DC Set for Conference Test Against Anderson

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets (0-3, 0-1 HCAC) travel to Anderson (0-2, 0-0 HCAC) for an HCAC clash against the Ravens inside of Macholtz Stadium. The Yellow Jackets and the Ravens will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. [Game Notes]

Series History Versus Anderson
Saturday's meeting between Defiance and Anderson will be the 53rd meeting in the history of the two programs. The Yellow Jackets hold a 33-18-1 series advantage over the Ravens for a .644 win percentage. 

Last season the Yellow Jackets picked up their first win of the season at the expense of Anderson, defeating the Ravens 30-7 on a rainy day at Justin F. Coressel Stadium. 

Defiance's last defeat to the Ravens came in 2004 when the Yellow Jackets fell to Anderson 27-10 in Defiance on October 9th. Defiance has reeled off eight straight victories since that loss, outscoring the Ravens 259-82 during the streak.

Series history in the HCAC (DC leads 9-3)
Year    Result                                 
2012    Defiance 30, Anderson 7
2011    Defiance 28, Anderson 21
2010    Defiance 49, Anderson 7
2009    Defiance 20, Anderson 7
2008    Defiance 21, Anderson 13
2007    Defiance 34, Anderson 7
2006    Defiance 45, Anderson 13
2005    Defiance 32, Anderson 7
2004    Anderson 27, Defiance 10
2003    Anderson 54, Defiance 35
2002    Anderson 32, Defiance 24
2001    Defiance 27, Anderson 7

Defensive Player of the Week
Andrew Feldhaus has proven to be able to get to the ball from all over the field in the first three games of the season. The defensive back has led the Yellow Jackets in tackles in all three games this season and created some big plays for the defense.

This past week, Feldhaus was recognized for his 11-tackle, 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown effort and was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

This season, Feldhaus has put together 28 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss. One of those came with a sack of four yards. The sophomore has one sack and a pass breakup as well.

Perhaps the most impressive stat for the Lutz, Fla. native has been the four forced fumbles on the year in just three games. Feldhaus is leading the nation outright heading into week four with the four forced fumbles. On average, Feldhaus (1.33)sits behind two players with three forced fumbles in two games (1.5) for the NCAA lead. Feldhaus has recovered two of his forced fumbles.

Sierra leading the way at corner
Senior defensive back Tony Sierra has been dominate in the cornerback position for the Yellow Jackets in 2013. 

Sierra leads the conference and is 13th in the nation in passes defended on the year. The Warren, Mich. native is also leading the conference in interceptions with two on the season. Sierra has nine tackles on the year and also has 1.5 tackles for a loss.

HCAC Top Rusher
DC quarterback Sean Washington enters the fourth week of the season leading the HCAC in rushing.  Washington has started the last two games for the Yellow Jackets and has 199 yards of offense on the ground. 

The sophomore also leads the conference in yards per game, despite limited action in week one, averaging 66.3 yards per game.

Saunders a constant in kicking game
Spencer Saunders made a pair of field goals from 28 and 32 yards this past weekend. The two field goal day marks the first time in nearly a year that the junior kicker has made multiple field goals in a game. Saunders' last multiple field goal day came against Anderson last season when he made all three field goal attempts in the game.

Saunders has handled the kicking duties pretty exclusively since stepping on campus in Defiance. The Springfield, Ohio native is 3-of-4 on the season, with a long of 32. In his three-year career, Saunders is 10-of-16 with a career long of 33.

Sack Attack
The Defiance College defense has been dominant in the first three games of the season. The Yellow Jackets lead the conference in total defense and rushing defense and are also nationally ranked 18th and 27th, respectively, in the two categories.

DC has allowed just 244.7 yards of total offense against and have allowed just 84 yards rushing against. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 9.3 tackles for a loss while also getting 2.33 sacks per game.

Andrew Leverenz and Blaine McGowan are each ranked in the top 150 nationally in sacks, with 2.5 and 2 per game, respectively. Eric Strickland leads the team with 5 tackles for a loss and Andrew Feldhaus is just behind him with 4.5. All four players are ranked in the top six in the HCAC in their categories.

Record Against the States
The Yellow Jackets will play their second of three games in 2013 in the state of Indiana and the second of six games against teams from the "Hoosier" state this weekend when they travel to Anderson. Defiance is 0-1 in both this season after falling to Rose-Hulman last weekend.

Defiance has played in 214 games against schools from the state of Indiana in the programs history and holds a narrow margin over schools from the border state to the west, leading the series 108-104-2.