The Aurora University football team (10-1 overall, 8-0 NACC) is headed to the NCAA Division III Football Playoff second round for the first time in program history after the Spartans defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 33-28 last weekend in the opening round. Whitewater recap (read here)

The 2022 NCAA playoffs mark the seventh time in program history and third consecutive season the NCAA has held a playoff that AU is in the field of 32. 
 
The Spartans will travel to the Alma College (11-0, 6-0 MIAA) in Alma, Michigan on Saturday, November 26. Game time has been set for a 12:00 p.m. (est) / 11:00 a.m. (cst) kickoff at Bahlke Field. 

Watch the game action - 
- The game can be seen live using live stats or live video 

Game Day Information - 

TICKETS AND PRESALE
All who wish to attend the game must purchase a ticket. Free admission for students and faculty/staff is not allowed for NCAA Tournament events. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-17. Children two and under are free. There will be absolutely no comp passes for this game. In-person ticket sales will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 26.

Presale tickets are available HERE

PARKING AND TAILGATING
Parking and Tailgating Information will be made available at a later date.

STADIUM ENTRY
Entry to the stadium will be allowed at 10:30 a.m., ninety minutes prior to kickoff. At that point, students with tickets will be allowed to enter and ticket sales will begin for the rest of the attendance. Multiple gate locations will be open. 

NON-PERMISSIBLE ITEMS
Artificial noisemakers of any kind including but not limited to, air horns, electronic instruments, inflatable noisemakers, etc. are not permissible. Facility personnel are responsible for confiscating prohibited items at the entrance points or removing such items from the facility. Megaphones may be used for voice amplification, but they shall not be used as a distraction.

Outside food and beverage will not be allowed in the stadium and must be left in cars or at your tailgate.  

All-Time Series - AU vs. Alma College

• Saturday will be the sixth meeting all-time.
• The all-time record is 1-4 in favor of Alma.
• The last time the Spartans and Scots shared the gridiron, Alma defeated AU 27-19 on Vago Field in 2017.
• All five previous meetings have come since 2004.
• This will be the first meeting all-time in the NCAA playoffs between the schools.
   

About the 2022 Aurora University Spartans –

• AU is 10-1 overall on the 2022 season.
• The 10 wins is an AU school single season record for wins.
• AU won the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship with an 8-0 record.
• The Spartans enter after a 33-28 victory at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
• AU has won 10 consecutive contests, the second longest win streak in AU history.
  • AU won 13 straight games from the end of the 1991 season into the 1992 year.
• The Spartans are averaging 48.5 points per game on the season, second in Division III.
• The AU offense is averaging 483.9 yards per game, 13th in Division III.
• The defense is allowing 13.2 points per game on the season, 20th in Division III.
• The defense has a Division III leading 26 interceptions.

Spartan Key Performers - 

• Josh Swanson has passed for 3,013 yards on 205-of-341 passing, 47 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
• Jhe'Quay Chretin is averaging 6.4 yards per carry, 118.6 yards per game, has 12 rushing touchdowns and an AU single season record 1,305 yards.. 
• Trey Madsen has 61 catches for 862 yards and 16 touchdowns
• Cameron Moore has caught 44 passes for 869 yards and nine touchdowns.
• Michael Boland has caught 32 passes for 507 yards and nine touchdowns.
• James Mautino has returned two punts for touchdowns and is averaging 13.5 yards per return.
• Marcellus Romious has 92 tackles, 14.5 for loss with two sacks, two interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
• Ernesto Ramirez has 58 tackles with five interceptions.

Spartans in the National Statistical Rankings: 
AU is led by a high powered offense that ranks second in scoring offense (48.5 points per game), eighth in first down offense (275), 11th in team passing efficiency (172.72), 13th in total offense (483.9 yards per game) and 26th in rushing offense (209.5 per game). 

Individually, the Spartans are led several individuals who rank among the top 25 in many categories.

Quarterback Josh Swanson is first in passing touchdowns (47), first in points responsible for (300), first in points responsible for per game (27.3), sixth in passing yards (3,013), 13th in passing yards per game (273.9), 13th in passing efficiency (174.5), 18th in total offense (286.5) and 18th in yards per completion (14.7).

Running back Jhe'Quay Chretin is ranked sixth in rushing yards (1,305), 12th in rushing yards per game (118.6), 19th in yards per carry (6.4) and 32nd in rushing touchdowns (12).

Wide receiver Trey Madsen is third in receiving touchdowns (16) , 14th in scoring (9.6), 16th in total touchdowns (16) and 17th in total points scored (96).

Defensively, Connor Nordmeyer and Otis Watts are 23rd in fumble recoveries (2), Nordmeyer, Ernesto Ramirez and Ben Slatcoff are 32nd in interceptions per game (0.5), each have five on the season.

Specialist, punt returner James Mautino is second in punt return touchdowns (2) and 13th in punt returns with 13.5 yards per return.

About the Alma College Scots–

• The Scots earned an automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division III Playoffs by winning the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
• Alma is making its fourth overall appearance in the Division III Playoffs. 
• Alma won their first NCAA playoff game last week when they beat Mount St. Joseph 41-21.
• Alma is 11-0 on the season and 6-0 in the MIAA
• The Scots averaging 40.5 points per game.
• The Alma defense is allowing 17.5 points per game.
• On offense they average 450.3 yards per game, 205.9 on the ground and 244.4 in the air.
• On defense they allow 350.8 yards per game, 236.5 in the air and 114.3 on the ground.

Scots to Watch - 

• Carter St. John has thrown for 2,320 yards with 25 touchdown passes, eight interceptions, completing 165 of his 255 passing attempts for a 64.7 completion percentage this season.
• Eddie Williams has run for 1,071 yards, averaging 97.4 rushing yards per game with 12 touchdowns and 5.7 yards per carry.
• Nathan Goralski has 51 catches for 494 yards and six touchdowns.
• Odin Soffredine leads the Alma defense in total tackles with 98. He has 7-1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks.
• Elijah Jackson has 64 tackles with 6.0 being for loss.
• Jerome Roberson has 19 tackles with 4.5 sacks.
• Austin Flowers and Bryce Fredenburg each have six interceptions to lead Alma.

Up Next for the Spartans - 
- With a victory on Saturday, the Spartans would advance to the quarterfinal round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Football Championships and play on Saturday, December 3 against the winner of the match-up between Wartburg College and St. John's University.