Box Score ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Sophomore running back Jeremy Murray
(Martins Ferry/Martins Ferry) rushed for a career-high 224 yards on
30 carries, leading the No. 2-ranked Mount Union football team to a
45-7 victory over Heidelberg on Saturday at Mount Union
Stadium.
The Purple Raiders posted their 49th consecutive regular season
victory as they move to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the Ohio Athletic
Conference.
Murray scored two touchdowns during Mount Union's 24-point
second quarter and was the key component in each of the Raiders'
three first-half touchdown drives.
Sophomore quarterback Neal Seaman
(Louisville/Louisville) scored the first Purple Raider touchdown
from four yards out on the hosts' first possession. It was Seaman's
first rushing score of the season.
Murray added 60 all-purpose yards on the next touchdown march,
helping the Raiders build a 14-0 lead.
A 23-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Tyler Almeida
(Elyria/Elyria) gave Mount Union a 17-0 lead before Murray came
through with his second score. He carried the ball six times for 45
yards, finishing it off with a six-yard run.
Just before halftime, the Purple Raider advantage expanded to
31-0 on a 29-yard interception return touchdown by sophomore
defensive back Nick
Driskill (Wabash, Ind./Southwood).
During the second half, Mount Union did its scoring through the
air. Seaman connected with junior wide receiver Ben Shenk (East
Petersburg, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) on touchdown receptions of 12
and 23 yards in the third quarter. The Raider quarterback finished
19 of 29 for 287 yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Jasper
Collins was the leading Raider pass-catcher, compiling seven
catches for 117 yards. Shenk had five grabs for 84 yards.
In total, the Mount Union offense finished with 556 total yards,
including 262 on the ground.
After struggling with turnovers in previous weeks, the Purple
Raiders did not record any giveaways. On the other side, the hosts
forced two turnovers -- both of which were Driskill
interceptions.
Junior defensive back Cameron West
(Frazeysburg/Tri-Valley) was Mount Union's leading tackler with
eight stops. Sophomore defensive lineman Jared Modrak
(Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley) had a sack and forced
fumble.
Heidelberg's lone touchdown was a 9-yard hookup from quarterback
Neil Anton to wide receiver Mike Preston.
The Purple Raiders will return to action next Saturday when they
play their Homecoming game against Capital at 1:30 p.m.