Top 5 Division 3 match-ups week 11 | Top 5 games to watch this week

Justin Berendzen (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my top 5 division 3 matchups of week 11

1.Ithaca College at SUNY Cortland 

• Huge rivalry game here for the Cortaca Jug. Cortland has junior wide receiver JJ Laap who has 637 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Defensively the Bombers they have junior linebacker Issac Hadac who has 36 tackles, 9 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and 2 PBUs. The Bombers offense has sophomore running back Jalen Hines who has 528 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. For the Dragons defense they have sophomore defensive lineman Nick Lardaro who has 32 tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 5 sacks.

2. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Union College 

• Another huge rivalry game involving the Dutchman Shoes trophy. Union’s offense has senior running back Ike Irabor who has 774 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. RPI’S defense has senior defensive back C.J Lyons who has 39 tackles and 4 PBUs. Offensively senior wide receiver Peter Lombardi who has 472 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively Union has sophomore defensive back Diavon Clements who has 36 tackles and 7 PBUs.

3.John Carroll University at Baldwin Wallace University 

• Should be a fun matchup here. Baldwin Wallace has senior running back Jon Murray Jr who has 1,034 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Defensive lineman Daniel Garcar has 43 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks for John Carroll. John Carroll junior wide receiver Brennan Fugh has 970 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Baldwin Wallace senior defensive back Iyan Mitchell has 32 tackles and 9 PBUs.

4.Saint John’s University(MN) at Bethel University (MN) 

• MIAC Championship that should be interesting. Bethel University offense has freshman wide receiver Joey Kidder who has 851 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. For the Johnnies defense they have senior defensive lineman Seth Morem who has 40 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks. Offensively St.John’s has senior wide receiver Ravi Alston who has 763 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Bethel’s defense has freshman defensive back Nate Farm has 59 tackles, 5 PBUs and 5 interceptions.

5.Mount St.Joesph University at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

• We have the Heartland Conference championship on the line here. Rose-Hulman’s offense has senior quarterback Andrew Dion has 2,549 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.Mount St.Joesph’s defense has sophomore defensive lineman Decklan Brophy who has 45 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 4 sacks. Offensively Mount St.Joesph has senior wide receiver Austin Brock who has 635 receiving and 9 touchdowns. Senior linebacker Michael Stevens has 71 tackles, 9 TFLs and 5 PBUs.