1998 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team

1998 Mount Union Purple Raiders football
NCAA Division III champion
OAC champion
Stagg Bowl, W 44–24 vs. Rowan
ConferenceOhio Athletic Conference
Record14–0 (9–0 OAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumMount Union Stadium
Seasons
← 1997
1999 →
1998 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Mount Union $^   9 – 0     14 – 0  
Baldwin–Wallace   8 – 1     8 – 2  
John Carroll   7 – 2     8 – 2  
Ohio Northern   6 – 3     7 – 3  
Marietta   5 – 4     6 – 4  
Muskingum   4 – 5     5 – 5  
Otterbein   3 – 6     4 – 6  
Heidelberg   2 – 7     2 – 8  
Hiram   1 – 8     2 – 8  
Capital   0 – 9     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 1998 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 1998 NCAA Division III football season. In their 13th year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 14–0 record, won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 523 to 227. They qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs and advanced to the national championship team, defeating Rowan, 44–24.[1]

Mount Union's 1997 season was part of a record 54-game winning streak that spanned four seasons, commencing on September 14, 1996 and continuing through December 6, 1998. The national championship was the third in three years and the fourth in six years.[2]

Quarterback Gary Smeck and receiver Adam Marino led the team on offense.

The team played its home games at Mount Union Stadium in Alliance, Ohio.

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12at Albion*
W 38–24[3]
September 19Hiram
W 58–0
September 26at Ohio NorthernAda, OHW 42–37
October 3John Carroll
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH
W 21–14[4]
October 10Heidelberg
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH
W 40–17
October 17at OtterbeinWesterville, OHW 38–7
October 24Marietta
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH
W 41–62,963
October 31Capital
W 58–7
November 7Muskingum
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH
W 37–3
November 14at Baldwin–Wallace
W 30–21
November 21Albion*
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III first round)
W 21–19
November 28Wittenberg*
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III quarterfinal)
W 21–195,069
December 5Trinity (TX)*
  • Mount Union Stadium
  • Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III semifinal)
W 34–29
December 12vs. Rowan*
W 44–245,145[2]
  • *Non-conference game

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1998 Football". University of Mount Union. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Stagg Bowl Eludes Rowan". Herald & News. December 13, 1998. p. E7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Mount Union blasts Britons, 38-24". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 13, 1998. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Purple Raiders double-cross Blue Streaks". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 4, 1998. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
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