Jackets take on Goliath

Randolph-Macon's coaches will not distribute slingshots and pebbles prior to kickoff.

But perhaps they should. Because the Yellow Jackets are playing the role of David in today's playoff date with Mount Union, the Goliath of NCAA Division III football. And this time, Goliath is playing at home and wearing a helmet. Mount Union, undefeated, unchallenged and No. 1-ranked, is to small-college football what the '72 Dolphins are to the NFL and the '27 Yankees are to Major League Baseball. The Purple Raiders compete, figuratively and almost literally, in a league of their own.

"They're the best of the best," said Randolph-Macon offensive lineman Kevin Wagner, a senior from Patrick Henry High School. "If you want to know where you stand in Division III, you've got to measure yourself against [Mount Union]."

Seldom does an opponent measure up. Mount Union, a school of 2,200 located in Alliance, Ohio, has won nine NCAA championships, including two of the past three. This year's club seems quite capable of making it 10. These Purple Raiders, ruthlessly efficient, have outscored their 10 regular-season opponents 468-60 and have outgained them by an average of nearly 400 yards per contest.

The Yellow Jackets (6-4) say they are impressed but not intimidated. Wagner said today's opportunity - a date with the No. 1-ranked club in the national championship playoffs - is something for which he has been hoping since he arrived at R-MC as a freshman.

"I'm very excited. I think we're all very excited," he said. "When we saw the pairings" during last Sunday's selection show on ESPN News, "everyone started screaming and yelling. Our ultimate goal is to see [the R-MC program] one day win a national championship. The only way you get there is by playing the best team, and there's no doubt that [the Purple Raiders] are the best team."

Senior defensive back Eric Dardozzi agreed.

"Just thinking about it makes the hair stand up on my arms," Dardozzi said. "I'm so ready to go right now, I think I could play another 10 games. What a great opportunity this is; what a great opportunity to see not only where we are as a program but also what we have to do to get where we want to go."

Both players said it is essential that R-MC not be dazzled by the magnitude of today's game or the identity of today's opponent. Both said the Yellow Jackets can - and indeed, must - collect victories in places other than the scoreboard.

"We have to play good, solid, fundamental football," Dardozzi said. "We have to play tough, hard and fast. Whatever we've got, we have to leave it out there in the field."

Wagner said: "We need to work out butts off. We need to give everything we have to give, and we need to give it on every play. When the day is over, if nothing else, I want [Mount Union] to know that we came to compete with them."

Also in action: USA South champion Christopher Newport is the state's other representative in the 32-team Division III playoff field. The Captains (8-1) will play at Washington & Jefferson (9-1) today at noon. This contest will feature two formidable offensive talents: Presidents quarterback Bobby Swallow (304.7 passing ypg; 33 TDs and four interceptions) and CNU tailback Tunde Ogun, a former Douglas Freeman standout (181.6 rushing ypg; 13 TDs).