COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW MOUNT UNION VS. WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER

What: NCAA Division III championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl).Where: Salem, Va.When: Saturday, 1 p.m.Records: Wisconsin-Whitewater, 14-0; Mount Union, 13-1.Semifinals: Wisconsin-Whitewater advanced by beating Wesley (Del.), 58-6; Mount Union advanced by beating Rowan (N.J.), 19-7.Previous playoff games: Prior to Rowan, Mount Union beat Mount St. Joseph, 49-6; Augustana, 44-7; and Capital, 34-31. Prior to Wesley, Whitewater defeated Central (La.) 34-14; St. John's, Minn., 34-7; and Linfield, Oregon, 44-41.Stagg saga: Mount Union will be making a record ninth Stagg Bowl appearance. The Raiders will be involved in their eighth national championship game in the last 10 years. This is the Warhawks' first trip to the Stagg Bowl. Mount Union's titles were won in 1993 (34-24 over Rowan), 1996 (56-24 win over Rowan), 1997 (61-12 win over Lycoming, Pa.), 1998 (44-24 win over Rowan), 2000 (10-7 win over St. John's, Minn.), 2001 (30-27 win over Bridgewater, Va. ) and 2002 (48-7 win over Trinity, Tex.). The Raiders' Stagg Bowl loss was in 2003 (24-6 to St. John's)Series notes: This is the third meeting between the schools, with Mount Union winning the previous two: 44-21 in 2002 and 40-17 in 2003.The coaches: UW-Whitewater's Bob Berczowitz is 145-70-4 (.667) in his 21st season. Mount Union's Larry Kehres is 230-20-3 (.913) in his 20th season.TV/radio: ESPN2 and WRMU-FM 91.1, which can be accessed via the web at www.muc.edu/wrmu.By the numbers: The Raiders are averaging 241.4 yards rushing and 284.4 passing per game for a total of 525.8 yards per contest. The Warhawks average 225.7 yards rushing and 269.2 passing per game for a total of 494.9. MUC is allowing 80.5 yards rushing and 127.9 (208.4). Whitewater is allowing 102.3 rushing and 210.4 passing (312.7). Mount Union averages 41.8 points per game, while limiting opponents to 9 points per contest. The Warhawks average 42.1 points per game while allowing 15.Individuals: In the win over Rowan, freshman Nate Kmic carried the ball 48 times and gained 160 yards. Equally impressive was Mount Union's defense, which limited the Profs to minus-1 yard rushing on 27 tries. Kmic has 1,034 yards on the season, even though he didn't become a starter until the playoffs. Kmic replaced Aaron Robinson, who injured a hamstring in early November. Robinson, whose status is uncertain, had 1,046 yards before sitting out. Kmic and Robinson are the first Mount Union duo to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. Both are averaging 5.9 yards per carry.QB Mike Jorris is 233 of 350 for 3,490 yards and 33 TDs. Jorris has thrown 10 interceptions. Top receivers are Scott Casto and Pierre Garcon. Casto has 77 catches for 1,214 yards and 11 TDs, while Gacon has 61 receptions for 1,089 yards and 14 TDs.In Whitewater's win over Wesley, Justin Jacobs threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns to Derek Stanley. In 14 games, Jacobs has thrown for 3,246 yards (196 of 375). He has also thrown 33 TDs. Jacobs (6-1, 186 Jr.) has been intercepted 15 times.The Warhawks' top runner is Justin Beaver (5-8, 196 Jr.) with 2,295 yards on 398 carries. He has rushed for 23 TDs.Jacobs' top targets are Jim Leszczynski (75 catches for 1124 yards) and Stanley (45 for 1,229), Stanley has 16 TD receptions and Leszczynski 11.Top defensive players: Linebacker Mike Gibbons had 144 hits and tackles Jesse Wells and Buddy Wolf have 80 and 70 hits, respectively. Safety Matt Kostelnik has 64 tackles and senior corner Ross Watson 30. UW-Whitewater's defense is led by linebackers Robb Widuch (126 hits), A.J. Raebel (104) and Collin Price (79).One shy of tying: Watson (Austintown Fitch) needs one more interception to tie a school record for a season (10) held by two other former players: Bruce Ensminger in 1951 and Perry Bourn in 1968. Bourn also has career-record 19 (1966-69). The Raiders had two interceptions in last week's 19-7 semifinal win over Rowan. "There were some passes in the air," Watson said of balls thrown in his area, "but the other secondary guys came through with big turnovers." Safety Robert McDavid and cornerback Ryan Fehl had the pickoffs.
What: NCAA Division III championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl).Where: Salem, Va.When: Saturday, 1 p.m.Records: Wisconsin-Whitewater, 14-0; Mount Union, 13-1.Semifinals: Wisconsin-Whitewater advanced by beating Wesley (Del.), 58-6; Mount Union advanced by beating Rowan (N.J.), 19-7.Previous playoff games: Prior to Rowan, Mount Union beat Mount St. Joseph, 49-6; Augustana, 44-7; and Capital, 34-31. Prior to Wesley, Whitewater defeated Central (La.) 34-14; St. John's, Minn., 34-7; and Linfield, Oregon, 44-41.Stagg saga: Mount Union will be making a record ninth Stagg Bowl appearance. The Raiders will be involved in their eighth national championship game in the last 10 years. This is the Warhawks' first trip to the Stagg Bowl. Mount Union's titles were won in 1993 (34-24 over Rowan), 1996 (56-24 win over Rowan), 1997 (61-12 win over Lycoming, Pa.), 1998 (44-24 win over Rowan), 2000 (10-7 win over St. John's, Minn.), 2001 (30-27 win over Bridgewater, Va. ) and 2002 (48-7 win over Trinity, Tex.). The Raiders' Stagg Bowl loss was in 2003 (24-6 to St. John's)Series notes: This is the third meeting between the schools, with Mount Union winning the previous two: 44-21 in 2002 and 40-17 in 2003.The coaches: UW-Whitewater's Bob Berczowitz is 145-70-4 (.667) in his 21st season. Mount Union's Larry Kehres is 230-20-3 (.913) in his 20th season.TV/radio: ESPN2 and WRMU-FM 91.1, which can be accessed via the web at www.muc.edu/wrmu.By the numbers: The Raiders are averaging 241.4 yards rushing and 284.4 passing per game for a total of 525.8 yards per contest. The Warhawks average 225.7 yards rushing and 269.2 passing per game for a total of 494.9. MUC is allowing 80.5 yards rushing and 127.9 (208.4). Whitewater is allowing 102.3 rushing and 210.4 passing (312.7). Mount Union averages 41.8 points per game, while limiting opponents to 9 points per contest. The Warhawks average 42.1 points per game while allowing 15.Individuals: In the win over Rowan, freshman Nate Kmic carried the ball 48 times and gained 160 yards. Equally impressive was Mount Union's defense, which limited the Profs to minus-1 yard rushing on 27 tries. Kmic has 1,034 yards on the season, even though he didn't become a starter until the playoffs. Kmic replaced Aaron Robinson, who injured a hamstring in early November. Robinson, whose status is uncertain, had 1,046 yards before sitting out. Kmic and Robinson are the first Mount Union duo to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. Both are averaging 5.9 yards per carry.QB Mike Jorris is 233 of 350 for 3,490 yards and 33 TDs. Jorris has thrown 10 interceptions. Top receivers are Scott Casto and Pierre Garcon. Casto has 77 catches for 1,214 yards and 11 TDs, while Gacon has 61 receptions for 1,089 yards and 14 TDs.In Whitewater's win over Wesley, Justin Jacobs threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns to Derek Stanley. In 14 games, Jacobs has thrown for 3,246 yards (196 of 375). He has also thrown 33 TDs. Jacobs (6-1, 186 Jr.) has been intercepted 15 times.The Warhawks' top runner is Justin Beaver (5-8, 196 Jr.) with 2,295 yards on 398 carries. He has rushed for 23 TDs.Jacobs' top targets are Jim Leszczynski (75 catches for 1124 yards) and Stanley (45 for 1,229), Stanley has 16 TD receptions and Leszczynski 11.Top defensive players: Linebacker Mike Gibbons had 144 hits and tackles Jesse Wells and Buddy Wolf have 80 and 70 hits, respectively. Safety Matt Kostelnik has 64 tackles and senior corner Ross Watson 30. UW-Whitewater's defense is led by linebackers Robb Widuch (126 hits), A.J. Raebel (104) and Collin Price (79).One shy of tying: Watson (Austintown Fitch) needs one more interception to tie a school record for a season (10) held by two other former players: Bruce Ensminger in 1951 and Perry Bourn in 1968. Bourn also has career-record 19 (1966-69). The Raiders had two interceptions in last week's 19-7 semifinal win over Rowan. "There were some passes in the air," Watson said of balls thrown in his area, "but the other secondary guys came through with big turnovers." Safety Robert McDavid and cornerback Ryan Fehl had the pickoffs.