Box Score ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Sophomore running back Jeremy Murray
(Martins Ferry/Martins Ferry) ran for two touchdowns and junior
running back Wes Ryder
II (Dayton/Belmont) recorded his first 100-yard rushing game as
the No. 2-ranked Mount Union football team defeated eighth-ranked
Ohio Northern, 27-0, in Saturday's home opener in Ohio Athletic
Conference action at Mount Union Stadium.
The Purple Raiders posted their 47th consecutive regular season
victory as they move to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the OAC.
Murray broke a scoreless tie in the second quarter, finding
paydirt on a 13-yard run. In the third, he found the end zone again
-- this time from seven yards out. He finished with 21 carries for
94 yards.
Ryder added 102 yards on 19 runs for Mount Union. Sophomore
quarterback Neal Seaman
(Louisville/Louisville) completed 20 of 33 passes for 249 yards.
Senior wideout Cecil
Shorts III (Cleveland/Collinwood) had seven receptions for 107
yards.
Seaman and receiver Brandon
Brown (Merrillville, Ind./Cincinnati Harmony Prep) hooked up
for a 20-yard Purple Raider touchdown, helping the hosts to a 14-0
advantage. Brown made an acrobatic catch, planting one foot in the
end zone while falling out-of-bounds to cap an 18-play, 99-yard
drive.
Raider sophomore kicker Tyler Almeida
(Elyria/Elyria) made two second-half field goals of 21 and 34
yards. The longer one tied his career-high.
Senior end Lambert
Budzinski (Canton/Massillon Jackson) led the Mount Union
defense with 11 tackles, including one sack and forced fumble.
Freshman defensive end Nyejel
Thomas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) also had a
sack and forced fumble.
Senior defensive back Chaz Jordan
(Medina/Medina Buckeye) and sophomore defensive lineman Jared Modrak
(Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley) had fumble recoveries
while sophomore defensive back Isaiah
Scott (Hamilton/Fairfield) and junior linebacker Arthur Smith
(Miami, Fla./Killian) made interceptions.
The Purple Raiders will return to action on Saturday when they
visit Marietta for a 1:30 p.m.