2008 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team

The 2008 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 2008 NCAA Division III football season. In their 23rd 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, 31–26, in the national championship game.^[1]

2008 Mount Union Purple Raiders football
NCAA Division III champion OAC champion
Stagg Bowl, W 31–26 vs. Wisconsin–Whitewater
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Ranking
D3Football.com	No. 1
Record	15–0 (9–0 OAC)
Head coach	Larry Kehres (23rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Jason Candle (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Vince Kehres (4th season)
Home stadium	Mount Union Stadium
Seasons ← 2007 2009 →

2008 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 Mount Union $^		9	–	0					15	–	0
No. 19 Otterbein ^		8	–	1					9	–	2
Baldwin–Wallace		5	–	4					5	–	5
Ohio Northern		5	–	4					5	–	5
Capital		4	–	5					5	–	5
John Carroll		4	–	5					5	–	5
Wilmington (OH)		4	–	5					4	–	6
Heidelberg		3	–	6					4	–	6
Muskingum		2	–	7					3	–	7
Marietta		1	–	8					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3football.com

During the course of the season, senior tailback Nate Kmic became the all-time rushing leader in college football history.^[2] He concluded his collegiate career with 8,074 rushing yards and 130 touchdowns.

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

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	St. John Fisher*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 33–3	4,872	[3]
September 20	Ohio Northern	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 44–7	7,232	[4]
September 27	at Muskingum	McConagha Stadium New Concord, OH	W 51–13	2,350	[5]
October 4	at Baldwin–Wallace	Finnie Stadium Berea, OH	W 48–3	7,107	[6]
October 11	Capital	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 49–7	4,231	[7]
October 18	Heidelberg	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 49–0	4,022	[8]
October 25	at Wilmington (OH)	Williams Stadium Wilmington, OH	W 55–0	1,896	[9]
November 1	John Carroll	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH	W 41–7	5,372	[10]
November 8	at Otterbein	Memorial Stadium Westerville, OH	W 49–20	4,514	[11]
November 15	at Marietta	Don Drumm Stadium Marietta, OH	W 49–0	577	[12]
November 22	Randolph-Macon*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III first round)	W 56–0	1,469	[13]
November 29	Hobart*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III second round)	W 42–7	2,592	[14]
December 6	Cortland State*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III quarterfinal)	W 41–14	1,869	[15]
December 13	Wheaton (IL)*	Mount Union Stadium Alliance, OH (NCAA Division III semifinal)	W 45–24	2,472	[2]
December 20	vs. Wisconsin–Whitewater*	Salem Football Stadium Salem, VA (Stagg Bowl)	W 31–26	5,344	[16][17]
*Non-conference game

^[18]

References

1. "2008 Football". University of Mount Union. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
2. "Kmic sets rushing record in Mount Union win". Chillicothe Gazette. December 14, 2008. p. 9A – via Newspapers.com.
3. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
4. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
5. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
6. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
7. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
8. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
9. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
10. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
11. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
12. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
13. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
14. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
15. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
16. "Mount Union wins 10th Division III title". Chillicothe Gazette. December 21, 2008. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
17. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.
18. "2008 Mount Union Football Statistics". Mount Union.