The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team (10-0, 7-0 WIAC) may be defending national champions, but the Britons are ready to knock off its crown.
The Albion College football team (6-4, 6-0 MIAA) will travel to Whitewater, Wis. for its NCAA Division III Football Championship first-round game. Kickoff for the Nov. 19 tilt is set for 1:00 p.m.
“You don’t want to play a nobody,” said Brian Spencer, East Lansing junior. “You want to get to the point where you play the best of the best.”
Well the Britons are at that point. Whitewater has reached every National Championship game since 2005, and have won it the past two seasons. The Warhawks are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and are by far the best team Albion has played this year — But don’t think the Britons are intimidated.
“I’m up to the challenge,” Chris Greenwood, Detroit senior, said. “I like playing better teams because it tests you.”
The game will likely be won on the ground, as both squads feature powerful running attacks and stout run defenses.
Clinton Orr, Buchanan junior, became Albion’s all-time leading rusher last week at 3,163 yards. He is averaging 111.1 rushing yards per game this season. However, Whitewater’s run defense gives up just 82.9 yards per game.
“I’m not afraid,” Orr said. “No matter who we play, I’m going to do my responsibility and that is to run the ball and do whatever I have to to put my team in the best position to win.”
The Warhawks feature running back Levell Coppage, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year. Whitewater leads the WIAC with 228.9 rushing yards per game. But the Britons give up only 102.3 yards per game — tops in the MIAA.
The Warhawks are riding a 40 game win streak that dates back to 2009. Even so, the MIAA Champion Britons are confident they can pull off an upset.
“We are going to come with our ‘A’ game ready,” Orr said. “We are going to give it all we got, and leave it all on the field.”
Photo Courtesy of Albion College
Leave a Reply