CLEVELAND, Ohio — Johns Hopkins scored more points against Mount Union in Saturday’s Division III national semifinal than any team had this season.

But it wasn’t enough.

The Raiders stayed just out of reach all game to claim a 45-37 win and return to the Stagg Bowl for the first time since losing in 2022. The Raiders will seek their 14th national title and first since 2017 on January 5, against the winner of Saturday’s other semifinal between Susquehanna and North Central Illinois.

The Raiders never trailed Saturday, but the Blue Jays tied the score at 7 in the first quarter, and trailed 17-16, 24-22 and 31-29 all in a busy third quarter.

The Raiders got rushing touchdowns of 9 and 54 yards from Tyler Echeverry in the fourth quarter to build a 45-29 lead with 4:22 to play. The Blue Jays answered with 3:26 left on a 25-yard touchdown pass.

But they never got the ball back.

Echeverry picked up eight yards on fourth-and-1 with 2:00 to play, allowing the Raiders to kneel out the clock from there.

Echeverry finished with 25 carries for 183 yards and three touchdowns. All six Raiders touchdowns were on the ground. Quarterback TJ Deshields was 17 of 27 passing for 218 yards. He also ran for a score. Tyrell Sanders had seven catches for 148 yards.

Ivan Maric had a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter. Defensive tackle Von Factor had two sacks for the Raiders.

Both teams topped 500 yards of offense. Blue Jays quarterback James Rinello was 20 of 33 passing for 393 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 19 times for 65 yards and a score. Receiver Cole Crotty had eight catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Saturday was the 29th time in the last 32 years Mount Union has been in the Division III semifinals.