#2 Mount Union Secures 32nd Undefeated Regular Season with Win over Baldwin Wallace
#2 Mount Union Secures 32nd Undefeated Regular Season with Win over Baldwin Wallace
In the season finale between OAC rivals Baldwin Wallace and Mount Union, the Purple Raiders had an undefeated season in their sights. The 9-0 Purple Raiders, nationally ranked #2 in Division III, had already unanimously claimed the Ohio Athletic Conference title for the 34th time in program history and received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs with their 49-14 week 9 victory over John Carroll. The Yellow Jackets are coming off their 24-21 week 9 victory over Heidelberg, going into the matchup with a 6-3 record.
The first quarter of play ended with a tied 3-3 score, with Mount Union’s freshman Kicker Deaglan Camron nailing from 34 yards out, and Baldwin Wallace’s freshman Joseph Evans from 23 yards. The Purple Raiders found the end zone first with a 6 yard pass from senior QB Braxton Plunk to senior WR Wayne Ruby Jr. to go up 10-3. Taking advantage of their lead, the Purple Raiders kept their foot on the gas pedal, quickly making two more trips to the end zone with a 22 yard pass from Plunk to cousin senior WR Chase Lawson and a 8 yard pass to Ruby Jr. The Yellow Jackets were finally able to find the end zone on a 42 yard hail mary pass from senior QB Joey Marousek to senior WR Darius Stokes to end the first half down 2 scores.
The third quarter of play was an equal trade of scores, with Mount Union taking the first strike with a 39 yard pass from Plunk to senior WR Tyrell Sanders. Baldwin Wallace countered the score with a 20 yard run from freshman RB George Linberger to keep the deficit at 14. That was the last time the Yellow Jackets saw the end zone for the remainder of the game, as Purple Raiders capped off the game with a 32 yard field goal from Camron and a 29 yard run from junior RB Tyler Echeverry to seal the game and secure their 32nd undefeated season.
Game Notes:
Mount Union tallied up 25 first downs to Baldwin Wallace’s 13
The Purple Raiders totaled 470 yards (309 Passing, 161 Rushing) to the Yellow Jacket’s 288 yards (262 Passing, 26 Rushing)
Baldwin Wallace’s 17 points was the most allowed by Mount Union this season
Mount Union:
QB Brandon Plunk completed 34-47 passes for 309 yards and 4 TDs to seven different receivers
RB Tyler Echeverry ran for a career-high 114 yards on the ground on 15 carries, for 1 TD
WR Chase Lawson caught eight passes for 75 yards (both career highs)
WR Wayne Ruby Jr. caught two TDs from seven catches and 57 yards for his fourth multi-touchdown game of the season
WR Tyrell Sanders finished the game with a career-high five catches for a game-high 84 yards
Mount Union’s Defense held Baldwin Wallace to 26 yards on the ground
The Purple Raiders collect three interceptions, tying second most in school history
Baldwin Wallace:
QB Joey Marousek completed 16-29 passes for 262 yards and a TD
RB George Linberger ran for 20 yards and a TD on four carries, finishing his freshman season with 589 yards for 8 TDs on 116 carries
DB TJ Gibbons recorded a game-high and career-best 11 tackles
What’s Next?
With the win, the Purple Raiders have claimed the Ohio Athletic Conference title for the 34th time in program history (conference record), an automatic bid into the NCAA Playoffs, and an undefeated season for the 32nd season in program history. The #2 nationally-ranked Purple Raiders of Mount Union will host the Pioneers of Alfred State on November 18 at Kehres Stadium. The winner of Saturday's game will take on the winner of the matchup between #13 Alma and DePauw on Saturday, Nov. 25 at a location to be announced.