Spring Break
Warhawks fall in Stagg Bowl, 31-26
Purple Raiders hold off late rally to claim 10th national title
Mike Daly
Issue date: 12/17/08 Section: News
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The 'Hawks were defeated in the Division III national championship game in Salem, Va., 31-26, by the Mount Union College (Ohio) Purple Raiders. The loss marks the third time Mount Union has defeated UW-Whitewater in the Stagg Bowl in the past four seasons. UW-Whitewater won in 2007.
In the first six minutes, Mount Union junior receiver Cecil Shorts caught touchdown passes of 55 and 41 yards from senior quarterback and Gagliardi Award winner Greg Micheli.
"The thing [UW-Whitewater] did was commit a lot of guys to stopping (Mount Union senior running back) Nate [Kmic]," Micheli said. "And that allowed Cecil to get behind them."
'Hawks' head coach Lance Leipold said Mount Union's quick strikes caused problems for his team.
"We hadn't been giving up too many big plays in post-season play," Leipold said. "But if you look at the total plays and time of possession, there was some imbalance there."
The 'Hawks responded when sophomore Antwan Anderson scored on a 1-yard touchdown, but Mount Union regained a 14-point lead on its next possession when Kmic scored from two yards out.
The 'Hawks' defense tightened after a sloppy first quarter, and UW-Whitewater was five yards away from pulling within seven early in the second quarter. However, the drive stalled, forcing UW-Whitewater to settle for a 21-yard field goal.
Trailing 21-10, UW-Whitewater's defense forced Mount Union to punt, but the 'Hawks were called for a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty, extending the Purple Raiders' drive. Mount Union capitalized with a field goal of its own.
UW-Whitewater's normally reliable junior kicker Jeff Schebler missed a 42-yard field goal to end the first half, and the 'Hawks trailed 24-10 at halftime.
Schebler also missed a 40-yard attempt in the third quarter.
"I only get called on like four times a game, and I should make every opportunity those four times," Schebler said. "I didn't accomplish two of those today. I just missed them."
Later in the third, Mount Union appeared to be pulling away when Micheli scrambled from the 3-yard line and dove into the end zone, but he fumbled after a hit from sophomores Wesley Hicks and Max Ford. Junior safety Zach Christopherson recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback.
UW-Whitewater drove to Mount Union's 14-yard line but saw another drive stall. Schebler connected from 31 yards to cut the score to 24-13.
Mount Union's offense did little in the second half, but the defense did enough to capture the school's 10th national championship.
On 3rd and 8 from the Purple Raiders' 27-yard line, 'Hawks junior quarterback Jeff Donovan threw a pass behind sophomore receiver Aaron Rusch, who tipped the ball into the hands of Mount Union safety Drew McClain.
"I threw it behind [Rusch] and he tried to make a play," Donovan said. "It's understandable."
McClain returned the interception 78 yards for a touchdown and a 31-13 lead.
"I had no idea initially [the pass was intercepted], but I looked over and I saw [McClain] running by me," Rusch said. "I tried to get him, but by then it was too late. He was already running full speed."
The 'Hawks answered when Anderson capped a 12-play, 61-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown, but they took five minutes off the clock.
UW-Whitewater's defense forced another punt, and the 'Hawks scored again with 1:12 remaining on a sneak from Donovan. An unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt made Mount Union's lead 31-26.
UW-Whitewater's rally died when Mount Union recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.
"I definitely think the game could have been a lot more interesting if we had a little more time," Donovan said.
Micheli finished 12-of-19 with 262 yards and two touchdowns and received the Most Outstanding Player award. Shorts was his prime target, catching seven passes for 178 yards and both touchdowns.
"This is a great honor, but I'm especially proud of these guys," Micheli said. "There were a lot of questions coming into the season, but I think we answered all of them."
For UW-Whitewater, Anderson ran 19 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Donovan finished 28-of-38 for 257 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The 'Hawks limited Kmic, the NCAA's all-time leading rusher, to 88 yards on 22 carries.
The 'Hawks finish the 2008 season 13-2 and the national runner-up, while the Purple Raiders finish 15-0.
"This team competed for four quarters," Leipold said. "And I couldn't be more proud of them."
UW-Whitewater senior Jace Rindahl, who was officially named a first team All-American earlier Saturday, said he ends his career with no regrets.
"It's been an unbelievable ride," Rindahl said. "To be in this program for four years and come [to the Stagg Bowl] four consecutive years was unbelievable."
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