ALLIANCE, Ohio (AP) -- Gary Smeck threw four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth score as Mount Union rallied in the second half to beat Ohio Northern 56-31 Saturday in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.
The win for the Purple Raiders (12-0) was their 54th in a row, extending their record for all divisions.
The Polar Bears (11-2) led 23-21 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter when the three-time defending champions scored three touchdowns on a 36-yard touchdown catch by Adam Marino, a 1-yard run by Dave Hassey and 20-yard touchdown catch by Rob Sondles to take a 42-23 lead.
A 1-yard run by Polar Bears quarterback Shane Franzer pulled Ohio Northern to within 42-31 in the fourth quarter before Adam Irgang scored on a 9-yard catch and Chuck Moore ran in from 19 yards to extend Mount Union's lead.
Ohio Northern jumped to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter when Franzer scored on a 5-yard run, the first of his two touchdown runs, and took a 16-7 lead in the second quarter when Franzer threw a 5-yard touchdown to Troy Welsch.
Smeck was 16-of-23 for 271 yards and rushed for 79 yards and 11 carries. Moore ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries and Marino had six catches for 114 yards.
Franzer was 29-of-48 for 347 yards and an interception. His second touchdown throw, an 18-yarder to Steve Vagedes, gave the Polar Bears a 23-21 lead in the third quarter.
Vagedes had seven catches for 120 yards and Tony Mitchell caught eight passes for 83 yards for the Polar Bears. Jamal Robertson rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries.
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L.A. Times Archives
Mount Union, three-time defending champion in NCAA Division III, rallied from a third-quarter deficit to defeat visiting Ohio Northern, 56-31, Saturday in a quarterfinal Saturday at Alliance, Ohio.
Gary Smeck threw four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth score for the Purple Raiders, who are 12-0 this season and have a 54-game winning streak, a record for college football.
The Polar Bears (11-2) of Ada, Ohio, led, 23-21, with seven minutes left in the third quarter when Mount Union scored touchdowns on a 36-yard reception by Adam Marino, a one-yard run by Dave Hassey and a 20-yard touchdown catch by Rob Sondles to take a 42-23 lead.
Smeck completed 16 of 23 passes for 271 yards and rushed for 79 yards in 11 carries. Chuck Moore ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns in 27 carries and Marino had six catches for 114 yards for Mount Union.
