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November 2005 News

Posted by Ric 11/30/05

The Capital University Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's NCAA Division III Quarterfinal between Mount Union and the Crusaders.  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 11/29/05

I've added seven audio highlights from Mount Union's 44-7 second round playoff victory over Augustana (IL).  You can hear them here.

Posted by Ric 11/28/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's rematch between the Purple Raiders and Capital Crusaders.  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 11/27/05

I've posted our game story of Mount Union's second round playoff win over Augustana (IL).  You can read it here. 

Posted by Ric 11/26/05

Mount Union freshman running back Nate Kmic rushed for a school record 361 yards on 37 carries and scored four times as the Purple Raiders defeated Augustana (IL) 44-7 this afternoon in second round playoff action.

Kmic scored on runs of 20, 19, 31 and 34 yards and averaged 9.8 yards per carry in the contest. 

Mount Union scored with 34 seconds left in the first half and again 40 seconds into the third quarter to push a 13-7 advantage to 27-7.  The Raiders scored the final 31 points of the game.

The Vikings score came on a two-yard run by Greg Cozzi with 1:50 remaining in the second period and broke a string of 19 consecutive quarters the Purple & White had gone without allowing a touchdown.  Mount Union held Augie to 30 points under its season average.

Mike Jorris finished eight of 10 passing for 112 yards and one touchdown, a 40-yard pass to Pierre Garcon.  Garcon finished with three receptions for 60 yards.  Justin Wray added the final score on a five-yard run with five minutes left, and Mike Zimmerman booted a 26-yard field goal to account for the scoring.

With the win, the Purple Raiders will host Capital next week in NCAA Quarterfinal playoff action.  The Crusaders advance with a 14-11 win at Wabash.  In week four Mount Union defeated Capital 42-24 and have won 18 straight vs. its conference rival.  Kickoff from Mount Union Stadium is set for 12:00 noon.

Posted by Ric 11/23/05

I've added a couple audio highlights from Mount Union's 49-6 first round playoff win over Mount St. Joseph.  You can hear them here.

Posted by Ric 11/22/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's Second Round NCAA Division III playoff game between the Purple Raiders and Augustana (IL).  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 11/21/05

Three Purple Raider football players were honored with 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Special Awards today and a total of 14 were named to the All-Conference Team.

The Special Award winners include senior wide receiver Scott Casto, who earned the Ed Sherman Award as the most outstanding receiver, junior offensive lineman Jason Lewis, who received the Mike Gregory Award as most outstanding offensive lineman and senior linebacker Mike Gibbons, who received the Bill Edwards Award as the conference's most outstanding linebacker.

In addition, Mount Union placed seven players on the All-Conference First-Team, five on the Second-Team, and two as Honorable Mention.

Those named to the first-team offense include Casto, Lewis and junior running back Aaron Robinson.  Named first-team defense were Gibbons, senior cornerback Ross Watson, senior defensive tackle Jesse Wells and senior defensive tackle Buddy Wolf.

Second-team honorees include sophomore wide receiver Pierre Garcon, senior offensive lineman Jeff Goodwill, senior running back Kelechi Ibeh, senior offensive lineman Tom Manning and junior defensive end Justen Stickley.

Receiving Honorable Mention status were junior cornerback Ryan Fehl and sophomore free safety Matt Kostelnik.  Congratulations Purple Raiders!

Posted by Ric 11/20/05

I've posted our game story of Mount Union's first round playoff win over Mount St. Joseph.  You can read it here. 

Posted by Ric 11/19/05

Mount Union scored 42 unanswered points over the final three quarters and limited Mount St. Joseph to just one-yard rushing in a 49-6 win this afternoon in front of 2,576 fans at Mount Union Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Purple Raiders rushed for 324 yards and totaled of 565 yards while limiting the Lions to just 58 total yards in the contest.

Nate Kmic rushed for 157 yards and three scores.  Mike Jorris completed 12 of 19 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Pierre Garcon and Scott Casto.  Garcon caugh three balls for 128 yards while Casto had five receptions for 61 yards.

Garcon's touchdown came on a 92-yard pass play into the wind midway through the first quarter, erasing a 3-0 Mount St. Joseph lead and giving Mount Union all the points they would need in the game.

Mike Gibbons led the Purple Raiders with nine tackles while Greg Brauer had 2.5 of the team's six sacks.

Mount Union will host Augustana (IL), a 49-22 winner today over Lakeland, next Saturday at Mount Union Stadium in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, with kickoff at 12:00 Noon.

Posted by Ric 11/16/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's First Round NCAA Division III playoff game between the Purple Raiders and Mount St. Joseph.  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 11/15/05

Mount Union remained sixth in the final regular season AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll of 2005, while Ohio Athletic Conference rival Capital moved into the poll for the first time this season at number 23.  You can see the entire poll here.

In addition, I've added five audio highlights from Mount Union's 63-0 regular season ending victory over Muskingum.  You can hear those here.

Posted by Ric 11/14/05

Mount Union remained fifth in the final regular season D3football.com Top 25 poll.  Capital is ranked 16th and Ohio Northern is 20th, while John Carroll received votes.  You can see the entire Top 25 here.

Posted by Ric 11/13/05

Mount Union will host Mount St. Joseph this Saturday in the First Round of the 2005 NCAA Division III playoffs.  Kickoff at Mount Union Stadium will be at 12:00 Noon.  The Purple Raiders and Lions each enter the contest 9-1. 

Mount Union qualified for the playoffs by winning the Ohio Athletic Conference, while Mount St. Joseph is in as champions of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Should the Purple Raiders win, they would host the winner of the Lakeland at Augustana (IL) game on November 26th.  OAC rival Capital also made the Field of 32 and will travel to North Central (IL) in the first round.

The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl will be played on December 17th in Salem, Virginia, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m..  You can see the entire playoff bracket here.

In addition, I've posted our game story of Mount Union's regular season finale win over Heidelberg, which you can read here. 

Posted by Ric 11/12/05

Mount Union scored touchdowns on five consecutive one-play drives in shutting out Heidelberg 63-0 this afternoon.  The win secures the Ohio Athletic Conference championship for the 14th consecutive season.

Mike Jorris connected with Scott Casto late in the first quarter to make it 16-0.  The next two touchdown "drives" were scoring tosses from Jorris to Pierre Garcon before Jorris hit Casto again late in the half for a 43-0 lead at the break.  Nate Kmic then scampered 34 yards for his first of two touchdowns on the first offensive play of the third quarter.

Casto also scored on an 87-yard punt return and Aaron Robinson accounted for the first Raider touchdown on an 11-yard run.

Mount Union finished with 661 yards while limiting Heidelberg to just 170.  With the win, the Purple Raiders finish the regular season 9-1 overall and 8-1 in conference play. 

Mount Union has automatically qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs by virtue of winning the OAC and will await the bracketing, which will be announced by the playoff committee tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. 

Posted by Ric 11/11/05

The Mount Union JV football team defeated John Carroll 28-5 to finish the season unbeaten at 5-0.  You can see the entire results along with the offensive statistics here.

Posted by Ric 11/10/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's regular season finale between the Purple Raiders and Heidelberg in Tiffin, Ohio.  You can read them here.

Posted by Ric 11/9/05

Mount Union is ranked second in the North Region in this week's Division III Football Regional Rankings released by the NCAA.  The Purple Raiders sit behind Wabash, and above Augustana (IL), North Central (IL), Capital, Mount St. Joseph, John Carroll, Wheaton (IL), Ohio Northern and Lakeland in the North Region.  You can see the NCAA's entire ranking of each region's top ten teams here.

Posted by Ric 11/8/05

Mount Union moved up a couple spots and is tied for sixth in this week's AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll.  Ohio Athletic Conference rivals Capital and John Carroll each received votes.  You can see the entire poll here.

Posted by Ric 11/7/05

Mount Union fans interested in traveling to Heidelberg on a fan bus for this Saturday's football game may contact Cheerleading Coach Stephanie Unckrich.  Cost of the trip is $35 per person, for the bus ride.  You can reach Stephanie Unckrich at (330) 823-9452 for more information.

In addition, I've added five audio highlights from Mount Union's 45-0 win over Muskingum.  You can hear those here.

Posted by Ric 11/6/05

Mount Union moved up one spot to fifth in this week's D3football.com Top 25 poll.  Capital is ranked 21st, Ohio Northern is one spot later at 22nd and John Carroll received votes.  You can see the entire Top 25 here.

In addition, I've posted our game story of Mount Union's 45-0 victory over Muskingum.  You can read it here.

Posted by Ric 11/5/05

Mount Union jumped out to a 38-0 first half advantage in blanking Muskingum 45-0 this afternoon at McConagha Stadium in New Concord, Ohio.  The win, coupled with John Carroll's 19-7 loss to Capital, secures at least a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference championship for the 14th straight season.

Mike Jorris completed 25 of 30 passes for 370 yards and two touchdowns.  Scott Casto had nine receptions for 144 yards and one score while Anthony Antonucci contributed with seven catches covering 115 yards.

Nate Kmic and Kelechi Ibeh each scored twice and Matt Kostelnik returned a fumble 25 yards for a Mount Union score.

The Purple Raiders improved to 8-1 overall, 7-1 in conference play and will travel to Heidelberg next week in the regular season finale.  The Student Princes winless in the 2005 campaign.  Kickoff from Frost-Kalnow Stadium is at 1:30 p.m.

Posted by Ric 11/3/05

Mount Union is ranked third in the North Region in this week's Division III Football Regional Rankings released by the NCAA.  The Purple Raiders sit behind North Central (IL) and Wabash, and above Augustana (IL), John Carroll, Mount St. Joseph, Capital, Alma, Wheaton (IL) and Ohio Northern in the North Region.  You can see the NCAA's entire ranking of each region's top ten teams here.

Posted by Ric 11/2/05

The Mount Union College Sports Information Director's office has posted game notes for this Saturday's OAC match-up between the Purple Raiders and Muskingum in New Concord, Ohio.  You can read them here.

In addition, I've added three audio highlights from Mount Union's 17-3 victory over Baldwin-Wallace.  You can hear those here.

Posted by Ric 11/1/05

Mount Union moved up one spot to number eight in this week's AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll.  Ohio Athletic Conference rivals John Carroll and Capital each received votes.  You can see the entire poll here.