NOTEBOOK

NOTEBOOK

From Alliance

Strong start: Mount Union’s 52 points in the second quarter set an NCAA Division III record for points in a quarter. The old record was 49 by Washington & Jefferson against Emery & Henry in 2004. Mount’s explosive quarter also set an Ohio Athletic Conference mark, topping the 42 points the Raiders scored against Muskingum in 2006.

Kostenik on special teams: Mount Union senior Matt Kostenik’s blocked punt in the first quarter was his fifth career block. He blocked two in 2006, returning one for a touchdown.

Up the charts: Junior running back Nate Kmic is now third on the career rushing list at Mount Union with 3,584 yards. He is now 111 yards short of second place held by Chuck Moore. Dan Pugh holds the Mount Union rushing record with 4,012.

Winning streak: Mount Union has won 20 straight season-openers, dating to a 17-15 loss to Wooster at Mount Union on Sept. 12, 1987.

School records: Sophomore defensive back Drew McClain broke Mount Union’s school record when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. The previous record was 90 yards by Lawrence Gligor versus John Carroll in 1930. Backup kicker Ryan Wilk connected on a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, giving Mount Union 75 points. That breaks the modern-day school record of 73 set in 1950 against Wooster and 1999 against Capital. The all-time mark is 88 points against Salem A.C. in 1896.

Up next: Mount Union will take a week off and get back to action with consecutive 7 p.m. starts at Mount Union Stadium against Otterbein (Sept. 15) and Muskingum (Sept. 22).

Eric Hamilton