Mount Union moves to 8-0 overall (7-0 OAC), extends the
nation's longest win streak to 23 games and is alone in first
place in the OAC as Marietta upset No. 7 Otterbein, 25-22.
The Raiders can clinch the OAC title next week with a win over
Otterbein at 1:30 pm next Saturday at Mount Union Stadium.
Senior quarterback Kurt Rocco (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) had an
efficient day as the nation's top rated passer went 26-of-32
for 359 yards and four touchdown passes.
Rocco hit eight different receivers led by seniors as Cecil
Shorts (Cleveland/Collinwood) had eight catches for 88 yards and
two scores, while Vince Petruziello (Mentor/Lake Catholic) had a
season-best six catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Terrance Morring (Sanford, FL/Winter Springs) ran
for 101 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns for his third
straight and fourth 100 yard rushing game of the season.
The Mount Union defense was equally impressive holding the Blue
Streaks to 177 yards, scoring on a fumble recovery and getting an
interception. Defensive back Ryan Renbarger (Euclid/Euclid)
had a team-high eight tackles.
Jeff Javorek was 9-of-21 passing for 83 yards and Ken Owens had
29 yards rushing to lead John Carroll.
Mount Union led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter as Morring
capped an 11-play 80-yard drive with two-yard score then Rocco then
hit A.J. Claycomb (Medina/Medina) on a 36-yard touchdown pass.
Rocco then hit Shorts on a five-yard touchdown pass and Morring
had his second two-yard touchdown run that finished another long
scoring drive this time 13 plays for 88 yards to put the Raiders up
28-0.
Safety Chaz Jordan (Medina/Buckeye) then returned a John Carroll
fumble 43 yards for a touchdown to put Mount Union up 35-0 at the
break.
Mount Union made it 42-0 on the first possession of the second
half as Rocco hit Petruziello on 50 yard scoring strike.
John Carroll gets on the board with 5:36 to go in the third
quarter when quarterback Jeff Javorek ran in from a yard out.
The Raiders came right back down the field and Rocco tossed his
fourth TD pass of the game, this time a 14-yarder to Shorts to put
Mount Union up 49-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Running back Tyler Harris (New Matamoras/Frontier) put on the
final score of the day with a two-yard touchdown run with seven
minutes left for the 56-7 final.
