Mount Union Runs Win Streak to 55

Randell Knapp and Nick Sirianni each caught three touchdown passes as Mount Union broke its NCAA record by winning its 55th consecutive game Saturday, defeating Bridgewater, 66-0, in the Division III semifinals at Alliance, Ohio.

The Purple Raiders (13-0), who have outscored opponents, 654-84, broke the 54-game streak they set from 1996 to ’99.

Three-time defending national champion Mount Union will play St. John’s, Minn., which defeated RPI, 38-10, in the other semifinal at Collegeville, Minn., on Saturday in Salem, Va.

Mount Union has won six of the last seven Division III titles. The Purple Raiders’ only loss in the last 110 games was a 24-17 overtime setback to Rowan in the 1999 semifinals.

Bridgewater finished 12-2.

St. John’s (13-0) gave Coach John Gagliardi his 413th career victory. The Johnnies will be making their first trip to the championship game since losing, 10-7, to Mount Union in 2000.

DIVISION I-AA

Colgate (15-0) ran its winning streak to 21 games with a 36-24 victory over Florida Atlantic (11-3) at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Delaware (14-1) rolled to a 24-9 victory over Wofford (12-2) at Newark, Del. The Raiders and Blue Hens will meet Friday for the championship in Chattanooga, Tenn.

DIVISION II

Grand Valley State (14-1) won its second consecutive title with a 10-3 victory over North Dakota (12-2) at Florence, Ala.

SWAC

Quincy Richard threw two touchdowns as Southern (12-1) rolled past Alabama State (8-5) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game at Birmingham, Ala.