From one challenge to the next.

James Daniels helped turn around the fortunes of Seneca Valley football.

Now he hopes to help another program stay on top.

Daniels, a resident of Cranberry Township who will graduate from SV next month, recently chose to continue playing football at Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio.

"I visited the campus back in January," Daniels said. "They have great football facilities and a lot of (Division III) schools don't have that.

"I also looked at Lafayette, Wooster and Clarion, but they just weren't the right fit for me."

After tallying nine yards on three carries his sophomore season, Daniels rushed the ball 357 times over the last two seasons for 1,267 yards and 19 touchdowns.

He managed those numbers despite being hampered by ankle and shoulder injuries.

"It's not that James is injury-prone," said SV football coach Ron Butschle. "But those are the things that happen when a running back gets a lot of carries."

"Injuries happen, but I'm completely over them now," said Daniels. "I will be able to show (Mt. Union) I can play and contribute."

Highlights of his varsity career include scoring three rushing touchdowns in a win over Norwin in the 2006 season opener.

Two weeks later, he scored twice more while rushing for 203 yards in a win over Kiski Area.

"James is an awfully good running back in between the tackles," said Butschle. "He has squatted 500 pounds in high school and got us a lot of tough yards."

Being part of the first SV team in five years to have a winning record and make the WPIAL playoffs last season was a high point for Daniels.

The Raiders won just one game in Daniels' sophomore season, had three victories in 2006 and six total triumphs in 2007.

"I remember my freshman year, we decided that we would not have a losing record when we were seniors," said Daniels. "Being part of last year's team, I'm definitely proud of that."

Mt. Union was defeated in last year's Division III national title game by Wisconsin-Whitewater.

But the Purple Raiders have won 18 consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference titles and nine national titles in the last 14 years.

"That played a big role in my decision to go there," said Daniels of Mt. Union's winning tradition. "I love winning and I'm very competitive. If I can be involved in that kind of situation, that would be great."

Daniels will look to learn what he can from Mt. Union's Nate Kmic, who will enter his senior season after rushing for 5,584 yards over the last three years.

And Daniels' work ethic already has him ahead of the curve.

"His work ethic is outstanding," Butschle said. "Over the last two years, I don't think he has missed one off-season workout."

Daniels plans to gear his studies toward business administration or sports management.