ALLIANCE, Ohio – No. 2 ranked Mount Union football team opened the 2022 NCAA Playoffs with a 51-0 shutout win over No. 24 Salisbury in the first round at Kehres Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Purple Raiders (11-0) advance to the second round where they will face Utica (N.Y.), who upset No. 13 Susquehanna (Pa.) today, next Saturday, Nov. 26 at Noon local time at a site to be announced.
 
Mount Union senior wide receiver Wayne Ruby Jr. (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Charles W. Flanagan) caught a game-high four touchdowns, breaking the school record for most touchdown receptions in a season with 24 which leads the country.
 
Raider senior quarterback Braxton Plunk (Plant City, Fla./Plant City) completed 35-of-49 passes for 353 yards with five touchdowns, to go along with a career-high 41 yards on the ground with a rushing score. Plunk connected with nine different receivers, while his top target was, you guessed it, Ruby Jr. with 159 yards on a season-high 12 receptions and four touchdowns (tying a career-high). Ruby Jr. has surpassed the century mark in receiving yards eight times this year. Fellow senior Jaden Manley (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) caught a touchdown with 65 yards.
 
Mount sophomore running back Tyler Echeverry Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) ran for a game- and career-high 75 yards on 16 carries, while senior DeAndre Parker Crystal River, Fla./Crystal River) rushed for 56 yards on nine carries (6.2 avg.)
 
Salisbury (9-2) came into the game averaging 352.1 rushing yards per game ranking third in the country with its triple-option offense, but the Raider defense held them to a season-low 57 yards on the ground. Mount held the Sea Gulls to a season-low 65 total yards. Sophomore linebacker Rossy Moore (Lima, Ohio/Lima Central Catholic) led the Raider defense with seven tackles, followed by junior Mason McMillen (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) who registered six tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Senior Ian Sexton (Dover, Ohio/Dover) added a forced fumble, to go along with five tackles. Senior Jesse Vail (Estero, Fla./Estero) also had five tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Sophomore Von Factor (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) had a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Mount's defense has now secured five shutouts this season.
 
Raider first-year kicker Elliott Warner (New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia) made a career-long 39-yard field goal. Sophomore Noah Beaudrie (Monroe, Mich./Erie-Mason) added a 1-yard touchdown run.
 
After turning it over on downs on its opening possession, the Raiders scored five-straight touchdowns. Mount led 27-0 at halftime.
 

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