1998 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

The Purple Raiders (14-0), sporting a dozen new faces in the starting line-up in '98, played arguably the toughest schedule in the country. Eight of Mount Union's 14 opponents were ranked among the top-15 of the nation's 220 Division III teams.

The season began with the Purple & White playing three nearly flawless quarters of football in the opener at Albion (MI). The Raiders built a 38-3 lead en route to a 38-24 final as quarterback Gary Smeck (287-of- 434/66%/4,049 yds/34 TDs/15 INTs in '98) threw for 325 yards and two scores while safety Kris Bugara totaled a team-best nine tackles and forcing a fumble in the process.

Mount Union's home opener resulted in a 58-0 win over Hiram as Ryan Gorius rushed for 92 yards and the Raider defense held the Terriers to 85 total yards of offense in posting the shutout. Week #3 turned out to be a shootout with Mount Union surviving 42-37 against host Ohio Northern. Offensively, Gary Smeck threw for a career-best 414 yards and four touchdowns, Ryan Gorius rushed for 100 yards and wideout Darin Kerhsner caught nine passes for 198 yards and two scores. Defensively, a late fourth quarter interception by Jason Knapp sealed the win.

The Raiders returned home only to trail 14-0 early against undefeated conference rival John Carroll, before scoring 21 consecutive points in earning a 21-14 win. Gary Smeck connected with tight-end Adam Irgang on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 3:11 to play, giving the Homecoming crowd reason to stand and cheer.

Mount Union was forced to come from behind at home for the second consecutive week as Heidelberg led 17-13 at halftime of the midway point of the season. The Raiders went on a 27-0 second half run to capture a 40-17 victory sparked in part by a pair of Kris Bugara interceptions - one of which was returned 48 yards for a score.

The Purple Raiders rolled up a season-high 617 yards of offense in gaining a 38-7 road win at Otterbein in week #6. Ryan Gorius and Dave Hassey (127 att/678 yds/7 TDs) each rushed for over 100 yards while the defense held the Cardinals to just 20 yards on the ground and just 181 yards of total offense in the contest.

Mount Union scored on its first four possessions in earning a 41-6 home win over Marietta the following week. The Raider defense held a very potent Pioneers' rush offense to just 133 yards on 35 attempts, while offensively, wideout Adam Marino (74 rec/1,337 yds/14 TDs) had eight receptions for 147 yards and a career-best three touchdowns.

The Purple & White scored a pair of defensive touchdowns - a Jeremy Yoder 12-yard fumble recovery for a score and a Rich Goebelt 25-yard interception return - in winning 58-7 at Capital.

Mount Union set a new OAC mark for consecutive conference wins (39) with a 37-3 victory over visiting Muskingum in the Raiders' final regular season home game.

Darin Kershner's 10 receptions for 179 yards, Jason Hall's 14 tackles and Kris Bugara's 73-yard interception return for a touchdown capped off the Raider win.

The Purple & White captured its seventh consecutive OAC title with a come-from-behind 30 21 win at Baldwin-Wallace in the regular season finale. Mount Union trailed 21-10 mid-way through the third quarter before outscoring the Yellow Jackets 20-0 in the final 18 minutes of play. Jason Hall's two interception/10 tackle performance keyed the Raider comeback.

Mount Union's eighth post-season trip in nine years began with a 21- 19 win over visiting Albion (MI) when a late Britons' rally fell short. Chuck Moore's (81 att/361 yds/10 TDs) 90-yard opening kick return for a score coupled with Gary Smeck's career-best 30-of-39 completion performance propelled the Raiders to their seventh consecutive North RegionChampionship game.

The Raiders claimed their fourth straight North Region title with a 21-19 home win over Wittenberg. Offensively, Adam Marino and Darin Kershner each had over 100 yards receiving, including Kershner's career- best 11 reception performance. Defensively, a Kris Bugara interception stopped one late Tigers' drive while a B.J. Payne sack and fumble recovery sealed the victory in the final minutes.

Mount Union built a 21-2 halftime lead in its Division III semi-final playoff game against Trinity (TX) only to have the Tigers storm back to take a 22-21 lead with 11:17 left to play in the contest. It was only the second time the Raiders had trailed in the fourth quarter since their last loss - Dec. 2, '95. A pair of key fourth quarter drives were capped by Smeck to Marino 10-yard and 6-yard touchdown tosses, giving the Raiders an eventual 34-29 win and third consecutive trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. Marino finished with a career-best 213 yards receiving while Ryan Goriusrushed for 102 yards on 21 carries.

The Purple & White would come from behind once again to claim its third consecutive Stagg Bowl crown and fourth in six years ('93, '96, '97, '98) with a 44-24 win over Rowan (NJ) in Salem, Virginia, on Dec. 12.

Trailing 24-16, Mount Union tied the game on a 3-yard Dave Hassey reception and a Darin Kershner 2-point conversion reception with 1:08 remaining n the third stanza. Seconds later, a Jason Hall sack and Jeremy Yoder fumble recovery set up a Chuck Moore 10-yard run with :10 seconds left in the quarter. A pair of Ryan Gorius fourth quarter touchdowns put the game away and extended college football's longest current winning streak to 42 - five shy of Oklahoma's all-time mark of 47 (set from 1953-57).