ALLIANCE, Ohio — Mount Union ended Wabash's playoff run
here Saturday with a tough 20-8 win. The Little Giant defensive
effort was again outstanding but the offense was not able to
sustain drives against DIII football's best defense.
The 12-1 Little Giants finished the season losing to the 10-time
national champions but gained experience and respect from the
Purple Raiders.
“I'm proud of our efforts but like last week we just dug
ourselves too big of a hole in that first half and we just couldn't
recover,” Little Giant coach Erik Raeburn said.
The Wabash defense was dominating early with outstanding pressure
on the Raider quarterback. The game's first score came after Wabash
had backed Mount Union up to its own four-yard-line facing
second-and-24.
But Jeremy Murray, who ran for 152 yards on the day, found a seam
up the middle for 46 yards to swing the momentum. He later scored
on that drive from 17 yards out, 7-0.
Tyler Burke, who led the remarkable comeback a week ago over North
Central, started Saturday but struggled to find open receivers. He
took a big hit late in the first half and was replaced by 11-game
starter Chase Belton.
Early uncharacteristic Wabash mistakes, including a blocked punt
and muffed kick reception, handed the hosts opportunities that the
Wabash defense largely denied.
The Purple Raiders blocked a Wabash punt and took over on the
Wabash 10-yard line. But the defense held in three plays. Tyler
Almeida knocked through a 22-yard field goal, 10-0.
Wabash had another three and out before Mount Union took over.
Again the defense forced the Raiders to punt but the kick was
fumbled giving the Raiders another golden opportunity from the
12-yard line. After a 1 yard rush, freshman Houston Hodges stepped
in front of the Mount Union receiver near the goal line and
intercepted a Neal Seaman pass.
“I think their pressure caused us to miss some defenders and
then they made the tackle,” Mount Union Coach Larry Kehres
said. “Particularly the middle linebacker (CJ Gum), I think
he had three sacks in the first half and numerous tackles on plays
that had a chance to be good plays.
“I think our effort was outstanding but that's an excellent
defense. Coming into this game they were right behind us in rushing
yardage allowed. They forced us to miss some things with good
strategies.”
Mount Union was playing with a short field most of the first half
and capitalized just before half time. Kevin Burke hit Jasper
Collins for 17 yards in the first half's final drive. Then Murray
ran for 15 and 10 yard before scoring from the one, 17-0.
“They were probably one of the bigger offensive lines we
faced all year,” said Wabash defensive lineman Pat Clegg.
“They had good feet too. We weren't as big but we've got some
speed.”
Wabash got some offense going in the second half but not until
after a rough start. Belton took over but was intercepted on his
first pass setting the hosts up on their own 20-yard line. The
defense again rose to the challenge and held Mount Union to
Almeida's 33-yard kick. With 13:18 remaining in the third quarter
and leading 20-0, Mount would not score again.
Wabash started to move the ball and went 13 plays for 65 yards but
couldn't convert a fourth down from the 13-yard line. The defense
forced a Mount Union fumble on the next possession and put the
offense right back in business at the Mount. 18.
Wabash moved the ball to the 5 where Belton appeared to score on a
four yard run. Officials ruled his knee had gone down. The Little
Giants then scrambled to get the play in on fourth down and Tyler
Holmes was sacked for a loss.
Mount took over on downs but couldn't move the ball. From the goal
line, Wabash appeared to sack Kevin Burke in the end zone but the
officials marked the ball at the one. Following a short run, the
Raiders took a safety instead of punting, 20-2.
Wabash got the ensuing kick and scored its only touchdown of the
game. Belton hit Brady Young for 8 yards then for 26 more to set
the offense up at the Mount 7 yard-line. A pass interference call
then set Belton up for a 4-yard run and the touchdown. The Little
Giants failed on the two-point conversion, 20-8.
Mount totaled 236 yards of total offense to Wabash's 163. A big
difference came in the 136-31 rushing numbers. The Little Giants
had 163 passing yards to Mount's 100.
Belton and Burke combined to hit just 18-of42 passes for those 163
yards. Six different Wabash receivers caught passes.
“They're fast but I don't know if there was any adjustment
period, they're a very good team and we just played poorly in the
first half,” Raeburn said. “We have to improve our
depth, late in the season we started getting guys hurt and we can't
withstand it as well as a team like Mount Union. We have to improve
in that area.”
Wabash Season Ends in Quarterfinals
/seasons/2011/boxscores/20111203_4f5p.xml
2011
Wabash
8
Mount Union
20
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Wabash (12-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| No. 2 Mount Union (13-0) | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
Dec 03, 2011