Kehres wins 300th as MtU advances

Staff report

ALLIANCE

Mount Union head football coach Larry Kehres recorded his 300th career victory as the No. 2-ranked Purple Raiders defeated St. Lawrence, 49-0, in an NCAA Division III first-round playoff game at Mount Union Stadium on Saturday.

Quarterback Neal Seaman completed 16 of 22 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns. Cecil Shorts III also excelled for Mount Union’s offense, finishing with eight catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

On their first possession, the Purple Raiders turned the ball over on downs after stalling on the Saints’ 16-yard line.

Two plays later, Mount Union defensive back Nick Driskill intercepted a pass and returned the ball to the Saints’ 1-yard line.

Jeremy Murray scored two plays later and the rout was on.

Kyle Miller added a 4-yard touchdown reception from Seaman, giving the Raiders a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Mount Union built a 21-0 lead with a 5-yard touchdown run by Zac Lemmon, then Shorts had touchdown receptions of 13 and 11 yards to give Mount Union a 35-0 halftime lead. He added a 37-yard scoring catch from Seaman in the third quarter, which gave the Raiders a 42-point edge.

Mount Union’s final score came in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Matt Piloto hooked up with Ben Shenk for a 19-yard score.

The Purple Raiders outgained the Saints, 471-100, and held a 25-8 first-down advantage.

Defensive back Brett Fimbinger also had an interception for the Purple Raiders.

Defensive lineman Lambert Budzinski had 2.5 sacks while Driskill, linebacker Arthurt Smith and defensive lineman Nyejel Thomas recorded a half-sack each.

Kehres’s all-time record improved his career record to 300-22-3. He became the 11th coach in NCAA history — and the fastest — to reach the 300-win mark.

The Purple Raiders (11-0) will play host to Delaware Valley next Saturday at noon. Delaware Valley defeated Salisbury on Saturday, 23-12.