TODAY'S GAME - This afternoon’s contest will be the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams. DC will be trying to get off to a 1-0 start in league play for the third-straight season, while Manchester enters conference play with a winning record for the first time since 1999.
SCOUTING DEFIANCE - Defiance has been led offensively all season by the one-two punch of Hans Vetter and Luke Dillon. The duo has hooked up for at least eight catches and 109 yards in all three games and has averaged 12 receptions and 167 yards per game. The defense has been led by 34 tackles from Keith Snyder and 20 tackles, 5.0 hits for lost yardage, 2.5 sacks and one interception by Chris Tietje.
SCOUTING MANCHESTER - The Spartans enter play this afternoon with a two-game win streak on the line. Manchester lost 14-9 to Tri-State to open the season, but have beaten Earlham and Hiram by a combined count of 81-28 over the last two contests. MC’s offense is bolstered by Brandon Wells and Joel Hawkins, as the duo is averaging 153.6 rushing yards per game out of the backfield. Tyler Pedersen has been the story on defense, posting 22 tackles, 8.5 for lost yards, three sacks and four pass breakups.
SERIES HISTORY - Today will mark the 41st all-time game between Manchester and Defiance. The Yellow Jackets have faired well in the series, posting a 25-15 mark entering play this afternoon. Despite the all-time edge for DC, the series has favored the visiting teams over the past three seasons, with the road team coming away with the win all three times.
LAST MEETING - The Yellow Jackets won the last meeting between these programs, 19-7, in North Manchester on September 30, 2006. Despite the competitive 12-point margin, DC dominated the action throughout and controlled the trenches. The Purple and Gold picked up 206 rushing yards to MC’s 44 and ran 17 more plays on the offensive side of the ball than did the Spartans. DC also held a 34:08 to 25:52 advantage in time of possession and piled up five sacks and seven hits for lost yardage.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS - Today’s clash between the Jackets and the Spartans will pit the top-ranked defenses in the league against each other. Manchester currently leads the way, holding its opponents to 278.7 total yards per game and DC is right behind at 283.3. Both defensive units will be tested today however, as Manchester leads the HCAC with 238.3 rushing yards a game and Defiance rates second in the league with 240.0 passing yards per contest.
AIRING IT OUT - The Yellow Jackets have shown off a new-look offense in 2007, featuring a high-powered air attack. Hans Vetter and Luke Dillon provide one of the most lethal combos in the nation as Vetter currently ranks 17th in the nation with 289.3 yards of total offense per game and Dillon leads the nation with 12.0 receptions per game. Dillon also ranks second with 167.0 receiving yards per game, fifth with 501 total receiving yards and 21st with 176.3 all-purpose yards per contest.
THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM - The Defiance defensive unit has been stout on third downs this season. The Jackets have stopped the opposition from reaching a first down on 82 percent of their third down plays this year.
SECOND HALF STRUGGLES - Defiance will look to find a way to put points on the board in the second half as it begins the conference slate. DC has mustered only five points after the half in its first three contests and has been outscored by a 28-5 margin in the third and fourth quarters so far this season.
SEEING YELLOW - The Jackets have been their own worst enemy in 2007, piling up well over 300 yards of penalties through their first three games of the year. DC is averaging 10 penalties per contest for an average of 108 yards per game.
AROUND THE HCAC - Business will pick up around the HCAC starting this afternoon as the schedule boasts four conference games. Along with today’s game inside Coressel Stadium, the schedule will feature Franklin at Bluffton, MSJ at Anderson and Rose-Hulman playing host to Hanover.
WHAT'S ON TAP? - Defiance will be at home once again next week as it hosts Rose-Hulman at 1:30 pm. The game will be one of several events held on campus over the weekend, as Defiance celebrates its 2007 Homecoming.
