Murray, Ryder Help #2 Mount Union Grind Out 27-0 Win over #8 Ohio Northern
| Cecil Shorts caught seven passes for 107 yards as the Mount Union offense had little trouble with Ohio Northern. |
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. Freshmen defensive end Nyejel Thomas(Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) also had a sack and forced fumble.
Sophomore 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.
