The NCAA News - News Features

HAVING A FIELD DAY

Borchert tosses two records as Mount Union crushes Rowan in III

The victory gave Mount Union, which finished the season 14-0 and has the best winning percentage in college football in the 1990s, its second title in four years. The Purple Raiders beat Rowan, 34-24, in the 1993 title game.

Rowan (10-3) finished second for the third time in four years.

Despite the lopsided final score, Rowan was in position to avenge the 1993 defeat at half time. Two second-quarter touchdowns and a key defensive stand that halted a Mount Union drive 11 yards from the end zone gave the Profs a 24-21 lead and momentum for the second half.

Or so they thought.

"It (the stalled drive) set the tempo for what we were going to do the rest of the game," said Mount Union defensive tackle B. J. Payne. "It really motivated us."

The danger of awakening a sleeping giant in a potentially high-scoring game was not lost on Rowan coach
K. C. Keeler. He knew his squad was up against an offense that averaged 500 yards and nearly 50 points per game during the regular season.

"Shoot-outs were not what we were looking for," he said. "I was happy we were hanging with them in that shoot-out, but I didn't want a shoot-out."

Instead, the second half turned into target practice for Borchert, who won his second straight Division III passing-efficiency crown this season. After his receivers told him that the Rowan cornerbacks were playing tight to cut off the short pass, the "hitch-and-go" worked to perfection and the Rowan secondary was easy pickings.

Eric Brock's 13-yard touchdown run, the Raiders' only rushing touchdown of the day, capped a 76-yard, nine-play drive that gave Mount Union a 28-24 lead midway through the third period.

After forcing Rowan to punt, the Raiders' next drive stalled at the Profs' 21-yard line. But Borchert led Mount Union to the end zone on its next three drives.

His four-yard strike to Steve Evans with 1:29 to play in the third quarter increased the lead to 35-24. On the first play of the Raiders' next possession, Borchert hit Reiko Gollate with a 45-yarder just 19 seconds into the fourth quarter to make it 42-24.

Mike Burgbacher killed Rowan's comeback hopes by intercepting a Greg Lister pass at the Mount Union 16-yard line a minute later. On the next play, Borchert connected with Kevin Knestrick on a 72-yard bomb to the Rowan 13. Two plays later, Borchert hit Brian Flinn from 12 yards out to make it 49-24.

Mount Union's aerial attack impressed even Keeler.

"If I could sit in the stands and watch it, what a beautiful sight," he said.

Jyi Peterson was the offensive star for Rowan, collecting 162 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. For Mount Union, Knestrick caught seven passes for a title-game record 211 yards, and Gollate finished with six receptions for 166 yards.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Mount Union -- 14 -- 7 -- 14 -- 21 -- 56

Rowan -- 10 -- 14 -- 0 -- 0 -- 24

First Quarter

Rowan -- Tim Huckel 35 field goal (11:58)

Mount Union -- Brian Flinn 9 pass from Bill Borchert (Bill Andrea kick) (7:12)

Rowan -- Jyi Peterson 42 run (Huckel kick) (4:30)

Mount Union -- Kevin Knestrick 38 pass from Borchert (Andrea kick) (2:09)

Second Quarter

Rowan -- Aaron Bosco 9 pass from Greg Lister (Huckel kick) (12:10)

Mount Union -- Reiko Gollate 29 pass from Borchert (Andrea kick) (10:09)

Rowan -- Peterson 2 run (Huckel kick) (3:54)

Third Quarter

Mount Union -- Eric Brock 13 run (Andrea kick) (7:40)

Mount Union -- Steve Evans 4 pass from Borchert (Andrea kick) (1:29)

Fourth Quarter

Mount Union -- Gollate 45 pass from Borchert (Andrea kick) (14:41)

Mount Union -- Flinn 12 pass from Borchert (Andrea kick) (12:14)

Mount Union -- Brian Tyla 18 pass from Borchert (Andrea kick) (3:57)

-- Mount Union -- Rowan

First Downs -- 30 -- 18

Rushing Yardage -- 177 -- 266

Passing Yardage -- 505 -- 157

Return Yardage -- 17 -- 0

Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) -- 26-38-1 -- 14-27-3

Punts (No.-Avg.) -- 1-29.0 -- 3-34.7

Fumbles (No.-Lost) -- 1-0 -- 2-1

Penalties (No.-Yards) -- 2-16 -- 4-25

Attendance -- 5,048.