Alliance, Ohio (11/25) - The Wheaton Thunder fell to the Mount Union Purple Raiders 35-3 Saturday afternoon, in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. This marks the fifth time the two teams have met in the post-season; Mount Union has defeated the Thunder all five times. The Purple Raiders move to 12-0 on the season, and advances to the third round of the tournament to play Capital on December 2. The Thunder finishes its season with a final record of 10-2.

Mount Union scored on their first drive of the game on a 52-yard run by sophomore Nate Kmic, his twenty-first of the season.  Wheaton's third drive, started by a 17-yard interception return by Wheaton's Kirk McKenney, resulted in an interception by Jonah Wilson with 3:55 clock.  Mount Union scored again with 1:01 left in the first quarter on a 28 yard run by Kmic, giving the Purple Raiders a 14-0 lead.  The second quarter left both teams scoreless.

In the third quarter, Wheaton's Tim March intercepted Jorris' pass and returned the ball 17 yards to the Mount Union 38-yard line. Wheaton advanced to first-and-goal on a fake punt pass by Rick Radcliff to Dan Hahn, but settled for a 25-yard field goal by Thunder kicker Tim Ellingsen, the first points allowed by Mount Union in the postseason this year. Greg Micheli scored on a 22-yard run for the Purple Raiders on the proceeding possession, moving the score to 21-3 with 6:44 left in the third quarter. Quarterback Zach Ullrich led Wheaton down the field on the next possession, which resulted in an interception by Mount Union's Jonah Wilson.

In the final quarter of the match-up, Pierre Garcon scored on a 14 yard pass from Jorris, bringing the score to 28-3 against the Thunder, whose next possession resulted in an interception by Tony Deriggi.  This possession resulted in a Mount Union touchdown; a one yard run by Kmic, taking the score to 35-3.  Wheaton's next possession again resulted in a turnover on an interception, this time by Chas Yoder, and the Thunder saw time expire. 

Wheaton's offense saw playing time by both quarterbacks Jeremy Chupp and Zach Ullrich.  Chupp was 5-for-22 with three interceptions; Ullrich was 4-11 with two interceptions.  Senior Chaz Black led the Thunder with 70 rushing yards, the most yards allowed by Mount Union for any single running back this season. Joe Chupp led Wheaton in receiving yards, gathering 128 on four catches, and Chris Fossum had three catches for 38 yards. Wheaton totaled 71 rushing yards and 216 passing yards. 

On the other side of the ball, the Thunder defense, allowed the Purple Raiders 397 rushing yards and 95 passing yards.  They were led by Kirk McKenney, who netted 6-1/2 tackles, followed by Shane Woodward, Steve Pagh and March, each with six.  Andy Studebaker broke up two passes for the Thunder defense. 

Mike Jorris was at the helm of the Mount Union offense, completing four passes on eight attempts. Greg Micheli also saw some time at quarterback, completing two of six passes. Mount Union's rushing game was led by Nate Kmic who had 293 yards and three touchdowns for the Purple Raiders. Junior kicker Mike Zimmerman was five-for-five on extra point attempts on the day. 
 
Thunder head coach Mike Swider said of his team after the game, citing their refusal to quit as a major reason for the success of the season;  “You know, our kids kept playing, they kept competing, they never gave in. They told us it was going to be a heavy-weight fight, and when we got hit in the mouth, we just kept coming back.” He added, “There are moments when you get hit and you give in—then it all falls apart—but we never gave in.”