For the second straight season, Capital University's football team set a school record for wins and advanced to the Division III national quarterfinals.
Despite a 17-14 loss to the nation's No. 1 team and Ohio Athletic Conference rival Mount Union College in their final game, the Crusaders eclipsed last year's then-record 10 wins, finishing the season with an 11-2 mark and hosting postseason games for the first time since the 1970 Stagg Bowl.
The Crusaders maintained a top-five national ranking the entire season, bolstered by several tight wins on the road. Trailing by a score of 21-17 at John Carroll University, senior quarterback Rocky Pentello (Westerville/South) connected with senior tight end Dylan Kelly (Hilliard/Darby) for the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute left. A week later, Pentello and junior receiver Derick Alexander (Grove City/Grove City) hooked up on a 69-yard strike in the fourth quarter to take a 17-10 lead, and win, over Ohio Northern University.
After finishing its regular season with a 9-1 mark, Capital earned the second seed in the Mount Union bracket and the right to have two playoff games at Bernlohr Stadium. After defeating Wittenberg University 32-14 in the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs, the Crusaders advanced to face North Central (Ill.) College in a rematch of a playoff contest from last season. While last year's game, a 21-19 Crusaders win, was close throughout, Capital took charge early in this matchup and won 41-13.
Pentello finished his collegiate career ranking as the third all-time passing leader in Division III history with 12,569 total yards, which also ranks 12th in all divisions. He completed over 64 percent of his passes this season and threw for 3,625 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Alexander, in his first season with Capital, led the team with 67 catches and 1,093 yards and added 11 touchdown catches. Senior Mike Niedzwiecki (Norwalk/St. Paul) made 64 catches for 894 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns, while Kelly accounted for 778 yards and 10 scores.
A pair of senior running backs in Jeremy Mulkey (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) and Charlie Smith (Westerville/Big Walnut) carried the load for Capital's rushing attack, combining for almost 1,200 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns, helping the offense finish the season with 34.9 points per game.
Capital's defense also played a major role in the team's success, limiting opponents to just 12.2 points per game and forcing 28 turnovers. Senior safety Thom Hausler (Hilliard/Davidson ) led the team with 80 tackles and senior lineman Nick Bucci (Hudson/Hudson) finished with 11.5 of the team's 33 sacks. Junior corner James Starks helped anchor the secondary, accounting for four interceptions on the season and registering 73 tackles.
Junior kicker Matt Spitz broke his own school record with 80 total points, including 12 made field goals.
Sixteen Crusaders players earned All-OAC honors this season, including Pentello, who was named the Mike Gregory Outstanding Offensive Back of the Year. Head coach Jim Collins was named the OAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his 10 seasons leading the Crusaders.