The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Petruccelli reflects on Mount title
The last time Josh Petruccelli lost a football game was about 13 months ago.
In 2016, Perry was in a state semifinal, where Petruccelli and the Pirates fell to Steubenville.
“After losing that game, all I was thinking was, ‘I want to keep winning,’ ” said Petruccelli.
He wanted to do so at the highest level. Petruccelli had an interest from Mid-American Conference teams, and a few Division II offers, but found a home at a place where winning seems automatic. In late January 2017, Petruccelli informed Mount Union coach Vince Kehres he was headed to Alliance that summer to attend and play football at the school.
He hasn’t lost since. The Purple Raiders were 15-0 in 2017 and won the Division III national championship Dec. 15.
Freshmen rarely make a big impact at Mount, where the program routinely brings in more than 100 players in each recruiting class.
Petruccelli didn’t care about the odds. He was determined to quickly find his place with the program that’s back atop the D-III college football world.
Kehres wasn’t sure what to expect when Petruccelli arrived at the campus in early August. That’s usually the case in D-III. Coaches watch tape and meet with players during the recruiting
process. But beyond that, it’s mostly a game of the unknown.
When Petruccelli was finally on the practice field, the Purple Raiders coach saw something special.
“He showed up to camp ready to go and bigger and stronger than I remember when I saw him on tape,” Kehres told The NewsHerald in September. “He looked like one of our returning starters.”
In training camp, he performed like one. The big first impression was during Mount’s annual scrimmage vs. Washington and Jefferson. By some accounts, Petruccelli scored multiple touchdowns. From there, he kept moving up the depth chart.
“I remember the first day of camp. It was really hectic,” said Petruccelli. “There were about 15 running backs, and I was like, ‘Oh boy, will I get a chance this season?’ ”
He did because Petruccelli was intent on being the most physical runner on Mount’s roster.
“I kind of sensed it early on,” said Petruccelli about moving up the depth chart in training camp. “I always try to be physical. That’s the type of player I am. I played both ways (at Perry), and that can be tiring. When I got to college, it was all about only being a running back, which was nice. I was fresh, so I was always trying to hit people, be physical.”
That play led to confidence
from the coaching staff, and Petruccelli returned the favor with a 1,000-yard season. By comparison, Mount’s all-time leading rusher Nate Kmic — the NCAA all-time recordholder with 8,074 yards — had 1,219 yards in 11 games as a freshman. In 15 games this season, Petruccelli had 1,063 yards on 156 carries (a 6.8-yard average), and scored six touchdowns.
He shared time in 2017 with Jawanza Evans-Morris, who rushed for 1,089 yards and 11 TDs. The duo went back and forth this season atop the team’s running-back depth chart. Evans-Morris began 2017 No. 1, but by Week 2 Petruccelli was the starter before a foot injury knocked
him down a peg.
It didn’t matter which player was the starter. The running back combo worked well for the Purple Raiders. It could stay that way next season when Evans-Morris is a senior and Petruccelli is a sophomore.
“It was great competing with Jawanza,” said Petruccelli. “We supported each other all season.”
The top highlight of Petruccelli’s year occurred in a national semifinal during a 43-40 comeback win at Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He had a season-high in carries (27) and yards (132) with two touchdowns.
“Being the hot hand, I was doing everything I could to get 5, 6 yards on
every carry,” said Petruccelli. “I was just working.”
In the Stagg Bowl win over Mary Hardin-Baylor, the freshman had 29 yards on 11 carries in a 12-0 victory.
Petruccelli and his teammates will enjoy that win before beginning preparations for a possible repeat in 2018. It’s also time for reflection on a season that rarely occurs for a Mount freshman football player.
“Looking back, I realized how difficult it is for a freshman to get carries at Mount,” said Petruccelli. “I didn’t think 1,000 yards as a freshman, but when I got there it was pretty cool. We’ll all be working in the offseason to get even better.”