Mount Union ousts Wabash

Staff report

ALLIANCE

Junior running back Jeremy Murray rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and the Mount Union defense held Wabash to 194 total yards on Saturday as the No. 2-ranked Purple Raiders defeated the No. 9 Little Giants, 20-8, in a NCAA Division III football national quarterfinal game at Mount Union Stadium.

The Purple Raiders (13-0) advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament for the 17th consecutive season.

Mount Union will play host to No. 7-ranked Wesley (Del.) (12-1) at a time to be determined on Saturday.

The Little Giants (12-1) were averaging 171.8 yards per game rushing, but Mount Union allowed just 31 yards on the ground.

“I would say this was our best game of the year, defensively,” said Mount Union coach Larry Kehres, whose team led 20-0 midway through the fourth quarter. “This late in the season you’re facing some outstanding teams, and I thought we played exceptional on defense.”

The defense was led by junior defensive back Nick Driskill, who blocked a punt, recovered a fumble, had a quarterback sack and forced a fumble.

“We’re definitely happy to get to [the national semifinals],” Driskill said, “but our ultimate goal is the final game [the Stagg Bowl on Dec. 16].”

Murray’s biggest play of the game was a 46-yard run that got the Purple Raiders out from the shadow of their own goal line, and set up his 17-yard touchdown run a few plays later that put Mount Union ahead 7-0.

“The linemen all blocked well, and the hole just opened up,” said Murray of his big run.

“We played poorly in the first half,” said Wabash head coach Erik Raeburn, a 1991 Mount Union and nephew of Larry Kehres, “and just dug ourselves too deep of a hole.”

The Purple Raiders finished with 236 total yards, including 136 on the ground. Junior quarterback Matt Piloto was 6-of-8 for 40 yards on the Purple Raiders’ first series before leaving the game. Junior Neal Seaman was 6-of-10 for 36 yards, and freshman Kevin Burke (Westlake/St. Edward) was 2-of-4 for 24 yards.

Junior wide receiver Jasper Collins caught eight passes for 61 yards.

Defensively, Mount Union junior defensive back Isaiah Scott had eight tackles and two pass breakups. Junior defensive back Alex Nicholls had an interception.