Mount Union reigns in its seventh heaven

The Purple Raiders won their seventh national title since 1993 with a 48-7 romp past Trinity.
By JOHN A. MONTGOMERY
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
SALEM, Va. -- They don't publish odds on NCAA Division III football games, but the circumstances leading up to the 30th championship game -- the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl played Saturday afternoon -- established Mount Union as the clear-cut favorite.
After all, the Purple Raiders had won 95 of their past 96 games and were 6-0 in title games. Factor in the development that the starting quarterback for Mount Union's opponent, Roy Hampton of Trinity University, was suspended from his team for public intoxication earlier in the week, and the scales began to tip drastically.
To no one's great surprise, the Purple Raiders (14-0) dominated, winning 48-7 for their seventh championship since 1993.
Pugh shatters marks
Mount Union tailback Dan Pugh, who was awarded the Gagliardi Trophy Thursday as the premier Div. III football player in the country, lived up to his billing -- rushing 49 times for 253 yards and four touchdowns, establishing a plethora of records in the process.
"I think our football team this season had a daunting task," said Mount Union coach Larry Kehres. "They wouldn't be considered [at the level of the previous championship teams] unless they won all of their games -- and they did that. I'm very proud of them."
High winds -- the strongest Kehres said he had witnessed in 29 years of coaching -- appeared to be the Raiders' most perplexing opponent. Mount Union quarterback Rob Adamson did not complete a pass in the first quarter when he was going against the wind, and after their opening drive stalled, the Raiders punted.
Burton sets up TD
But on the third play after the possession exchange, senior linebacker Justin Burton (West Branch High) intercepted Tiger replacement QB Dan DesPlaines, who was making his first college start. Burton returned the ball to Trinity's 24-yard line. Three plays later, Pugh went around end for a 19-yard score.
Pugh's four touchdowns gave him 41 for the season, breaking the record for all college divisions that previously was set by Barry Sanders (39) in 11 games in 1988. Pugh also scored a two-point conversion, giving him a Stagg Bowl record of 26 points in the game. In four playoff games this year, Pugh scored 92 points, a tournament record.
"This game definitely completes the picture," Pugh said. "I've capitalized on my dream when I came [to Mount Union]. It feels great."
Pugh also set the Div. III record for all-purpose yards in a single season with 3,192. The only player in any college division to exceed Pugh's total is Sanders, who gained 3,250 during his '88 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign.
Adamson sparkles
Adamson, passing effectively with the wind at his back, finished with 12 completions in 23 attempts for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
"Rob has played his best [career] football in the past four weeks," Kehres said.
The Raiders methodically dismantled Trinity, rolling up 490 yards without a turnover. By halftime, Mount Union had a four-touchdown lead (28-0), and the game's outcome essentially was settled.
Nevertheless, "you can't relax in the playoffs," Kehres said. "The teams are too good, Plus, we did not have a good third quarter last year [a 30-27 Mount Union win over Bridgewater, the team Trinity defeated in this year's quarterfinals]."
Raiders rebound
Trinity put together an 8-play, 85-yard drive in the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-7, but the Raiders immediately rebounded, with Pugh doing most of the damage. Pugh ran the ball in from the 1 with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter to put Mount Union ahead 35-7.
"The only sense of momentum we had today was the touchdown in the third quarter," Trinity coach Steve Mohr said. "But when Mount Union came back and scored on us, it snuffed out any hopes we had."
Trinity (14-1) was previously unbeaten this season and had not scored less than 30 points in a single game prior to Saturday. The Tigers were the leading Div. III school in scoring (47 ppg) and total offense (540.2 yards per game). DesPlaines completed 9-of-18 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
"No team on short notice can deal with a problem like [losing the starting quarterback]," Kehres said.
Trinity's most effective weapon was tailback Jeremy Boyce, a third team All-American and a finalist for the Gagliardi Award, who picked up 93 yards on 15 carries.
Mount Union72176--48
Trinity0070--7
First Quarter
MU--Pugh 19 run (Teague kick), 8:32.
Second Quarter
MU--Knapp 9 pass from Adamson (kick blocked), 10:27.
MU--Leach 19 pass from Adamson (Pugh run), 3:13.
MU--Pugh 2 run (Teague kick), :24.
Third Quarter
Trin--BJ Smith 18 pass from DesPlaines (Canion kick), 7:59.
MU--Pugh 1 run (Teague kick), 1:08.
Fourth Quarter
MU--Pugh 1 run (kick failed), 12:57.
MU--Leach 55 pass from Adamson (Teague kick), 10:38.
A--4,389.
MUTrin
First downs2711
Rushes-yards59-26829-117
Passing22286
Comp-Att-Int12-23-09-18-1
Return Yards890
Punts-Avg.1-225-29
Fumbles-Lost3-01-0
Penalties-Yards7-903-30
Time of Possession38:2921:31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Mount Union, Pugh 49-253, Bruney 4-18 Strauch 1-3, Burghardt 2-3, Ciccone 1-0, Adamson 2-(minus 9). Trinity, Boyce 15-93, Hunt 1-24, Federle 2-4, Urban 2-0, DesPlaines 9-(minus 4).
PASSING--Mount Union, Adamson 12-23-0-222. Trinity, DesPlaines 9-18-1-86.
RECEIVING--Mount Union, Knapp 4-58, Liddell 3-34, Leach 2-74, Sirianni 2-52, Pugh 1-4. Trinity, Urban 3-19, Hunt 2-35, Boyce 2-5, Smith 1-18, Respondek 1-9.