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ALLIANCE -- The University of Mount Union football team has obtained the No. 1 ranking in the 2023 Lindy's Division III Preseason Top 25 poll.
In addition, four Purple Raiders were named to Lindy's Preseason All-America Teams. Graduate students quarterback Braxton Plunk and wide receiver Wayne Ruby and junior linebacker Rossy Moore were named on the first team, while senior offensive lineman Ben Lilly earned second team honors. Plunk, Ruby, and Moore all earned All-America honors last year.
"This season, Mount Union returns the most lethal quarterback and receiver duo at the level," said Alex Topor in the Lindy's Sports Magazine. "The Purple Raiders are in position to win their 34th Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) title and make another run at the Stagg Bowl."
Plunk led NCAA Division III in passing yards (4,551), while tied for first in points responsible for (342) -- to go along with 50 touchdown passes. Plunk was also a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III's version of the Heisman).
Ruby, the 2022 Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year, led Division III counterparts in both receiving yards (1,785) and receiving touchdowns (30) – both school records. Ruby was one touchdown away from tying a Division III record.
Moore, the 2022 Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, led the Raiders in sacks with 10.5, while second in tackles for a loss (19.5).
Lilly, who was named on the All-OAC Second Team last season, started at left tackle for all 15 games and helped power one of the top offenses in the country.
The Raiders won their 33rd OAC title and appeared in their 22nd NCAA Championship in 2022. They will be vying for their NCAA Division III-record 14th Championship.
Mount opens its much-anticipated 2023 season with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Sept. 2 at Defiance College.
Minerva grad chips in
HIRAM -- Hiram offensive lineman and Minerva High School graduate Derek Hurst was in Chicago on June 29, where he donated stem cells and platelets as part of the "Be The Match" registry that was hosted by the Terriers football program this past April.
Hurst was picked as a match through the registry, as his stem cells and platelets were identified as a way to help a patient in need of a transplant.
"This experience was something I knew I had to do," Hurst said. "Being able to have the chance of positively affecting someone and giving them the chance to live is extraordinarily important to me."
The "Be The Match" program is driven to save lives, particularly those diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia, as well as those with other blood disorders like sickle cell. Once a donor is found, the treatment for those patients becomes a reality.
"The actual experience of the donation is smooth," Hurst said. "The nurses, doctors and all the hospital staff make sure to let you know that what you are doing is something special."
Hurst joined former Hiram assistant coach Xavier Dupree, who donated his bone marrow in Washington D.C. in February after he was selected as a match through the 2022 registry. The football program had over 100 people sign up for the registry in each of the last two years.
"I think for Derek, this is outstanding for what he wants to do with his life," head football coach Jack Mrozinski said. "His whole deal is, 'How can he help others?' This gave him an opportunity to do that."
Since the "Be The Match" registry was run at Hiram College in 2022, there have been six other football programs across the NCAC to join in the fight against blood cancers and disorders. Over 1,300 people have been added to the registry this year alone as a result of those seven teams' efforts, according to the conference.