2010 Mount Union Football Guide - University of Mount Union

national title teams
2006
Mount Union won its ninth National Championship in the last 14 years in 2006. The
Purple Raider (15-0 in ’06) defense, which was dominant from start to finish, finished second
in the country in team defense (186.0 ypg), fewest points allowed (8.5 ppg) and rush defense
(30.0 ypg). The Purple and White did not allow more than 17 points in a game all season
long. Offensively, the Raiders led the nation in total offense (489.3 ypg) and scoring (43.9
ppg).
Individually in 2006, the Raiders were paced by running back Nate Kmic’s Mount Union
record 2,365 yards rushing while also posting a school-record 371 yard single-game rushing
mark. Pierre Garcon paced the receiving corps with a 67 catch/1,212 yard receiving/17 TD
campaign. On defense, safety Matt Kostelnik led the squad in big plays with five interceptions,
three blocked punts and four touchdowns scored on defense and special teams
combined. End Justen Stickley led the squad in tackles for loss (20.5) and sacks (11.0).
Overall in ’06, the Purple Raiders trailed for only 3:14 in the 900 minutes of football
played. Mount Union also set a new collegiate record in winning 15 games in a season –
tying ’06 Division II National Champion Grand Valley State (MI) for that distinction.
Quarterback Greg Micheli is the only player to be MVP of two different Stagg Bowls as he earned the
honor in 2006 and 2008.
the Purple Raiders finished the 2006 season ranked #1 in the country in total offense (489.3 ypg), scoring
(43.9 ppg) and passing efficiency (171.08 Pe).
Safety drew Mcclain returned an interception 78 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of the 2008
Stagg Bowl.
in 2006, Mount union’s defense finished second in the nation in defense (186.0 ypg), second in scoring
(8.5 ppg) and second in rush defense (30.0 ypg).
2008
Mount Union won its 10th National Championship with a 31-26 win over UW-Whitewater
at the Stagg Bowl. The Purple Raiders, who had the nation’s top rated offense and defense,
posted a 17th undefeated season and defeated Whitewater for the third time in four seasons
in the National Championship game. Mount Union’s offense generated 546.13 yards and
scored 45.5 points per game, while the defense held opponents to 199.53 yards and 8.73
points per game.
Individually in 2008, the duo of running back Nate Kmic and quarterback Greg Micheli
made for an unstoppable 1-2 punch on offense as Kmic rolled to an NCAA Division III record
2,790 rushing yards and a college football best 43 total touchdowns. Micheli managed things
under center as he tossed only two interceptions in 320 attempts while completing 75-percent
of his passes with 36 touchdowns. His top target was junior wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, who
hauled in 77 passes for 1,484 yards for a record 23 touchdowns. The defense was equally
dominant as sophomore Sam Kershaw had a team-high 82 tackles. Junior James Herbert had
26 tackles for loss and his 15 sacks led a unit that had a nation’s best 51 total sacks.
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