Main Page             Email

November 2003 News

Posted by Ric 11/30/03

 
I've added our game story by Dick Ross of Mount Union's second round playoff victory over Wis-La Crosse.  You can read it here.  We'll have some game pictures later in the week.

Posted by Ric 11/29/03

Mount Union defeated Wis-La Crosse this afternoon 39-14 in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs before 3,432 fans at Mount Union Stadium.

Anthony Frate's interception and 48-yard return for a touchdown with four minutes remaining in the first half gave the Purple Raiders the lead for good at 14-7.  Mount Union added a touchdown with just seven seconds remaining in the half following the second blocked punt by their special teams in the game.  The special teams also blocked a La Crosse field goal attempt in the first quarter.

Jeff Strauch scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, while Zac Bruney threw for one score and added a rushing touchdown, and Brian Miller rushed for a touchdown for the Purple & White. 

It was 7-7 after the first quarter, Mount Union led 20-7 at halftime and 26-14 after three quarters before adding 13 points in the final stanza to grab the 25-point playoff win.

Mount Union's 53-game victory streak is the longest active win streak in all of college football, and is just one shy of the overall mark set by the Purple Raiders from 1996-1999 when they won 54 consecutive football games.  Mount Union has won 107 of the last 108 games they’ve played.

The Purple Raiders will face the Wheaton Thunder next Saturday at Mount Union Stadium with a chance to tie that win streak.  Kickoff is set of 12:00 noon.  Wheaton defeated Baldwin-Wallace 16-12 in playoff action today for the right to face the Raiders next week in the quarterfinals.  You can see all the playoff results here.

Posted by Ric 11/24/03

Two Purple Raider football players were honored with 2003 Ohio Athletic Conference Special Awards today.

Posted by Ric 11/23/03

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has previewed this Saturday's Division III second round playoff game between the Purple Raiders and the Wis-La Crosse Eagles that will be played at Mount Union Stadium.  You can read it here.

Posted by Ric 11/22/03

Mount Union will host Wis-La Crosse in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III playoffs following the Eagles victory over Concordia (WI) 52-13 this afternoon.  Next Saturday's meeting will be the fourth between these two schools.  The winner of each of the prior three match-ups has gone on to win the national championship.  La Crosse holds a 2-1 edge over the Purple Raiders in the series.  Kickoff from Mount Union Stadium will be at 12:00 noon.

Ohio Athletic Conference rival Baldwin-Wallace defeated Hanover 54-32 in First Round action and will travel to Wheaton next Saturday.  The Thunder were a 55-45 winner over Hope today.  The winner of that game will play the Mount Union - Wis-La Crosse winner in the Quarterfinals.  You can see all the playoff results here.

Posted by Ric 11/20/03

I've added two audio highlights to the site from past Purple Raider championship teams.  The first is Dan Pugh's kickoff return for a touchdown during last year's playoff win over Wheaton, and the second is Rodney Chenos' game winning field goal to beat St. John's in the 2000 Stagg Bowl.  You can get to the new audio files here. 

Posted by Ric 11/19/03

I've added a number of pictures taken from the sidelines by Carol & Gary McDonald during Mount Union's regular season ending victory over Wilmington to our game story.  You can see them here.

Posted by Ric 11/18/03

Mount Union ends the regular season as the number one team in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll.  The Purple Raiders received 45 of 46 first-place votes to remain number one for the 39th consecutive poll, dating back to October 3, 2000.  Baldwin-Wallace remained in seventh place while Capital received votes.  You can see the entire poll here.

Posted by Ric 11/17/03

Mount Union received all 25 first place votes in this week's D3Football.com Top 25 to remain in the number one spot.  Baldwin-Wallace held strong in sixth place, while Capital jumped back into the poll at number 23.  You can see the entire D3Football.com Top 25 here.

Posted by Ric 11/16/03

Mount Union defeated Wilmington 58-0 yesterday to complete its ninth straight unbeaten regular season and 12th consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference football title. 

The Purple Raiders will begin defense of their national championship as a number one seed against the winner of next week's game between Concordia (WI) and Wis-La Crosse.  Mount Union received a first round bye in the playoffs and would host each game they play at Mount Union Stadium leading up to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, which will be played on December 20th in Salem, Virginia.

Mount Union therouly dominated Wilmington, finishing with 608 total yards, an average of 9.1 yards per play, while limiting the Quakers to just 104 total yards, an average of 1.9 per play.  The defense posted its fifth shutout and allowed just 60 points during the regular season, an average of only six points per contest.

Mount Union's 52-game victory streak is the longest active win streak in all of college football, and is just two wins shy of tying the overall mark set by the Purple Raiders from 1996-1999 when they won 54 consecutive football games.  Mount Union has won 106 of the last 107 games they’ve played.  You can read our full report on the game here.

I've also posted the 2003 Division III Football Playoff Bracket, which you can get to here.

Posted by Ric 11/14/03

Mount Union senior wide receiver Randell Knapp has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV College Division III Team.  Knapp, from nearby Field High School, carries a 3.85 GPA, majoring in biology.  Heading into this weekend's season finale at Wilmington, he has 50 receptions for 1,036 yards (20.7) and 10 touchdowns on the season and is the Ohio Athletic Conference's most productive receiver.  CoSIDA All-District honorees will be considered for Academic All-American status.

Posted by Ric 11/12/03

Mount Union is again ranked first this week in the North Region of the NCAA Division III Football Committee's Regional Poll.  Baldwin-Wallace remained third while Capital is again eighth.  You can see this week's entire poll here.

I've also added some pictures taken by Bill Gough and Carol & Gary McDonald from the sidelines during the Purple Raiders victory over Ohio Northern at Mount Union Stadium this past weekend to our story on the game.  You can see them here.

Posted by Ric 11/11/03

Mount Union received 45 of 46 first-place votes to remain the number one team in this week's AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll.  Baldwin-Wallace moved up one spot to seventh place while Capital and John Carroll each received votes.  You can see the entire poll here.

Posted by Ric 11/10/03

Mount Union received all 25 first place votes again in this week's D3Football.com Top 25.  Baldwin-Wallace moved up one spot to sixth, while Capital and John Carroll each received votes.  The D3Football.com Top 25 is here.

Also, the Mount Union College SID's office has previewed this Saturday's regular season finale between Mount Union and Wilmington at Williams Stadium.  You can read it here.

Posted by Ric 11/9/03

I've posted our game story written by Dick Ross of the Purple Raiders victory over Ohio Northern yesterday at Mount Union Stadium.  You can read it here.  We'll add pictures soon.

Also, Mount Union's junior varsity football contest at Otterbein scheduled for tomorrow night has been cancelled by the Cardinals.  The JV football season is complete and the young Purple Raiders again finished unbeaten.  You can see the complete schedule and results here.

I've added some pictures taken on the sidelines during the game by Carol & Gary McDonald to our game story of Mount Union's win over Marietta from a week ago.  You can see them here.

Posted by Ric 11/8/03

Mount Union defeated Ohio Northern 55-7 this afternoon at Mount Union Stadium in front of 6,237 fans to win its 51st consecutive game.  The Purple Raiders improve to 9-0 overall, 8-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play and have clinched at least a share of its 12th straight OAC football championship and 15th overall.

Ricky Ciccone scored Mount Union's first four touchdowns, three rushing and one on a pass from Zac Bruney, as Mount Union raced out to a 28-7 first half lead.  Bruney fired two more first half scores, one each to Nick Sirianni and Drew Hanley as the Purple Raiders led 41-7 at the intermission.

Third quarter touchdown runs by Brian Miller and Michael Deitrick finished the scoring as Mount Union cruised to the 48-point win.

Bruney completed 18 of 26 passes for 355 yards, the three touchdowns and one interception, while Randell Knapp caught six passes for 79 yards and Sirianni added a career high 164 receiving yards on four catches.  Ciccone led all rushers with 66 yards on 18 carriers while Miller added 61 yards on seven rushes.

Aarik Gualt recorded his first career interception while Matt Caponi grabbed his fifth of the season.  Johnny Josef also forced a fumble which was recovered by Josh Ludwig.

Mount Union limited Ohio Northern to just 20 rushing yards on 24 attempts and only 175 total yards while the Purple Raiders had 219 rushing yards and 399 receiving yards for for 618 total yards, an average of 8.5 per play.

Mount Union's current victory streak is the longest active win streak in all of college football, and is just three wins shy of tying the overall mark set by the Purple Raiders from 1996-1999 when they won 54 consecutive football games.  Next week Mount Union travels to Wilmington to finish the regular season against the Quakers at Williams Stadium with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.

Posted by Ric 11/6/03

Mount Union remained number one this week in the North Region of the NCAA Division III Football Committee's Regional Poll.  Baldwin-Wallace is again third while Capital fell to eighth.  You can see this week's entire poll here.

Posted by Ric 11/5/03

The Mount Union Cheerleaders invite all Purple Raider football parents, grandparents, siblings and family members to join them in doing the first set of pushups following the Raiders' first score vs. Ohio Northern during Parent's Day this Saturday.

Also, its been announced seating is limited on the fan bus going to Wilmington on November 15th for the regular season finale.  If you're interested in traveling to the game on the bus contact Cheerleading Coach Stephanie Unckrich for more information at (330) 823-9452.

Posted by Ric 11/4/03

Mount Union received 45 of 46 first-place votes again this week in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll to remain the number one team in Division III football.  Baldwin-Wallace remained in the 8th spot while Capital fell out of the top 25 but still received votes, along with John Carroll.  You can see the entire poll here.

Also, the Purple Raiders' junior varsity football team defeated John Carroll last night at Mount Union Stadium to remain perfect on the season.  The JV's built a 19-0 halftime lead en route to a 26-12 victory over the Blue Streaks.  The young Raiders are now 8-0 with the season finale next Monday at Otterbein.  You can see the entire JV football schedule and results here.

Posted by Ric 11/3/03

Mount Union remained the unanimous choice as the number one team in this week's D3Football.com Top 25.  Baldwin-Wallace remained 7th, while Capital dropped out of the top 25 following back to back losses to the Purple Raiders and Yellow Jackets.  The Crusaders and John Carroll did receive a few votes.  The D3Football.com Top 25 is here.

Also, the Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has previewed this Saturday's match-up between the Purple Raiders and the Ohio Northern Polar Bears at Mount Union Stadium.  You can read it here.

Posted by Ric 11/2/03

I've posted our game story of Mount Union's victory over Marietta yesterday.  You can read it here.  We'll have pictures to add later in the week.

Also, Mount Union's JV football team finishes the home portion of its schedule with a game against John Carroll tomorrow evening.  Kickoff from Mount Union Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.  The Purple Raiders enter the game 7-0, having defeated the Blue Streaks in University Heights earlier in the year, 20-16.

Posted by Ric 11/1/03

Mount Union won its 50th consecutive football game this afternoon, defeating Marietta 55-0 to improve to 8-0 (7-0) on the year.  In just his 18th season, Larry Kehres notched win number 200 as head coach of the Purple Raiders.  He reached 200 wins in just 220 games coached with an overall record of 200-17-3, a winning percentage of .916%.

Mount Union opened up a 21-0 first quarter lead on a touchdown run by Ricky Ciccone and two Zac Bruney to Randell Knapp touchdown passes.  The Raiders increased their advantage to 31-0 at halftime on a Brian Miller run and George Wilders field goal.  Wilders added a second field goal in the third quarter and Joe Bugara caught a touchdown from Bruney to push the advantage to 41-0 after three, and two E.J. Lilly touchdown runs in the fourth stanza determined the final score.

Bruney was excellent on the day, connecting on 27 of 39 passes for 382 yards.  Knapp led all receivers with six catches for 110 yards and Ciccone rushed 13 times for 73 yards to lead a Raider ground attack that produced 251 yards.

Mount Union finished with 666 total yards to just 279 for the Pioneers.  The Purple Raiders averaged a whopping  8.6 yards per play.

Mount Union's current victory streak is the longest active win streak in all of college football, and is just four wins shy of tying the overall mark set by the Purple Raiders from 1996-1999 when they won 54 consecutive football games.  Next week the Raiders host Ohio Northern at Mount Union Stadium with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.