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Mount Union 37    Otterbein 14

                                                                     by Larry Faith

     The Mount Union College Purple Raiders successfully opened their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with a 37-14 victory over Otterbein at Westerville on Saturday.  The Cardinals returned 16 starters from a team that compiled a 7-3 record in 1999 and were fresh off a season opening 35-0 win over Mt. St. Joseph.

     Otterbein tested Mount Union early by taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Powell to Jeff Gibbs.  The opening score was set up after the Raiders were assessed a roughing the kicker penalty when it appeared the defense had stopped the Cardinals on downs.  Powell completed four passes on the 80-yard drive.

     But the Raiders came storming right back as they do so often and it only took six plays and two minutes and twenty-one seconds for Mount Union to tie the score at 7-7.  All-American quarterback candidate Gary Smeck connected on three passes of 21-yards to All-American receiver Adam Marino, 23-yards to tailback Dan Pugh and 14-yards for the touchdown to Marino.  Mount then held the Cardinals to three and out and Marino returned the ensuing punt 39 yards to the Otterbein 23-yard line.  A Smeck pass to Marino gave the Raiders a first down on the Cards' 10-yard line where the hosts defense held and Rodney Chenos kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Purple and White its first lead at 10-7.

     The second quarter saw the Raiders force the Cardinals to punt again and Mount Union went on an 80-yard, 14-play drive capped off by a one-yard run by All-American tailback candidate Chuck Moore. Highlights of the drive included Moore rushing for 39 yards and Pugh gaining 22 yards on two carries. Moore also hauled in a Smeck aerial of 15 yards.  The Raiders then increased the lead to 17-7 midway through the second period.

     Otterbein then drove to the Mount 28-yard line where Don Montgomery's defense dug in. Then, after an exchange of punts, the Raiders moved the pigskin 64 yards where Chenos kicked a 33-yard field goal on the last play of the half.  Smeck completed two passes to Pugh, one to Marino and another of 12-yards to tight end Adam Irgang as Mount Union took a 20-7 halftime lead.

     Mount Union took control of the football game on its first possession of the second half as Smeck marched his charges 70-yards on seven plays culminating on a 40-yard scoring strike to Marino.  Chenos' point after gave the Raiders a commanding 27-7 lead.  Monty's stop troops held the Cardinals to three plays again and the Raiders put the game away with an 80-yard, 15-play drive resulting in a Moore six-yard scamper.  Smeck connected on passes of 14 yards to Irgang, 12 yards to Moore and 13 yards to West Branch product Jason Candle during the five minute drive.  Mount Union led 34-7.

     The Raiders final score came at the 10:17 mark of the fourth quarter as Chenos booted his third field goal of the game, this one from 21 yards, for a 37-7 margin.  Key plays on the scoring drive included a 20-yard run by Moore, an 11-yard run of Pugh, a 13-yard rush of Smeck and two pass completions to Vince Ilacqua of 15 yards and nine yards to Marino.  Otterbein closed out the scoring when Powell connected again with Gibbs for 47-yards with 3:22 left in the game and a final score of 37-14.

     Mount Union compiled 31 first downs compared to Otterbein's 14. The Raiders totaled 495 yards to the Cardinals' 233.   Smeck was 20-36 passing for 244 yards while Moore rushed for 131 yards on 23 carries.  Marino caught seven passes for 109 yards.  Jesse Pearson had eight defensive tackles while Todd Braden and Matt LaVerde added seven apiece.  Jason Perkins registered two tackles for losses.

Larry Faith