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December 2001 News

Posted by Ric 12/24/01

From my family to yours... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  And let's not forget the reason for the season! 

Posted by Ric 12/21/01

I've added a new question to our MTU Opinion Poll.  It asks, "Which was the best team Mount Union has faced in a Stagg Bowl championship game?"  Post your vote today!   

Posted by Ric 12/20/01

I've added Larry Faith's account of Mount Union's exciting Stagg Bowl victory over Bridgewater to our 2001 Season section.  You can read it here.   I'll add more game pictures soon.   

Posted by Ric 12/19/01

I've added a number of pictures taken by Bill Gough from the sidelines as Mount Union won its sixth national title to the game story from the Alliance Review written by Jack Weber.  You can see the pictures and read the story here.  

Posted by Ric 12/18/01

 
The final 2001 AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll was released today.  Mount Union runs the table from beginning to end as the number one team in Division III football.  The Purple Raiders were a unanimous selection as best team in the nation following their 30-27 Stagg Bowl victory over Bridgewater.  You can see the entire poll here.

Posted by Ric 12/17/01

Mount Union senior running back Chuck Moore has been named Division III Offensive Player of the Year by Don Hanson's Football Gazette.

Joining Moore as first team All-Americans are senior offensive lineman Adam Indorf,  senior defensive end Todd Braden, junior defensive end Matt Campbell and junior cornerback Chris Kern.  Senior linebacker Jason Perkins was named to the second team.  The 2001 Football Gazette Division III All-American Team has been selected by Sports Information Directors for the 12th consecutive season.

Seven Purple Raider football players were also named to the D3football.com 2001 All-American Team. 

Senior running back Chuck Moore, senior center Ed Malone and junior cornerback Chris Kern were first team selections.  Junior defensive end Matt Campbell received second team honors.  Senior safety Alex Grinch and senior linebacker Jason Perkins were named to the third team, and kicker/punter Rodney Chenos was named honorable mention.  You can see the entire 2001 All-American Team here.

Posted by Ric 12/16/01

Mount Union defeated Bridgewater 30-27 in the 2001 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to win its sixth Division III football national championship before a standing-room only crowd of 7,992 at Salem Stadium in Salem, VA.

The Purple Raiders were led by senior running back Chuck Moore, who broke a Stagg Bowl record with 273 yards rushing on 34 carries.   Moore scored touchdowns on runs of 3, 36 and 95 yards.  The 95-yard run was the longest run from scrimmage in Mount Union football history and is a Division III playoff record.  He was named the championship game's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year.

Junior quarterback Rob Adamson was 11 of 19 for 180 yards, while senior wide receiver Jason Candle grabbed seven receptions for 120 yards. 

The Mount Union defense picked off four passes in the game, one each by senior linebacker Jason Perkins, junior cornerback Chris Kern, junior safety Matt Sotcan and junior cornerback Mike Miller.  Perkins returned his interception 44 yards for a touchdown to give the Purple Raiders a 23-13 halftime lead.   They increased the lead to 30-13 after three quarters and held on for the three point victory.

The win gave the Purple Raiders a Division III best sixth national championship and second in a row.  Mount Union has the longest current winning streak in the NCAA with 28 straight wins.

Posted by Ric 12/13/01

Mount Union had five players named to the 2001 CoSIDA Hewlett-Packard Division III Football All-American Team.

Earning first team honors were senior running back Chuck Moore and senior offensive lineman Ed Malone.  Junior defensive end Matt Campbell was named to the second team, while senior defensive end Todd Braden and junior cornerback Chris Kern were third team selections.

The Hewlett-Packard All-American Team is chosen by a panel of Division III Sports Information Directors from across the country.

Posted by Ric 12/12/01

Another day, another honor for Mount Union's Chuck Moore.  The senior running back has been named to the Verizon First Team Academic All-American Team for the second consecutive year.  Moore is a Business Administration major and carries a 3.8 GPA. 

I've added a number of pictures taken by Bill Gough from the sidelines during Mount Union's semifinal playoff victory over St. John's to our game story.  You can see them here.

Posted by Ric 12/11/01

Mount Union senior running back Chuck Moore heads the 2001 AFCA Division III Coaches All-American Team announced yesterday.  Moore was named the 2001 Gagliardi Trophy winner last week and is also a finalist for this year's Melberger Award.  He is joined in the backfield by this week's Stagg Bowl opponent, senior running back Davon Cruz of Bridgewater (VA).  You can see the entire AFCA Coaches All-American Team here.

You can help send off the Mount Union football team to Salem, VA.  The team will be leaving Alliance at approximately 5:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, from the Wable-Harter Building, located north of Mount Union Stadium on the college campus.  Fans are welcome to gather near the buses to see the team off  

Posted by Ric 12/10/01

What's happened to Monty's head?  The Purple Raiders team bus will be slightly lighter for the trip to Salem, VA this week after Mount Union Defensive Coordinator Don Montgomery got a haircut following the semifinal victory over St. John's.  On the other hand, Monty may need to trade that ball cap in for a stocking cap to help keep the blood flowing.  Early reports are calling for clear skies and temperatures in the high 30's for kickoff.  Click on the photo to see more of the butchering.  Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the pictures.

 
The Mount Union College SID's office has posted a preview of this weekend's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl between the Mount Union Purple Raiders and the Bridgewater Eagles.  They have also posted ticket and transportation information.  You can get to it here.

Posted by Ric 12/9/01

 
I've posted Dick Ross's game story of Mount Union's semifinal playoff victory over St. John's at Mount Union Stadium yesterday.  You can get to it here.  We'll have game pictures later in the week.

If you are planning on attending the Stagg Bowl this weekend and did not purchase game tickets yesterday in Alliance, you may want to phone the Salem Civic Center Ticket Office and reserve your tickets.  The phone number to the ticket office in Salem, VA is 540-375-3004. 

Salem Stadium holds 7,136 and should be near capacity Saturday night when Mount Union and Bridgewater battle in the first ever meeting on the football field between the two schools.

Posted by Ric 12/8/01

 
Mount Union defeated St. John's (MN) today 35-14 in NCAA Division III semifinal playoff action at Mount Union Stadium to earn the right to play for the national championship next Saturday in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl against Bridgewater (VA).  Bridgewater scored on the game's final play to defeat Rowan and secure its first ever Stagg Bowl appearance.

The Purple Raiders scored three times in the first quarter and added a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half to lead 28-0 at intermission.  Mount Union then upped the lead to 35-0 early in the fourth quarter before the Johnnies scored two late touchdowns to make it a 35-14 final.

Chuck Moore carried the ball 42 times, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 233 yards.  The 2001 Gagliardi Trophy winner scored on runs of five, five and four yards.

Rob Adamson connected on 12 of 18 passes for 167 yards and two scores, a seven-yard pass to Vince Ilacqua and a 20-yard strike to Jason Candle.  Candle led all receivers with six catches for 122 yards, to go along with the score.

The Purple Raiders have now won 27 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the NCAA.  Next week's match up between Mount Union and Bridgewater in the Stagg Bowl will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.  Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. at Salem Stadium in Salem (VA).     

Posted by Ric 12/6/01

 
Congratulations to Mount Union senior running back Chuck Moore, named today recipient of the 2001 Gagliardi Trophy as outstanding Division III football player.

He will receive the award on Thursday, December 13th, at a luncheon in Salem, VA, kicking off festivities for the 2001 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

The Gagliardi Trophy recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and community service.  Moore has a 3.8 GPA in Business Administration and is active as a volunteer with Big Brothers and a reading program with local grade school students.  He holds numerous Mount Union, Ohio Athletic Conference and NCAA records, and has rushed for over 4000 yards in his Purple Raider career.

Moore is the third football player from Mount Union to win the award.  Jim Ballard won the inaugural award in 1993, while Bill Borchert won the trophy in 1997.  No other institution has had more than one winner.  You can see the entire list of recipients here.   

Posted by Ric 12/5/01

 
Mount Union senior running back Chuck Moore is one of three finalists for this year's Melberger Award.

Moore holds numerous Mount Union, Ohio Athletic Conference and NCAA records.  This season, he has rushed for 1,843 yards (7.7 avg) and has scored 28 touchdowns.

The Melberger Award is given to a Division III player based on athletic achievement on the playing field.  It is presented by the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Touchdown Club in Wilkes-Barre, PA. 

Mount Union's Jim Ballard won the inaugural award in 1993, while Bill Borchert won the trophy twice, in 1996 and 1997.  You can see the entire list of past recipients here.  This year's winner will be announced on January 19, 2002.

Posted by Ric 12/4/01

 
I've added 15 pictures taken by Bill Gough and Carol & Gary McDonald from the sidelines during Mount Union's quarterfinal playoff victory over Wittenberg to our game story.  You can see them here.  

Posted by Ric 12/3/01

 
The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted a preview of this weekend's semifinal playoff match up between the Purple Raiders and the St. John's Johnnies.  You can read it here.

Posted by Ric 12/2/01

 
I've posted Dick Ross's game story of Mount Union's quarterfinal playoff victory over Wittenberg.  You can get to it here.  We'll have game pictures later in the week.

Mount Union had six players named First Team All-North Region by Don Hanson's Football Gazette. 

On offense, senior running back Chuck Moore and senior offensive lineman Adam Indorf received first team honors.  On defense, senior defensive end Todd Braden, junior defensive end Matt Campbell, senior linebacker Jason Perkins and junior cornerback Chris Kern were first team selections.

Moore was named 2001 North Region Offensive Player of the Year, while Campbell was named 2001 North Region Co-Defensive Player of the Year.  In addition, Purple Raider head coach Larry Kehres was named North Region Coach of the Year.

Posted by Ric 12/1/01

 
Mount Union defeated Wittenberg 49-21 this afternoon in NCAA Division III quarterfinal playoff action at Mount Union Stadium.

Chuck Moore rushed for a single game career high 346 yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns.  Running mate Dan Pugh added three scores on 14 rushes for 73 yards.  Moore has rushed for 1,843 yards this season, which is a single season Mount Union record including playoff games.

Rob Adamson completed 12 of 18 passes for 134 yards, while Jason Candle led the Purple Raider receivers with four catches totaling 42 yards.

Mount Union led 7-0 after the first quarter, 28-7 at halftime, 35-7 after three quarters and finished with a 28-point, 49-21 victory.  It was the Purple Raiders 26th straight win, which is the longest current streak in the NCAA. 

Mount Union will host St. John's (MN) next Saturday, December 8th, in semifinal playoff action at Mount Union Stadium, with kickoff slated for 12:00 p.m.  The Purple Raiders defeated the Johnnies in last year's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl 10-7, and own a 2-0 mark in the series.