Mount Union Places Five on Associated Press Little All-America Team

    Mount Union College placed five players on the 2007 Associated Press Little All-America Team, which includes football players from the Division II, Division III and NAIA level, announced the AP on Thursday, December 13.

    Raider senior safety Matt Kostelnik earned First-Team honors while senior offensive guard Derek Blanchard was named to the AP Second-Team.

   The Purple Raiders placed three players on the AP Third-Team, including junior quarterback Greg Micheli, junior running back Nate Kmic and senior defensive tackle Pat McCullough.

    This is the most players the Raiders have ever placed on the AP Little All-America Team in a single season. The previous high was four players on the 2002 Purple Raider squad.

OAC Places Thirteen on D3football.com All-America Teams

   The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) placed thirteen on the 2007 D3football.com All-America teams, announced on Saturday, December 15.

   Mount Union placed seven on the First Team; including juniors quarterback Greg Micheli, running back Nate Kmic and seniors wide receiver Pierre Garcon, guard Derek Blanchard, center Eric Safran, defensive tackle Pat McCullough and safety Matt Kostelnik.

   Earning second team honors were John Carroll junior defensive end Ken Bevington, Ohio Northern senior linebacker Lenny Trusnik, Capital senior defensive back James Starks and Baldwin-Wallace senior kicker Kevin Soflkiancs.

  Capital senior offensive lineman Adam Persing and senior defensive lineman Jonathan Springs earned third team honors.

UW-Whitewater Defeat Raiders In 35th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl

-Story provided by Mount Union Sports Information Department

    Mount Union College (14-1) suffered a 31-21 loss to Wisconsin-Whitewater (14-1) in the 35th annual Amos Alonzo Stagg in front of 5,099 fans in Salem Stadium is Salem, Virginia on Saturday, December 15.

    To open the game, the Raiders started on the Warhawks’ 41 yard line after a 41 yard kick return by wide receiver Pierre Garcon. Mount Union reached the 30 yard line but could not convert on fourth and 10.

   The Warhawks took their first possession and marched 71 yards on six plays, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Danny Jones. Jeff Schebler added the PAT and Whitewater led 7-0 at 10:30 of the first quarter. The Warhawks’ lead marked only the second time in 2007 the Raiders trailed in a game.

    Mount Union took the ensuing kickoff and marched to the Warhawk two yard line when running back Nate Kmic appeared to have scored on a third down carry. The official’s call was overturned by instant replay. Mount Union was then stopped on a fourth and one dive play and possession went to Whitewater.

   “Getting stopped on the goal line early in the game was a big play,” noted Raider Head Coach Larry Kehres in the post-game press conference. “That’s our bread and butter play we ran on fourth and one and they stopped us. Give their defense credit for making that stop.”

    The Purple Raiders trailed 7-0 at the end of the first quarter for the first time in 2007.

    The Raiders put together a six play drive inside the Warhawks’ 30 yard line early in the second quarter, but Raider quarterback Greg Micheli was stopped on a fourth and two carry.

    Mount Union caught a break when Whitewater fumbled on its next possession as linebacker Tony DeRiggi recovered the loose ball, but the Raiders returned the favor with a fumble of their own shortly after as Whitewater defensive lineman Anthony White recovered it.

    The Purple Raiders moved the ball again late in the second quarter, but that ended with a fumble recovery by defensive back Andy Murray on the Warhawk 30 yard line stopping another potential scoring opportunity.

     A 45 yard carry by Warhawk running back Justin Beaver set up a 32 yard field goal by Jeff Schebler with just 0:02 seconds remaining in the half made it 10-0 Whitewater at halftime. This is the first time since 2005 in a loss against Ohio Northern that the Raiders trailed at halftime.

    “We went into halftime surprisingly calm,” said Raider quarterback Greg Micheli. “The seniors did a good job of keeping everyone focused. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get over the hump. They did a good job of moving around defensively, mixing up their coverages and bringing pressure.”

     At the break Mount Union had 212 yards of offense to Whitewater’s 184. The Raiders were -1 in turnovers at the break. The Raiders were 0-of-3 in fourth down conversions at halftime.

    Beaver fumbled the ball into the end zone on first and goal from within the one yard line, but it was recovered by offensive lineman Michael Sherman for the touchdown. Schebler added the extra point to make the score 17-0 with 11:05 remaining in the third quarter.

Running back Nate Kmic scored from 12 yards out following a six play, 57 yard drive set up by a 27 yard pass from Micheli to receiver Bryson Davis.        Kicker Mike Zimmerman added the PAT to make the score 17-7.

    On the Warhawks following possession, the Raiders retook possession when DeRiggi forced a fumble that was recovered and returned 20 yards by defensive lineman Jonathan Andrews to the Warhawk’ 19 yard line. The Raiders marched down to the Whitewater one yard line facing another fourth and goal. Kmic followed with a one yard touchdown run – his second of the game. Zimmerman added a PAT to make the score 17-14 Warhawks with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter.

    Whitewater led 17-14 at the end of the third quarter.

    Whitewater drove down into Raider territory early in the fourth quarter, but tackle Nick Parr’s sack back on the 33 yard line on 3rd-and-7 forced a punt with 10:49 left in the game.

    On the ensuing possession by the Raiders, the offense faced a third and 12 from their own 18 yard line when Micheli found Davis for a 34 yard completion to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, defensive back Matt Blaziewske recovered a fumble in Warhawk territory.

   The Warhawks then traveled seven plays covering 50 yards culminating with a 13 yard touchdown run by Beaver. Schebler’s PAT gave Whitewater a 10 point advantage at 24-14.

    The Raiders battled back into Warhawk territory on a 26 yard pass play from Micheli to Justin Wray on third down. The 10 play, 71 yard drive ended with a four yard touchdown run by Kmic, his 39th on the year, which ties him for second most all-time with Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State and Delaware’s Omar Cuff for the All-Division single season touchdown mark – two behind the all-time leader, Mount Union’s Dan Pugh (41). The Raiders trailed 24-21 with 3:36 on the clock.

   Whitewater put the game away with a one yard score by Jones - set up by a 66 yard run by Beaver, making the final 31-21.

   “I congratulate Whitewater on the win,” said Kehres. “They played the best game today. We played well in spots, but could not maintain it. We made a few mistakes and had a couple bounces not go our way, but it was mainly Whitewater’s play that made the difference. They earned it today.”

   Justin Beaver, the game’s Most Valuable Player, finished with a 249 yards rushing on 31 carries with one score.

   “He’s (Beaver) a terrific back and did a good job of cutting back a couple times, and we missed a few tackles here and there as well. But he’s the Gagliardi Award winner and he played great today.”

    Mount Union finished with 445 yards of offense to 410 for Whitewater. The Raiders were -2 in turnovers in the contest.