#2 Mount Union Runs Past Marietta
MARIETTA, Ohio--No. 2 ranked Mount Union got a career-best 170 yards rushing from sophomore running back Jeremy Murray (Martins Ferry/Martins Ferry) and 147 yards receiving from sophomore receiver Jasper Collins (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) as the Purple Raiders won their 48th consecutive regular season game with a 28-14 Ohio Athletic Conference victory at Marietta.
Another sophomore in Raider quarterback Neal Seaman (Louisville/Louisville) had his second career 300 yard passing game with 331 yards and a touchdown as he directed an offense that had 495 yards but also had three fumbles all in Marietta territory in the second half.
The Mount Union defense held the Pioneers to 19 yards rushing and 226 total yards. The Raiders knocked out two Marietta quarterbacks with six sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Senior defensive end Lambert Budzinski (Canton/Massillon Jackson) had 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a season-best 3.0 sacks.
Seaman tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Kyle Miller (Elida/Elida) on the Raiders first possession of the game.
On the very next drive, aided by a pair of 15-yard Mount Union penalties, Marietta tied the game on a seven-yard touchdown run by starting quarterback Andrew Keller.
Murray would run in scores from six and five yards in the second quarter and the clock ran out on the Raiders on the Marietta one-yard line to prevent another score, but they took a 21-7 lead into the half.
A scoreless third quarter featured two Mount Union fumbles and a fumble on a return of a short punt that all happened inside the Marietta 35-yard line.
Murray would find the end zone again from seven yards out midway through the fourth quarter to put the Raiders up 28-7, before third string Marietta quarterback Tom Fulton hit Cory Kriechbaum on a 19-yard touchdown pass for the 28-14 final.
Mount Union returns home next Saturday to host an OAC game against Heidelberg at 1:30 pm at Mount Union Stadium.
