ALLIANCE, Ohio – Kevin Burke rushed for 131 yards with two scores and led Mount Union to a late touchdown and a 41-40 victory over North Central (Ill.), on Saturday, securing the 17th trip to the Division III championship game for the Purple Raiders.
Down 40-35 in the fourth, Mount Union drove 65 yards in 31 seconds to go ahead with 1:07 left.
Burke completed 12 of 19 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown.
North Central (13-1) QB Spencer Stanek completed 19 of 37 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a game where the snow fell harder as the afternoon progressed.
The Cardinals, making their first semifinal appearance, had two blocked extra points, a third missed and a failed 2-point conversion.
Mount Union, appearing in its 19th straight semifinal, extended the nation's longest winning streak to 29 games and its own home winning streak to 77 games.
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