TJ DeShields has seen quite a bit over the last several years. From the FBS sidelines to starting in Division II, but he’s never been to a championship game. That was until Saturday.

The former West Branch signal caller helped lead the Mount Union football team through the playoffs and to another Division III national championship appearance.

“It’s surreal, really, being able to get back to the national championship game and continue the success of this program,” DeShields said. “I never envisioned myself doing that. I always wanted to play at the Division I level, but when the opportunity called to come back home and lead a historic program, it’s been surreal for me.”

DeShields didn’t throw the ball much in the regular season. It wasn’t until Week 9, when he completed a 27-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Tyrell Sanders with 32 seconds to play, that the graduate student started slinging it regularly.

The Purple Raiders’ passing attack was in the hands of DeShields for the regular season finale at Muskingum and for their playoff run over the last month.

In four playoff games, DeShields completed 84-of-121 passes (69.4%) for 893 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. In those postseason games, the Purple Raiders have beaten John Carroll (42-7), Carnegie Mellon (24-19), Salisbury (38-17) and Johns Hopkins (45-37).

“All the way back in camp, and even into last year, my mindset was just try and get to know the guys and create relationships with the team and my teammates,” DeShields said. “I feel it’s really come into full effect the last five weeks and last month.”

Noah Beaudrie was the lone quarterback until DeShields started seeing more time in Week 9. Beaudrie provided more of a running option, amassing 508 yards and nine touchdowns via 99 attempts in 11 games this season. As a passer, he completed 114-of-163 passes (69.9%) for 1,834 yards with 16 TDs and two interceptions.

“I think it’s the coaching understanding the players’ skill sets that they have, and just playing to those strengths and trying to put us in the best situation to succeed (as players)” DeShields said.

DeShields was a standout passer at West Branch before joining the Akron Zips’ program in 2018. He was there for three years until joining Division II Sul Ross State in Alpine, Texas, in 2021. In 13 games at Sul Ross St., he completed 211-of-357 passes for 2,439 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He only appeared in four games for the Lobos in 2022 before transferring to Mount Union.

The 6-4, 220-pound QB only appeared in six games for the Purple Raiders last season. He completed 7-of-11 attempts for 36 yards. But he waited, and eventually got a shot as they prepared for another playoff run this season.

“Just resilient. Not always getting what I wanted, always continuing to work, continuing to grind and always creating relationships,” DeShields said when asked to describe his college career. “I’ve had so many teammates, so many different coaches, and I’m thankful for all that. It helped me get to this point in my career, and they’ve made me into the type of player and person that I’ve become on and off the field.”

The Purple Raiders will take on North Central in the championship on Jan. 5 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. They will go for their 14th national title, and first Stagg Bowl win since 2017.

Despite its dominance in Division III, Mount Union is only 1-3 against North Central all-time, including a three-game losing streak. The last meeting came on Dec. 16, 2022, and North Central beat the Purple Raiders 28-21 in Annapolis, Maryland.

After his playing days are done, DeShields wants to get into coaching. He said the various levels of success and different environments have set the groundwork for his future on the sidelines. But they’ve also instilled in him the ability to focus on the small details and understanding what it takes to win.

“That’s what I’ve gotten out of my career and in my last two years at Mount Union,” he said. “Being able to continuously work hard and put yourself in a position to succeed and seizing the opportunity when it’s presented to you.”