Mount Union set to play in D3 quarterfinal

Staff report

ALLIANCE

No. 2-ranked Mount Union plays host to Alfred (N.Y.) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III football tournament today.

Kickoff is at noon at Mount Union Stadium.

The Purple Raiders (12-0) are coming off a 31-3 victory over Delaware Valley in a second-round game last weekend.

Jeremy Murray rushed for 181 yards and scored two touchdowns, on just 19 carries, for Mount Union.

Quarterback Neal Seaman was 14 of 19 passing for 160 yards and a touchdown to Cecil Shorts, who had 10 catches for 112 yards.

Mount Union has won 10 national championships and is 67-11 all-time in the playoffs.

Alfred (10-2) won the Empire 8 championship and the automatic bid to the playoffs.

The Saxons are making their second-straight appearance in the postseason, and third all-time. They are 2-2 in their playoff history.

Alfred won its first five games of the season before losing a non-league game to RPI 27-24.

The Saxons also lost to Rochester (N.Y.) 24-14, but also own a win over then-No. 19-ranked St. John Fisher 42-31.

Austin Dwyer leads the Alfred offense with 1,390 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.

Starting linebacker Nick Clark also serves as the Saxons’ short-yardage back, and he has rushed for 12 TDs.

Clark was the Empire 8 defensive player of the year with 96 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions.

Quarterback Tom Secky, a junior, has thrown for 2,640 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The leading receiver is Ryan Thon with 71 catches for 931 yards and 15 TDs.