The Wilmington College football team lost to top-ranked Mount Union Saturday, 69-0, in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Williams Stadium’s Townsend Field.

“Mount Union is a great team,” said Wilmington head coach Stacey Hairston. “They have been on the top of this conference for two and a half decades. They are a very good team and you have to play perfect to have a chance to beat them. They are on a different level than we are with a roster loaded of seniors and juniors. They are loaded with experience and we are on the opposite end of that spectrum.

“But, we are getting there. We are rebuilding and we don’t have the O-line, D-line depth. This is a team once the snowball goes down hill, it goes down really quick and picks up speed. That was the top of Division III football right there.”

Mount Union scored on its first eight possessions in opening up a 56-0 halftime lead.

The only Purple Raider touchdown in the second half was an interception return.

Sophomore receiver Aroyal Wright (Cincinnati, OH/Newport (KY)) finished with five catches for 96 yards, while senior Justin Lee (Middletown, OH/Madison) added five receptions. He was also 6-of-10 passing for 65 yards.

Sophomore Brandon Mitchell (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel), in his first start at quarterback this season, was just 9-of-29 for 80 yards with three interceptions.

Wilmington’s rushing attack was held to negative-58 yards on 24 carries.

Senior Tarrell Starckey (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs) finished with a team-high 10 tackles, while sophomore Darren Milligan (Franklin, OH/Carlisle) added a career-high nine tackles.

Senior Nick Williams (Cleveland, OH/Fairview) and senior Jason Phillips (Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda) each had eight tackles. Williams added a half-tackle for loss, quarterback hurry and a pass break-up.

Sophomore defensive linemen Ryan Prince (Urbana, OH/Urbana) and Te’Qon Scott (Richmond, VA/Varina) recorded a sack each.

Wilmington (1-6 overall, 0-6 OAC) travels to Heidelberg 1:30 p.m. Saturday.