First-Round Matchup - Albion College

Albion College

The Albion Britons finished its regular season with a 6-4 record, while going 6-0 in the MIAA. The Britons put an end to Trine's three-year conference championship run, dating back to 2008. Albion's last trip to the post season was back in 2005 after they won the MIAA. However, they lost in the first round to Wabash (20-38). I was interested to learn that Albion has a Stagg Bowl victory under its belt when they beat Washington and Jefferson (38-15) in 1994 for the national championship. To get to the Stagg Bowl they knocked off defending national champs Mount Union in the semifinals.

This season Albion ran the table in its conference, but failed to record a win against non-conference opponents. This was partly because the Britons filled out its 2011 schedule by booking matchups against competitive programs in Wheaton, Stevens Point and DePauw. I was very impressed they went down that road rather than scheduling "cream puff" programs to enhance its win total. Their other remaining non conference game was at a Division I FCS Butler team - which is a non-scholarship team in case you're wondering. Butler football is a member of the Pioneer Football League, which doesn't offer up scholarships. For WIAC fans it's easy to spot the common opponent that Albion and Whitewater shared this year. When Stevens Point traveled to Albion earlier in the season, the Britons lost to the Pointers 14-3, while the Warhawks beat them 31-16 in Whitewater.



Clinton Orr #30

What Levell Coppage is to Whitewater, Clinton Orr has been the same to Albion the past couple of seasons. The Britons are a team that's led by their All-American running back in Orr. In 2010, the sophomore was named Third Team All American with an impressive 1396 yards rushing and scoring 16 total touchdowns. Going into the 2011 season he, along with Coppage, was as a preseason First Team All American. Orr went on to finish this regular season rushing for 1000 yards, scoring seven total touchdowns and was named the MIAA Offensive MVP. However, against Stevens Point, Orr was held to just 19 yards on 15 carries, while Coppage had 245 yards on 29 carries against the same defense. This should put things in perspective for you on the level of competition Orr faces in the MIAA, compared to what Coppage deals with in the WIAC.

Lorenzo Reese

On defense, the Britons have two very talented and athletic corners that have given the MIAA fits all season long. The secondary is led by another All American in cornerback Chris Greenwood. Last year, as a junior, Greenwood was named Second Team All American. At the start of the 2011 season the senior was named preseason First Team All American. During the regular season this year Greenwood accumulated 26.5 total tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), six pass deflections and was name the MIAA Defensive MVP. Greenwood's counterpart at the other cornerback position is Lorenzo Reese, who has been having an outstanding season of his own. He leads the team with five interceptions and seven pass deflections. Reese was named second team all-MIAA.

2011 Statistics (National Rank)
Albion Rushing Offense: 138.2 ypg (143)
Whitewater Rushing Defense: 82.9 ypg (10)

Albion Passing Offense: 226.3 ypg (71)
Whitewater Passing Defense: 176.5 ypg (80)

Albion Total Offense: 364.5 ypg (99)
Whitewater Total Defense: 259.4 ypg (18)

Albion Rushing Defense: 101 ypg (25)
Whitewater Rushing Offense: 228.9 ypg (24)

Albion Passing Defense: 199.9 ypg (141)
Whitewater Passing Offense: 222.3 ypg (75)

Albion Total Defense: 300.9 ypg (43)
Whitewater Total Offense: 451.2 ypg (24)

Whitewater's First-Round Games (Since 2005)
2005 - UWW over Central, 34-14
2006 - UWW over St. Norbert, 59-17
2007 - UWW over Capital, 34-14
2008 - UWW over St. John's, 37-7
2009 - UWW over Lakeland, 70-7
2010 - UWW over Franklin, 52-21

When this is all said and done, I believe this 2011 First-round game will fall into the St. John's category as far as margin of win.