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AURORA, Ill.- Quarterback Dominc Bona amassed 355 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns as Albion College rolled into the NCAA Division III Championship with a 42-14 victory over Aurora (Ill.) University.
Albion finished the regular season 9-1, its best record in Craig Rundle's 19 years as head coach of the Britons. Albion shared the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship with Olivet College, but the Britons will received the league's automatic qualification to the NCAA playoffs based on the head-to-head win over the Comets. Albion will receive its assignment for its first round game Sunday night at 6 when the bracket is revealed on a webcast streamed at NCAA.com.
"We have gotten better each week and the kind of games we have played down the stretch have prepared us for the playoffs," Rundle said.
There was no letdown after Albion secured a share of the MIAA title with a win over Alma last Saturday as the Britons scored on their first two possessions and never looked back. Bona capped Albion's first possession with a 25-yard run and Colin Parks hit pay dirt from 26 yards out.
"We did a good job of preparation," Rundle said. "It was a tough situation after playing two emotional games to end the league season."
Parks finished with 89 yards on 12 carries to complete the regular season with 1,072 rushing yards. Mike Czarnecki, who added 111 yards Saturday, finished the regular season with 1,216 yards. It is the first time Albion has ever had two backs with 1,000-yard rushing in the same season.
Albion extended the margin to 21-0 at halftime as Kyle Slotnick hauled in a 9-yard pass from Bona with 20 seconds left in the first half.
Albion scored the first two times it touched the ball in the third quarter. Bona scored on an 8-yard run to complete a 6-play drive on the opening possession of the second half. A Jeremy Shephard interception set up the offense at the Aurora 41 and it took the Britons just four plays to cover the distance, with a 16-yards strike from Bona to Jon Alandt for the score.
Czarnecki capped Albion's scoring with a 5-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Albion finished with a 555-301 edge in total offense. Bona was 28-of-38 for 234 yards. Chris McCall was the leading receiver with 66 yards. Alandt hauled in nine passes for 58 yards.
Geordon Carter led the defense with 11 tackles, including two for loss.