Stagg Bowl XXXIV
Mount Union 35, UW-Whitewater 16

Matt Kostelnik's blocked punt was the turning point for the Purple Raiders in a 35-16 Stagg Bowl win. Photo by Ryan Tipps, D3football.com

Garcon, Micheli bring
Raiders title nine

Pierre Garcon scored two touchdowns in the second half and the Purple Raiders defense held the Warhawks to three second half points to give Mount Union its ninth national championship and eighth in 11 years.

Sophomore quarterback Greg Micheli played most of the second half, rushing for a touchdown and throwing for three more to take home the Most Outstanding Player award. The turning point of the game, though, came on special teams as Matt Kostelnik blocked a Nick Croak punt which Matt Rees returned for a score to give the Purple Raiders a 27-13 lead.

The Purple Raiders cruised from there to a 35-16 win in front of 6,051 fans at Salem Stadium, sending retiring coach Bob Berezowitz and the Warhawks home without a title.

Micheli was 18-for-22 passing for 202 yards and ran for 42 more in leading Mount Union to the win. D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year Nate Kmic ran 25 times for 111 yards, much of it on a final drive in which the Purple Raiders killed the clock. Justin Beaver carried 23 times for 87 yards.

Did you miss the All-American announcement? Are you looking for a place to talk about Stagg Bowl XXXIV? Do you want a closer look at first class photos? 

Playoffs: Finals schedule, Stagg Bowl broadcast, Final printable bracket, Pick 'em login.

Playoff results
First round, Nov. 18
at Mount Union 49, Hope 0
at Wheaton (Ill.) 42, Mount St. Joseph 28
North Central 35, Concordia (Wis.) 6, at Wisconsin Lutheran
at Capital 32, Wittenberg 14
at Wilkes 42, Washington and Lee 0
at Rowan 20, Hobart 18
at St. John Fisher 49, Union 15
at Springfield 42, Curry 14
at Wesley 49, Dickinson 21
at Carnegie Mellon 21, Millsaps 0
Washington and Jefferson 27, at Christopher Newport 23
at Mary Hardin-Baylor 33, Hardin-Simmons 21
at UW-Whitewater 59, St. Norbert 17
at UW-La Crosse 28, Bethel 21
at Whitworth 27, Occidental 23
St. John's 21, at Central 13

Second round, Nov. 25
at Mount Union 35, Wheaton (Ill.) 3
at Capital 41, North Central 13
Rowan 21, at Wilkes 14
at St. John Fisher 27, Springfield 21
at Wesley 37, Carnegie Mellon 0
at Mary Hardin-Baylor 30, Washington and Jefferson 27
at UW-Whitewater 24, UW-La Crosse 21
St. John's 21, at Whitworth 3

Quarterfinals, Dec. 2
at Mount Union 17, Capital 14
at St. John Fisher 31, Rowan 0
at Wesley 34, Mary Hardin-Baylor 20
at UW-Whitewater 17, St. John's 14

Semifinals, Dec. 9
at UW-Whitewater 44, Wesley 7
at Mount Union 26, St. John Fisher 14

Championship, Dec. 16
Mount Union 35, UW-Whitewater 16, at Salem, Va.