area college roundup Saturday’s games

Mount Union 28, Otterbein 10

WESTERVILLE

Jeremy Murray had a career-high 37 carries as he ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns while the Mount Union defense held Otterbein to 138 total yards in an Ohio Athletic Conference victory. Mount Union (8-0, 7-0) won its 51st consecutive regular game and its 99th consecutive road victory. Otterbein (4-4, 3-4 OAC) took advantage of a fumbled Mount Union punt and converted a 29-yard field goal by David Brewer to lead 3-0 after the first quarter. The Raiders got its offense going with 21 points in the second quarter as Murray had touchdowns runs of two and five yards between an 11-yard pass from Neal Seaman to tight end Kyle Miller. Austin Schlosser had a nine-yard TD for Otterbein as the score was 21-10 at the half. Mount Union’s defense posted four sacks, a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Sam Kershaw had 11 stops, while defensive back Nick Driskill had an interception and the fumble recovery.

Geneva 34, Thiel 20

GREENVILLE, PA.

Thiel’s offense played its best game of the season but a second-half scoring outburst by Geneva doomed the Tomcats. Two Berend Grube field goals put the Tomcats up 6-0 at the half. The first kick was good from 34 yards out and capped a 15-play, 63-yard drive while the second was a 31-yard kick that finished off a 13-play, 66-yard drive. The first scoring drive included two nice plays by Jared Soell and Eric Petrovich, both freshman who had their best games of the season. On the drive’s first play, Petrovich broke loose for a 24-yard run. Six plays later the running back caught a 13-yard pass from Soell. The drive was also aided by a Geneva offsides penalty on a Thiel punt, resulting in a first down. Soell provided more offense in the second scoring drive, breaking off runs of nine and 35 yards in addition to a 13-yard completion to Ron Howard (Sharon). Soell finished the game with 196 yards and a touchdown through the air while also rushing for 101 yards on 17 carries, Petrovich also went over the century mark in all-purpose yards with 96 on the ground and 40 receiving. Despite breakout games by multiple players on offense, the Tomcats couldn’t get the win thanks to a great second half by the Golden Tornadoes’ Gerard Muschette, one of the most explosive running backs in he conference (Geneva is a provisional member of the PAC).

Thomas More 37, Westminster 13

CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY.

Trailing by only seven points late in the third quarter, Westminster provided a mild scare for No. 9-ranked Thomas More. However, Thomas More’s field goal and 96-yard punt return for a touchdown helped clinched a Presidents’ Athletic Conference win. Junior quarterback Shawn Lehocky scored one touchdown and threw for another as he led the Titans with 180 yards on 20-of-38 passing with two interceptions, along with 38 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

Washington & Jefferson 21, Grove City 14

WASHINGTON, PA.

The Grove City College football team nearly rallied from a 21-point deficit before falling in the PAC game. Grove City trailed 21-0 in the third quarter but broke through with 3:10 left on a three-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Blaine Miller. After forcing a W&J punt, the Wolverines (3-5, 1-4 PAC) assembled a 17-play, 69-yard scoring drive that consumed 8:32. Miller scored from the 1 to trim the lead to 21-14. Grove City regained possession twice in the final three minutes but could not tie the game. W&J safety Erik Espe intercepted a pass at the Grove City 35 to end the first of those two possessions. The Wolverines then turned over the ball on downs at their own 21 in the closing moments. Miller ran for 64 yards on 19 carries and junior wingback Ed Reith added 44 yards on seven carries. Freshman quarterback Brian Pell completed 22 of 37 passes for 183 yards. Junior tight end Anthony Reda caught a career-high six passes for 42 yards. Senior wide receiver Luke O’Hara had five catches for 65 yards. Grove City out-gained W&J 329-301. The Wolverines also had a 35:11-24:49 edge in time of possession and a 21-18 advantage in first downs. Grove City converted 11 of 19 third-down opportunities.

Vindicator staff report