This year's Stagg Bowl is featuring two 14-0 teams in Mount Union and St. Thomas.
Neither team has had any trouble putting points on the board this season, but what's unique about this match-up is that both teams are being led by sophomore quarterbacks.
Mount Union's QB is Kevin Burke, who is the nation's number one rated passer. He's thrown for 3,500 yards and 37 touchdown so far this season, while accounting for nearly 4,300 yards of total offense.
As for St. Thomas, its sophomore quarterback is Matt O'Connell, who has thrown for more than 2,600 yards and 22 touchdowns. He's also the team's second leading rusher with almost 800 yards on the ground.
The numbers speak for themselves, and both teams are impressed with how their young QBs have stepped-up to the challenge this year.
"Kevin, you know is a young guy but he had a little bit of experience last year,” Mount Union wide receiver Jasper Collins said. “I think one of our starters got hurt in a playoff game and he actually stepped-up and played. So he had a little bit of experience coming into the season but there was a lot of off-season work we did together, just film studies and things like that so I knew he would be ready if he had to step-in and take over the role, which he has and he's been able to be great for us."
Mount Union coach Larry Kehres said, "I've had, I think, two or three quarterbacks as sophomores who have led our team to the playoffs but it is unique. But these two are really good. I think I've learned over the years that more and more young high school players are ready for college football due to the great conditioning and fitness programs that our high school coaches are giving them so we're starting more young guys now."
