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MOUNT UNION -- For nearly two years, few opposing teams have figured out a way to beat Mount Union.
The Marion Center Stingers are one of the few who have.
Now the unbeaten Trojans have a chance to accomplish something they have been waiting for since November 2024: avenge a painful overtime playoff loss to the Stingers.
Top-seeded Mount Union (11-0) hosts No. 5 Marion Center (8-3) at 7 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Field in the District 6 Class 2A semifinals. A spot in next week’s district championship game at Altoona’s Mansion Park awaits the winner of No. 2 Richland-No. 3 Bellwood-Antis.
There is no shortage of motivation for the Trojans.
The last time the teams met, Marion Center escaped Veterans Memorial Field with a 35-27 overtime victory in a district playoff thriller. The Stingers built a 21-7 halftime lead before Mount Union rallied with 14 fourth-quarter points to force overtime. Marion Center ultimately scored in the extra period to end the Trojans’ season.
Mount Union running back Nasir Collins, then a sophomore, carried 19 times for 79 yards and a touchdown in that loss. Collins went on to produce one of the area’s most impressive seasons, finishing with 1,799 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns while scoring 26 total touchdowns. He also added two interceptions on defense.
Trojans quarterback Maddox Hobbs and return specialist Caizon Scott made their presence felt as freshmen. Hobbs scored a rushing touchdown, while Scott broke loose for a punt return touchdown.
However, this year’s Mount Union squad has been a different animal.
The Trojans have run the table during an undefeated regular season and enter the semifinals with championship aspirations. But Marion Center arrives with an offense capable of testing any defense.
Several players who helped Marion Center pull off that victory remain key contributors. Junior quarterback Troy Slovinsky leads the Stingers’ balanced attack. Slovinsky completed 13 of 20 passes for 172 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Marion Center’s playoff win over River Valley.
Junior running back Brady Haggerty provides production on the ground after rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown in the first round, while senior receiver Trent Slovinsky remains one of the Stingers’ top playmakers, coming off a five-catch, 90-yard, one-touchdown performance.
Marion Center arrives battle-tested after navigating the rugged Heritage Conference schedule, while Mount Union has answered every challenge en route to an unbeaten regular season and an Inter-County Conference North championship.
Now the Trojans are one win away from a trip to Mansion Park and the district championship game. To get there, they’ll have to get past the team that ended their season two years ago.
Friday night offers Mount Union a chance to keep its perfect season alive, move one step closer to a district title and settle a score that has lingered since that overtime defeat on its home turf.