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The Capital University football team looks to snap a three-game losing streak, its longest since 2008, on Saturday at Mount Union, the consensus No. 1 team in the country, at 1:30 p.m. in Alliance, Ohio.
The Crusaders (1-4 overall, 1-3 Ohio Athletic Conference), who hope to avoid their longest losing streak since 2000, surrendered 596 total yards while gaining just 190 of their own in a 45-10 setback against Heidelberg, which is ranked 20th in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll and 25th by D3football.com.
Junior wide receiver Alex Coleman (Columbus, Ohio) posted 139 all-purpose yards, including a 73-yard kickoff return just before the end of the first half that set up junior quarterback Ryan Kremchek's 5-yard touchdown run.
Freshman running back Bo Hardy (Galloway, Ohio), who is currently second in the league in rushing, was held to 32 yards on 18 carries.
Senior defensive lineman Aaron Knisley (Bexley, Ohio), senior defensive back Ryan Neuberger (Milan, Ohio) and freshman defensive back Zach Green (Groveport, Ohio) led the defense with 10 tackles apiece. Green had an interception, which he returned 36 yards.
Capital enters its second game in a four-game OAC gauntlet against teams who are currently or were previously ranked in the Top 25 by either the AFCA or by D3football.com.
The Crusaders will need to be at their absolute best in all three phases of the contest to have a chance to win on Homecoming Saturday in Alliance.
Mount Union (5-0, 4-0) has been No. 1 in the nation since the third week of the season and hasn't relinquished its spot atop the national polls. The Purple Raiders, who have won 10 national titles since 1993 and entered the 2012 season with three straight appearances in the Stagg Bowl, defeated host Wilmington 66-0 last Saturday.
Mount Union outgained the Quakers 587-92, forced four turnovers and rushed for seven touchdowns, including two each for T.J. Lattimore and Jake Simon. The Purple Raiders, who held the ball for nearly 39 minutes, tallied 42 points in the first half.
Quarterback Kevin Burke finished 14-of-15 for 134 yards and a score, while Chris Denton led the receiving corps with six receptions for 83 yards. Defensive back Nick Driskill finished with four tackles for a loss to pace a balanced, effective defensive attack.
On Oct. 22, 2011, in the last meeting between the two teams, Capital did all it could to stay with the Purple Raiders, trailing just 3-0 after the first half before eventually falling 27-7 at Bernlohr Stadium. Mount Union took advantage of two turnovers in the third quarter to score 17 unanswered in the period.
Wide receiver Matt White recorded six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Chase Carris completed 12-of-28 for 111 yards and a score.
Linebacker Troy Spiker paced the defense with 16 tackles and a fumble forced and recovered. Defensive lineman Dan Frankart contributed with 14 tackles and one sack, and fellow lineman Nate Nasrallah registered a sack.
The Purple Raiders own a 34-14 advantage in the series between the two teams, and have won the last 26 meetings, including NCAA quarterfinal contests in 2006 and 2007. The Crusaders last defeated Mount Union in 1987, posting a 26-25 victory in the program's lone OAC championship season.
Two current Capital defensive linemen – seniors Aaron Rittgers and Zac Randall – appeared in the game in 2009, when the Crusaders held a 21-14 advantage midway through the fourth quarter only to fall 28-21 on two Purple Raider touchdowns in the final 8:17 of the contest. Capital drove to the Mount Union 32-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
