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SALEM, Va. — Quarterback Matt O’Connell said Mount Union’s ability to capitalize on opportunities during Friday’s 40th annual Stagg Bowl guided it to a 28-10 victory over St. Thomas.

The Tommies (14-1) came into Friday riding a 14-game winning streak and were making their first appearance in the NCAA championship game. But on this night, the Purple Raiders’ (15-0) offense proved to be too strong, allowing them to capture their 11th title since 1993.

“We’re pretty crushed,” coach Glenn Caruso said. “We all wanted this very, very badly and we worked tirelessly and selflessly to do so, and we failed tonight.”

On a crisp December evening, with 6,027 in attendance and fireworks overhead, a contagious energy percolated throughout Salem Stadium.

Mount Union, known for its quick strike offense, used that energy on its first possession of the game. Quarterback and the Stagg Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player Kevin Burke orchestrated a seven-play drive covering 82 yards ending with a 1-yard dart into the end zone by running back Jake Simon.

The Tommie offense, which predicates itself on running the ball, struggled early to find its rhythm. It didn’t help that starting tailback Brenton Braddock, nursing a “lower body injury” suffered last week against Wisconsin-Oshkosh, played only in St. Thomas’ first possession: two carries for seven yards.

“We were hoping he would be OK before game time,” Caruso said. “He was able to walk on it and jog on it; unfortunately, it was another injury for us.”

Running back Jack Kaiser carried the ball for the remainder of the game, totalling 30 yards on 16 carries.

With the momentum hanging in the balance, a special teams play would put Mount Union ahead by two scores.

After a six-play Tommie drive stalled near midfield, punter Garrett Maloney corralled a high snap, but couldn’t evade linebacker Charles Dieuseul, who blocked the punt and rumbled his way 12 yards into the end zone. “The Machine” had a firm grip on the game and the scoreboard, up 14-0 with 3:37 to go in the opening quarter.

This was the fourth blocked punt for Mount Union this postseason and the third returned for a touchdown. The block was Maloney’s first blocked punt of the season.

Like many times this season, St. Thomas would have to overcome adversity to get back into the game. The Tommies would find the end zone in an unconventional way early in the second quarter.

After O’Connell was stopped for no gain on a short run to the left, Caruso elected to go for a field goal. Or so it seemed. As kicker Paul Graupner lined up his 27-yard attempt, holder Dan Ferrazzo took the snap and skirted 10 yards off right tackle and dove into the front corner of the end zone, cutting the Purple Raider lead to 14-7.

St. Thomas and Mount Union’s defense stiffened for much of the second quarter as neither team could muster any points.

The Tommies had the best chance of the second quarter, but an O’Connell pass on fourth and eight at the Purple Raider 29-yard line was broken up. The Tommies were four for 16 on third downs and two for four on fourth down conversions on the night.

The Tommie defense, which gave up 114 yards in the first quarter, allowed just 26 in the second. St. Thomas actually outgained Mount Union 159 yards to 136 yards, yet trailed 14-7 heading into the break.

Mount Union defense stifles Tommies

St. Thomas came out determined in the second half to come closer to Mount Union, doing so with help from its special teams.

Following the Tommies’ second stalled drive of the second half, junior punter Garrett Maloney booted the ball to kick returner Chris Denton. Denton was met by cornerback Ryan Deitz, who stripped the football, which long snapper Zach Novaczyk recovered at the Purple Raider 27-yard line.

“I got my hand on the ball and gave it a rip and saw the ball come out,” Deitz said. “It was a big play for us.”

The Mount Union defense rose to the challenge and forced St. Thomas into another field goal attempt. Graupner made his 38-yard kick, bringing the Tommies to within four, 14-10.

Ferrazzo said the team was confident “all game” despite trailing for the entire contest.

“We’ve been in that situation (trailing) before,” Ferrazzo said. “There’s never a sense of panic on our sideline.”

Later, Burke executed a 12-play, 81-yard drive with a back-breaking 17-yard touchdown pass to Denton on fourth-and-four late in the third quarter, extending the Purple Raiders’ lead to 21-10.

The Tommies had solid field position on their next drive, thanks to a personal foul penalty on the Purple Raiders. St. Thomas’ couldn’t glean any momentum heading into the fourth quarter, with the third quarter ending in a 15-yard clipping penalty and an O’Connell sack.

O’Connell, who was sacked five times in the game, said the Mount Union’s defensive pressure was strong.

“They do what they do really well,” O’Connell said. “Their pressure got to us a few times.”

The Tommies entered the quarter down 21-10 and facing a third-and-27. Unfazed, O’Connell hit wide receiver Charlie Dowdle for a 15-yard completion which, coupled with a Mount Union personal foul, gave the Tommies a first down just across midfield. Four plays later, cornerback Isaiah Thomas intercepted O’Connell at the Purple Raider 13-yard line with 13 minutes left in the game.

The St. Thomas defense, which held the prolific Mount Union offense to 245 yards through three quarters, could not stop Burke. The quarterback led a 14-play drive covering 87 yards in 8:13. Simon capped off the drive with his second 1-yard touchdown run of the night, solidifying the victory.

Dietz said he thought Mount Union’s wide receiving corps, which had 22 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown, were the “best” the team had seen all season.

“The whole corps were very fast and very strong,” Deitz said. “It was a challenge, but a challenge our team was excited to have.”

St. Thomas finished with its lowest offensive output this year in rushing yards (78), total yards (194) and points (10). O’Connell finished 15-35 for 116 yards and an interception. Mount Union outgained St. Thomas 344-194 yards. The Tommies out-possessed the Purple Raiders 30:30 to 29:30

With the best finish in the program’s history, Caruso said the team is focused on using this game as valuable experience for the future.

“The difference between being on our side and (Mount Union’s side) is sometimes so slim,” Caruso said. “The only way we’re going to get where we want to be, with those fireworks over our heads, is if we own up and not make the same mistakes twice.”

Ross Schreck can be reached at schr8250@stthomas.edu.