Mount Union (4-0, 3-0 OAC) has now won 108 consecutive regular season games and 97-straight OAC games.  Capital falls to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the OAC.

After trailing 14-7 at halftime, Capital opened the second half with a 14-play, 62-yard drive, scoring on sophomore Matt Spitz’s (Xenia/Xenia) first-ever career field goal from 26 yards.  On the next possession, senior linebacker Sam Abdullah (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) then recovered a Purple Raider fumble on the Mount Union 13-yard line.  Four plays later senior running back Colin O’Reilly (Bexley/Bexley) got stopped in the back field then tossed the ball back to quarterback Rocky Pentello (Columbus/Westerville South) who ran in from three yards out to give the Crusaders a 17-14 lead with 5:56 to go in the third quarter.

 The Crusaders held that lead entering the fourth quarter but in a span of 2:13 Mount Union scored on three consecutive plays from scrimmage.  First quarterback Mike Jorris hooked up with wide receiver Pierre Garcon for 83 yards. After a punt, the Purple Raiders got a 49-yard run by Kelchi Ibeh, then after a Capital interception Aaron Robinson scampered 25 yards increasing the lead to 35-17, with 12:35 left in the game.  Mount Union tacked on a two-yard Robinson touchdown run and Capital got a 15-yard touchdown pass from Pentello to junior wide receiver Graham Holmberg (Newark/Newark) for 42-24 final.

 Mount Union got a 43-yard interception return by Ross Watson to set up the game’s first score, a one-yard run by Aaron Robinson with 12:45 left in the first half.  Watson finished the day with three interceptions to lead a Purple Raider defense that had four picks on the day.

Capital tied the game just over four minutes later on a wide receiver option as senior Chad Stencil (Avon/Avon) tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior Kive Kraft (Amanda/Amanda-Clearcreek).  Mount Union struck on the very next play from scrimmage as Jorris connected with Garcon on a 77-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7 at the half. 

Mount Union’s big plays late allowed them to out gain Capital on offense, 477-275.  The Purple Raiders got 301 yards passing (16-of-26) from Jorris, 214 yards receiving from Garcon and 115 yards rushing from Robinson. 

Pentello finished 19-of-39 for 188 yards to become the school’s career leader in passing yards (6,718) and completions (557).  Holmberg had a career-high 83 yards receiving on four catches, while O’Reilly had a career-best 23 carries for 83 yards to pace the Capital offense.  On defense, the Crusaders got eight tackles and a sack from senior linebacker Joel Sickmeier (Pickerington/Pickerington Central) and senior defensive back Kyle Hausler (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) had an interception and a fumble recovery.

Capital returns home next week to face Marietta College at 1:30 p.m. at Bernlohr Stadium.