Trine preparing for postseason battle

ANGOLA, Ind. (WANE) - After an undefeated regular season last year, Trine made the first playoff appearance in football in school history.  The Thunder were defeated at home 14-0 by Wheaton College in the first round.  Now that the team has some postseason experience, Trine is no longer just "happy" to be in the playoffs - the Thunder want to win a game in the postseason.

Trine will square off against 9th-ranked Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday for the right to advance in the NCAA Div. III playoffs.  Case Western just completed their third straight undefeated regular season.  Trine wrapped up a 9-1 regular season with a 36-21 win over Kentucky Christian at home.  The Thunder's only loss of the year came in a heartbreaking defeat at Franklin, 30-29 in the third game of the season.  Since that loss, the Thunder have rattled off seven straight wins to enter the postseason.

4th-year head coach Matt Land said his team has been focused on winning the entire week as they look to win the first playoff game in school history.  With MIAA offensive MVP quarterback Eric Watt, the Thunder will try to use every option to attack the Case Western defense.  The key for Trine's defense is to slow down the Spartans offense which averages almost 43 points a game, mostly through a passing attack.  The combined records of the teams Case Western Reserve faced this season were 34-65, and they faced exactly ONE team with a winning record (the University of Chicago, who had a 5-4 mark).

Saturday's game kicks off at noon in Cleveland.  The winner of this game moves on to face the winner of the Wittenberg-St. Joseph game next Saturday.