2008 Playoffs
Cecil Shorts beat both
UW-Whitewater starting cornerbacks for touchdowns on the Purple
Raiders' first two possessions of the game.
Photo by RC Workman for
D3sports.com
|
Cecil Shorts struck early and Drew McClain struck late, leading
Mount Union to a 31-26 victory in Stagg Bowl XXXVI.
The Purple Raiders got just 88 yards from Nate Kmic on 22 carries,
but Shorts got loose for two long touchdown catches, burning each
starting Whitewater cornerback in the first quarter. McClain
returned a tipped pass 78 yards for a touchdown in the fourth
quarter to give Mount Union an insurmountable edge. Photo
gallery.
Greg Micheli was named the Most Outstanding Player of Stagg Bowl
XXXVI, completing 12 of 19 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns
while running for 56 more.
D3football.com covered the Stagg Bowl from all angles. Frank Rossi
took a first-hand look at the events around the Stagg Bowl from a
first-timer's perspective on the Daily Dose. Ryan Tipps blogged during the game,
and Keith McMillan took a look at the season that was, in the first
of two installments of Around
the Nation's Year in Review, and the season that will be,
asking whether
Mount Union and UW-Whitewater will meet again in Salem next
season. Plus there are more photo galleries, including the tailgaters,
pregame, halftime and the postgame celebration and awards.
In the Stagg Bowl, Shorts scored from 55 yards out less than two
minutes into the game, then again from 41 yards out about four
minutes later to stake Mount Union to a 14-0 lead.
UW-Whitewater held Mount Union's offense in check, however,
holding the Purple Raiders to a field goal in the second quarter.
Mount Union led 24-10.
The Warhawks left points on the board, however, as Jeff Schebler
missed a pair of field goals. Whitewater finally got back on the
board as Schebler converted from 31 yards out late in the third
quarter, and following a three-and-out, was driving with a chance
to cut the lead to four early in the fourth quarter. That's when
McClain picked off a tipped pass and took it 78 yards to the end
zone.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," McClain told
D3football.com after the game. "The ball bounced our way.
Unfortunately last year it bounced their way, but this year we got
lucky."
