EVERETT - Barring a home playoff game, Everett's seniors played their final one in the red jerseys on Friday night. And they stepped up on both sides of the ball to score a 14-7 victory over Mount Union.

Defensively, the Warriors clamped down on the Trojans in forcing five turnovers, while the offense did its part well enough to get the big win.

"The defense played outstanding," Everett coach Tom Waltman said. "The seniors stepped up and made tackles. We got after them from the point of attack. We did a great job to beat a 5-1 team that was listed as Honorable Mention in the state rankings."

On Mount Union's first possession of the night, the visitors were forced into a fourth-and-long situation, and Everett linebacker Anthony Lemin came up with an interception after Trojan quarterback Trevor Dixon tried a short pass.

The teams traded possessions to complete a scoreless opening quarter, and the Trojans punted early in the second.

Everett took over at the Mount Union 49-yard line, and needed just one play for the game's first points. Zach Millin took a pitch from Richard Brallier and dashed around the corner and down the home sideline, making a cutback at the 10 to avoid a potential tackler and he raced into the end zone. Tyler Bulger's point-after made it 7-0 with 9:44 to play in the half.

Mount Union started its next drive with five straight runs, but on the sixth attempt, the ball came loose and Everett's Levi Grimes corralled it to hand his team possession.

On that drive, the Warriors converted a fourth down to keep the chains moving, and Millin took the next handoff and rolled 36 yards to the 1-yard line, where his number was called again and he punched it in. Bulger's kick set the score at 14-0 at the 3:10 mark.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mount Union couldn't handle the pigskin and the Warriors recovered, giving them a chance at more points before halftime. But Everett's second-down play resulted in a costly 15-yard flag on the Trojans for a late hit. From the Mount Union 31, three short runs garnered a first down, then on fourth down at the 16, Bulger came out to attempt a field goal. His kick was plenty long, but sailed just wide, leaving the hosts with a two-touchdown margin at the break.

Mount Union had good field position to start the second half, but Dixon threw a long pass down the middle that was picked off by Everett's Jordan Clark. The Trojans got the ball back quickly, but a pass that was ruled a lateral was muffed and Warrior junior Davey Bollman came out of the pile with the ball.

Midway through the final period, the Trojans started at their own 43, and a 44-yard jaunt on second down by Kai House had them in scoring position.

Four plays later, on fourth down, Mydell Loner evaded a handful of Everett tacklers to find paydirt, and the point-after cut the deficit in half with 7:37 to play in regulation.

Loner led all rushers with 137 yards on 22 carries and added a pair of catches for 15 yards.

Everett drove downfield, only to have Loner intercept Brallier at the Trojan five-yard line to prevent an insurance score.

Besides three lost fumbles and two interceptions, Mount Union also had seven penalties for 60 yards.

"Everett stepped up its game and controlled us in the first half," Trojan boss Dave Hummel said. "We had too many penalties and fumbles, and you can't do that against a good football team. That's the game right there."

Mount Union (5-2) hosts Northern Bedford next.