2016 University of Mount Union Football
#1 Mount Union Purple Raiders (0-0) at North Carolina Wesleyan (0-1)
Sept. 10, 2016 - Rocky Mount Athletic Complex - Rocky Mount, N.C.
Radio: WDPN 1310 AM (Alliance), WRMU 91.1 FM (Alliance)
The matchup: No. 1 ranked Mount Union begins its 119th season of football at North Carolina Wesleyan, Saturday, Sept. 10 at 12:30 p.m. at Bishop Stadium in Rocky Mount, N.C.
Mount Union went 15-0 last season to win its 27th overall and 24th straight Ohio Athletic Conference title along with its record 12th NCAA Divsion III National Championship. The Raiders return five starters on offense and two on defense along with 46 letterwinners in 2016.
NC Wesleyan opened its season last week with a 42-28 loss at Stevenson (Md.). The game was tied at 28-28 entering the fourth quarter before Stevenson scored 14 unanswered for the win. NC Wesleyan QB Nathan Gardner threw for 251 yards and three TD's but also had six interceptions. Preseason All-American wide receiver Malik Adams had 132 yards on seven catches with two TD's for the Bishops.
NC Wesleyan finished the 2015 season on a four-game win streak to go 5-5 overall and tied for second in the USA South Athletic Conference.
Let's Go Streaking: The Purple Raiders have won 28-straight season openers since 1987. Mount Union also has a 103-game regular season win streak dating back to 2005 and a 109-game road win streak dating back to 1994.
The series: This is the first-ever meeting between the schools and Mount Union's first-ever game in the state of North Carolina. NC Wesleyan will play a return game in 2017, Saturday, Sept. 2 at 12:30 p.m. at Mount Union Stadium.
The Raiders have a 2-0 record against current members of the USA South as Mount Union played a home-and-home series with Averett (Va.) in 2006 and 2007.
Poll Position: Mount Union has been preseason nationally ranked No. 1 by D3football.com, Lindy's and HeroSports.com while The Sporting News picked the Raiders at No. 2.
Bye Bye Bye: Mount Union will play 10-straight regular season games this year with no bye week. It is the first time since 2011 against Wisconsin-Oshkosh that the Raiders have played 10-straight regular season games.
Opening act: Mount Union has won 28-straight season openers dating back to a 17-15 home loss to Wooster on Sept. 12, 1987. The Raiders have non-conference opponents lined up for the next six years as Mount Union plays two-game home-and-home sets with North Carolina Wesleyan (16-17), Rose Hulman (Ind.) (18-19) and Westminster (Pa.) (20-21).
Centers of attention: Mount Union senior center Mitch Doraty (Medina/Medina) was named a pre-season All-American by D3football.com, Lindy's and The Sporting News. A year ago, Doraty started all 15 games last season and was an All-OAC First Team, All-North Region and All-Americn while being awarded the Rimington Trophy as the top center in NCAA Division III.
At the center of the defensive line, junior tackle Mike Vidal (Miami, Fla./Ronald Regan Doral) was also named a pre-season All-American by The Sporting News. He is the top returning tackler for a unit that was the nation's top rated defense a year ago. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks on his way to All-OAC honorable mention honors.
Up Next: The Raiders return home to host Marietta in the OAC opener at 1:30 p.m. at Mount Union Stadium. It is the annual M-Club Hall of Fame game while ArtFest will also be taking place on campus.
