No, Wheaton quarterback Sean Norris isn't going head-to-head against Franklin quarterback Chad Rupp this weekend in their teams' national quarterfinal game. But it's hard to avoid looking at it that way, as Franklin comes into the game having averaged 50 points in two playoff games.

So who's the guy on the other sideline? Well, he's approaching 3,000 passing yards himself, but merely being a quarterback is hardly sufficient to describe Norris. Nor is "football player" much of a description for any member of the Wheaton Thunder, whose idea of spring break is more like Habitat for Humanity on steroids than Daytona Beach.

More in a Road to Salem feature by Bill Huber.

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It may be difficult to picture for anyone coming to Division III football in the past 10 years, but Mount Union wasn't always the dominant force in the sport. Once there was a time the Purple Raiders couldn't get past Augustana. Or Dayton. And that was just to get out of the North Region.

So when Mount Union reached the Stagg Bowl 15 years ago, well, they weren't given too much of a chance. But two fourth-quarter touchdowns later, the Purple Raiders knocked off Rowan and claimed Walnut and Bronze.

And as an anniversary approaches, members of that first Mount Union champion are still close and can be found on the Purple Raider sidelines on playoff Saturdays.

More in a Road to Salem feature by Ryan Tipps.