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2013 Final Standings
2013 Media Guide
Looking back: For most of the last 30 years, it has become an all too familiar sight: Mount Union not only winning the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) football championship, but also making a deep run in the NCAA Division III playoffs, winning 11 national championships dating back to 1993. And 2013 proved to be no different, with the Purple Raiders winning their 19th straight outright OAC crown.
To no one's surprise, perhaps, the Purple Raiders advanced to yet another Stagg Bowl, losing to Wisconsin-Whitewater, 52-14.
Looking ahead: Can anyone put an end to Mount Union's long-standing run of dominance in the OAC? The answer could come during the 2014 season.
Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):
1. Mount Union (14-1): The last time the Purple Raiders failed to win at least a share of the OAC championship was in 1991, when Baldwin-Wallace won the title outright. As he begins his second season at the helm, Vince Kehres finds himself sitting in the shadow his father, Larry Kehres, who has won all 11 national championships between 1993 and 2012. Having said that, the Purple Raiders are still the team to beat until, of course, another squad proves otherwise.
2. John Carroll (9-2): The Blue Streaks will look to end the Purple Raiders long reign atop the OAC, with a roster that includes more than 30 seniors going into the 2014 season.
3. Heidelberg (8-2): The Student Princes could have a say in the OAC title discussion as well, but will be tested early in their league opener at John Carroll on September 20.
4. Ohio Northern (6-4): Thanks to the return of d3football.com All-North Region kick returner Devon Price for his junior season, don't be surprised if the Polar Bears win at least seven or more games in 2014.
5. Baldwin-Wallace (6-4): The Yellow Jackets have had 44 winning seasons over the past 48 years. In order to make it 45 out of 49 in 2014, they must replace multiple players lost because of graduation, including d3football.com All-American punter Matt Harmon and offensive tackle Jason Cook, as well as academic All-Americans David Flegal and Zack Barley.
6. Otterbein (5-5): Warning to 2014 opponents: Don't find yourself in a close game against the Cardinals! They won three of their five games in 2013 by eight points or less. However, they lost all five games last year by 18 or more points.
7. Capital (3-7): The Crusaders hope to put a disappointing 2013 season behind them. One way to do just that is to hit the recruiting trail; hard, with 86 players taking the field in 2014.
8. Muskingum (2-8): The last 18 years have not been kind to the Muskies, as they're still searching for their first winning season since 1995, when they finished 6-3-1 overall.
9. Marietta (1-9): The Pioneers hope that this will be the year that they finally get a winning season under their belts, as their last winning campaign came in 2006 at 6-4.
10. Wilmington (0-10): Former NFL player turned D-III head coach Stacey Hairston will try to rebuild a Quakers program that has struggled to win games in recent years. In fact, they've won just two games overall over the past five years. They went winless in 2013 despite having one of the top passing offenses in the OAC.
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