Gators open 2001 season with loss at Mount Union

Box Score

Alliance, Ohio - September 1, 2001 - The Allegheny College football team opened the 2001 season with a 52-7 loss to No. 1-ranked Mount Union College here today. The Gators turned in a strong performance early, and held a 7-3 lead with 2:14 left in the opening quarter. But the Purple Raiders answered with seven unanswered touchdowns for their fifth straight victory over Allegheny.

Mount Union opened the scoring 2:30 into the game on a 25-yard Rodney Chenos field goal, which was set up by a 75-yard kickoff return by Chuck Moore. The Gator defense held, allowing just a field goal, then forced a punt on Mount Union's second possession before the Allegheny offense clicked into gear.

The Gators began a 13-play, 89-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard touchdown rush by Tim Carl to give the Gators a 7-3 lead. The drive was highlighted by sophomore quarterback Bubba Smith's 17-yard rush on third-and-two. Senior tailback Shane Ream carried seven times for 38 yard on the drive. Allegheny's lead was short-lived, howeve, as Mount Union answered just 1:42 later on a Jason Candle 52-yard TD reception.

Ream led the Gators with 140 yard on 28 carries. He also led the team with four receptions for 43 yards. Smith was 10-of-25 for 118 yards in his first collegiate start, with a pair of interceptions. Moore led all rushers with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Mount Union's Rob Adamson was 13-for-21 for 275 yards and three scores.

The Gators dropped to 0-1 for the fourth straight season, while Mount Union improved to 1-0 and extended its regular season winning streak to 65 games.

Allegheny travels to Western Pennsylvania rival Washington & Jefferson next weekend for a 1:30 kickoff on September 8, 2001.