (8-0, 5-0 in ACC) allows nine points a game, has yielded eight touchdowns all season and recorded nearly 400 yards in total offense. The Hokies have won 16 straight regular-season games.

Published on October 31, 2005 at 12:00 pm