Oct. 19, 2002

Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Junior running back Matt Bernardo (Lebanon Township, NJ/Voorhees) rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown, senior quarterback Justin Jones (Bloomingdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes) threw for 174 yards and another score and the Muhlenberg defense limited Johns Hopkins to just 238 yards of total offense as the Mules knocked off the host Blue Jays, 23-10 at Homewood Field. The loss snaps a seven-game winning streak for the Blue Jays, who fall to 5-1, 2-1 in the Centennial Conference. Muhlenberg, which picked up its first win at Johns Hopkins since 1988, improves to 5-1, 3-1.

Bernardo capped a 15-play, 86-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run with just 1:30 remaining in the first quarter to give the Mules a 7-0 lead. In what proved to be a tone-setting first quarter, the Mules held the ball for nearly 12 minutes and limited Hopkins to just five offensive plays.

Muhlenberg extended the lead to 16-3 by early in the fourth quarter as senior Chris Reed (Reading, PA/Muhlenberg) nailed field goals of 21, 26 and 20 yards while the Blue Jays' only points in the first three quarters came on a 28-yard field goal by junior Chris Smolyn (Randolph, NJ/Lenape Valley) that actually cut the deficit to 10-3 early in the second half.

Hopkins pulled within 16-10 on a 97-yard touchdown pass from freshman Zach DiIonno (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) to sophomore Brian Wolcott (Harding, PA/Wyoming) with 9:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Blue Jays appeared to stop Muhlenberg on their ensuing possession as they forced a fourth and four play from the MC 42-yard line. However, Zack Trach (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) raced 43 yards on a fake punt down to the Hopkins 15-yard line and Jones threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Alfredo Mercuri (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) three plays later to seal the victory.

Bernardo and Jones helped Muhlenberg to a 374-238 advantage in total offense and the Mules won the time of possession battle, 41:19-18:41. In addition, the Muhlenberg defense limited Hopkins to 32 net yards rushing.

Wolcott ended the game with five receptions for a career-high 193 yards and the one touchdown. His 97-yard touchdown reception is the second-longest in school history and his 193 receiving yards are the sixth-highest single-game total in school history. DiIonno was 8-of-18 for 151 yards and the one touchdown. He also threw an interception.

Johns Hopkins will next be in action next Saturday when the Blue Jays travel to Randolph-Macon. Muhlenberg will host Gettysburg next week.

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