Kmic sets rushing mark in Mount Union’s romp

By Eric Hamilton

Nate Kmic broke R.J. Bowers’ NCAA Division III career rushing record.

ALLIANCE – Mount Union running back Nate Kmic is always ready to take on a would-be tackler.

After carrying the ball 37 times for 235 yards and breaking the NCAA Division III career rushing record, Kmic showed up for the postgame press conference with his shoulder pads still on.

After being teased by the reporters for still having his pads on and looking ready for a few more carries, he shed the comments like he does defenders.

“I was in a hurry,” he said with a smile.

It seems like he always is in a hurry to get somewhere — like the end zone.

Kmic scored four touchdowns and broke R.J. Bowers’ Division III rushing mark of 7,353 yards, to lead Mount Union to a 42-7 victory over Hobart College in the second round of the Division III playoffs on Saturday.

Kmic now has 7,449 career yards.

“The assistant coaches told me my stats at halftime, so I figured I broke it on that second drive in the third quarter,” said Kmic. “It is an awesome feeling, but this is a team game and we have three more games to worry about.

“Maybe someday I’ll think back on it and be in awe of the accomplishment, but right now I’m looking forward to the next three games.”

Mount Union (12-0) moves on to face Cortland State (N.Y.) next week in the quarterfinals at noon. The game will serve as the championship contest for the East Region.

It took the Purple Raiders a half to get things going on offense, as the Hobart defense gave a valiant effort, holding Mount Union to a season-low 14 first-half points.

Mount Union scored on its first two possessions – both scores coming on Kmic touchdowns.

In addition to the solid defense, the Statesmen pulled out all the stops on special teams. Hobart attempted three fake punts, turning two of the three into first downs.

The second conversion, a 24-yard pass from punter Tyler Vincent to Orlando Patterson, set up Hobart’s only score of the contest.

Trailing 21-0, Hobart got on the scoreboard with 5:03 left in the third quarter when quarterback Rich Doyle connected with PJ Overdorf for a 14-yard scoring strike.

But three minutes later, Kmic sealed the deal with his fourth TD of the contest — this one a 4-yarder — to give Mount Union a 28-7 advantage.

“Hobart gave a great effort and really battled us out there,” said Mount Union coach Larry Kehres. “It was a tough, physical game, like we expected.

“We stopped ourselves on two possessions with stupid penalties that kept us from consistently moving the ball and we couldn’t overcome those. If our defense hadn’t come through in those situations, it would have been a 14-7 game.”

Despite the sluggish first half, Mount Union still managed to pile up 503 total yards, while the defense held Hobart to just 196 yards.

The Statesmen did rush for 104 yards, becoming just the second team this season to break the 100-yard mark on the ground (Otterbein was the other).