The Mount Union Purple Raiders are playing for the right to play in the NCAA Division III National Championship Game at noon this Saturday at Mount Union Stadium. That statement alone has a familiar ring to it for the Purple Raiders, as it will be the 14th consecutive year they've qualified for the semifinals.

While the familiarity may carry a positive meaning for coach Larry Kehres and his Raiders, the visiting Wheaton Thunder do not have history on their side. The only playoff games Wheaton has ever lost have come at the hands of the Purple Raiders.

History aside, Kehres knows the Thunder will come ready to play, having already won three consecutive road playoff games en route to Alliance.

"Winning on the road, especially in the playoffs, gives a team confidence," Kehres said. "They have shown they can handle all the details that traveling causes and they are a better football team because of that. (Wheaton) Coach (Mike) Swider has done a real nice job making a strong program even stronger. They pay in a great conference and are making the most of the opportunities they have earned.

The Thunder are entering Saturday's contest with an 11-2 overall record while the Purple Raiders are 13-0 after last week's 41-14 thrashing of Cortland State. Given the obvious success Mount Union has had over the years, Swider feels its more important for his team to focus on who they are, as opposed to gushing over Mount Union's storied program.

"We have to be who we are," Swider said. "They are who they are and we must play our game and work hard and do the best we can."

That isn't to say that Swider doesn't understand what his team is up against. They're preparing to face a Purple Raider's team that has put up 607 points and given up just 81, which isn't bad for a team that had to replace a lot of starters from last year's national runner-up team.

"The only difference between the last time we played them in 2006 and now appears to be the names of the players," Swider said. "They are very good and the consistency in how they do things from year to year is truly amazing and that is a testament to Larry (Kehres) and his staff."

How consistent are the Purple Raiders? The last three feature backs have managed to break each other's single season and career rushing records. The most recent being senior Nate Kmic from Delta, Ohio, who this season alone leads the nation with 2,439 yards and 39 touchdowns. Quarterback Greg Micheli leads the nation in pass efficiency, racking up 3,256 yards and 32 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Given how impressive Mount Union's offensive statistics are, it would be easy to assume Wheaton might be just another push over. Kehres sees the Thunder's defense as just the opposite - a formidable challenge to his team's offensive capabilities.

"They are quick and have a great deal of speed on defense," Kehres said. "They have a lot of playmakers including an all-American at cornerback leading the way."

Wheaton cornerback Peter Ittersagen had three interceptions and 51 tackles to lead the Thunder defense.

Offensively, Wheaton has a 1,000-yard rusher in Rocky Gingg who has 15 scores this season. Quarterback Sean Norris has 2,891 yards and 30 touchdowns, but has also thrown 14 interceptions.

"They are a diversified offense that can do a lot of things well," Kehres said. "They can be a very dynamic when they need to be."

As the Thunder prepare to face the best Division III program in the country, Swiger has always seen the way the Purple Raiders do things as a high standard worth imitating.

"The basic structure of the program is the same today as it was the first time we faced them in the mid-90s," Swiger said. "They do not jump on any band wagon, they just establish core values and infrastructure and tweak it to the particular players they have at the time. I am and have always been impressed with what they have done and continue to do."

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