The No. 3 St. Thomas football team enters uncharted territory Friday for its first Division III national championship game against No. 1 Mount Union (Ohio) in Salem, Va.

The Tommies (14-0) are having their best season in school history, reaching 14 wins, including last weekend’s 28-14 national semifinal victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Tommies are tied for the longest winning-streak in all of college football heading into Friday’s title game.

“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to play in the Division III national championship,” coach Glenn Caruso said. “This week is certainly a goal of ours; one of our ultimate goals.”

On the opposite sideline stands an experienced Mount Union (14-0) team that is no stranger to the national spotlight. Friday night’s game is the Purple Raiders’ 16th appearance (eighth straight) in the Stagg Bowl since 1993. Mount Union coach Larry Kehres has led the “The Machine” to 10 national titles while totaling a 331-24-3 record in his 27 years in Alliance, Ohio.

Caruso said he had a chance to meet Kehres last year in Salem when accompanying Gagliardi trophy finalist and 2012 graduate Fritz Waldvogel for the award presentation.

“I think (Kehres) is the standard if you’re a football coach no matter what level you are in the country,” Caruso said Saturday after his team’s victory. “If (Kehres) gets another (ring), he doesn’t have a finger to put it on.”

The Ohio Athletic Conference champions road to Salem included postseason home wins over Christopher Newport (Va.) 72-14, Johns Hopkins (Md.) 55-13, Widener (Pa.) 72-17 and Mary-Hardin Baylor (Tx.) 48-35. Against Mary-Hardin Baylor, Mount Union overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half.

The second-ranked Purple Raiders offense averages 54.6 points and 558.1 yards per game on offense, which is led by quarterback Kevin Burke, who has 3,550 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. Much like last weekend, the Tommies will have to deal with another multi-dimensional quarterback as Burke is Mount Union’s second-leading rusher with 748 yards.

St. Thomas’ secondary may have its hands full with Mount Union wide receivers. The team has three wideouts with over 545 yards including Jasper Collins, who has 84 catches for 1,547 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.

The No. 1-ranked Mount Union defense may be more impressive than its offense. That defense, led by All-American defensive back Nick Driskill’s 90 tackles, allows only 8.9 points per game. The Purple Raiders hold opponents to 181.8 total yards (47.9 rush and 133.9 pass) a contest.

For six straight games earlier this season, the Purple Raiders did not allow a single point, outscoring its six opponents 342-0.

Although impressed by Mount Union’s offense, Caruso said he was most impressed by the Purple Raiders’ defense.

“When you see a team that shuts out six teams in the first seven weeks, that’s got to be some kind of record,” Caruso said.

St. Thomas will continue to stay balanced offensively against a tough run-stopping team, Caruso said.

“Our run, pass is 50-50,” Caruso said. “We do run the ball, and we’re proud of that, but it’s not the only thing we do.”

St. Thomas will have to take advantage of opportunities when presented. Mary-Hardin Baylor forced five Purple Raider turnovers, which resulted in all of the Crusaders’ 35 points last weekend. Mary-Hardin Baylor also controlled the line of scrimmage by making a concerted effort to running the football, albeit mostly in the first half. The Crusaders also limited the Purple Raiders’ number of possessions by their offense’s ability to control the ball and rack up time of possession.

The St. Thomas defense continues to supply the team with turnovers and points. The Tommies forced four Titan turnovers last weekend, including defensive end Ayo Idowu’s second scoop and score touchdown of the postseason.

Linebacker Dan Bedor said turnovers are huge moral boosters and they don’t necessarily have to provide points.

“A turnover really picks up a defense as well as the offense,” Bedor said. “If there isn’t a score, it puts the offense on a short field, which definitely is a huge advantage, and puts them in a great position to score.”

This year’s St. Thomas team has had to overcome adversity on numerous fronts: an 11-point deficit with four minutes to play on opening day at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a myriad injuries at key positions and a slow start against Elmhurst (Ill.) in its NCAA second round game.

Wide receiver Dan Ferrazzo said the team’s mental toughness has helped it overcome adversity all season long.

“It speaks to the mentality the coaches instill in us,” Ferrazzo said after Saturday’s victory. “You don’t want to fight adversity, you want to ride it and welcome it.”

If St. Thomas executes its game plan while controlling the Mount Union offense, a different shade of purple may be hoisting the Division III national championship trophy Friday.

“When there’s time on the clock, all our kids have to do is stay positive and work,” Caruso said. “It seems to be working for us.”

Ross Schreck can be reached at schr8250@stthomas.edu.