For the fifth year in a row, Mount Union will play The
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, who defeated Linfield (OR)
27-17 in the other semifinal. Kickoff is slated for 11 am
from Salem, VA.
Mount Union's top ranked defense held Wesley to 196 total yards
with five quarterback sacks, three interceptions and a fumble while
keeping the Wolverines to their lowest point of the season.
Cecil Shorts took over at quarterback in the second half and put
the game away with a pair of rushing touchdowns as he ran for a
game-high 98 yards on 18 carries. He also caught two passes
for 26 and his 15 yard touchdown catch from quarterback Kurt Rocco
(Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) on the Raiders first possession of the
game gave Mount Union a 7-0 lead.
Herman Timmersjo (Nosboro, Sweden/Martins Ferry OH) kicked a 28
yard field goal later in the first kicked a 28 yard field goal to
extend the lead to 10-0.
Wesley drove the ball on the ensuing possession and quarterback
Shane McSweeny went deep and was picked off by Raider defensive
back Alex Ferrara
(Independence/Walsh Jesuit) on the Mount Union three-yard line.
On the Raiders' third possession of the day, Rocco was forced out
of the pocket and was knocked out of the game and fumbled the
football on a hit from Aaron Benson which gave Wesley the football
on Mount Union's 13-yard line.
The Wolverines could not cash in as McSweeny tossed his second
pick of the day as Sam Kershaw
(West Jefferson/West Jefferson) got the interception in the end
zone.
Freshman Neal Seaman
(Louisville/Louisville) took over at quarterback and the Raiders
had a pair of drives stall at midfield. Wesley also was
forced to punt on one other possession that made the score 10-0 at
the half.
Wesley would get on the board midway through the third quarter as
McSweeny hooked up with Sean McAndrew on a four yard touchdown pass
to bring the Wolverines within three points at 10-7.
After both teams exchanged posessions, Shorts would take over at
quarterback and he found the end zone on a rushing touchdown early
in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 17-7.
Wesley's offense continued to struggle and the Raider defense
forced a fumble as James Herbert (Sagamore Hills/Nordonia) sacked
McSweeney and it was recovered by Matt
Williamson (Columbus/DeSales) on the Wesley nine-yard line.
Three plays later Shorts would run in from four yards out to put
the Raiders up 24-7.
The Raider defense would put an exclaimation point on the day as
Kershaw got his second interception of the day on the game's next
to last play.
