Mount Union’s insane 85-game regular season winning streak is officially OVER after they dropped a 24-23 heartbreaker to No. 5 Wheaton to kick off the season. That’s a streak that spanned years, folks, and its end sent shockwaves, knocking the Purple Raiders down from No. 3 to No. 7 in the D3football.com poll this week. Now, as they try to get back on track, they face Grove City, a team also hungry for its first win of the season after suffering a 28-13 loss to No. 23 Cortland.
The Giant Stumbles: Mount Union on the Hot Seat
This isn’t your typical Mount Union start. Losing that 85-game streak is a monumental hit, and now every D3 team in the country is watching to see how they respond. Head Coach Geoff Dart, in his seventh season, boasts an incredible 67-6 career record. He’s led the Purple Raiders to the Division III playoffs every single year of his tenure and racked up six straight Ohio Athletic Conference league championships. Dart even took them to national title game appearances in both 2022 and 2024. This guy knows how to win, even grabbing national titles as an offensive coordinator and three as an All-Ohio Athletic Conference offensive lineman back in his playing days. They’ve got talent, too. Quarterback Mikey Maloney just passed 3,000 career yards in Week 1, making him the 17th Purple Raider signal caller to hit that milestone. Wide receiver Mason Ashby also had a career game against Wheaton, reeling in eight catches for 79 yards. This team has the pedigree, but can they shake off that historic loss?
The Underdog’s Roar: Grove City’s Ascent
Grove City is rolling into this matchup with their own fire, especially under Head Coach Andrew DiDonato. He’s in his 11th year at the helm and has transformed the Wolverines program, holding a 67-36 record. Think about this: before DiDonato, Grove City was stuck in a brutal 30-game losing streak! He turned that around, leading them to their first 10-0 season in program history in just eight years. The Wolverines have made three consecutive playoff appearances, which are the only three in the school’s Division III history, and snagged Presidents Athletic Conference titles in 2023 and 2024, with the 2023 title being their first in 26 years. DiDonato, a former Grove City quarterback who set school records with 7,509 passing yards, 750 completions, and 49 touchdown passes, knows exactly what it takes to build a winner. On the field, junior cornerback Noah Wheeler is a beast, a preseason All-American who snatched four interceptions last year. And their first-year starter at quarterback, Mike Holloman, looked solid last week, tossing for 276 yards and two touchdowns.
This Saturday, it’s not just another game. Mount Union holds an 8-0-1 historical record against Grove City, including a 49-14 win last season, but everything feels different now. With both teams desperate for their first win of the season, this is about Mount Union proving they’re still an elite force and Grove City showing the D3 world they can absolutely capitalize on a reeling giant. You don’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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