By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com

For many outside the program, thoughts of Mount Union’s dynasty are images of offensive success. The seven-time champion’s most memorable players range from quarterbacks Jim Ballard, Bill Borchert, Gary Smeck and Rob Adamson to running backs Chuck Moore and Dan Pugh. The Purple Raiders have scored 500 or more points in nine consecutive seasons, with an eye-popping high of 752 in 1997. They led the nation this season in scoring offense, at 49 points per game, or 588 to date.

Behind every offensively dominant championship team of course, is a great defense. If Mount Union is to win its eighth Division III title, the Purple Raiders will have to get past another team known for its defense, and play a little D of its own.

Says Mount Union defensive coordinator Don Montgomery of facing speedy Bridgewater, which the Purple Raiders beat 30-27 in the 2001 Stagg Bowl: “I can’t say I’m overly confident, because I’m not. I’m scared to death. But it’s challenges that make you stronger.”

If Montgomery, 48, can get scared at all after spending the past 18 seasons as the Mount Union defensive coordinator — he’s handled the defense while head coach Larry Kehres has called the offense as the Purple Raiders have won 108 of 109 — he’s clearly a man that can motivate himself.

Maybe he’s rubbed off on his players. Though he lost seven starters from a group he said had trouble getting up for weaker opponents, Montgomery says being hungry and self-motivated has made this year’s defense something special. 

The statistics certainly back him up. Including the playoffs, the Purple Raiders have given up just seven points per game (tied for second in the nation) and 241 yards per outing. They’ve pitched five shutouts, the most since Mount Union also had five in 1997. The Raiders faced three teams ranked among the nation’s top 26 total and scoring offenses in Wheaton, Baldwin-Wallace and Capital, and surrendered a grand total of 17 points. They’ve given up just 84 points in 12 games.

“Some of the guys we lost last year, some of those guys were three-year starters,” Montgomery said. “We had some problems, to be honest with you, getting focused on the teams that might not be the same challenge as an undefeated team might be. Not to take anything away from those guys, but the guys we have starting this year, some of them are juniors and seniors who have waited three and four years to get their turn to start. They’re motivated … they’ve practiced hard, developed and are playing with great unity.”

The Purple Raiders lost an all-American from each part of the defense — two-time honoree Matt Campbell on the defensive line, two-time selection Chris Kern from the secondary, and linebacker Stan Watson.

That defense was one of the nation’s best — but no one, perhaps not even Montgomery, thought this one could be even better, at least statistically.

With the offense losing some of its top stars too, particularly Adamson and Pugh, there was no time for either unit to lean on the other. Luckily, for a program like Mount Union, there are players always waiting for an opportunity.

“All three of our linebackers are seniors,” said Montgomery. “Two had never had the chance to play before.”

Montgomery thought his defensive line would be a strength, as Antoine Dillard, Josh Ludwig and third end Jason McElhaney returned, and he knew he had Matt Caponi and Mike Miller, a 2001 starter who missed last season with an injury, back.

But the defense has performed possibly beyond expectation.

“I have a feeling that motivation is the key,” Montgomery said.

Saturday’s semifinal will match the nation’s eighth-ranked total defense (of 227 teams) in Bridgewater against Mount Union’s ninth-ranked defense.

Defense wasn’t exactly the name of the game when the teams last met, but it might be on Saturday.

“They may be better on defense than they were then,” said Montgomery, though he admits it's not his job to look at opposing defenses and he hasn’t scouted them. 

But it doesn’t take a specialist to see that Bridgewater boasts speed in its linebacking corps, led by all-American middle linebacker Jermaine Taylor. Outside linebackers Kelly Moore and Gary Nelson make a trio with several seasons of starting experience. Though none is taller than 5-10, the three seniors have been playmakers. Nelson and Taylor started in the Stagg Bowl.

Tackle Lawrence Frierson and end Rowdy Hoover lead Bridgewater’s defensive line, while Steward White and Jeremy Bradshaw guide the secondary.

Montgomery has vivid memories of Bridgewater’s big-play offense, which helped the Eagles stay close as Chuck Moore’s 273 rushing yards led Mount Union to the 2001 Stagg Bowl victory.

“Their speed is what stands out,” Montgomery said. “They have big-play capability. We gave up a lot in 2001, but that was the first time we’d seen them. Maybe I didn’t know how talented they were.”

The Eagles struck early in that Stagg Bowl, as quarterback Jason Lutz found wide receiver Marcus Richardson for a 67-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first play. Montgomery quickly found out how fast the Eagles were then.

“That’s what (then-Rowan coach) K.C. Keeler said to me after they beat Rowan that year,” Montgomery said. “ ‘What you see on film is not what you get. They’re fast as hell.’ ”

This year’s Eagles may or may not be as fast, but speed is still what coaches reference most when talking about Bridgewater. Montgomery compared his team to Ohio State taking on Miami in last year’s Division I-A title game, saying “we’re fast as well.”

Part of the reason why Montgomery stays so motivated is because he can’t forget how it feels to lose. Though the Purple Raiders have sandwiched college football-record 54-game winning streaks around the school’s most recent loss, Rowan’s 24-17 overtime win in the 1999 semifinals, it’s no distant memory for the defensive coordinator.

“I remember what it was like when we got knocked out in the semis in ’99, and how I hated that next week of my life,” he said. “We’ve been blessed … even though it hasn’t happened very often, when we get beat, it’s like a funeral around here.”

Semifinal glance
Around the Nation looked at last week’s quarterfinals (and went 3-1), so let’s again take a quick look at Saturday’s games and who should win:

South Region champion Bridgewater (12-1) at North Region champion Mount Union (12-0), noon ET
Fast facts: The teams’ only other meeting was the 2001 Stagg Bowl … This will be the Eagles’ longest road trip since a Sept. 20 game at Maryville, Tenn.
What you need to know: Bridgewater and St. John’s are both still alive, and they may be the only two teams that know deep down they can play with Mount Union, based on the back-to-back three-point Stagg Bowl losses. But throw out the history; this year’s Purple Raiders or Eagles may not be as good as their 2001 teams, but one will return to the big game. Mount Union has looked traditionally dominant, while the Eagles excel in close games. Bridgewater has started some big games slow, but a fast start would behoove them against the Purple Raiders. The matchup to watch is along both lines; the Eagles like to get pressure on the quarterback, while the O-line is Mount Union’s strength. Bridgewater could have the edge in a close game, but the Purple Raiders have made great teams look pedestrian.
Pick: Mount Union, 31-17.

East Region champion RPI (11-1) at West Region champion St. John’s (12-0), noon CT
Fast facts: Each team averages 451.8 yards of total offense … Both teams wear white helmets with red numbers on them
What you need to know: Both survived close games last weekend, as RPI beat upstate rival Ithaca 21-16 while St. John’s held on against Linfield in what is shaping up to be a nice rivalry. Observers will get a good look at two of Division III’s best receivers in St. John’s Gagliardi award winner Blake Elliot and RPI’s Flynn Cochran. The offenses have gained the same amount of yardage (St. John’s 5,422 yards in 12 games is one more yard than RPI) but aren’t identical. RPI passes for 300 a game, St. John’s 258. The Johnnies also may have a better run defense, and Clemens Stadium provides a heck of a home field advantage. An RPI win would be an upset.
Pick: St. John’s, 25-14.

Corrections
Sometimes readers have the most keen eyes. Mount Union fans Wayne R. Zeides, Matt Durchik and Mike White each caught us shorting the Purple Raiders one national championship last week (they have seven). Also, Linfield plays at Maxwell Field.