Top 5 division 3 matchups week 8

Hello, Justin Berendzen (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my top 5 division 3 matchups of week 8.

1.University of Mount Union at Heidelberg University 

This might be Mount Union’s toughest test before the playoffs. Heidelberg has a tough offense with the duo of senior wide receivers Dimitri Penick who has 372 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns and Maceo Matthews Jr who has 367 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. If you like defense this probably isn’t the game to watch but if you like offense there’s going to be lots of it and Mount Union has 3 impressive offensive players on the receiving side of things it’s senior wide receiver Wayne Ruby who has 669 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, and then there’s the running back duo of junior DeAndre Parker who has 482 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns and senior Josh Petruccelli who has 397 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

2.University of Dubuque at Wartburg College 

2 teams in the receiving votes category of the coaches poll should be an interesting matchup. Wartburg is led offensively by their senior quarterback Jace Moore who has thrown for 1,253 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Dubuque defensively has junior defensive back Colton Pedersen who has 41 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 6 PBUs. Offensively for the Spartans of Dubuque you have freshman running back Kallion Buckner who has 561 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. The player defensively for Wartburg to watch is senior defensive back Eli Barrett who has 35 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 4 PBUs.

3.Saint John’s(MN) University at Gustavus Adolphus College 

Another very important road matchup for a top 10 ranked team in Saint John’s(MN). Gustavus sophomore running back Rohee Konde has 513 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. In Konde’s way for St.John’s(MN) will be senior linebacker Kyle Kornovich who has 31 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 3 PBUs. The Johnnies offensively have senior wide receiver Ravi Alston who has 470 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

4.Belhaven University at Howard Payne University 

Belhaven has a really good defense up against a really good offensive team in Howard Payne. Howard Payne’s offense is led by grad wide receiver Jake Parker who has 676 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Defensively for Belhaven trying to stop Howard Payne will be sophomore defensive lineman Carlton Brown who has 23 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 6 sacks. Offensively for Belhaven watch out for running back Brad Foley who has 495 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. 

5.Olivet College at Albion College 

2 good defenses here if you are looking for offense, I don’t think this is your game. Albion College defense has junior linebacker Jeremiah Major who has 39 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 2 sacks. Olivet’s defense is led by senior defensive lineman Ta’Mar Heart-Wilkins who has 28 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. If you are looking at offense Albion senior wide receiver Justin Thomas has 605 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.