By Greg Chandler
D3sports.com
The Purple Raiders of Mount Union began the 2000 season much like they had done through the 1990s, by demolishing their opponents. On Saturday, Mount Union scored three of the first four times it had the ball and rolled to a 48-21 victory at Allegheny.
The Purple Raiders' quarterback, Gary Smeck, picked up where he left off from last season, completing 20 of 26 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Chuck Moore rushed for 128 yards on 19 carries, hitting paydirt twice as Mount Union piled up 536 yards of total offense. Defensively, free safety Matt Sotcan picked off two passes in the second half to quell any hopes of a Gators' comeback.
The win was Mount Union's 55th consecutive regular season triumph. They get this week off before opening Ohio Athletic Conference play at Otterbein Sept. 16. The Purple Raiders have won 49 OAC games in a row, dating back to 1994.
The OAC had a great first week, posting a perfect 5-0 mark. Outside of Mount Union, the most impressive win had to have been John Carroll's 37-3 spanking of defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference champ Catholic. Quarterback Tom Arth completed 14 of 23 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns, and added 56 yards rushing on nine carries to lead the Blue Streaks.
Elsewhere, Marietta's Kenneth Sasu rushed for 200 yards and teammate Heath Hinton scored three touchdowns as the Pioneers rallied to edge Waynesburg 31-29. Meanwhile, junior tailback Matt Colvin rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns -- all in the first half -- as Muskingum ripped Mount St. Joseph, 42-14. Capital had no problem with Thiel, 42-18.
In the Presidents' Athletic Conference, Grove City's R.J. Bowers continued to move up the chart of the top running backs in Division III history, piling up 196 yards on 42 carries. But the Wolverines lost to Dickinson 13-9. It was Bowers' 27th consecutive game of 100 yards or more on the ground, leaving him 310 yards shy of the D-III career record of 6,215 yards, held by Coe's Carey Bender, and 1,043 yards short of the all-divisions record of 6,958, held by Division II Emporia State's Brian Shay.
In the North Coast Athletic Conference, Wittenberg's Casey Donaldson became the Tigers' all-time career rushing leader on Saturday as the Tigers pounded Urbana, 42-17. Donaldson rushed for 130 yards on 24 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Defensive back Andy Waddle, a transfer from Division II Findlay, made a mark in his debut by blocking three punts, which is believed to be a first in Witt's storied history.
In the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Albion looked impressive in its first outing, whipping MacMurray 41-0. Despite a game time temperature of 96 degrees, the Britons' defense was on, forcing seven turnovers and recording six quarterback sacks. John Cowley had an interception and fumble recovery to lead the Albion effort. Senior running back Bill Poirer, who suffered a season-ending injury on the first series of last season, rushed for 137 yards and scored three touchdowns.
News and notes: Waynesburg's Isaiah Long had a big offensive effort in a losing cause against Marietta. Long passed for 197 yards and rushed for 98 more, accounting for three touchdowns. ... Bluffton wideout Jamie Stevens caught 11 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough as the Beavers fell to Malone 42-28. ... Bethany's Justin Green completed 9 of 11 passes for 131 yards and two scores, and also rushed for a third TD as the Bison trampled first-year program Shenandoah 49-7. ... Earlham won its first-ever night home football game, downing Rose-Hulman 24-3 at Phil Brown Field.