PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Mount Union scored four first-half touchdowns en route to a 52-10 season-opening win against St. John Fisher before 4,230 fans at Growney Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In his first career start, senior quarterback Kurt Rocco threw a career-high three touchdown passes to All-American wide receiver Cecil Shorts III
Rocco finished 13-of-16 for 249 yards passing as the Purple Raiders built a 28-10 halftime and never looked back. Shorts finished with five catches for 155 yards
Mount Union took the early lead when Rocco connected with tight end Kyle Miller on a 10-yard touchdown with a little more than three minutes gone in the first quarter.
After watching its defense stop the Cardinals twice on as many possessions to start the game, Mount Union's offense struck again when Rocco hooked up with Shorts on a 44-yard touchdown reception to make it 14-0 with 6:52 left in the opening quarter.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard after Chad Monheim drilled a 19-yard field goal to conclude a 5-play, 36-yard drive.
Mount Union answered with two more scores to stretch the margin to 28-3.
Freshman Neal Seaman came in and threw his first collegiate scoring pass in a 30-yard strike to Shorts to conclude a 10-play, 69-yard drive. Following another defensive stop, sophomore Zac Lemmon scored on a three-yard run with 44.1 seconds left in the half.
Lemmon led the Purple Raiders' rushing attack with 39 yards.
St. John Fisher ended the half with a 51-yard hail mary touchdown pass from Tim Bailey to Ryan Francis, who was surrounded by there Purple Raiders when he caught the ball in the end zone with three seconds showing before halftime.
The Purple Raiders held a 222-134 total yardage advantage in the half and had the ball for more than 26 minutes in the half.
Senior running back Scott Panchik's 2-yard touchdown increased the margin to 35-10 with 10:48 left in the third. Four minutes later, Rocco hooked up with Shorts on a 56-yard score to make it 42-10.
Mount Union's lead stretched to 45-10 on senior Jay Carpenter's 22-yard field goal early in the fourth. The Purple Raiders closed out the scoring on Tyler Harris' 3-yard touchdown run with 6:24 left in the contest.
The Raiders next play Sept. 19 at Ohio Northern in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener in Ada.
