The team from Alliance appears more intent on building a monopoly.

Mount Union claimed its second straight Division III Football Championship and fifth in the last six years by edging Bridgewater (Virginia), 30-27, in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl December 15 in Salem, Virginia.

With its 1993 title added, the Purple Raiders from Alliance, Ohio, are just the second team to win six NCAA football championships. Georgia Southern has captured the top spot in Division I-AA on six occasions.

Chuck Moore rambled for a Stagg Bowl record 273 yards and three touchdowns to key Mount Union's win over Bridgewater. His 36-yard scoring run with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter put the Purple Raiders in the lead for good at 17-13.

Moore also scored the eventual winning points when he broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and bolted 95 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. The run, the longest in the 29-year history of the Division III Football Championship, gave Mount Union a 30-13 advantage.

Bridgewater rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the second coming with just 1:55 remaining on a three-yard run by quarterback Jason Lutz. Mount Union's Jason Richards recovered the ensuing Eagles' onside kick, and Moore cemented the victory with three carries for 23 yards to run out the clock.

"This was one of the best Division III football games I've ever played in," said Moore. "It's just an unbelievable feeling to walk out of here as a senior. Last year, when those seniors walked off the field, I felt great for them. Everyone should walk off like this."

Moore also established Division III tournament records for rushing yards (998), rushes attempted (138), touchdowns (12) and points (72).

Mount Union quarterback Rob Adamson was 11-of-19 for 180 yards. Wide receiver Jason Candle posted a team-high five receptions for 120 yards.

Bridgewater was making its first trip to the title game, just three years after posting an 0-10 record in 1998. The Eagles racked up 516 yards of offense, including 374 passing yards by Lutz. He completed 14 of 32 passes, including three for touchdowns, but was victimized by four interceptions.

Jason Perkins returned one of the interceptions 44 yards for a touchdown that lifted Mount Union's lead to 23-13. Brian Ratliff hauled in seven Lutz passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Mount Union has won 82 of its last 83 games, with the only loss coming in the 1999 Division III semifinals to Rowan. The remarkable run has lifted head coach Larry Kehres' 16-year record with the Purple Raiders to 178-17-3. His winning percentage of .907 is the best among all coaches in history who have a career of at least 10 seasons at four-year institutions.

The Purple Raiders were 14-0 this season. Bridgewater lost for the first time after 12 consecutive victories.

Championship

First quarter

B -- Marcus Richardson 67 pass from Jason Lutz (Sean Rowe kick) (14:40); MU -- Chuck Moore 3 run (Rodney Chenos kick) (12:18).

Second quarter

MU -- Chenos 27 field goal (11:43); B -- Brian Ratliff 10 pass from Lutz (kick blocked) (7:05); MU -- Moore 36 run (Chenos kick) (5:38); MU -- Jason Perkins 44 interception return (kick blocked) (3:39).

Third quarter

MU -- Moore 95 run (Chenos kick) (5:50).

Fourth quarter

B -- Ratliff 59 pass from Lutz (Rowe kick) (13:09); B -- Lutz 3 run (Rowe kick) (1:55).

Attendance -- 7,992.

Individual statistics

Rushing: Bridgewater (Va.) -- Davon Cruz 18-71, Lutz 14-31, Linwood Johnson 2-25, Joel Pearson 1-8, Michael Kelley 2-7; Mount Union -- Moore 34-273, Dan Pugh 8-24, Team 1-(minus 2), Rob Adamson 3-(minus 21).

Passing: Bridgewater (Va.) -- Lutz 14-32-4-374; Mount Union -- Adamson 11-19-1-180.

Receiving: Bridgewater (Va.) -- Ratliff 7-161, Richardson 3-129, Nicholas Lehto 2-67, P. J. Berry 1-9, Andre Jones 1-8; Mount Union -- Jason Candle 5-120, Moore 2-23, Jason Richards 2-15, Josh Liddell 1-13, Derrick Leach 1-9