Mount earns an A-plus with 33-3 rout of St. John

By Eric Hamilton

The young Purple Raiders looked like veterans.

ALLIANCE — Fall classes have barely started and the Mount Union College football team already had its first test.

Starting the season with one of its most inexperienced teams in a number of years, the top-ranked Purple Raiders expected a challenge from No. 10 ranked St. John Fisher in the season-opener on Saturday.

In some aspects, that’s just what they got. But when time was up and the grades came in, Mount Union passed with flying colors — as usually is the case.

Senior running back Nate Kmic continued his domination of the Cardinals’ defense, rolling up 231 yards on 26 carries and the defense forced four turnovers, as Mount rolled to a 33-3 victory at Mount Union Stadium.

The effort was Kmic’s 25th career 100-yard rushing game and in three contests versus St. John Fisher, he has amassed 801 yards.

“I’m very pleased,” Mount Union coach Larry Kehres said. “In the areas where we are the least experienced — the offensive line and on the defensive perimeter — we played just fine.

“We knew we were playing a quality team right away and I think that got everyone’s attention in camp and in practice. I think the young guys really responded to the challenge today.”

Mount Union scattered a few veterans among the new faces on both sides of the ball. The offensive line in front of Kmic and veteran quarterback Greg Micheli was entirely new.

The unit responded, making way for 524 total yards — including 270 rushing and 254 passing.

“Running behind all seniors last year was awesome, but the young guys today worked hard on every play,” Kmic said. “They are one of the hardest-working groups I’ve worked with. I think as the season goes on we’ll gel even more.”

The Purple Raiders got going early, scoring on their first offensive possession. Mount Union marched 74 yards in 11 plays and Kmic capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.

Mount Union’s defense stepped up quickly as well. On Fisher’s second possession, Ryan Renbarger intercepted a pass from quarterback Tim Bailey inside the Purple Raiders’ 5.

Another long drive — this one 95 yards — resulted in Kmic’s second touchdown of the game. He broke free for 16 yards to give Mount Union a 13-0 advantage.

Renbarger provided the game’s turning point just before halftime. With Fisher backed up at its own 5 on third-and-16, he read the pass play perfectly in the flats, snagged the ball and raced untouched into the end zone to put the Purple Raiders ahead by three scores.

“My responsibility was the flats and I just read the play and caught the ball,” said Renbarger, who had two of Mount Union’s four takeaways.

“It kind of gave us some momentum going into halftime and it was something for us to build on coming out for the second half.”

A pair of long touchdown passes from Micheli to Cecil Shorts III in the third quarter padded the Purple Raiders’ lead to 33-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

“Mount Union is a good team again this year,” Fisher coach Paul Vosburgh said. “They do everything well in every area of the game. This was a great opener for us because it tells us where we are and what we need to work on. Sometimes, you learn more from losses than you do from wins.”