District College Football Recap for Saturday, November 29th

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, November 29, 2014 | 4:45 PM

In the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, the W & J Presidents ran into a buzz saw known as the Mount Union Purple Raiders. The 11-time champions scored 38 points in the second quarter to claim a 67-0 victory on their home field in Alliance, Ohio.

Kevin Burke, the returning Division III player of the year, threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns in the win, three to Roman Namdar. The Purple Raiders, the D-III leader in total offense, posted 703 yards while shutting down the Presidents, who were also a top 10 offense, to just 252 yards.

Mount Union advances to the quarterfinals, where they will meet John Carroll, a 14-12 victor over Wheaton, that game will be next Saturday, likely at Mount Union.

The Purple Raiders scored on their first possession as Burke capped an 11 play drive with a four yard touchdown pass to Namdar. The Presidents missed an opportunity on their second possession, Blake Davis could not connect on a 38 yard field goal. Mount Union took a 10-0 lead three plays into the second with a field goal. It would go downhill quickly for the Presidents in a big way.

Burke hit Namdar for a 45 yard touchdown, the Presidents drove just across midfield but a penalty shut down the drive. The Purple Raiders took advantage, going 16 plays and getting a Edward Ruhnke field goal, but the Presidents were called for a personal foul. Mount Union elected to take the three points off the board, Burke hit Luc Meacham for a touchdown on the third play after the foul. Ryan Ruffing fumbled at his own 34, Mount Union turned that into another Burke to Namdar touchdown. W & J went three and out, Mount Union scored twice more before the end of the half, Burke hitting Taurice Scott and Steve Wilkinson for touchdowns and a 45-0 lead at the break.

Ruknke kicked two more field goals in the third, along with a Jamal Johnson 78 yard touchdown. The Purple Raiders forced a safety and Dwayne Allen ran for a 71 yard score to end the game.

Burke was 30 of 41 throwing. Johnson carried 14 times for 118 yards. Meacham had 9 catches for 151 yards, Namdar 8 for 112. Mount Union is now 12-0 on the season.

For the Presidents, Ruffing carried 16 times for 62 yards. Pete Coughin was 15 of 37 for 98 yards. W & J ends the season at 10-2.