Wolverines lose to Mount Union in final minute
By Matthew Purucker · Editor-in-Chief
ALLIANCE, Ohio — The Grove City defense was excellent for much of the game, intercepting five passes from Mount Union quarterback Mikey Maloney. That effort, though, was not enough to secure the win.
With 12 seconds left, Maloney fired a pass between two Wolverines to wide receiver Mason Ashby in the bottom-right corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, as No. 6 Mount Union squeezed past an upset-minded Grove City 21-17 at Kehres Stadium.
That touchdown, Maloney’s second of the game, completed a 70-yard, 33-second drive. The Mount Union junior had an up-and-down performance, impressing by completing 18 of 31 passes for 247 yards, but his five picks often set up the Grove City offense in prime position to score.
“We have a set identity of what we want to do on defense. The key thing is we don’t throw (out) a ton of different coverages,” Grove City coach Andrew DiDonato said. “It’s more; we do what we believe in and want our guys to play fast and free. … Our guys were flying to the ball, and every chance they had to make a play on it, they did. So, I was very proud of our defensive effort.”
However, Grove City (0-2) struggled in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns in four red zone possessions. The Wolverines also failed two fourth-down conversions from the Mount Union 10-yard line or closer in the second half.
“As soon as we see the film together, they’re going to see we had some things that we would want in those situations,” DiDonato said. “And I think the more times those guys are in those situations, they’re going to convert and execute those things.”
Mount Union (1-1) also had trouble inside the Grove City 20. In the second quarter, Wolverine defensive linemen Dave Cowher and Caleb Kuhl stuffed Purple Raider running back Kayden Minner on fourth-and-goal at the Grove City 1, forcing a turnover on downs to end Mount Union’s first drive. Cornerback Noah Wheeler also intercepted a pass in the end zone with 2:04 remaining.
During the ensuing possession, the Wolverines recorded one first down, but they punted after freshman Nico Casciato rushed the ball five straight plays, including on a third down and 7. A first down on that play would have won the game for Grove City.
Wolverine sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon went 12-for-31 for 148 yards, with two touchdown passes and one interception. Hollomon completed one pass in the fourth quarter, missing on his last five attempts.
Senior running back Chase Rankin ran for 82 of Grove City’s 123 rushing yards on 23 carries before leaving the game due to injury during Grove City’s first drive of the third quarter. Rankin’s injury status was unknown as of Monday morning.
Entering the game, the Wolverines wanted to win time of possession and won it by eight minutes in the first half, according to DiDonato.
“Knowing how important it is to run the football and win time of possession, we didn’t want to deviate too much from that,” DiDonato said. “We did throw it a little more, but we still tried to run the ball. And some guys stepped in and had some nice runs.”
Sophomore kicker Brady Lane opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal, capping off Grove City’s first possession of the game, a 17-play, 56-yard drive that lasted over nine minutes.
Junior wide receiver John Perry caught a 29-yard touchdown pass after senior wideout Seth McGroerty unintentionally deflected it to him late in the first half, giving Grove City a 10-7 halftime lead. McGroerty increased the lead to 17-7 with a 3-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. McGroerty and Perry combined for 106 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Minner paced the Purple Raiders on the ground with 98 yards and caught a touchdown pass from Maloney late in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 17-14. Bo Bokman scored Mount Union’s first touchdown on a 10-yard run in the second quarter. Ashby led all receivers with 100 yards on five receptions.
Safeties Ryan Montgomery and Dominic DiNinno, along with sophomore cornerback Cameron Epps and freshman linebacker Brayden Gurst, had the other Grove City interceptions.
The Wolverines have a bye week, then they will head to PAC newcomer Saint Francis Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.
“Just excited for the bye week now — two top teams in the country, two great games and a lot we can learn from,” DiDonato said. “I think the bye week’s coming at the perfect time.”
