Nov 14, 2010

Wheaton football team earns spot in NCAA Playoffs, will host Coe College in First Round

Football

11/14/2010 3:05:03 PM

Wheaton football head coach Mike Swider

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Complete Playoffs Bracket

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton College football team has earned an at-large bid to the 2010 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. Wheaton (9-1) will host Coe College (Iowa) at McCully Stadium on Saturday, November 20 with a Noon kickoff.

Wheaton is making its seventh appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs and the program's sixth postseason berth in the past nine seasons. Wheaton has a 10-6 all-time record in the postseason and perfect 6-0 record in the first round. The winner of next Saturday's Wheaton-Coe game will advance to face the winner of another first round game between Wartburg College and Bethel College (Minn.) on November 27.

As a NCAA Championship event admission for adults is $8 for adults, students are $4 students and chlidren under age 3 are free. No free passes or season passes can be accepted. The gates at McCully Stadium will open at 11:00 AM.

It's really exciting to know that we are going to play at home in the first round," Wheaton head football coach Mike Swider said. "I think it was really obvious that [the selection committee] took our strength of schedule into play...We have never played Coe before, but it will be a task I'm sure. Any time you get into the playoffs, you have to be a good football team that knows how to win and knows how to win tough games. It's another opportunity for our kids to play another week. It's great for the institution of Wheaton and for our program. I couldn't be prouder of our young men. I'd just like to encourage everyone to get out here [for the game]."

Wheaton finished the regular season with a 9-1 overall record and a 6-1 record in CCIW play to finish second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). The Thunder was selected as a Pool C bid to earn its spot in the playoffs.

Coe College enters the playoffs with a record of 9-1 this season and earned its trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs via a Pool C bid. The Kohawks went 7-1 in the Iowa Conference (IIAC) to finish in second place in the conference.

Wheaton has had a strong season with impressive come-from-behind victories against Augustana and Carthage among the highlights. Wheaton is led on offense by quarterback Jordan Roberts with 1,258 yards passing with a 66.5 percent completion rate and 12 touchdowns through the air. He also has 394 yards rushing for an average of 6.6 yards per carry and two touchdowns. At running back, the Thunder have three players with least 400 yards this year, including Rocky Gingg (478 yards), Peter Jarrett (467 yards) and Joey Skogen (409 yards). The wide receivers are led by Freddy Ellis with 35 catches, 543 yards and two touchdowns. Teddy Watkins also has 31 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.

Wheaton's defense is paced in tackles by linebacker Jordan Chapman with 58 total, including 5.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Cornerback Tyler Langs leads the secondary with six interceptions and 10 pass breakups along with a punt return average of 15.8 yards per return. Defensive end JD East is tops on the team with nine tackles for a loss while defensive end Ryan Dougan has five sacks on the year.

The complete playoffs bracket can be viewed by clicking the link at the top of the story.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2010/11/14/FB_1114100856.aspx