Top 10 national semifinals of the expanded playoff era |
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| Photo by Tom Nettleton, d3photography.com |
The fourth quarter of this game alone saw 31 points scored and four lead changes, as Mount Union and Wartburg went toe-to-toe with the Purple Raiders coming away with a 34-31 win.
The sprint to the finish was ignited when Mount Union (14-0) mishandled a punt snap, ending with a 1-yard punt that set Wartburg’s offense up at the Purple Raider 21. Following a penalty, Wartburg quarterback Nile McLaughlin connected with Drake George for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Knights (13-1) their first lead at 24-21.
Mount Union responded to its first deficit of the postseason with a 15-play, 83-yard drive capped by a Braxton Plunk 2-yard touchdown run that put the Purple Raiders back ahead 28-24 with 4:25 to play. The drive nearly stalled near midfield, but Echeverry converted a key fourth-and-2 to keep Mount Union’s offense on the field.
Needing an answer, Wartburg appeared to have a long kickoff return into Mount Union territory by Hunter Clasen, only to see the return called back by penalty. Undeterred, Wartburg wasted no time with its own answer, going 70 yards in just four plays. Wartburg had success throwing through the middle of the field for most of the game, including McLaughlin’s 59-yard touchdown to Carter Henry. The touchdown returned the lead to the Knights, 31-28 with 3:06 to play.
With the season on the line, Plunk again engineered a masterful 7-play, 69 yard drive. Facing fourth-and-7 with 1:36 to play, Plunk avoided Wartburg’s blitz, rolled left, and found Wayne Ruby, Jr. 36 yards downfield for a first down conversion. Three plays later, Echeverry was in the end zone with the game’s decisive points.
It, of course, is not the only time that Wartburg would find its way into the national semifinals, or on this list.