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| In the quarterfinals, Josh Petruccelli ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 20 yards in the fourth quarter, while Alex Peete ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth. Photos by Doug Sasse, Larry Radloff, d3photography.com |
By Greg Thomas
D3football.com
As synonymous as games between UW-Whitewater and Mount Union have become with Division III football’s postseason, the two teams haven’t actually played since the 2015 semifinal. If a rekindling of this storied series is to occur in Canton next week, two of Division III’s best, and most experienced running backs, will likely be called on to help lead their teams there.
UW-Whitewater’s Alex Peete is enjoying the kind of statistically great postseasons that often coincide with Warhawk championship runs. Peete leads all postseason players with 483 rushing yards on just 59 attempts. Ten of Peete’s 25 rushing touchdowns have come in the postseason. Indeed, Peete’s 2021 postseason is reminiscent of those submitted by Whitewater all-time greats Justin Beaver and Levell Coppage.
While Peete’s excellence isn’t a surprise, it also wasn’t certain. Following a 2018 season that earned Peete a laundry list of accolades including a spot on D3football.com’s All-American second team, 2019 was a much different year for Peete. Whitewater leveraged it depth in the running back room to keep players, particularly Peete, fresh for a playoff run.
Peete’s usage slid in 2019 while sharing playing time and carries with Ronny Ponick and Jarrod Ware, but Whitewater’s strategy paid off with a return trip to the Stagg Bowl. The reduced carries, however, led to a dip in Peete’s production. Peete rushed for 299 fewer yards, eight fewer touchdowns, and saw his per carry average slide by 0.6 yards from his All-American season.
After the 2019 season, Peete went to work. Whitewater head coach Kevin Bullis was direct when asked what Peete has done since the 2019 season. “The thing Alex has done since 2019 is develop his burst,” Bullis said.
“The thing that he (Peete) has taken to another level is that he said, ‘I’ve got to be able to run away from people,’ ” Bullis said after Whitewater’s quarterfinal win against Central. “He’s worked on his speed. That’s the thing he’s taken to the next level.”
Bullis also noted Peete’s physical growth since joining the Whitewater program in 2017: “The other piece that he’s taken to the next level is his physicality. He’s gotten bigger. His physicality in how he runs and generates power with his feet has improved.”
Peete’s graduation to that next level hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Warhawk’s starting quarterback, Max Meylor. “He’s a complete back. He deserves every accolade, every snap,” Meylor said following Peete’s 32-carry, 181-yard performance against Central. “The guy is the real deal. The O-line and him, they are platinum. They are top notch. It takes a lot off of my plate.”
Making life easier for Meylor and the Warhawk passing game is, of course, all part of the plan. “Our tradition of trying to run the football is the key to setting up our passing game. Alex is so vital to us,” Bullis said. “We were careful with him to not give him too many carries. We wanted to help develop his game and his craft, but also be smart with him. What you’re seeing now in the playoffs is him being primary running back for us.”
Josh Petruccelli’s career at Mount Union is similarly storied. The senior running back is one of just three Mount Union running backs to eclipse 5,000 career yards and is the active career leader in rush yards and rushing touchdowns. Petruccelli was an integral part of Mount Union’s last national championship team in 2017, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his first year. Petruccelli also topped 1,000 yards as the Purple Raiders’ featured back in 2018 and 2019. 2021 has been a slightly different story for Petruccelli.
Mount Union has utilized a two pronged rushing attack this year with DeAndre Parker outcarrying Petruccelli, by a fair margin early in the season. Petruccelli averaged just 7.1 carries per game through Mount Union’s first six games — games that included key OAC matchups against Baldwin Wallace and John Carroll.
Despite the reduced role, Petruccelli has been Mount Union’s top choice in close situations and when the Purple Raiders get in scoring range. In Week 9’s 42-35 win over Ohio Northern, Petruccelli got the call on all 10 rush plays during a crucial 13-play, 6-minute drive that culminated in the game’s decisive score — fittingly a Petruccelli touchdown.
Petruccelli’s role has expanded as the season has moved along and the workload is now almost evenly split between Petruccelli and Parker. Mount Union quarterback Braxton Plunk told Inside The D3FB Huddle how important Petruccelli’s experience is. “His experience helps and his leadership. I think he and DeAndre feed off of each other and they both play exceptionally well for us.”
Although he has far fewer carries in 2021 than he had in his first three full seasons, Petruccelli is maximizing his value. Petruccelli’s 20 rushing touchdowns is a career high — a testament to Petruccelli’s experience and ability to adjust to a new role.
As one of the few remaining players on Mount Union’s roster with Stagg Bowl winning experience, the Purple Raiders will rely heavily on Petruccelli to return to the championship game, this time just 15 miles from Alliance. Formidable foes stand between both Mount Union and Whitewater and a potential Stagg Bowl reunion, but the presence of program greats in each of their offensive backfields make a 10th championship matchup between these purple powers within reach.