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MOUNT UNION -- Glendale hung in for three quarters with an undefeated Mount Union team that had been averaging 50.2 points per game halfway through the regular season.
Unfortunately, for the Vikings, the combination of the inability to score on offense and the Trojans' own offense getting into a groove proved to be too much.
Glendale took an early third quarter lead but gave up three unanswered scores to Mount Union in a 26-8 loss in Inter-County Conference action on Friday night.
"That (holding Mount Union in check) is a testament to our defense," Glendale coach Chase Hill said. "We preach physicality as that's something we kind of pride ourselves on. Our guys definitely brought it the first half. ... Our guys do an excellent job of wanting to be physical and wanting to find contact."
Sequence of the game: With Glendale leading 8-6 a little over five minutes into the second half, MU's Nasir Collins took a pitch back from quarterback Maddox Hobbs then planted his feet and lobbed a pass to the end zone for a wide-open Brayden Richards on a 24-yard score to make it 12-8 Mount Union. The Vikings had no success and were forced to punt, and the Trojans made them pay as Collins found plenty of running room on a 27-yard sprint to pay dirt.
Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh: "Things finally came together for us. It seemed like every time we would get something that we would get it called back (due to penalties). So, it was good to put a series together like that."
Player of the game: Collins was held to 24 yards in the first half but finished the evening with 98 rushing yards on 18 carries, and threw for 55 yards. His 12-yard running TD put his team up 6-0 on the first drive of the contest.
Unsung hero: Levi Hamilton was the workhorse for the Vikings in defeat as he tallied 68 yards on the ground, including a 2-yard touchdown at the 6:55 mark of the third to tie the game. His two-point conversion run gave Glendale the 8-6 advantage. He also caught one pass for 7 yards.
Hill: "We took the lead in the third quarter and we were feeling good. But it's hard to contain a team like that (Mount Union) with that many athletes for four quarters."
Most vital statistic: Mount Union gained 256 total yards of offense, while Glendale finished with 137.
Collins: "We just needed to understand that this was a physical team (Glendale). We haven't gotten anything as close to this physical (from another team) all season. We knew that but we didn't start off well. When came into the half knowing that we had to take it up a notch and play harder.''
Notable: TyJeir Hooper picked off Viking QB Michael Venslosky and returned it 54-yards for a score that set the final with 4:23 remaining in the contest. ... Hobbs and Glendale's Aiden Bowser both recovered fumbles for their respective teams, while Bowser also pounced on a blocked punt.
Records: Glendale (2-4); Mount Union (6-0).
Next week: Glendale hosts Claysburg-Kimmel next Friday; Mount Union travels to Juniata Valley the same night.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Glendale 0 0 8 0 -- 8
Mount Union 6 0 6 14 -- 26
First Quarter
MU--Collins 12 run (kick failed), 9:25.
Third Quarter
G--Hamilton 2 run (Hamilton run), 6:55.
MU--Bra. Richards 24 pass from Collins (run failed), 4:24.
Fourth Quarter
MU--Collins 27 run (Ranck kick), 11:52.
MU--Hooper 56 interception return (Ranck kick), 4:23.
TEAM STATISTICS G MU
First downs 9 14
Total yards 137 256
Rushes-yards 35-103 31-201
Yards passing 34 55
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 3-13-1 4-7-0
Punts-avg. 6-28.7 3-15.3
Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 2-21 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Glendale, T. Ammerman 14-51, Brink 1-1, Venslosky 2-(-17), Hamilton 18-68. Mount Union, Collins 18-98, Hooper 7-58, Hobbs 6-45.
PASSING--Glendale, Venslosky 3-8-1-34, Hamilton 0-5-0-0. Mount Union, Hobbs 0-1-0-0, Collins 4-6-0-55.
RECEIVING--Glendale, Hamilton 1-7, T. Ammerman 1-17, H. Ammerman 1-10. Mount Union, Hooper 2-27, Hobbs 1-4.