ALLIANCE, Ohio — As the teams take the field for the 2022 Stagg Bowl this coming Friday, Dec. 16, one Northeast Ohio university will be represented.
Mount Union punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III Football Championship game with a 34-31 win over Wartburg College Saturday afternoon. The Purple Raiders' victory came via a dramatic ending in the semifinal in Alliance against the Knights.
Trailing 31-28 with a minute left in the game, Mount came back to score a 2-yard rushing touchdown via Tyler Echeverry to put the Raiders (14-0) ahead with 31 seconds left. The Naples, Florida, native led the running game with 64 yards as well as that score.
Mount Union's quarterback Braxton Plunk finished the game 43-of-56 for for 396 yards and two TDs while also finding the end zone twice with his legs. Jaden Manley led also led the Purple Raiders with 12 receptions for 111 yards, followed by Wayne Ruby with eight receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Mount's defensive sacked Watrburg QB Nile McLaughlin five times, with Von Factor getting to him twice and forcing a fumble.
The Raiders will take on the North Central Cardinals in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl this Friday in Annapolis, Maryland, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
Mount Union's trip to the championship game will mark their 22nd appearance, and first under third-year head coach Geoff Dart. The Purple Raiders are looking to capture their 14th national title and first since 2017.