ALLIANCE, Ohio – Centre football faced Division III juggernaut Mount Union in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs Saturday afternoon, falling by a 51-35 score in frigid conditions at Mount Union Stadium.
 
Coming off the program's second-ever NCAA Playoff victory last Saturday, the Colonels (10-2) out-scored the No. 1 Purple Raiders (12-0) by a 28-0 margin in the second half, and finished with more points than any Mount Union opponent this season.
 
The defending national champions had four first-half takeaways and excelled on special teams, however, building a big enough lead to withstand the comeback bid.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Purple Raiders scored the game's first touchdown after forcing a Centre three-and-out, and added another to take an early 14-0 lead.
- Centre found the endzone as John Walton hit Cody Estep for a 38-yard touchdown, making it 14-7 following a five-play, 90-yard drive.
- Mount Union's Josh Petruccelli quickly answered with a long 75-yard touchdown run, however, and the Raiders added a 40-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the quarter to take a 24-7 lead.
- Centre had its punt blocked early in the second period, setting up a one-play touchdown drive for the Raiders that pushed the lead to 31-7. Mount Union had another short scoring possession on its next drive, although Cody Estep blocked the point after try to tie the program's single-season block record.
- Walton was picked off for the second time to halt Centre's ensuing drive, and Petruccelli hit pay dirt again to make it 44-7. Mount Union would score again to carry a 51-7 lead into the half, and other than kneeling out the clock managed points on every drive.
- The second half was an entirely different story, as the Colonel defense not only held the Raiders without a point, but limited the hosts to just one first down.
- After forcing a turnover on downs to start the third quarter, Centre marched down the field on an 11-play, 63-yard drive. The Colonels converted two fourth downs, the second of which was a 32-yard touchdown from Walton to Hibbs.
- Colin Burnam plunged in for a 3-yard score on Centre's next possession, and Walton hit Jordan Gunter for a 28-yard score later in the period.
- Burnam delivered another touchdown with a 6-yard score on fourth down late in the game, pulling Centre within 51-35 after Ben Logsdon's point after.
- With just 1:20 remaining, Mount Union was able to run the clock out after securing the onside kick.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Despite missing Southern Athletic Association Player of the Year, Tanner Young, the Colonels amassed 471 yards of offense. Making his first collegiate start, Walton was 15-for-38 for three touchdowns.
- Burnam capped his Centre career with 126 yards on 28 carries and a pair of touchdowns, while fellow senior Trevor Carnell ran the ball 19 times for 65 yards.
- Gunter led all players with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Hibbs followed with four for 90 and a score. Hibbs' total gives him a program-record 1,238 this season.
- Estep's versatility was on display again Saturday, as matched David Albright '98 and Montas Allen '95 with his fifth block of the year to tie the program record. This came a week after setting the all-time receiving yards record in the win against W&J.
- The Colonels converted all five of their fourth down attempts.
- Centre held Mount Union to its second lowest total in yards (326) and passing yards (120) this season.
- Jaylen Jones paced the Centre defense with seven total tackles, while Eric Smith and Cal Lewellyn had six each.
 
SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS
- Team passing yards (3,536) and passing touchdowns (39)
- Individual passing touchdowns (Young, 31)
- Receiving yards (Hibbs, 1,238) and receiving touchdowns (Hibbs, 13)
- Kickoff return yards (Estep, 560) and attempts (25)
- Made PATs (Logsdon, 64)
- Blocked kicks – tied (Estep, 5)
- Punt return attempts (Gunter, 30)
 
CAREER RECORDS
- Receiving yards (Estep, 2,110)
- Rushing yards-per-carry – minimum 400 attempts (Burnam, 5.25)
- Made PATs (Logsdon, 157)