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  Moore is Better!

All-American Chuck Moore leads MUC to 6th national title

Raiders tested by Eagles, hang on for 30-27 victory

     SALEM, Va. - Big players make the big plays in big games.

     The 29th edition of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl here Saturday night definitely contained its share of huge performances on the part of both Mount Union and Bridgewater gridders.

     However, as time waned, it was evident that the Purple Raiders had taken better advantage of their opportunities against the Eagles and the Purple and White claimed a 30-27 victory to secure a second straight NCAA Division III national championship and sixth overall.

     From the first play from scrimmage when Bridgewater quarterback Jason Lutz found receiver Marcus Richardson open for a 67-yard scoring strike to the final series when Mount Union running back Chuck Moore ran for his final 23 yards of his career to give his team a first down and put an end to the Eagles’ hopes of another one of their trademark last-second scores, the standing-room-only crowd of 7,992 fans at Salem Stadium were on the edge of their seats as was a primetime audience on ESPN2.

     Those watching were well entertained by big plays made by Moore and linebacker Jason Perkins for the Raiders, Lutz and Brian Ratliff for the Eagles and several substantial defensive stops by both squads in a game where the momentum shifted with the wind.

     “I’m very happy for our players,” said Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres.  “We had a number of first-year starters on our team this year.  Sometimes it can be difficult to be expected to perform extremely well and can create pressure on the players.  We’ve played with poise, dignity and class all year and I’m proud of them.”

     The Raiders showed that composure early.   After the speedy Bridgewater offense scored on the first play when Lutz connected with Richardson for the first of his three touchdown passes of the evening, Mount Union marched 49 yards in six plays to tie the score at 7-all when Moore went into the end zone from three yards out with 12:18 for the first of his three touchdowns.

     From there on out, it was a shootout with the Raiders eventually taking a 30-13 lead only to see the Eagles fight back to get within three points with two scores in the fourth quarter before a failed onside kick attempt ended their comeback bid.

     “We played a great football team,” said Bridgewater head coach Michael Clark.  “They’re champions and to beat champions, you have to play to perfection.  We didn’t quite do that tonight.”

     Both teams were stopped inside the red zone once and each team missed a field goal as the Eagles outgained Mount Union 516 yards to 454.  However, the Raiders’ defense collected four interceptions, including one for a score that proved to be a big key to the win.

     “Although it was early in the game, that was a game-winning play,” said Kehres.  “There’s no doubt about that.”

     The Raiders looked to be driving for another score on their second possession before a penalty and a sack proved to be costly and forced a punt.  Likewise, the Eagles marched to the Mount Union 20 and missed a field goal late in the first quarter.

     Mount Union’s Rodney Chenos connected on a 27-yard field goal with 11:43 to play in the second quarter to take a 10-7 lead before Lutz found Brian Ratliff on a 10-yard pass at the 7:05 mark to go ahead 13-10 following a blocked PAT.  The Eagles’ drive was keyed by running back Davon Cruz’s 34 yards rushing on seven carries and a 19-yard pass from Lutz to Nicholas Lehto on a third-and-six situation.

     The Raiders countered with a five-play, 67-yard drive capped by a 36-yard Moore run to go back up 17-13, and on Bridgewater’s ensuing drive went up 23-13 when Perkins scored on a 44-yard interception return.   The play was keyed when defensive end Todd Braden hurried Lutz and Perkins made the play on the ball.

     “We didn’t manage some things early,” said Clark.  “I was happy with our defense because I feel the points we gave up were deceptive, but offensively we were trying to force some things that weren’t there and we shortchanged ourselves in the kicking game, giving them a short field.”

     Mount Union went into the locker room, clinging to the 10-point lead when Chris Kern intercepted a pass at the end of the first half.

     The Raiders took their first second-half possession all the way to Bridgewater’s three before Jermaine Taylor intercepted a Rob Adamson pass.

     The Raiders did increase their advantage to 30-13 following a Matt Sotcan interception on the Eagles’ ensuing drive to give the ball to Mount Union at its own five.  Mount Union needed just one play to do it, as Moore went 95 of his record 273 yards to give his team all the breathing room it would need and sealed his selection as the game’s MVP honor.

     “You figure that only about eight percent of the time does a team score when they get the ball at the five,” said Clark.  “The percentages were on our side, but we missed a tackle.  They executed well and we gave it up too easy.  That play was very big because it accounted for all their offensive scoring in the second half.”

     The teams exchanged punts on the next two drives before the Eagles were able to cut the lead to 30-20 on a pass from Lutz to Ratliff with 13:09 left to play.

     Mount Union and Bridgewater then exchanged turnovers with the Eagles getting a fumble recovery from Lonnie Parker and the Raiders’ Mike Miller intercepting a pass on the next play.  Mount Union couldn’t convert, however, as it missed a field goal on the drive.

     The Raiders’ Todd Braden stopped Bridgewater on its next drive with one of his two sacks and Mount Union did its best to chew up the clock as West Branch graduate Jason Candle made a fantastic catch for a 49-yard gain that allowed the Raiders to retain possession for at least two more minutes.

     Adamson’s pass seemed to be in the hands of defender Brad McCrady when Candle popped up with it.

     “You can call it a lucky catch,” said Candle, who had five receptions for 120 yards.  “You can call it me making a play on the ball.  You can call it him not making a play.  That’s for everyone else to talk about.  (McCrady) did have it, but it popped up and I ended up with it and at the time it was a big catch.”

     Although the Raiders didn’t score after taking it to the four and being stopped on a fourth-and-goal situation, it allowed Mount Union to hold the ball a little longer and forced the Eagles to go 96 yards for a play that was capped when Lutz ran in from three yards out, putting Bridgewater within three with 1:55 left in the clock after going the distance in six plays and one minute.

     The Eagles attempted an onside kick, but Jason Richards was there to get the ball and Moore carried the ball for nine, six and eight yards to run the clock out.

     “We expected Bridgewater to make big plays,” said Kehres.  “We didn’t want it to happen on the first play, but it did and it set the tone for the rest of the game for our defense.  It took us a quarter to adjust to their speed, but after that we started playing the option very well which we felt was a critical part of their offense.”

     The Raiders were helped when Cruz, the Eagles’ leading rusher, had to sit out part of the second half after suffering an injury to his ribs in the first half.  It took Bridgewater out of its game plan.

     “I think that made it difficult for them because it took them out of their offensive framework,” said Kehres.  It made it easier for Mount Union, which was able to keep pressuring Lutz with its defensive line.

     “We give their defensive front a lot of credit,” said Clark.  “Other teams have forced us into one-on-one matchups and we were able to use our speed outside.  They were able to pressure us with four players and that really impacted us.”

     Lutz finished with a 14-of-32 effort with 374 yards, including seven catches by Ratliff for 161 yards and three passes to Richardson for 129 yards.

NOTES

     The Raiders set a Stagg Bowl team record with 104 punt return yards, breaking the mark set by Wisconsin-La Crosse (86) in 1995. ... The attendance was the third largest of any Stagg Bowl and the largest since its been held in Salem. ... Ratliff tied the record for touchdowns receiving. ... The Raiders are scheduled to open their defense of the title with a game at Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2002.

Mount Union 30       Bridgewater 27

Scoring

Individual Statistics

Rushing - Bridgewater, Cruz 18-71, Lutz 14-31, Johnson 2-25, Pearson 1-8, Kelley 2-7;  Mount Union, Moore 24-273, Pugh 8-24, Team 1-(-2), Adamson 3-(-21). 

Passing - Bridgewater, Lutz 32-14-4-374;  Mount Union, Adamson 19-11-1-180.  

Receiving - Bridgewater, Ratliff 7-161, Richardson 3-129, Lehto 2-67, Berry 1-9, Jones 1-8;  Mount Union, Candle 5-120, Moore 2-23, Richards 2-15, Liddell 1-13, Leach 1-9.   

  *By Jack R. Weber Jr.  Appeared in The Alliance Review 12-17-01; photos by Bill Gough.