T.J. Shields passed for 218 yards on 23-of-30 passing, Tyler Echeverry rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns and the Mount Union defense sacked Carnegie Mellon quarterback Ben Mills on fourth down with 1 minute, 25 seconds left to secure a 24-19 victory Saturday in the Division III playoffs.
The Purple Raiders advance to the Division III quarterfinals next week against Salisbury.
No. 5 Mount Union (12-0) broke open a close game, scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 24-13 lead in the third quarter after No. 13 Carnegie Mellon went in front 13-7 before halftime on a 17-yard touchdown run by Joey McGinnis IV.
Carnegie Mellon (10-2) got within 24-19 in the fourth quarter on Mills’ 9-yard touchdown pass to Reece Kolke and was driving into Mount Union territory late before Purple Raiders linebacker Rossy Moore sacked Mills to seal the outcome.
Mills finished 17 of 29 for 187 yards and two touchdown for Carnegie Mellon.
