You've come a long way, or in this case U've come a long way. UW-Whitewater, which lost twenty-three seniors off of last year's NCAA III championship team, didn't have fans in August thinking of returning to Salem in December. UW-W went thought the minefield of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a target on its back, earning a share of the league title for the fourth consecutive year. Then UW-W won four consecutive NCAA III playoff games to set up another trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. And that playoff path wasn't in the comforts of their home beds and Perkins Stadium, with three trips in the five weeks totaling 8,028 miles traveled as final exams beckoned. Even in their final game, the Stagg Bowl for the national championship, UW-W came a long way, coming back from a 14-0 deficit to lose 31-26. UW-W, in terms of the 2008 season, and as a Division III football program, has indeed come a long way.

Momentum.

One of the most over-used words in sports lingo, but it certainly applied to the first half of the 2008 Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia.

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Recap by J.J. Nekoloff

Mount Union needed just four plays and less than two minutes for Greg Micheli to find Cecil Shorts for a 55 yard touchdown to put the Purple (purple, again, throughout the stands, on the sidelines, at the tailgates) Raiders ahead 7-0 at 13:10.

After a quick defensive stop MUC was back at it, with Micheli connecting with Shorts again, this time for 41 yards, to end a quick three play drive to make it 14-0 with 9:15 left in the first quarter.

With the momentum clearly on the Mount Union sideline, Aaron Samplawski (Horicon/Horicon) took it away with a 56 yard kickoff return to give UW-W the ball on the Purple Raider 35. Antwan Anderson (Madison/Madison Memorial) punched it in from one yard out on the fourth play of the drive to cut the margin in half, 14-7 with 7:46 still remaining in the first quarter.

Momentum, fickle as ever, crossed the field and helped MUC push the ball 75 yards in seven plays, with Nate Kmic, the all-time leading rusher in NCAA (all divisions) history, scoring on a two yard inside handoff.

The first quarter ended 21-7, with Mount Union passing for 171 yards, and Whitewater gaining 83 yards of total offense. MUC's Micheli was also successful on the ground, leading both teams with 42 yards on four carries in the first. (Think Danny Jones (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley), circa 2007.)

Jeff Schebler (Davenport, IA/Assumption), an All-American again this year, made "mo" shift again, connecting from 21 yards to make it 21-10 with 9:50 in the second quarter, ending an eleven play drive.

Late in the half Mount Union marched to Whitewater's three yard line. Reminiscent of 2007's game-changing defensive stop, on second down Justin Ankley (Kenosha/Bradford) tackled Kmic for a four yard loss, and a third down pass was incomplete, forcing MUC to settle for a 29 yard field goal by Ryan Wilk.

Whitewater got within field goal attempt distance, but the ball was left of the goal posts, and the teams went in to the locker room with the Purple Raiders leading 24-10.

Micheli passed for 229 yards, hitting 9-13 in the first half. Six of those passes went to Shorts, covering 167 yards and the two TD's. Whitewater's Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) was accurate, going 10-15, for 88 yards, with Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) grabbing three for 34 yards. Antwan Anderson (Madison/Madison Memorial) rushed five times for 27 yards for UW-W in the first half. The teams combined for 480 yards of offense in the first thirty minutes.

Whitewater took the opening kickoff of the second half, after another good return from Samplawski, moved to the Mount Union 22, but another field goal attempt went left and, for a change, momentum stayed put.

Mount Union appeared to pick up steam again on its next possession, driving to the Whitewater three, but again the Whitewater defense was up the task. With a second and goal Micheli tried to scramble left, but several Warhawks upended him, causing him to lose the ball that Zach Christopherson (Hartford/Hartford) recovered in the end zone to give the Warhawks a new start at the 20. Facing third and twelve, Donovan hooked up with Jordan Wells (Elgin, IL/Elgin) for a first down at the MUC 19. Another completion, to Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central), originally called out of bounds but overturned on review, brought the ball to the 14 to help Schebler convert a 31 yard field goal at 1:01 to cut the score to 24-13 Mount Union, with Schebler adding to his NCAA Division III career field goal record with his 60th as he nears the end of his junior season.

The Warhawk defense forced a three and out to end the third quarter, and Whitewater's offense took over after a short punt at their own 48 yard line.

Whitewater had trailed by 140 yards of offense at halftime, but outgained MUC in the third.

With Whitewater driving early in the fourth quarter, advancing to the opponent's 27, a Warhawk pass tipped off a receiver's hands into the hands of Purple Raider defensive back Drew McClain who returned the ball 78 yards for a score. Mount Union led 31-13 with 11:59 left in the game.

The Warhawks responded with a twelve play, 61 yard drive with Antwan Anderson (Madison/Madison Memorial) carrying it in from two yards out to cut the deficit to 31-20 with 6:46 left in the game. Anderson had already notched his fifth consecutive 100+ yard game in Whitewater's tandem 1,000 yard rusher backfield.

Whitewater took over again at their own 13 with 4:24 left, facing the prospect of having to score twice in the time remaining. The Warhawks drove down the field, with Donovan stretching his 6-5 frame over the goal line for a score with 1:12 left. A two point pass conversion attempt was completed, but fell short of the goal line. Mount Union's lead was cut to 31-26.

Whitewater had clearly regained momentum by the end of the game as they led MUC in first downs 31-15, total yards 455-401, and time of possesion 34 minutes to 26. Both teams combined for only five punts.

Anderson, who made his first collegiate start in the second round of the playoffs against Willamette, rushed for 805 yards in the five playoff games. He ended up with 121 on 19 carries in the Stagg Bowl. Donovan passed for 257 yards completing 28-38 with one interception. His leading receiver Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford), caught eight passes from Donovan for 79 yards.

Defensively, Max Ford (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park River Forest) came up with seven tackles (4 solo, 3 assisted). All-American Jace Rindahl (Cambridge/Cambridge) got to the quarter back once for a sack and added five tackles, one for a four yard loss.

Schebler, a second team All-American selection, contributed to the Warhawk scoring with two field goals.

Mount Union's quarterback Greg Micheli, who was also named Gagliardi Trophy winner the year after UW-W running back Justin Beaver (Palmyra/Palmyra-Eagle) was the recipient, went 12-19 for 262 yards and a 55 yard long completion. Cecil Shorts was the leading receiver in the game with seven catches and 178 yards, two touchdowns and was at the receiving end of Micheli's game long 55 yard pass.

Chaz Jordan led the Purple Raiders on defense with 11 tackles (7 solo, 4 assisted.) Sam Kershaw added nine tackles and a sack.

UW-W ends their 2008 season 13-2 as Mount Union ends with an undefeated mark, perfect at 15-0.

For additional information:
UW-W head football coach Lance Leipold