2006 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team

2006 Mount Union Purple Raiders football
NCAA Division III champion OAC champion
Stagg Bowl, W 35–16 vs. Wisconsin–Whitewater
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Ranking
D3Football.com	No. 1
Record	15–0 (9–0 OAC)
Head coach	Larry Kehres (21st season)
Offensive coordinator	Matt Campbell (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Vince Kehres (2nd season)
Home stadium	Mount Union Stadium

2006 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 Mount Union $^		9	–	0					15	–	0
No. 3 Capital ^		8	–	1					11	–	2
Baldwin–Wallace		6	–	3					7	–	3
Marietta		5	–	4					6	–	4
Ohio Northern		5	–	4					6	–	4
John Carroll		5	–	4					5	–	5
Otterbein		3	–	6					4	–	6
Wilmington (OH)		3	–	6					3	–	7
Muskingum		1	–	8					2	–	8
Heidelberg		0	–	9					0	–	10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3football.com

The 2006 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 2006 NCAA Division III football season. In their 21st year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 15–0 record, won the OAC championship, advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, and defeated Wisconsin–Whitewater, 35–16, in the national championship game.[1]

Sophomore tailback Nate Kmic led the team with 2,365 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. By the conclusion of his senior season, Kmic became the all-time leading rusher in college football history.

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

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	at Averett*	Owen-Fulton Field Danville, VA	W 64–7	3,782	[2]
September 16	at Otterbein	Memorial Stadium Westerville, OH	W 71–14	3,317
September 23	at Muskingum	McConagha Stadium New Concord, OH	W 62–0	1,894
October 1	Heidelberg	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 58–0	3,832
October 7	Ohio Northern	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 49–7	6,832	[3]
October 14	at Wilmington (OH)	Williams Stadium Wilmington, OH	W 65–9	3,967
October 21	at Baldwin–Wallace	Finnie Stadium Berea, OH	W 14–0	6,121	[4]
October 28	Capital	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 38–12	4,132
November 4	John Carroll	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 31–14	4,572
November 11	at Marietta	Don Drumm Stadium Marietta, OH	W 45–17	975
November 18	Hope*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III first round)	W 49–0	1,624
November 25	Wheaton*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III second round)	W 35–3	3,124
December 2	Capital*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III quarterfinal)	W 17–14	2,817
December 9	St. John Fisher*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III semifinal)	W 26–14	3,532	[5]
December 16	vs. Wisconsin–Whitewater*	Salem Football Stadium Salem, VA (Stagg Bowl)	W 35–16	6,051	[6]
*Non-conference game

[7]

References

1. "2006 Football". University of Mount Union. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
2. "Mount Union romps in Virginia". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 3, 2006. p. C11 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Purple Raiders turn the tables". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 8, 2006. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Defense steps up to solidify shutout". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 22, 2006. p. C11 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Cardinals dream ends". Democrat and Chronicle. December 10, 2006. pp. 1D, 8D – via Newspapers.com.
6. "No fairy-tale finale". Wisconsin State Journal. December 17, 2006. pp. E1, E4 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "2006 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.