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Oct 20, 2007
ALLIANCE, OH
— Mount Union College (7-0, 6-0 OAC) earned a 35-0 Homecoming Weekend win over Baldwin-Wallace College (4-3, 3-3 OAC) on Saturday, October 20 in front of a sellout crowd of 6,322 fans at Mount Union Stadium.
On their opening drive, the Purple Raiders marched 63 yards on nine plays, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by running back Justin Wray. Mike Zimmerman added the PAT giving the Purple & White a 7-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first quarter. The Raiders reached the Jackets' five-yard line with their second possession before a tipped pass by linebacker Luke Chronister was intercepted by Baldwin-Wallace defensive back Ryan Clokey. The interception was Raider quarterback Greg Micheli's first of the season.
With just under five minutes to play in the first period, Baldwin-Wallace quarterback Mickey Mental connected with wide receiver Vinny Latessa on a crossing pattern for a 72 yard completion down to the Raider five-yard line. Mount Union's defense held, forcing a 23-yard field goal that was blocked by Mount Union defensive end Jonathan Andrews.
“The coaches do an excellent job making sure we are in position to make plays,” Andrews commented after the game. “We are well prepared and it is great to see execution.”
The first quarter ended with the Raiders holding a 7-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets marched inside the Raider 10-yard line following a short Raider punt against a 20-mile an hour wind, when end Joe Millings stripped the Baldwin-Wallace ball carrier forcing a fumble, which was recovered by safety Craig Nickoli.
The Raiders proceeded to cover 79 yards on 13 plays, concluding with wide receiver Pierre Garcon's 15-yard touchdown run. Zimmerman's PAT gave the Raiders a 14-0 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the second stanza.
“Pierre (Garcon) is a good runner and it was important to get him involved,” said Head Coach Larry Kehres. “In order to set up the rest of our offense, we wanted to get him the ball early.”
Mount Union added a five-yard touchdown reception from Micheli to tight end Chad Reynolds with 5:18 left in the period making it 21-0 Mount Union.
The Raider defense struck again with 3:10 left in the second quarter when end James Herbert returned an interception 50 yards for a score. It was his second defensive touchdown of the season and Mount Union's fourth defensive score of the season — matching the total points allowed (24) by the Raiders to that point in 2007.
Baldwin-Wallace had a chance to get on the board late in the period, but a 24 yard field goal hit the left upright.
The Purple & White led 28-0 at the half.
The third quarter featured an interception by Baldwin-Wallace linebacker Ryan Kish, the second of the game for the Jackets. The fourth quarter began with Garcon on the receiving end of a Micheli four-yard touchdown pass. Jacket defensive back Peter Taylor also recorded a fumble recovery early in the fourth quarter of play.
The Raider offense was led by running back Nate Kmic with 26 carries for 116 yards, despite not scoring a touchdown for the first time this season. Garcon finished with a season-high seven catches for 58 yards and a score. He also added four carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. Defensive end Nick Parr led the Mount Union defense with six tackles, two for loss, and a sack. Cornerback Jonah Wilson also added his second interception of the season.
Offensively, Baldwin-Wallace was led by wide receiver Vinny Latessa who finished with five catches for 103 yards. Linebacker Luke Chronister had a game-high 19 hits, including 2.5 for loss for the Jacket defense.
For the Raiders, the win against Baldwin-Wallace marks the third shutout in as many games.
The 2003 season was the last time the Raiders posted three consecutive shutouts. Mount Union has never had four straight shutouts in the modern era (post WWII). The Purple Raiders posted six consecutive shutouts in 1909.
On Saturday, October 27, the Raiders travel to Bexley, Ohio, to take on Capital (6-1, 5-1 OAC). Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
Press release submitted by Mount Union on Oct 20 2007 at 06:24 PM