ALLIANCE Mount Union seeks record win today

The Purple Raiders are trying for their 55th straight win, against Bridgewater.
ALLIANCE (AP) -- While college football grapples with a controversy over who's playing in the NCAA Division I championship game, there's no debate over the top team in Division III.
Mount Union could break its own NCAA record of 54 consecutive wins with a victory over Bridgewater (Va.) College today in the NCAA Division III semifinals.
The Purple Raiders tied their win streak last Saturday with a 56-10 victory against previously unbeaten Wheaton (Ill.) College. The original streak was set from 1996 to 1999.
Eye fourth straight title
Mount Union is seeking its fourth straight national championship and eighth in 11 years. They have won 108 of their last 109 games with two 54-game win streaks separated by one loss -- to Rowan in the 1999 semifinals.
The seniors on this year's team haven't lost a game in their college careers. They seem unable to fathom anything short of winning.
"Lose a game? Us?" defensive tackle Antoine Dillard asked. "No, we really don't worry about it. We're too prepared during the week to even consider it. And if it's ever in the back of our minds somewhere, it's quickly erased by game time because we prepare so thoroughly."
Although Mount Union matched its record win-streak last weekend, there was little celebrating.
"Week to week there's a little bit of excitement going on," quarterback Jesse Burghardt said. "But we're not going to get really excited until that final game is played and we win the championship. Until that time, I don't think we'll be satisfied."
Kehres downplays streak
Coach Larry Kehres has always downplayed winning streaks. This season is no different.
"The players over the last several seasons who accomplished that, they should be proud of it," Kehres said. "But honestly, we're just dealing with this season. That's more significant in our minds."
Wheaton coach Mike Swider was asked after last week's game if he thought anyone could beat Mount Union this season.
"No," came the immediate answer.
"They keep getting players like that and their coaches stay here, they'll never get beat ... maybe once every 54 games, but other than that ..."
Swider credits Mount Union's success to continuity on the coaching staff and playing mostly juniors and seniors.
"They don't play sophomores. What they do instead is develop kids in their program," he said. "It's a developmental program, not a quick-fix program."