Wesley College reaches D-III football Final Four

The Wesley College Wolverines are just a win away from their first ever trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl – the NCAA Division III national title game in football.

The Wesley College Wolverines are just a win away from their first ever trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl – the NCAA Division III national title game in football.

The Wolverines shutdown Johns Hopkins 12-0 Saturday in the quarterfinal round – winning their third South region title in the last five years.

Running back Aaron Jackson and quarterback Shane McSweeny each scored rushing touchdowns for Wesley – the only two scores of the game.

But that was all the Wolverines needed, as they held the ball for just over 40  minutes and their defense held Hopkins to just 138 yards in the rain, sleet and cold at Miller Stadium in Dover.

“Both teams played really hard, especially considering the weather.  Our athletic trainers were actually worried about hypothermia towards the end of the game.  On a day like today, the team who makes the fewest mistakes is going to win,” said Wesley head coach Mike Drass.

“We couldn’t take any deep shots down the field.  You just have to run the ball, ”  said McSweeny.  “You can’t turn the ball over.  You really just have to hold on in this kind of game.”

Wesley, ranked third in the nation, remains undefeated.  The Wolverines take their 13-0 record to Alliance, Ohio this Saturday to face the nation’s number one team, Mount Union.

“We’re not ready for our season to end.  I’m looking forward to playing the best teams and beating the best teams,” Wolverine offensive lineman Matt Ferguson said.

Mount Union, the defending national champ and winner of three of the last four titles, is also 13-0 . The Purple Raiders are in the semifinals for a 15th straight year and are  riding a 28 game win streak.

“Mount Union has the best team.  But to be the best team, you have to beat the best team,” said Drass.

Kick-off Saturday at Mount Union is at noon.

The winner heads to Salem, Virginia for the title game December 19th and will face the survivor of Saturday’s other semi-final pitting Linfield (OR) against Wisconsin-Whitewater.