Prediction: Graduation losses won’t lead to Mt. Union losses

By Eric Hamilton

ALLIANCE — Leave it to the Mount Union College football team to lose 13 starters, play one of its toughest schedules in recent memory and still be selected as Division III’s No. 1-ranked team entering the 2008 season.

Although the Purple Raiders return just four starters on each side of the ball, they will be a favorite to advance to a fourth straight Stagg Bowl in December. This year for Mount, it will be more about quality than quantity.

Mount Union’s offense and defense each ranked first in the nation in 2007, scoring 51.9 points per game and allowing just 6.9 ppg.

The Purple Raiders should expect much of the same offensively this fall, with the return of All-Americans Greg Micheli at quarterback and Nate Kmic at running back. Both have been named Stagg Bowl MVPs during their career.

Kmic runs with a combination of speed and power and piled up 1,700 yards and 38 touchdowns, while playing only two quarters a game during much of the regular season.

He already has broken all kinds of rushing records at Mount Union and has the opportunity to become Division III’s all-time leading rusher.

Micheli is a dual threat. In 2007, he accounted for more than 3,900 yards — throwing for 3,515 and rushing for 408. He tossed 38 touchdowns.

“Our strength is going to be the experience we have at quarterback and running back,” said Mount Union coach Larry Kehres (260-21-3). “Greg has great leadership and great passing efficiency skills and Nate has been our featured back for the past couple of years. We will lean on them for their leadership.”

Mount Union’s other returning starts on offense are running back Terrance Morring and tight end Chad Reynolds.

West Branch graduate Scott Thomas saw limited action in 2007, but the junior should get more reps in the backfield this season.

The starting offensive line will be completely new and will include Springfield grad Luke Summers.

Lisbon’s Caleb Crowl will compete for playing time in the trenches as well.

The defense will welcome back four starters from a unit that posted six shutouts in 2007. Returning are defensive ends James Herbert and Joe Millings while Daryl Ely and Craig Nickoli will lead the Purple Raiders’ defensive backfield.

Mount Union will face a tougher schedule this fall. In addition to a more balanced Ohio Athletic Conference slate, the Purple Raiders will face 2007 playoff opponent St. John Fisher (N.Y.) on Saturday in the season opener. Mount Union knocked the Cardinals out of the Div. III playoffs in 2006 and 2007.

In the OAC, Mount Union will be challenged a bit more than usual. Capital will be in the mix, as will Ohio Northern and John Carroll.

In the league’s preseason poll, those three were voted to finish right behind Mount Union. The Purple Raiders play all three of those opponents at Mount Union Stadium.

“We don’t have a lot of experience returning on both sides of the ball,” Kehres said. “We are going to have to be patient with our young players, but we are confident they will make strides and develop into solid football players.”

In addition to attempting to advance to its fourth straight national championship game, Mount Union will look to continue its streak of 16 straight OAC titles. The Purple Raiders, who play five road games in the regular season, will ride a 66-game road winning streak.