[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/25454_wesleyseg.mp3|titles= Delaware Public Media's Tom Byrne interviews Wesley College head football coach Mike Drass.]
Wesley College faces a much tougher hurdle Saturday when it hosts a quarterfinal contest in NCAA Division III football playoffs.
After back-to-back blowout wins in the first two rounds, the Wolverines, ranked fourth nationally, entertain #7 Hobart in Dover.
Wesley, 11-1 this season, has out-scored its two playoff opponents to date, Hampden-Sydney and MIT, 111-7.
Hobart, while undefeated at 12-0, has won by a touchdown or less in its first two post-season contests, slipping by Ithaca and Johns Hopkins.
But Wesley head coach Mike Drass says he has no doubt the Statesmen will challenge his team.
“Hobart is coming to town with a real honest-to-goodness top 10 team. We can see that on film," said Drass. "Their defense, their front seven, is as good as anybody in the country, I believe. They’ve got a great offensive line. They’re a ground and pound mindset. They’re going to come after you and beat on you.”
Wolverines’ wide receiver Bryce Shade agrees, saying Hobart's ability to deliver a touchdown with under two minutes to play in each of its two playoff games to advance is reason to be wary of the Statesmen.
“They know how to win. That’s a team that knows how to win," said Shade. "They like to run out the clock on offense. They’re a running type team. On defense, they’re blitz heavy. So, we know they’ll try to keep the game close and, when its time, try to peak and win the game. ”
Wesley is looking to win and advance to the NCAA semifinals for the first time since 2011. The Wolverines are 5-3 all-time in the quarterfinal round.
Hobart has only reached this round once before – losing in 2012.
This is the second playoff meeting between the two schools. Wesley won the first – a 35-28 opening round win in 2011.
Kick-off Saturday is at noon.