DelVal looking forward to facing mighty Mount Union in NCAA quarterfinals

DOYLESTOWN — For Delaware Valley University to get where it has never been and desperately wants to go, the Aggies must defeat a perennial powerhouse.

While DelVal has reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs for the fifth time (2004-05, 2017, '19), the Aggies have yet to advance to the semifinals. Mount Union, a 27-time national quarterfinalist, is standing in their way. The Purple Raiders are 13-time national champions — Wisconsin-Whitewater is next with six.

Mount Union is headed to Doylestown for Saturday afternoon's noon quarterfinal game at James Work Memorial Stadium.

"Mount Union's been the pinnacle of D-III Football for a long time," said DelVal senior safety Blaine Netterman. "… It's probably one of the biggest games in program history. We can't wait."

DelVal's senior class is the winningest in school history with a 43-5 record and four NCAA berths. Mount Union is 54-3 during that span, having advanced to the championship game in 2018 and the semifinals last year. Mount Union and DelVal possess size, speed and physicality, especially at the line of scrimmage.

"Not in a cocky way, but I have not seen a team as physical as us, so I hope that carries over to this weekend," said Aggies coach Duke Greco. "I think we present some challenges to them in terms of physicality and athleticism that maybe they haven't seen yet, either. It'll be a great game."

Both 12-0 teams have been dominant this fall, especially on defense. Second-ranked Mount Union is second in D-III scoring defense (7.17-point average) and No. 8 DelVal is sixth (8.08).

A record-setting college career: Delaware Valley counts on safety Blaine Netterman 'for everything'

Rallying for a victory: Delaware Valley mounts incredible comeback for second-round playoff win

All he needed was a chance: Yusuf Aladinov was barely recruited out of Tennent, yet he's starring at DelVal

Delaware Valley has outscored opponents 385-97 while holding a 2,346-734 edge in rushing yardage. Senior defensive end Michael Nobile, the three-time Middle Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is one of 15 semifinalists for the Gagliardi Award, which is given annually to the best Division III player. Nobile has a team-high 13 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, putting him second on the Aggies to senior William Tennent graduate Yusuf Aladinov (21.5). Nobile's 93.5 career tackles for loss are fourth-most in D-III history.

DelVal sophomore running back Jay White, a North Penn grad, has rushed 190 times for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Louie Barrios IV has completed 142 of 248 passes for 2,229 yards and 19 TDs, as well as run for 487 yards and 14 scores.

Meanwhile, Mount Union has outscored its foes 576-86 while accumulating 6,278 yards of total offense to opponents' 2,097. Sophomore linebacker Rossy Moore leads the Purple Raiders with 8.5 sacks and 67 tackles, 15.5 of which went for loss.

Senior quarterback Braxton Plunk is 293-for-395 passing for 3,715 yards, 44 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Plunk, also a Gagliardi semifinalist, has 26 TDs and two interceptions over the past seven contests. The passing yardage and 74.6 completion percentage are tops in Division III.

Senior wide receiver DeAndre Parker (195 carries for 1,129 yards, 19 totals TDs) and senior receiver Wayne Ruby (78 catches, 1,430 yards, 26 TDs) are two of the key players from Florida on the Purple Raiders' roster (as is Plunk). Ruby caught a deflected 48-yard touchdown pass from Plunk with no time remaining for a dramatic 23-21 victory over Baldwin Wallace on Nov. 12, resulting in Mount Union clinching its 33rd Ohio Athletic Conference title.

"You talk about D-III Football and Mount Union's the standard," said DelVal defensive coordinator Nick Brady. "For us, it's an opportunity to go play what is the best. They're a great team, obviously, but we're excited for the challenge."

Greco earned his third MAC Coach of the Year award after coaching his third undefeated season. His career record of 82-12 for an .872 winning percentage is second-best among all active college football coaches (minimum of four seasons), trailing just Ohio State's Ryan Day (45-5, .900).

Mount Union is 113-6 in that time with NCAA titles in 2015 and '17 under former coach Vince Kehres. Geoff Dartt, who succeeded Kehres in 2020, is 29-1, with the only loss to North Central 26-13 in the '21 national semifinals.

"We've been here," Greco said. "The Elite Eight has been the best that's ever happened here with past teams. This is an opportunity for us to do something that's never been done — kick in the door and put a new stamp on the program."

Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apparently won't be able to attend Saturday's game due to preparations for Sunday's NFL home meeting with the Titans. Sirianni played wide receiver at Mount Union from 2001-03, catching 52 passes for 998 yards (19.2 average) and 13 touchdowns as a senior. He began his coaching career as the Purple Raiders' defensive backs coach in 2004-05.

Whether Sirianni is present or not, the DelVal players and coaches understand what's at stake.

"(Defeating Mount Union) would mean everything to me and I know it would mean everything to my teammates," Netterman said. "In August, we talked about the goal was to be the first (DelVal) team to get to the Final Four. We're right on the edge of making that happen."

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: DelVal eager to face mighty Mount Union in NCAA quarterfinals