Rodney Chenos capped a championship-caliber 11-play, 65-yard drive with a 20-yard field goal with just one second remaining in regulation. The successful kick lifted Mount Union to its fourth title in the last five years, and gave the Purple Raiders their division-leading fifth championship overall.

The fifth title enabled the Purple Raiders, who lost to Rowan in last year's semifinals, to surpass Augustana (Illinois), which won its four championships in succession from 1983 through 1986.

After a St. John's punt, Mount Union started the decisive drive on its own 32-yard line with just over four minutes to play. Quarterback Gary Smeck started the march with a 20-yard completion to wide receiver Adam Marino. The pair later connected for a 13-yard gain to the Johnnies' 21 on a third-and-seven situation.

Running back Chuck Moore then churned out 18 yards on four consecutive carries, setting the stage for Chenos. St. John's attempted to rattle the junior by calling two timeouts, but to no avail.

"The timeouts did not bother me," Chenos said. "I was totally focused and prepared to kick the ball.

"I told the seniors last night that I could be the man if I had to be, and I was."

Mount Union jumped out to a 7-0 lead, taking the opening kickoff and fashioning an eight-play, 62-yard drive. Smeck, who was 5-for-5 for 46 yards on the march, found Adam Irgang from eight yards out for the touchdown.

The Johnnies knotted the score on a one-yard run by Chris Moore with 3:01 remaining in the second quarter, capping an eight-play, 49-yard drive.

As the score suggests, both defenses were outstanding. Each team had three interceptions, including two by the Johnnies' Will Gibson. Mount Union, which got an interception and four passes defended from both Mike Miller and Alex Grinch, limited the Johnnies to 207 total yards.

The 17 total points were the second-lowest output in the 28-year history of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. West Georgia blanked Augustana (Illinois), 14-0, in 1982.

Chuck Moore topped all rushers with 146 yards on 32 carries. Smeck completed 19 of 27 attempts for 144 yards. He established a Division III tournament record for completion percentage (.696) after connecting on 80 of 115 throws.

St. John's, which concluded its season with a 13-2 record, was led by Chris Moore's 71 yards rushing on 22 carries.

Mount Union was undefeated in 14 games in 2000, and its only loss in the last five years was the 1999 defeat to Rowan. The Purple Raiders are 68-1 during that span.

Championship

First quarter

MU -- Adam Irgang 8 pass from Gary Smeck (Rodney Chenos kick) (11:18).

Second quarter

SJ -- Chris Moore 1 run (Joe Rotondi kick) (3:01).

Fourth quarter

MU -- Chenos 20 field goal (0:01).

Team statistics

St. John's Mount

(Minn.) Union

Attendance -- 4,643.

Individual statistics

Rushing: St. John's (Minn.) -- Chris Moore 22-71, Blake Elliot 2-5, Aaron Krych 1-4, Tom Linneman 4-(minus 10); Mount Union-Chuck Moore 32-146, Dan Pugh 8-32, Gary Smeck 6-1.

Passing: St. John's (Minn.) -- Linneman 12-30-3-137; Mount Union-Smeck 19-27-3-144.

Receiving: St. John's (Minn.) -- Elliot 3-52, Krych 3-42, Jeremy Forsell 3-29, Nate Kirschner 3-14; Mount Union-Adam Marino 8-88, Irgang 4-14, Pugh 3-25, Chuck Moore 3-3, Rob Sondles 1-14.