Elyria’s Tyler Almeida, who is the kicker for one of the nation’s top Division III team Mount Union, is one of 42 placekickers nationwide on the Fred Mitchell Award October watch list.

On the season, Almeida is second on the team in scoring with 67 points, 9 of 12 on field goals and 40 of 41 on extra points. He has converted 25 consecutive extra points for a Mount Union squad that is 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Almeida is one of only two NCAA D-III kickers from Ohio on the list and he is also being recognized for the community service work he does with the Raider Buddy program. The Raider Buddy program takes Mount Union football players into Alliance-area elementary schools to mentor and tutor children.

The annual Fred Mitchell Award, www.fredmitchellaward.com is provided to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker among more than 600 FCS, Division II, III and NAIA football teams. The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker at Wittenberg University, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Mount Union scored on each of its first four possessions and forced three John Carroll turnovers in the first half and the Purple Raiders went on to a 51-7 rout in a Ohio Athletic Conference opener Saturday in Cleveland.

Quarterback Neal Seaman completed 20 of 25 passes for 260 yards with three touchdown passes as he led Mount Union to a 2-0 start and the nation’s best 45th consecutive regular season victory.

Elyria’s Tyler Almeida kicked field goals from 34, 22 and 23 yards to send the score to 51-0. He also kicked six extra points.

swalker@MorningJournal.com