The Capital University football team wrapped up another successful season with an 8-3 record and a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Playoffs. The Crusaders were nationally ranked the entire season and posted their seventh straight winning season.
Capital became just the third Ohio Athletic Conference school to qualify for the NCAA tournament in three successive seasons, in addition to Mount Union and Baldwin-Wallace. The Crusaders traveled to play at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round, and trailed just 20-14 entering the fourth quarter before falling 34-14 to the nation’s second-ranked team.
A thrilling victory in the regular season finale helped clinch the at-large bid into the playoffs, as Capital knocked off Baldwin-Wallace 17-16 when a two-point conversion attempt by the Yellow Jackets was unsuccessful in the game’s waning seconds. The win came on the heels of another tight victory, as Capital held off Muskingum 19-13 the week before.
Hampered by injuries on offense, the Crusaders turned to the nation’s third-ranked defense to carry the squad. Capital limited opponents to just 13.3 points per game and just 200 yards of offense per game while recording a school-record 50 sacks. Seven members of the defense earned All-OAC honors, including senior defensive back James Starks (Toledo/Toledo St. Francis). Starks received the Lee Tressel Award as the most outstanding defensive back in the OAC, finishing the season with a team-leading 65 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions, nine pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks.
Senior defensive tackle Jonathan Spring (Maple Heights/Trinity) was also a first-team selection, finishing with 52 tackles, 9.5 sacks and a team-best 18 tackles for loss. Senior defensive lineman/running back Zac McKenzie (Hilliard/Hilliard Darby), senior defensive lineman Nick Bucci (Hudson/Hudson), sophomore linebacker Matt Heagen (New Concord/John Glenn), and senior defensive back Matt Coleman (Westerville/Westerville South) were all named to the second team.
Bucci led the team with 10.5 sacks and had 15 tackles for loss, Heagen tied with Starks with 65 tackles, while Coleman tallied 48 tackles. McKenzie tallied 4.5 sacks and ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Junior safety C.J. Steele (Hilliard/Bishop Watterson) was an honorable mention selection as he recorded four interceptions and 52 tackles.
Senior left tackle Adam Persing (Springfield Twp./Springfield Local) and senior placekicker Matt Spitz (Xenia/Xenia) were honored as first team selections on offense. Persing anchored the offensive line, while Spitz connected on 15 field goals this season and ranks among the top-five in Division III history in field goals made and percentage. Sophomore receiver Evan Blake (Kingston/Logan Elm) led the offense with 39 catches, 633 yards and five touchdowns and was an honorable mention selection.
Also picking up honors this season as members of the Academic All-OAC team were junior linebackers Pete Ankrom (Springfield/Springfield North) and Steve Payne (Howard/Danville) and sophomore quarterback Marty Assmann (Columbus/Bishop Hartley).
The Crusaders will kick off the 2008 season against Adrian (Mich.) College on Saturday, September 6, in Bernlohr Stadium.