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CLAYSBURG -- When it comes to a Claysburg-Kimmel team that features a lot of players that are getting their first varsity experience, there wasn't much of an answer for Mount Union's Nasir Collins.
Collins was a threat to score every time he touched the ball on Friday. He finished with 166 rushing yards on nine carries and scored five times on the ground, and he also showed off his arm with a 36-yard passing touchdown in the second half as the Trojans trounced C-K, 55-14.
"We knew that we were out-manned. They're a senior-heavy team," Claysburg coach Chuck Kassick said. "They've been playing with each other for a long time, and they have as good of skill kids as there is in the conference, by far. Collins has 4,000 career rushing yards. He's a stud. The receiver (Hussan Posey) is tough. (Quarterback Maddox) Hobbs is good, and the linemen come after you."
Mount Union built a 28-0 lead after the first quarter with Collins scoring on touchdowns from 6, 46 and 26 yards. He also began a punt return that went for a touchdown in the opening period, but Collins flipped the ball to TyJeir Hooper on a lateral, and Hooper took it the rest of the way for a score.
The Bulldogs got a 40-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Treon to Trevor Brown on fourth down in the second quarter. Backup quarterback Blake Kulick also punched in a score on a sneak in the second half.
Play of the game: Collins' lateral to Hooper on the punt return in the first quarter was everything you needed to see to know it was going to go the Trojans' way. Collins caught the punt at the Mount Union 44 and returned it 16 yards before Hooper zigzagged another 40 yards for the touchdown.
Player of the game: Collins accounted for 202 yards of total offense.
Unsung heroes: As flashy and as impressive as Mount Union's offense was, its run defense also had a banner night. Out of Claysburg's 28 rushing attempts, the Trojans held the Bulldogs to minus-13 yards.
Most vital statistic: Mount Union, which had 304 rushing yards, outgained Claysburg on the ground by 317 yards.
Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh: "We have athletes and we're able to mix things up, and we don't have just one player this year. Years past, Nas has been very successful and we've relied on him. I think we're much more balanced this year."
Kassick: "They're very senior-laden. We have so many freshmen and sophomores and young kids playing -- they didn't quit. I'm proud of our kids for playing hard. And they knew we were up against a team that was much better talent-wise."
Collins: "It's one game at a time. Just focusing on practices, hustling in practices and playing hard in practice so we can play hard on the field."
Notable: Claysburg-Kimmel had two players injured and did not return to the field in Treon and athlete Ayden Soler. Soler walked off with a foot/ankle injury, while Treon appeared to have a head injury late in the first half. Treon was 3 of 7 for 73 yards and a touchdown before the injury.
Records: Mount Union (4-0); Claysburg-Kimmel (0-4)
Next week: Claysburg visits Juniata Valley, while Mount Union hosts West Branch.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Mount Union 28 14 6 7 -- 55
Claysburg-Kimmel 0 7 7 0 -- 14
First Quarter
MU–Collins 6 run, (Rank kick), 10:33
MU–Collins 46 run, (Rank kick), 7:20
MU–Collins 26 run, (Rank kick), 2:55
MU–Hooper 40 lateral from Collins on punt return, (Rank kick), 1:31
Second Quarter
CK–Brown 40 pass from Treon, (Fee kick), 8:56
MU–Collins 51 run, (Rank kick), 8:46
MU–Hobbs 1 run, (Rank kick), 4:31
Third Quarter
MU–Posey 36 pass from Collins, (kick failed), 6:59
CK–Kulick 1 run, (Fee kick), :26
Fourth Quarter
MU–Collins 2 run, (Rank kick), 10:26
TEAM STATISTICS MU CK
First downs 15 7
Total yards 361 136
Rushes-yards 23-304 28-(-13)
Yards passing 57 149
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 3-5-1 7-18-1
Punts-avg. 0-0 5-24.8
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 8-60 2-10
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Mount Union, Collins 9-166, Hobbs 9-73, Hooper 3-42, Posey 1-21, Rice 1-2. Claysburg-Kimmel, Quarello 11-15, Kulick 5-7, Ritchey-Zerby 5-(-2), Treon 7-(-33).
PASSING--Mount Union, Collins 1-1-36-1-0; Wasson 1-2-18-0-0; Hobbs 1-2-3-0-1. Claysburg-Kimmel, Treon 3-7-73-1-0; Kulick 4-11-76-0-1.
RECEIVING--Mount Union, Posey 1-36, Jenkins 1-18, Hooper 1-3. Claysburg-Kimmel, Brown 5-89, Whitmer 1-56, Lewis 1-4.