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Box Score

The Capital University football team was unable to get it going in the right direction in Ohio Athletic Conference play Saturday, falling 62-0 at top-ranked Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.

The Purple Raiders (6-0 overall, 5-0 OAC), who are ranked No. 1 in the country by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3football.com, made the Crusaders their fifth straight shutout victim. Capital was held to just 107 total yards, turned the ball over four times and allowed 518 yards of total offense.

The Crusaders (1-5, 1-4) got off to an encouraging start as senior defensive lineman Seth Nelson (Columbus, Ohio) recovered a Mount Union fumble at the Purple Raiders' 48-yard line. Capital drove to the 22-yard line before junior quarterback Ryan Kremchek (Sylvania, Ohio) was picked off at the 16, from where the Purple Raiders returned it for a touchdown to take an early advantage.

Mount Union totaled 52 first-half points and held its commanding lead throughout the contest while holding the Crusaders to just four first downs.

Freshman running back Chris Elledge (Pickerington, Ohio; at left) led the Capital rushing attack with 41 yards on 12 carries. Kremchek registered 46 yards through the air, while junior Alex Coleman (Columbus, Ohio) posted 95 all-purpose yards.

Sophomore linebacker T.J. Langermeier (West Jefferson, Ohio) led the defense with 10 tackles, including one for a loss. Junior linebacker Kyle Shaeffer (Pickerington, Ohio) and senior defensive lineman Aaron Rittgers (Pickerington, Ohio) tallied nine and seven tackles, respectively, and each notched a tackle for a loss.

The Crusaders look to recover next Saturday against Baldwin Wallace, which is currently ranked 23rd in the nation by the AFCA. Kickoff at Bernlohr Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.