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Mount Union, John Carroll eliminated

The Mount Union Purple Raiders and John Carroll Blue Streaks were both eliminated from the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday, as both lost by narrow margins in their respective semifinal games.

John Carroll lost to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 10-3, earlier in the day, followed by a 14-12 Mount Union loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Purple Raiders’ (12-2) loss ended two historic streaks, as Saturday’s defeat prevented them from a 12th straight Stagg Bowl (Division III national title game) appearance, and also ended a 114-game road winning streak. Mount Union’s last road defeat came in the 1994 playoffs to Albion, Michigan.

After a 30-yard Alex Louthan field goal got the Purple Raiders on the board first, Mary Hardin-Baylor responded with a 74-yard touchdown drive late in the first half, to take a 7-3 lead. Louthan eventually added another field goal to make it a 7-6 game at half.

The Crusaders (14-1) added a Blake Jackson 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, before Purple Raider quarterback Dom Davis added an 8-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. Davis’ 2-point conversion pass attempt, however, failed, and the Crusaders were able to hang on for the eventual victory.

Davis went 9-of-23 for just 63 yards and three interceptions, as the Purple Raiders were outgained offensively, 283-242, on the day. The Crusaders advance to their first Stagg Bowl since 2004, the last time Mount Union did not appear in that game.

The Blue Streaks (12-2), who defeated two No. 1-ranked teams this season, including Mount Union, could only muster a late field goal with 5 minutes left to play, after trailing 10-0.

Oshkosh (13-1) got a 3-yard touchdown run from Brett Kasper, early in the third quarter, and later added a field goal in the early stages of the fourth quarter. Blue Streaks quarterback Anthony Moeglin was held to 157 yards passing, as the Titans defense forced him into three interceptions.

John Carroll, meanwhile, graduates the winningest class in school history (40-8), in a season which will be remembered for beating two teams that have a combined 11 national championships.

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