ALLIANCE – #2 Mount Union advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs for the 28th consecutive season following a 65-14 win over Hanover (Ind.) at Mount Union Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Senior wide receiver Derrick Harvey, Jr. (Akron/Buchtel) had a career high three touchdown receptions to lead the Purple Raiders, who led 21-7 after the first quarter and never looked back.

Senior quarterback D'Angelo Fulford (Miramar, Fla.) finished 21-of-28 for 322 yards and four touchdowns. The 322 passing yards were a season-high for Fulford. Senior wide receiver Justin Hill (Circleville) had 10 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown while Harvey had three catches for 53 yards.

Junior running back Josh Petruccelli (Perry) ran the ball 15 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns.

Mount Union needed just three plays to take a 7-0 lead. Fulford and Harvey hooked up in the corner of the end zone. Petruccelli made it 14-0 with a 5-yard run. The Purple Raiders led 21-0 following Harvey's second touchdown.

Harvey caught a 27-yard touchdown and Petruccelli added two touchdown runs in the second quarter to push Mount Union's lead to 41-7 at the half.

Hill opened the second half scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Fulford.  Sophomore KJ Redmon (Fairborn) returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown to give Mount Union a 55-14 lead in the third quarter. It was the first kickoff return by the Purple Raiders since the 2017 playoffs.

Senior kicker Max Righetti (Salem) kicked a 22-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter to make it 58-14.

Freshman quarterback Braxton Plunk (Plant City, Fla.) threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Jordan Lee (Atlanta, Ga.,/Hapeville Academy) early in the fourth quarter to put the Purple Raiders over the 60-point mark for the sixth time this season.

Junior linebacker Mitch O'Hara (Avon/Lakewood St. Edward) led the Purple Raiders defense with seven tackles. Junior defensive back Tanner Murray (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) blocked a punt while senior Craig Jones (Elkridge, Md./Reservoir) and freshman Harry Bowker (St. Augustine, Fla./Bartram Trail) each had interceptions.

Mount Union's defense held Hanover to 80 total yards and minus-11 rushing yards.

Mount Union will face either #5 North Central in the second round next Saturday. The NCAA will announce the location of the game on Sunday.