Mount Union Holds Off Wisconsin Whitewater

Nate Kmic ran for three touchdowns, including a 95-yarder, and Mike Jorris threw for two scores Saturday, leading Mount Union back to the top of Division III football with a 35-28 win over Wisconsin Whitewater in the championship game at Salem, Va.

The victory gave the Purple Raiders (14-1) of Alliance, Ohio, eight victories in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in the last 13 years, and their first title since 2002.

Wisconsin Whitewater (14-1), making its first championship-game appearance in 39 years, drove for a touchdown on its opening possession to lead 7-0, but came away empty on five other possessions after driving into Purple Raider territory.

Kmic’s 95-yard run matched the Stagg Bowl record.

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Tyler Emmert helped Carroll College of Montana to its fourth consecutive NAIA championship, a 27-10 victory over St. Francis of Indiana at Savannah, Tenn.

Emmert completed 20 of 36 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns as the top-ranked Fighting Saints (14-0) rolled to a 17-3 halftime lead and held off the second-ranked Cougars (13-1) for the second consecutive year in the title game.

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On his first day as San Diego State’s coach, Chuck Long promised to deliver a winning team at a school that has had precious few in recent seasons.

“We’re going to win championships now,” said Long, the former Iowa quarterback who has been Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator the last four seasons. “It’s a place that’s ready to do it. I can feel it. I think it’s going to be exciting times.

“We hope everybody’s going to be along for the ride, because it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Long, 42, signed a five-year contract with an annual salary of $700,000, with bonuses that can add $300,000 a year.

Long gets a $100,000 bonus if he leads San Diego State to a bowl championship series game.

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Kevin Wilson will take over as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator after the departure of Long, Sooner Coach Bob Stoops said.

Stoops said Wilson, who has been a co-offensive coordinator on Oklahoma’s staff since 2002, will be in charge of the offense when the Sooners (7-4) meet Oregon (10-1) in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 29.