The NCAA News - News and Features

November 17, 1997

Division III Football

Mount Union dominating decade

Event: 1997 Division III Football Championship.

Overview: The 25th anniversary of the championship is likely to reap more gold than silver for defending champion Mount Union (8-0 through games of November 1). The Raiders have won 22 consecutive games and 32 straight regular-season games. In the '90s, Mount Union has the best winning percentage (.932) and has won more games (88) than any team in college football. All-American quarterback Bill Borchert, who leads the division in passing efficiency for the third consecutive season, has thrown 37 touchdown passes and only one interception. Borchert has a legitimate shot at setting the collegiate record (all divisions) for career touchdown passes set by Mississippi Valley's Willie Totten from 1982 to 1985 (139) .... Wisconsin-Whitewater (8-0) clinched at least a tie for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. The Warhawks are the nation's third-best rushing team, averaging 333 yards per game on the ground. Senior running back John Damato averages 140 yards per game and 7.8 yards per carry. Junior quarterback Ty Grovesteen set an NCAA record when he completed 25 straight pass attempts earlier this season .... Rowan (7-0) is gunning for its second undefeated regular season and 11th New Jersey Athletic Conference title in school history. The Profs are loaded at the skill positions and have a more balanced offensive attack than in previous seasons. Senior quarterback Greg Lister ranks second in the division with a 192.2 passing efficiency rating. The four-year starter has thrown 14 touchdown passes this season. Running backs Eugene Foster and Jyi Peterson each have rushed for six touchdowns.

Field: The 16-team field includes four teams from each of four regions.

Dates and sites: First-round (November 22) and quarterfinal (November 29) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. Regional winners, paired East vs. South and North vs. West, will play in the semifinals December 6 on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship game will be December 13 in Salem, Virginia.

Television: ESPN2 will televise the championship game live at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) December 13.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3066 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1358 for bracket/schedule and 5091 for championship-game results. Game scores and pairings also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Championship-game results will be published in the December 22 issue of The NCAA News.