The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Second-half barrage lifts Mount Union to fourth football crown in six years

Old habits die hard.

Mount Union has made winning football games and Division III championships a habit in the 1990s, and it made the saying ring true by rallying past Rowan, 44-24, in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl December 12 in Salem, Virginia.

Gary Smeck passed for 307 yards and three touchdowns as Mount Union captured its fourth Division III title in six years. The Purple Raiders ended the year with a 14-0 record and tied Augustana (Illinois) for the most Division III football championships with four.

Mount Union also has won 42 straight games, the longest active streak in college football and five games shy of the NCAA all-division record set by Oklahoma in the 1950s.

There was a point in the championship game, however, when it appeared the winning streak and another title were in jeopardy.

Rowan wiped out a 16-14 half-time deficit with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gus Ornstein to Taman Bryant and a 44-yard field goal by Mark Migliori.

But Mount Union responded with a six-play, 62-yard drive, capped by Smeck's three-yard scoring pass to Dave Hassey with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter. Smeck found Darin Kershner for the two-point conversion to knot the score at 24.

Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Ornstein fumbled when blindsided by linebacker Jason Hall while dropping to pass. Jeremy Yoder recovered for the Purple Raiders, and Chuck Moore scored on the next play on a nine-yard run.

Ryan Gorius added Mount Union's fourth-quarter touchdowns on a one-yard run and a 14-yard pass from Smeck, and the Purple Raiders' defense limited the Profs to just 32 yards total offense in the final 15 minutes.

Smeck completed 19 of 34 passes for 307 yards. He established Division III tournament records for pass attempts with 152 and completions with 99.

Adam Marino, who was on the receiving end of seven Smeck passes in the championship game, tied the tournament record for touchdown receptions with six.

Mount Union's 1998 road to the championship included two-point wins in the first round and quarterfinals of the playoffs and a five-point semifinal victory over Trinity (Texas) after trailing in the fourth quarter.

"In a way, this might be the most satisfying title we've won because of the way we got here," Purple Raiders head coach Larry Kehres said. "We played in numerous close games and had to come from behind several times to get the job done.

"As a coach, I couldn't be prouder of this team's work ethic and determination in achieving this goal."

Rowan, which concluded its season at 10-3, has lost all four of its appearances in the Stagg Bowl. Mount Union also upended the Profs in 1993 and 1996.

Justin Wright powered the Rowan rushing attack with 181 yards on 30 carries. David Trinidad hauled in six catches for 78 yards for the Profs.

In its four Stagg Bowl victories, Mount Union has outscored opponents, 116-31, in the second half. The Purple Raiders upped their record in the 1990s to 108-6-1 with their third straight perfect season.

SEMIFINALS

Mount Union 34, Trinity (Tex.) 29; Rowan 22, Wis.-Eau Claire 19.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Mount Union -- 7 -- 9 -- 15 -- 13 -- 44

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

First Quarter

Rowan -- Justin Wright 1 run (Mark Migliori kick) (9:46).

Mount Union -- Darin Kershner 47 pass from Gary Smeck (Rodney Chenos kick) (4:23).

Rowan -- David Sadowski 1 run (Migliori kick) (0:42).

Second Quarter

Mount Union -- Chenos 27 field goal (13:38).

Mount Union -- Chuck Moore 2 run (kick blocked) (10:43).

Third Quarter

Rowan -- Taman Bryant 10 pass from Gus Ornstein (Migliori kick) (11:44).

Rowan -- Migliori 44 field goal (3:40).

Mount Union -- Dave Hassey 3 pass from Smeck (Kershner pass from Smeck) (1:08).

Mount Union -- Chuck Moore 9 run (Chenos kick) (0:10).

Fourth Quarter

Mount Union -- Ryan Gorius 1 run (Chenos kick) (8:53).

Mount Union -- Gorius 14 pass from Smeck (kick failed) (2:34).

-- Mount Union -- Rowan

First Downs -- 20 -- 19

Rushing Yardage -- 112 -- 131

Passing Yardage -- 307 -- 200

Return Yardage -- 50 -- 12

Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) -- 19-34-1 -- 17-40-0

Punts (No.-Avg.) -- 6-27.0 -- 6-34.2

Fumbles (No.-Lost) -- 2-0 -- 3-2

Penalties (No.-Yards) -- 5-41 -- 5-42

Attendance: 5,145