11 players score as Mount Union cruises

Zac Bruney tied a school record by throwing six TD passes against Marietta.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- Eleven players got into the scoring column as unbeaten Mount Union College rolled to a 57-0 victory over Marietta Saturday at Mount Union stadium.
The Ohio Athletic Conference contest saw the Purple Raiders (6-0, 5-0) produce 634 yards of offense, while limiting the Pioneers (3-3, 2-3) to 123.
It was the second time this season that Mount gained that much yardage, as it opened with a 38-0 win over Washington, Mo., with 639 yards of offense.
Three possessions and three touchdowns set the tempo for Mount Union in the first quarter, as it beat the Pioneers for the 25th straight time and now lead the series between the schools, 33-9-1.
Bruney-to-Hanley start
Mount Union marched 71 yards in eight plays to take the lead as quarterback Zac Bruney connected with tight end Drew Hanley on a 16-yard pass for a first down at the Marietta 35-yard line, then again to Hanley for a 27-yard TD.
Hanley caught four passes for 76 yards, which also included a 16-yard TD strike from Bruney in the second quarter.
"The offense is coming on and getting better and better and acquiring experience and we'll need that in the conference the rest of the way," said Mount Union coach Larry Kehres.
It was the 100th straight regular season and 90th straight OAC win for the Purple Raiders.
Bruney said, "When you do that against the top-notch competition in our conference, that says something."
Bruney ties mark
Bruney completed 22 of 26 passes for 252 yards and a career-best six touchdowns, which tied a school record, first set by Jim Ballard in 1991 and tied by Bill Borchert, who did it four times during his career.
At the start of the third quarter, Mount Union returned the kickoff to its own 25, then marched 75 yards in 17 plays, taking 7 minutes, 38 seconds off the clock.
Chad Teague kicked a 22-yard field goal, which gave the Purple Raiders a 37-0 lead.
"That drive in the third quarter took up half the quarter and gave us an insurmountable lead," said Kehres.
Bruney has been very effective passing the past two weeks. He completed six straight in the first quarter against Marietta that included TD strikes of 27 yards to Hanley, 21 yards to Rick Ciccone and 35 yards to Jason Cavell.
Wide receiver Joe Bugara caught 14- and 2-yard TD strikes from Bruney. Bugara had three receptions for 34 yards.
Bruney gets blocking
About his passing, Bruney said, "I think it has to do with our line, which allows me plenty of time to spread the ball around."
The Purple Raiders' defense sacked two Marietta quarterbacks on five occasions. Jason Vrable was 5-for-7 for 97 yards while backup signal-caller Jeremy Thornton was 2-for-4 for 3 yards.
The balanced attack saw Mount Union gain 351 yards rushing. Ciccone picked up 91 on 12 attempts, with Aaron Robinson gaining 75 on eight tries.
Substitute running back Chad McDaniel was the leading rusher for the Pioneers with 47 yards on two tries.