The Purple Raiders defensive line spends most of its time in opposing backfields. They rose to the challenge and earned this roster's first win over UW-Whitewater. Photo by Eric Kelley, d3photography.com

By Adam Turer
D3sports.com

ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Mount Union is used to having nearly nine months to recover from battling UW-Whitewater. Now, they have five days to prepare for Friday's Stagg Bowl.

In nine of the past ten years, the semifinals have been a mixture of grind-it-out victories over upset-minded opponents, or blowout victories against overmatched challengers, all to set up a showdown with the Warhawks. This year was different. This year, the preeminent purple powers met in the postseason one round sooner than they ever had before.

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The Purple Raiders made an emphatic statement, defeating the Warhawks for the first time since 2008, and doing it convincingly. Mount Union dominated the final three quarters of play in a 36-6 victory, securing a berth in the Stagg Bowl for the 11th consecutive season.

There is no time to revel in Logan Nemeth's 214 rushing yards or the dominating defensive effort led by Tom Lally, Hank Spencer, and Durum Alarms.

The ultimate goal was not to defeat the Warhawks. The Walnut and Bronze is still one win away.

"What feels good is the fact that we're going to play for a national championship," said Purple Raiders head coach Vince Kehres. "This was just Week 14. It won't feel as good if we don't take care of business next week."

Mount Union's offensive line dominated the Warhawks. Nemeth was often untouched before he was two yards past the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Taurice Scott had time to throw all day and both the sacks allowed by Mount Union's line were coverage sacks.

"I think it was a combination of good play calling, good tempo, and those five guys really playing with great effort and being on the same page," said Kehres. "I can't think of a missed assignment that stood out on the offensive line. Those guys are really playing as a unit right now."

After throwing one interception in each of his first three playoff games as the starting quarterback, Scott was nearly flawless against the Warhawks defense. He passed for two touchdowns, ran for another, and made excellent decisions and throws all day. The Purple Raiders did not turn the ball over, while intercepting three passes.

"Our team reflects our quarterback on offense," said Kehres. "When he's poised, we're poised."

Nemeth carried a career-high 32 times for 214 yards and two scores, and was very seldom brought down by the first defender to contact him. He has embraced his late-season role as the team's workhorse.

"I actually feel pretty good for 32 carries," said Nemeth. "Each week, I'm getting more and more used to getting that many carries. At first when I was getting 20-something carries when I was used to getting 12, I was a little banged up. I'm used to it now and my body feels good."

His counterpart, Jordan Ratliffe, was held to 99 rushing yards on 24 carries, but 38 of those yards came on one rush in the first quarter. The Purple Raiders defense executed its game plan to take away the Warhawks' leading receiver, Marcus Hudson. Tre Jones, who was banged up in the quarterfinal win over Wesley, shadowed Hudson all day and held him without a reception. Whitewater's offense became one-dimensional and was shutout over the final three quarters.

"It's practice methods. Shout out to the scout team because they get us right every week, week in and week out," said Jones. "I'm just glad we could get it done as a team."

Mount Union's defensive line was similarly dominant. Alarms led the way with two sacks while Lally added one more to set Mount Union's single season record with his 18th of the year. The Purple Raiders won the game at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, a battle that had been the key to UW-Whitewater's victories over Mount Union in the past two Stagg Bowls.

"I think it's a lot of guys who got tired of hearing about how we got dominated in the trenches," said Kehres.

Those linemen will face an even stiffer test, and a near mirror image, this week in Salem. St. Thomas rushed for 389 yards in its semifinal win over Linfield while allowing just 59 yards rushing on 20 carries. Once again, the Division III title will come down to who can win that battle up front. This year's Purple Raiders are ready to rise to the challenge once again and finish their senior year the same way they ended their first season at Mount Union: hoisting the Walnut and Bronze after a win in Salem over St. Thomas.