H.S. Football: Unfinished journey finally reaches its starting line
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Mount Union hosts Penns Valley in D6 opener
MOUNT UNION -- For nearly a year, the Mount Union Trojans have carried a feeling that never quite faded.
It followed them through offseason workouts, summer conditioning and every victory of a perfect regular season. It lingered because a year ago, the Trojans never got the chance to finish what they started.
A promising season came to an abrupt end when injuries ravaged the roster late in the year, forcing Mount Union to forfeit its regular-season finale and ending any hopes of a postseason run before it could begin.
Now, after 12 months of waiting, Mount Union finally has the opportunity it spent the past year chasing.
The top-seeded Trojans will open the District 6 Class 2A playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday when they host eighth-seeded Penns Valley at Memorial Field in Mount Union, bringing an undefeated 10-0 record and a year’s worth of unfinished business into the postseason.
“We had to cut our season short last year and did not play in the playoffs, so it is great to end the regular season like this,” Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh said after the Trojans’ regular-season finale. “I am proud of them for how they prepared and played, but they are already focused on next week’s game.”
The Trojans have earned their place atop the district bracket with one of the most dominant seasons in program history.
Mount Union rolled through the regular season undefeated, outscoring opponents 426-97 and securing only the third perfect regular season in program history. The Trojans closed the regular season with a convincing 42-14 victory over Windber and enter the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak.
Leading the charge is senior running back Nasir Collins, whose remarkable season has made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in Pennsylvania.
Collins delivered perhaps his finest performance of the season in the regular-season finale, rushing for 293 yards and six touchdowns against Windber. After being limited to just 60 yards in the first half, he erupted for 233 yards and four touchdowns after the break as Mount Union turned a competitive game into a rout.
The senior enters the playoffs with 1,859 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on just 148 carries, averaging an astounding 12.6 yards per attempt and 185.9 yards per game. Including return yardage, Collins has compiled 2,054 all-purpose yards through 10 games.
His consistency has been every bit as impressive as the numbers. Collins has surpassed 100 rushing yards in 19 consecutive games dating back to last season.
“We came into this year with a goal, and we ain’t done yet,” Collins told reporters after the Windber win. “We still have a lot to get done and improve.”
Brumbaugh has repeatedly praised his senior standout.
“He’s a phenomenal runner and a generational talent for us,” Brumbaugh shared. “If you have him in the ball game, you have a chance at any point.”
While Collins is the focal point, the Trojans possess plenty of weapons around him.
Junior quarterback Maddox Hobbs has guided the offense efficiently, throwing for 218 yards and 11 touchdowns while also contributing on defense. Collins has also been utilized as a passer, completing 14 of 26 attempts for 419 yards and six scores without an interception.
When Mount Union has gone to the air, it has often resulted in big plays. Senior TyJeir Hooper leads the team with seven catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns, averaging nearly 34 yards per reception. Senior Hussan Posey has added five receptions for 155 yards and two scores.
The defense has been equally dominant. Senior Levi Hunsinger leads the Trojans with 133 total tackles, while Hobbs has registered 128 tackles and an interception. Hooper has contributed 85 tackles for a unit that has allowed fewer than 10 points per game this season.
Mount Union’s opportunistic defense was on display against Windber as Hobbs and Caizon Scott each recorded interceptions.
Penns Valley arrives in Mount Union as the No. 8 seed after overcoming a difficult start to the season. The Rams sat at 1-6 through seven games before closing the regular season with three consecutive victories. Penns Valley finished 4-6 overall and ended the season with a dramatic 20-19 victory over Somerset in the regular-season finale.
The Rams have leaned heavily on their running game throughout the year, while senior quarterback Spencer Althouse will be tasked with providing balance against an aggressive Mount Union defense.
Penns Valley enters the postseason playing its best football of the season, but slowing down Collins and the Trojans presents a significant challenge.
For Mount Union, Friday represents much more than the start of another playoff run. It is the opportunity the Trojans never received a year ago.
The disappointment of having a season end before the postseason began has fueled the program’s return to the top of the district standings. Now, with an undefeated record, the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage, Mount Union finally gets its chance to see how far this journey can go.
The road they hoped to travel a year ago begins Friday night under the lights at Memorial Field.