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December 2005 News

Posted by Ric 12/24/05

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

Posted by Ric 12/22/05

I've added a number of pictures taken by Gayle Stickley from the sidelines as Mount Union won its eighth national championship to our game story, which you can see here,  and to the game story from the Alliance Review written by Jack Weber, which you can read here.

Posted by Ric 12/20/05

The final AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll was released today with Mount Union back on top as the number one Division III team in the nation.  Capital finished eighth in the final poll, while John Carroll received votes.  You can see the entire poll here.

Posted by Ric 12/19/05

Mount Union is the number one team in the nation in the final D3football.com Top 25 poll.  Capital finishes in the fifth spot, while Ohio Northern is ranked 18th and Otterbein received a vote.  You can see the entire Top 25 here.

In addition, I've added some audio highlights from Mount Union's championship victory over Wis-Whitewater in the Stagg Bowl.  You can hear them here.

Posted by Ric 12/18/05

Four Mount Union Purple Raiders have been named to the D3football.com All-American Team.  Senior linebacker Mike Gibbons and senior offensive lineman Jason Lewis were named First-Team, senior cornerback Ross Watson  earned Second-Team honors and senior defensive tackle Buddy Wolf was a Third-Team selection.  You can see the entire D3football.com All-American Team here.

In addition, Watson was named to the 2005 AP Little All-America First-Team as announced by the Associated Press.

Also, I've posted our game story of Mount Union's national championship victory in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl over Wis-Whitewater.  You can read it here.

Posted by Ric 12/17/05

Mount Union defeated Wis-Whitewater 35-28 this afternoon in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to bring the national championship back to Alliance, Ohio for the eighth time.

Nate Kmic was named the game's Most Outstanding Player, rushing for 185 yards and scoring three touchdowns, including a 95-yard run to equal a championship game record set by Chuck Moore in the 2001 Stagg Bowl.

The Purple Raiders led 14-7 at halftime on the strength of two Mike Jorris to Pierre Garcon touchdown passes, from 63 and 12 yards.  Garcon finished with 107 receiving yards and two scores while Jorris completed 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

Kmic scored twice in the third quarter on runs of 95 and two yards to make it a 28-7 advantage entering the final period.

Following two Warhark touchdowns to close to within 28-21, Kmic scored on a 15-yard run to seal the victory.  Whitewater added a score with two seconds remaining but it was too little too late as Mount Union won its eighth national championship in the last 13 seasons.

Posted by Ric 12/15/05

Mount Union players talk about the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and Wis-Whitewater among other things heading into the national championship game on Saturday.  You can read their comments here.

Posted by Ric 12/14/05

Mount Union senior cornerback Ross Watson was named to the 2005 AFCA Division III Football All-America Team, announced by the American Football Coaches Association.  This prestigious team is comprised of 25 players from NCAA Division III schools and is selected by Division III coaches.

Watson has a team-high nine interceptions this season, one shy of tying the Purple Raider single-season mark of 10 held by Bruce Ensminger (1951) and Perry Bourn (1968).

Posted by Ric 12/13/05

Mount Union Head Coach Larry Kehres and Wis-Whitewater Head Coach Bob Berezowitz participated in a Pre-Stagg Bowl Conference Call yesterday.  You can read quotes from each of the coaches here.

In addition, I've added a few audio highlights from Saturday's win by Mount Union over Rowan in the national semifinals.  You can hear them here.

Posted by Ric 12/12/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's NCAA Division III National Championship between the Purple Raiders and the Wis-Whitewater Warhawks.  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 12/11/05

I've posted our game story of Mount Union's victory over Rowan in the national semifinals.  You can read it here. 

Posted by Ric 12/10/05

Mount Union defeated Rowan this afternoon 19-7 before 3,236 fans at Mount Union Stadium in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Purple Raiders scored twice in the second quarter on a 30-yard pass from Mike Jorris to Nate Kmic and a seven-yard Kmic run to lead 14-0 at halftime.

Rowan made it 14-7 after three periods on a one-yard run by Joe Rankin, but Mount Union added five fourth quarter points on a 25-yard Mike Zimmerman field goal and a safety when Buddy Wolf sacked Rankin in the endzone with six minutes to play.

The Purple Raiders held the ball for more than 40 minutes in the contest and outgained the Profs in total yards 322 to 176.  The Mount Union defense held Rowan to minus one yard rushing on 27 attempts.

With the win, the Purple Raiders will face Wis-Whitewater next week in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.  The Warhawks advance with a 58-6 win over Wesley today.

It's Mount Union's ninth trip to the national championship game since 1993, while the Warhawks will be making their first ever appearance in the title game.  The Raiders will be playing for their eighth national title in the last 13 years.  The contest will be broadcast live from Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia on ESPN2 with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.

Posted by Ric 12/9/05

Mount Union senior linebacker Mike Gibbons was named Co-Defensive North Region Player of the Year as the Purple Raiders placed six players on the 2005 D3Football.com All-North Region Team.

Joining Gibbons on the First-Team were senior defensive tackle Buddy Wolf, senior cornerback Ross Watson, senior wide receiver Scott Casto and junior offensive tackle Jason Lewis.  Senior defensive tackle Jesse Wells was chosen as a Second-Team North Region selection.

The North Region Team was chosen out of 177 nominations by Division III institutions as selected by Division III Sports Information Directors and staff members of D3football.com. A total of 76 players earned All-Region honors, with Mount Union garnering five of the 25 First-Team picks.  You can see each of the D3football.com All-Region Teams here.

Posted by Ric 12/6/05

I've added some audio highlights from Saturday's quarterfinal playoff win by Mount Union over Capital.  You can hear them here.

Posted by Ric 12/5/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's semifinal playoff match-up between the Purple Raiders and Rowan Profs.  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 12/4/05

I've posted our game story of Mount Union's exciting victory over Capital in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs.  You can read it here. 

Posted by Ric 12/3/05

Mount Union scored on a two-yard pass from Mike Jorris to Anthony Antonucci with 3:41 remaining to take a 34-31 lead and then held Capital on downs to win the NCAA Division III Quarterfinal this afternoon in front of 4,209 fans in Alliance. 

There were six lead changes with neither side leading by more than a touchdown in a tremendous game between two very good football teams at Mount Union Stadium.

Mike Jorris finished 23 of 32 for 315 yards and three scores, while Nate Kmic led the ground attack with 177 yards on 38 carries and one touchdown.  Kmic finished with 244 all-purpose yards in the contest.  Pierre Garcon caught 11 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

Mike Zimmerman booted two field goals to account for the scoring.  Mike Gibbons paced the team with 11 tackles, while Robert McDavid had an interception and Greg Brauer recovered a fumble.

The Purple Raiders finished with 522 yards of offense, while Capital finished with 365.  Mount Union had 315 yards passing compared to 312 for the Crusaders but had a big advantage in rushing yards, 207 to 53.

With the win, the Purple Raiders will host Rowan next week in NCAA Semifinal playoff action.  The Profs advance with a 27-21 win at Delaware Valley.  It is the 11th straight season Mount Union has made the Division III Final Four. 

The Raiders hold a 3-1 advantage in the previous four meetings with Rowan with each win coming in the championship game and the loss coming in the last meeting by the final of 24-17 in overtime in the 1999 semifinal in Alliance.  Kickoff from Mount Union Stadium is set for 12:00 noon next Saturday.

Posted by Ric 12/1/05

Mount Union College placed three players on the 2005 All-Ohio Athletic Conference Academic football team.

Offensively, senior offensive lineman Tom Manning, a history major with a 3.77 GPA, and senior wide receiver Scott Casto, a legal-studies major with a 3.69 GPA, each earned Academic All-OAC honors.

Manning made the All-OAC team for a second consecutive season, while Casto was a Honorable Mention pick in 2004.

In addition, senior quarterback Randy Mason, a biochemistry major with a 3.68 GPA, earned Academic All-OAC Honorable-Mention status this fall.

A total of 32 football players from the 10 OAC institutions earned Academic All-OAC status this season.