Mount Union, St. Thomas to D-III championship

ALLIANCE, Ohio (AP) -- Jake Simon scored a touchdown from 12 yards out with five seconds left to play as Mount Union rallied past Mary Hardin-Baylor 48-35 on Saturday - earning an eighth consecutive trip to the Division III championship game.

Mary Hardin-Baylor attempted to tie the game on the final play, but fumbled while trying numerous, desperation-lateral attempts. Mount Union's Matt Fechko recovered the fumble and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to create the final margin.

The Purple Raiders (14-0), who overcame five turnovers, will play St. Thomas (Minn.) in the championship on Friday in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va. They are seeking an 11th national title, first since 2008. Mount Union lost to Wisconsin-Whitewater in each of the last three years.

Mary Hardin-Baylor falls to 13-1.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Matt O'Connell ran for two touchdowns and threw for another on Saturday and St. Thomas (Minn.) beat Wisconsin-Oshkosh 28-14 in the Division III national semifinals.

Brenton Braddock added 117 rushing yards for the fourth-ranked Tommies (14-0), who will be making their first appearance in the championship game. They will play top-ranked Mount Union (14-0) Friday in Salem, Va. Mount Union beat Mary Hardin-Baylor 48-35 on Saturday.

On the game's first play from scrimmage, Tommies defensive lineman Ayo Idowu picked up a fumble after an errant Titans pitch and rumbled 25 yards for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the first quarter, the Tommies scored on a 6-yard pass from O'Connell to Logan Marks and a 1-yard keeper by O'Connell for a 21-0 lead.

Nate Wara was 20 of 34 for 266 yards and had a rushing and passing score for the fifth-ranked Titans (13-1), who turned the ball over four times.