By Clyde Hughes
D3sports.com

Cortland State coach Dan MacNeill seems to be well grounded for this time of the year. He knows that it won't be just another football game when his 11-1 Red Dragons step on the field in Alliance, Ohio, Saturday to take on Mount Union (12-0) in the NCAA quarterfinals in the first meeting ever between the two schools.

He also knows that treating it like any other football game gives Cortland the best shot at taking on the Purple Raider machine that has won nine national titles and has a 175-5 record since 1996.

"You can't go in and play a perception," MacNeill told D3football.com this week. "We've got to go in and be who we are and be focused inwardly.

"That football field is the same size as any football field we've stepped on all year. Our players need to understand it's about blocking, tackling, field position, and scoring; a lot of the things they have worked on everyday all year and now we have to do it in high fashion."

High fashion, indeed.

No. 16-ranked Cortland will be making its first national quarterfinal appearance since 1988. The winner of the contest gets the Wheaton-Franklin winner in the national semifinals on Dec. 13. The Red Dragons whipped Curry 42-0 in the second round of the NCAA playoffs last Saturday, looking impressive on both sides of the ball. MacNeill said all he asks of his team is to be Cortland.

"For us, it's not about Mount Union or any opponent," MacNeill said. "It's about Cortland and what we need to do. We've played well defensively this season and we have to look at our opponents and try to assess their strengths and weaknesses and try to neutralize the strengths as much as we can.

"I don't have to tell you we don't find a lot of weaknesses in the Mount Union program. There are things we need to do and apply our strengths in a way to what they do. If you try to play to your opponent, you're not playing your game."

Cortland has been pretty good being Cortland this season. Its 11 wins this season tied a school record. The Red Dragons' run defense has been suffocating at times this year, giving up 93.3 yards a contest, 28th best in the country. Its 7.8 tackles for loss per game is 23rd best in the country.

Linebacker Jimmy Smith, who has a team-leading 112 tackles, sets the tone for the defense. Defensive lineman Bryan Wiley has 5.5 sacks and 14.5 total tackles for losses. Defensive back D.J. Romano has five interceptions, including one in the Curry game. MacNeill said, though, his leaders have shined because the entire team has done its job.

"Jimmy Smith has had a great year, no question, but part of the reason he's had a great year is because of that defensive line in front of him," MacNeill said. "Bryan Wiley has had a good season, but the reason he's pretty good is because teams can't say we're going to neutralize this one young man because they know we have some other players that can play. Eleven players have to persevere for the team to win a contest. It isn't just one player stepping up."

The defense will face one of its toughest challenges yet in Mount Union and its All-American running back Nate Kmic. Kmic enters into the game coming off of a 235-yard rushing performance last week against Hobart. That made him the NCAA Division III all-time rushing leader with 7,449 career yards.

MacNeill said stopping Mount Union and Kmic will take a lot of effort, but it's a challenge he thinks his players are looking forward to. He said his team would need to execute fundamentals at every turn.

"We need to tackle Kmic," MacNeill said. "A lot of people have tried and missed and you've got to give him credit for that. His offensive line is really super. You have to make sure you're winning the battle in the trenches, but when you have a chance to make that tackle you have to make sure to wrap up and let team pursuit take him down. We like our defense and like the challenge and we're all excited about that."

MacNeill said his defense is wary of Mount Union receiver Cecil Shorts III, who set a Mount Union single-season record with 20 touchdown receptions this season.


MacNeill said he has been pleased with the way his team was able to bounce back after a regular-season ending 35-14 loss to No. 17 Ithaca Nov. 15, ruining its undefeated season. He credited his seniors with getting the team to move on from the loss to play solidly in the playoffs.

"We have seniors who've been through a lot of wars and won a lot of games and they have an understanding of that," MacNeill said. "The fact is we're still playing and it's a neat thing. They handled it very well. You've got to put losses behind you. You have to fail fast and move on. Each play, if dwell on the past, you can't move on to the future. We'll be ready when they put the ball down in Alliance, Ohio."

The future now has taken Cortland to the NCAA quarterfinals.