The pedestal on which the Mount Union football program sits was made even higher as the Purple Raiders won their third straight Division III Football Championship, routing Trinity (Texas), 48-7, in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl December 21 in Salem, Virginia.

Mount Union took over the all-divisions lead in NCAA football championships after capturing its seventh title, all of them coming since 1993. Georgia Southern has won the Division I-AA championship six times.

Dan Pugh, who was voted the game's most outstanding player and received the Gagliardi Trophy as Division III's player of the year, set Stagg Bowl records for points scored (26) and rushing attempts (49). He gained 253 yards, scored four touchdowns and added a two-point conversion.

Pugh also established Division III tournament highs for points scored with 92 and touchdowns with 15. His 41 touchdowns on the year sets an NCAA all-divisions single-season mark, surpassing Barry Sanders' previous record of 39 in 1988 while at Oklahoma State.

"Pugh is not your typical Division III player," said Trinity head coach Steven Mohr. "He made people miss in the open field; he's got power and speed. He's the whole package. You can see why he was voted the nation's best player."

Mount Union quarterback Rob Adamson completed 12 of 23 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Randell Knapp had a team-high four catches for 58 yards, and both of Derrick Leach's receptions went for touchdowns.

"Rob played his best football when it counted most in the playoffs," said Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres. "He's been throwing the ball extremely well and led us throughout the playoffs."

Justin Burton finished with a team-high seven tackles and added an interception for Mount Union, while Chris Carter had six tackles and one sack.

Dan DesPlaines threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to B.J. Smith for Trinity's only score. Jeremy Boyce rushed 15 times for 93 yards for the Tigers, who suffered their first defeat of 2002 after 14 victories.

The win extended Mount Union's winning streak to 42 games after a 14-0 season. The Purple Raiders have won 96 of their last 97 games and have a .955 winning percentage (162-17-1) since 1990.

Championship

First quarter

MU -- Dan Pugh 19 run (Chad Teague kick) (8:32).

Second quarter

MU -- Randell Knapp 9 pass from Rob Adamson (kick blocked) (10:27); MU -- Derrick Leach 19 pass from Adamson (Pugh run) (3:13); MU -- Pugh 2 run (Teague kick) (0:24).

Third quarter

T -- B.J. Smith 18 pass from Dan DesPlaines (Todd Canion kick) (7:59); MU -- Pugh 1 run (Teague kick) (1:08).

Fourth quarter

MU -- Pugh 2 run (kick failed) (12:57); MU -- Leach 55 pass from Adamson (Teague kick) (10:38).

Team statistics

Mount Union Trinity (Tex.)

Attendance -- 4,389.

Individual statistics

Rushing: Mount Union -- Pugh 49-253; Zac Bruney 4-18; Jeff Strauch 1-3; Jesse Burghardt 2-3; Rick Ciccone 1-0; Adamson 2-(minus 9); Trinity (Tex.) -- Jeremy Boyce 15-93; Jason Hunt 1-24; Matt Federle 2-4; Jerheme Urban 2-0; Dan DesPlaines 9-(minus 4).

Passing: Mount Union -- Adamson 12-23-0-222; Trinity (Tex.) -- DesPlaines 9-18-1-86.

Receiving: Mount Union -- Knapp 4-58, Josh Liddell 3-34, Leach 2-74, Nick Sirianni 2-52, Pugh 1-4; Trinity (Tex.) -- Urban 3-19, Hunt 2-35, Boyce 2-5, Smith 1-18; Jacob Respondek 1-9