Allegheny 26, Mt. Union 15
November 17, 1990, Alliance, Ohio
 
With 21 seconds left in the game, junior nose guard Jeff Pearson stuffed Mt. Union quarterback Brad Petro on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line, appearing to ice a Gator 20-13 victory in first-round NCAA Division III playoff action. But two plays (and just eight seconds) later, Allegheny's Jeff Filkovski fumbled the snap. Fullback Jordan Geist retrieved the ball in the end zone for a safety, allowing Mt. Union one last gasp. Starting from his own 44, quarterback Brad Petro reached back for a miracle but found disaster instead as Allegheny's furious pass rush forced an interception as time expired. The ball settled in Pearson's waiting arms, and the Gator nose guard promptly galloped 35 yards for a game-ending touchdown. Allegheny never trailed, scoring on its second possession. Tailback Stanley Drayton plunged in from one yard out to cap a 14-play 80-yard drive. Two Steve Boucher field goals (of 25 and 33 yards) gave Allegheny a comfortable 13-0 lead. But Mt. Union stormed back, scoring 13 unanswered points to tie the game. Allegheny then marched 77 yards on 10 plays to regain the lead, scoring on a 10-yard strike from Filkovski to Mark Spoerke. The Purple Raiders quickly came back, driving to the Allegheny 5-yard line before misfiring. The Gators could not run out the clock but escaped immediate danger on the strength of tailback Jerry O'Brien's rushing (113 yards on 15 carries for the day; 53 yards on five carries during the fourth quarter) crossing midfield to the Mt. Union 32. The Purple Raiders then travelled 82 yards on 15 plays, setting the stage for Pearson's heroics.




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1990 Game Ten: Allegheny 14, Rochester 7

1990 Game Nine: Allegheny 51, Duquesne 0

1990 Game Eight: Allegheny 14, Ohio Wesleyan 10

1990 Game Seven: Allegheny 24, Kenyon 18

1990 Game Six: Allegheny 38, Wittenberg 0

1990 Game Five: Allegheny 38, Wooster 14

1990 Game Four: Allegheny 62, Earlham 0

1990 Game Three: Allegheny 40, Denison 15

1990 Game Two: Allegheny 29, Oberlin 18 

1990 Game One: Allegheny 30, Juniata 30