Collins carried the ball 33 times for 284 yards and three touchdowns and added 138 yards passing. He also ran in a two-point conversion and threw for another.

But everyone’s mind from both teams was on Mount Union sophomore Rahmeir Smith after he was involved in a head-to-head collision with Juniata Valley’s Andrew Clark and was taken off the field on a stretcher.

Smith did not appear to be moving his legs after the fourth-quarter hit.

“It’s extremely scary, and I’m not too sure on his condition,” Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh said. “We’re going to say a prayer for him. I would like to ask anyone listening or reading this to also say a prayer for him.”

Mount Union’s Caizon Scott (4) evades JV’s Anthony Neri, Andrew Clark and Konner Harker. Photo for the Mirror by Jay Whitesel

With the game tied at 21 and 7:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, Smith broke through the line and smashed into Clark just as he received a handoff. Clark and Smith both immediately went down. The play went for a 5-yard loss, and neither player moved around much following the collision.

Clark eventually sat up, walked off the field on his own power and returned for the last series of the game.

“I got met in the gap, helmet to helmet,” Clark said. “I got my bell rung a little bit, but I got back up and was able to come back into the game and finish it out. It was scary. I could hear him lying next to me, and I was praying he would come out of it OK. I pray he continues to get better.”

Smith’s tackle helped stifle what looked like it might turn into a go-ahead scoring drive for the Green Hornets. Jett Rand ran for a first down one play later, but Juniata Valley ended up turning it over on downs after it was ruled Elah Glenny did not keep a foot in bounds on a tremendous sideline catch on third down that was in the end zone but ruled an incompletion.

Mount Union burned more than five minutes off the clock before Collins scored from 27 yards out to put the Trojans ahead with 1:03 left to play.

Mount Unior's Nasir Collins breaks through the JV defense on Friday night. Photo for the Mirror by Jay Whitesel

Following the game, both teams and fans from both sides prayed in the end zone for Smith, who was taken away in an ambulance.

“There’s a concern that happens every time you see both guys down like that,” Juniata Valley coach Bill Musser said. “That particular play was just two strong kids colliding. I pray, pray, pray their kid is going to be OK.”

Play of the game: On fourth-and-5 from the Juniata Valley 46 with just 1:21 remaining, Mount Union decided to go for it. Collins was nearly sacked but found Damien Leonard on a 19-yard completion that set up Collins’ touchdown on the next play. Leonard had fumbled earlier in the game and was briefly out of the game before being put back in.

“I just told these kids that I have never been more proud of a football team,” Brumbaugh said. “These are all young kids. I don’t have any seniors out on the football field tonight. I was very impressed.”

Player of the game: Collins, who also made an excellent play defensively as a cornerback on a great deep pass by Rand just before the half that could have gone for a score.

Unsung hero: Clark, after running for just 27 yards in the first half, finished with 23 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran over several Trojans, including three on his 24-yard third-quarter score. Clark also intercepted two passes.

Most vital statistic: Collins combined to run and pass for 422 yards, but he seemed to get up slower with each hit.

“I have been jammed up for a couple weeks now,” Collins said. “I have just been icing day in and day out. I credit God. I pray every day. He opens doors for me, and I just take it.”

Brumbaugh: “I don’t want to have to lean on (Collins) so much. But you see our numbers. We have had a number of injuries, and we had another injury tonight. I’ll be down five starters the rest of the season and came into tonight’s game down four. We have changed what we can change up.”

Musser: “Our kids and our coaching staff never quit. I have to give my coaching staff credit. They took care of the kids on the sideline and put together a great gameplan. We didn’t give up until the end.”

Clark: “We’re a great bunch of kids that can compete with anybody. I think we showed that tonight. I am proud of our guys.”

Notable: Micah Atherton, Maddox Hobbs, John Welsh and Abe Weirich all were on the sideline for Mount Union but not dressed after suffering injuries this season. The Trojans started the game with just eight active players on their sideline during the opening kickoff. … Gavin Smith caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rand that put Juniata Valley ahead by eight in the third quarter. … Rand went over 1,000 yards passing for the season with a 23-yard completion on his first pass to Dalton Weirich. … Collins went over 1,000 yards rushing this season with a 13-yard run with 9:15 to play in the first quarter.

Records: Juniata Valley (5-2); Mount Union (6-1).

Next week: Juniata Valley is at Curwensville next Friday. That same night Mount Union travels to Southern Huntingdon.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Juniata Valley 7 0 14 0 — 21

Mount Union 0 13 8 8 — 29

First Quarter

JV–Clark 1 run (Rodkey kick), 4:30.

Second Quarter

MU–Scott 17 run (Ranck kick), 10:02.

MU–Collins 2 run (kick failed), 2:27.

Third Quarter

JV–Clark 24 run (Rodkey kick), 7:11.

JV–Smith 7 pass from Rand (Rodkey kick), 2:43.

MU–Collins 25 run (Collins run), :00.

Fourth Quarter

MU–Collins 27 run (Hooper pass from Collins), 1:03.

TEAM STATISTICS JV MU

First downs 17 22

Total yards 372 449

Rushes-yards 32-178 44-311

Yards passing 194 138

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 14-23-0 8-15-2

Punts-avg. 2-23 0-0

Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 3-25 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Juniata Valley, Clark 23-134, Rand 3-32, Harker 5-10, Norris 1-2. Mount Union, Collins 33-284, Scott 8-20, Osborne 1-5, Leonard 1-3, TEAM 1-(-1).

PASSING–Juniata Valley, Rand 14-23-0-194. Mount Union, Collins 8-13-2-138, Scott 0-2-0-0.

RECEIVING–Juniata Valley, Glenny 5-80, Norris 3-50, Smith 3-32, Weirich 1-23, Harker 1-5, Neri 1-4. Mount Union, Hooper 4-70, Scott 2-42, Leonard 1-19, Posey 1-7.