Area colleges Saturday’s games

Mount Union 45, Muskingum 14

ALLIANCE — No. 1 ranked Mount Union generated 378 yards of total offense and held visiting Muskingum to 49 yards all in the first half in the home opener in front of 4,567 fans. Cecil Shorts III had 107 yards receiving and matched his career-high as he caught three touchdown passes from Kurt Rocco. Scott Panchik had his second straight 100-yard rushing game with 107 yards on 19 carries.

Thomas More 34, Westminster 16

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Westminster (1-3, 0-1) set a new school record for pass completions in a game as the Titans completed 39 of 54 passes for 307 yards in their first Presidents’ Athletic Conference game. Senior quarterback Kevin Franz set a new career-high for completions with 37 of 49 passing for 297 yards including two touchdowns and two interceptions. The previous record was James Graham completing 34 of Westminster’s 56 passes in a 36-30 loss at Saginaw Valley on Oct. 9, 1999. Titan senior wide receiver Jon Gubish tied a school record for receptions in a game as he caught 13 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. That 13-catch record is also held by three other players, including senior teammate Chad Rosatelli in a game against Heidelberg earlier this season. Gubish caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from 3 and 10 yards after the Titans trailed 34-0. In all, 10 different Titans caught passes. Others included senior tailback Nick McKolosky with seven receptions for 33 yards and Rosatelli with six grabs for 39 yards. Westminster scored its other two points in the fourth quarter on a safety when Thomas More (3-0, 2-0) punter Aaron Walter ran an errant snap from center through the back of his own end zone. Thomas More scored on five of its first six possessions and racked up 411 yards on 60 plays.

Geneva 37, Thiel 13

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — Geneva took advantage of a 10-point swing in the first quarter and consistently excellent starting field position to down Thiel in a PAC game. The Golden Tornadoes racked up 454 yards of offense in the contest, while holding the Tomcats to 227. Thiel quarterback Willie Bovaaccounted for a bulk of his team’s offense going 12-for-32 through the air, while adding a team-high 32 yards on the ground. Senior Brendan Taylor was the Tomcats’ leading receiver, hauling in five passes for 86 yards. Thiel managed to put together a final scoring drive in the fourth, with Ross Gargano (Kennedy Catholic) scoring his second touchdown of the season with 7:22 to play in the contest.

Washington & Jefferson 28, Grove City 10

GROVE CITY, Pa. — Junior wide receiver Luke O’Hara (Shenango) caught eight passes for 65 yards but it wasn’t enough as W&J limited Grove City (1-3, 1-1) to minus-4 rushing yards. The Wolverines also had five turnovers. Sophomore linebacker Jason Ferguson (Mineral Ridge) racked up 13 tackles and a sack. He had 10 solo stops. Senior safety Vance Keirsey (Mineral Ridge) added nine tackles. Steve Shumaker threw for 134 yards and ran for a team-high 56 yards for the Presidents (4-0, 2-0 PAC).

Carnegie Mellon 42, Hiram 3

HIRAM — Sophomore running back Rodney Jacobs became the first player to rush for 100 yards or more in a game since the 2003 season, but it was enough for Hiram (0-3). Carnegie Mellon (3-1) ended the game with 366 yards of total offense, including 294 yards rushing. Jake Nardone carried the ball 12 times for 97 yards and a TD. Justin Pratt was second with 77 yards on 15 carries and two TD. Phil Pantalone finished the game 4-of-10 for 72 yards and a score. Defensively, Jason Stearns tallied a team-high seven tackles, including a tackle for loss. Hiram totaled 222 yards of total offense, with 177 coming on the ground. Jacobs led all rushers with 108 yards on 17 carries. He became the first Terrier to record a 100-yard or more game since Donny Waddington rushed for 120 yards against Carnegie Mellon on Sept. 20, 2003. Freshman quarterback Brendan Rehor completed 10-of-22 passes for 35 yards and had one interception. Junior wide receiver Glenn Campbell caught four passes for 12 yards. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Jon Hull had a game-high 14 tackles.

Vindicator staff report