COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Mount Union vs. St. John's (Minn.)

What: Division III national semifinal.
When: Noon today.
Where: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.
At stake: A trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va., for the Div. III championship on Dec. 15 against the Rowan (N.J.)-Bridgewater (Va.) winner.
The series: The teams will meet for the second straight year and third time overall. Mount Union defeated St. John's for the national championship last season, 10-7. The Purple Raiders also won 56-8 in a 1993 semifinal.
Mount Union (12-0) scouting report: The Purple Raiders have arrived in their seventh straight semifinal round by defeating Augustana (Ill.) 32-7 and Wittenberg 49-21. They had a bye in the first round. The story this week centers around senior RB Chuck Moore, who is coming off a school record 346-yard, four-touchdown performance against Wittenberg to raise his season total to 1,843 on 238 carries, with 29 total TDs. Moore is supported in the team's offense by junior RB Dan Pugh, who has 813 yards on 162 carries, with 16 total TDs. Junior QB Rob Adamson has completed 165-of-259 passes for 2,712 yards and 23 TDs, with seven INTs. His favorite receiver is senior Jason Candle, of West Branch, who has 51 catches for 1,035 yards and 11 TDs. Junior DE Matt Campbell leads the defense with 71 total tackles, while senior LBs Rocky Coniglio and Jason Perkins each have 68. The Purple Raiders are coached by Larry Kehres.
St. John's (11-2) scouting report: After losing their first two games, the Johnnies have responded with 11 straight victories. They have a 28-12 overall playoff record, including a Div. III title in 1976. St. John's has arrived in the semifinals after defeating St. Norbert (Wis.) 27-20, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 9-7 and Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) 31-6. The team's top playmakers are QB Ryan Keating, RB Josh Nelson and WR Blake Elliott. Keating has completed 180-of-314 passes for 2,425 yards and 27 TDs, with 10 INTs. Nelson has rushed for 663 yards on 182 carries and eight TDs, while Elliott has 71 catches for 1,033 yards and 14 TDs. LB Cameron McCambridge has 128 total tackles and five INTs, while DB Ryan Danielson has 114 tackles and DE Jeremy Hood 100 tackles and 14 sacks. The Johnnies are coached by John Gagliardi, who is second all-time in collegiate victories (388).
-- Brian Richesson