43
Berry good defense helps Purple Raiders advance
By JEFFREY ZUPANIC
ALLIANCE
Mount Union’s Lou Berry was born and raised in the Steel City of Pittsburgh, but he’s unofficially turned Alliance into “Steal City” with one of the best individual performances in the rich history of Mount Union football.
If not NCAA football history.
Berry added to his lore during Mount Union’s 38-10 win over Muhlenberg in a NCAA Division III playoff game that featured sloppy play from both offenses dictated by steady, heavy rain at Mount Union Stadium.
Mount Union (13-0) has won 28 straight games and reached the national semifinals for the 24th year in a row. The Purple Raiders will face Johns Hopkins next Saturday.
Berry, a senior, became the school’s all-time record holder with his sixth career pick-6 during the third quarter. The Purple Raiders led 17-7 when Berry stepped in front of the receiver and went untouched into the end zone for his sixth defensive score of the season.
Berry has four interception returns, two strip-and-scores and blocked two field goals that were returned for touchdowns by teammates. Mount Union has scored 13 defensive touchdowns in 13 games this year.
“That was a formation we have seen from them and they were going to their tight end. I was in the right place at the right time to make a play,” Berry said.
Muhlenberg head coach Nate Milne was well aware of Berry’s prowess for scoring touchdowns.
“His strip-sack from John Carroll was all over ESPN and we’ve seen him make many plays this year. He jumped a route we have run a lot and made a great play,” Milne said. “If that kid is not a first-team All-American we need to stop voting.”
Muhlenberg (11-2) forced a couple of turnovers in the game’s first three minutes but only managed to score seven points despite both coming on their side of the 50-yard line. The 7-0 deficit was the first time since Sept. 22 that Mount Union trailed in a game.
They weren’t behind for long.
Sophomore running back Josh Petruccelli capped a 14-play, 70-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. Defensive lineman Ethan McComb forced a fumble on the next series and junior QB D’Angelo Fulford hooked up with junior Justin Hill for a 5-yard TD to give Mount Union a 14-7 lead.
“I don’t think our kids were rattled being down (7-0) but we felt fortunate because both were short fields that it was just a one score game,” said Mount Union head coach Vince Kehres. “Looking at the weather report before the game you knew it was going to be a difficult day to pass the ball.”
Mount Union finished with 69 yards passing. Muhlenberg had 89 yards and three interceptions.
Petruccelli finished with 35 carries for a career-high 219 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 103 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
“That’s playoff football … running the ball and playing defense,” Kehres said.