No. 1 Mount Union survived a huge scare as No. 12 John Carroll
took the three-time defending champs to three extra periods before
falling 57-51.
Mount Union had a chance to win the game in regulation but a
Rodney Chenos 23-yard field goal attempt was no good. The teams
traded field goals in the first overtime and touchdowns in the
second before Mount Union quarterback Gary Smeck hit tight end Adam
Irgang for a six-yard touchdown in the third overtime. John Carroll
threw four incomplete passes, two of them dropped, to end the
game.
JCU built a 7-0 lead by taking the opening drive 68 yards in
seven plays, capped by a Bobby Kraft one-yard run. JCU was driving
again when a Tom Arth fumble was scooped up by Jesse Pearson, who
raced 33 yards to tie the score at 7-7.
After the teams traded the lead back and forth, it appeared
Mount Union would take a 24-21 lead into the intermission. But the
Blue Streaks took a 28-24 lead into the locker room at halftime
thanks to a 56-yard Hail Mary catch by senior split end Larry
Holmes. Holmes had three touchdowns on the afternoon, including one
in the second overtime.
The Purple Raiders scored twice in a two-minute span of the
fourth quarter to take a 41-34 lead, but John Carroll answered with
a Holmes 4-yard touchdown reception from Tom Arth with 59 seconds
to tie the game at 41 apiece. A last-minute Mount Union drive set
up Chenos' miss.
Mount Union quarterback Smeck ended the day 23-for-26 for
329 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Arth was
21-for-36 for 382 yards, four touchdowns and no
interceptions.
Mount Union survives in triple overtime
Oct 02, 1999