For the first time since the inception of the program in 1999, the Mount Ida College football team has gained an automatic bid into the NCAA post-season tournament this coming Saturday against hosting Wesley College in Dover, Delaware with kick-off slated for 12:00 noon. The victor of Saturday's opening round action will travel to the winner of Framingham State University versus Cortland State (SUNY) being played the same day in New York.
This will be the Mustangs first ever trip into the NCAA tournament after capturing their first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) title since Mount Ida joined the league in 2008. Finishing the regular season with an 8-2 record was the most wins in a season through the entire history of the program. Mount Ida would suffer two very close losses against Springfield College (49-42) in week three. They would fall in their only ECFC loss of the year against Gallaudet University during week nine (29-22).
The hosting Wolverines will head to their eighth straight NCAA appearance as an Independent team as the fifth ranked school in the nation though all of NCAA Division III competition. Wesley finished their regular season with an 8-1 overall record, their only loss coming against Mary Hardin-Baylor back on September 15th in a 32-25 nail biter. Through the past eight NCAA berths, the Wolverines have captured five South East Regional Championships.
The Mustangs and Wolverines have met once in the history of the two teams during Mount Ida's first season as a varsity team in 1999 falling 43-6.
Mount Ida College football fifth year Head Coach Michael Landers has seen much success since his first days at the helm with the program with an overall record of 28-25. Landers and the Mustangs have competed in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference's (ECAC) North Atlantic Bowl the past two years with losses against Springfield College and Endicott College.
Wesley head coach Mike Drass is currently in his 20th season at the helm of the football program after serving four years as the Wolverines defensive coordinator. He enters today's game with a 175-48-1 (.783) record. His 175 career wins are tenth among active Division III coaches and is 78.3% winning percentage is also among the top ten.
THE OPPONENT
The Wolverines rank 128th in NCAA Division III for total offense (351.67) and 28th overall in pass defense (161.78) for the season. Wesley senior signal caller Justin Sottilare (Columbia, MD/Oakland Hills) has led the offensive attack for the hosts with 23 touchdown passes with a 60.6 passing percentage for the season on 188 completions.
Sophomore receiver Steve Koudossou (Waldorf, MD/Westlake) has led the aerial attack for the Wolverines with six touchdown catches hauling in 41 receptions for 516 yards. Senior wide out Matt Barile (Bell Air, MD/Fallston) has also been a key part to the passing game with five TD catches for 416 yards through the air with 30 catches.
Sophomore linebacker Sosthene Kapepula (Olney, MD/Sherwood) leads the Wesley defense with 42 solo tacks, two forced fumbles, six pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. Senior defensive back Jared Morris (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) has picked off six opponent passes this season and is the third leading tackler adding 33 solo tackles and one fumble recovery.
Tickets:
$10 Adults
$5 Students (With Valid Student I.D.)