Trine next playoff test  in line  for Witt

The 11-0 Tigers will be seeking their first trip to the regional final since 2001.

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 9:39 PM Sunday, November 22, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Joe Fincham had just left Edwards-Maurer Field on Saturday, Nov. 21, after a 42-14 victory over Mount St. Joseph and was standing on the practice field when he was handed three DVDs. Just like that, the preparation for the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs began.

The DVDs were three game films from Trine University, Wittenberg’s opponent at noon Saturday, Nov. 28, in Springfield.

“What do you know about Trine?” Fincham was asked.

“Do you remember Jordan Gigli?” Fincham asked.

Gigli is a former Wittenberg assistant coach who played at Tri-State University in Angola, Ind. Tri-State changed its name to Trine in 2009.

Trine, the champion of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, is the No. 6 seed in Wittenberg’s region. It beat No. 3 seed Case Western Reserve 51-38 on Saturday behind five touchdown passes by Eric Watt.

It was the first playoff victory for Trine. It lost to Wheaton in the first round in 2008 after a 10-0 regular season.

The Tigers (11-0) have played 28 times in the D-III tournament since 1973, winning 18. They are seeking their first trip to the regional final since 2001. If they can beat Trine, they would play No. 1 seed Wisconsin-Whitewater, which has played in the last four D-III championship games, or Illinois Wesleyan.

For now, the Tigers will focus on their seventh home game of the season and hope for another big crowd. More than 4,000 fans, a season high, packed Edwards-Maurer Field on Saturday.

“I really appreciate that,” cornerback Brandyn Brown said, “and I hope they’re all here next week even though it’s Thanksgiving break.”

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