Oct. 25, 2003

Box Score

ALLENTOWN, PA-Senior running back Matt Bernardo returned to action after missing two games and rushed for 135 yards and two first-half touchdowns and the Muhlenberg defense limited 13th-ranked Johns Hopkins to just 192 yards of total offense as the Mules knocked off the Blue Jays, 14-6 at Scotty Wood Stadium Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps an 11-game winning streak for the Blue Jays, who slip to 7-1, 3-1 in the Centennial Conference. Muhlenberg improves to 4-2, 4-1 in the Centennial with its fourth straight victory.

Bernardo gave the Mules the lead for good when he capped an eight-play, 89-yard drive with a 47-yard touchdown run with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter. Blue Jay punter Chris Smolyn had pinned the Mules back to their 11-yard line with a 47-yard punt, but Bernardo's touchdown finished the impressive drive.

After the teams traded the next several possessions, Bernardo extended the lead to 14-0 with his second touchdown run of the game from three yards out with six minutes remaining in the second quarter. The drive was extended when Hopkins was called for pass interference in the end zone on a fake field goal attempt on fourth and goal from the 10. Bernardo scored on the next play.

Hopkins finally got on the board midway through the fourth quarter when sophomore quarterback Zach DiIonno threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to freshman Anthony Triplin to make it 14-6 with 7:05 remaining. The Blue Jays had the ball twice in the final five minutes, including once in Muhlenberg territory, but the Muhlenberg defense stiffened and shut down the Blue Jays both times.

Bernardo's 135 yards rushing accounted for nearly half of Muhlenberg's total offensive output of 280 yards. His two touchdowns also give him 62 in his career, which breaks the Centennial Conference record he had shared with Gettysburg's Paul Smith. Sophomore quarterback Tom Kelleher was 14-of-35 for 171 yards with two interceptions, while junior running back Mike Mrkobrad had a career-high eight receptions for a personal-best 117 yards.

Junior Adam Cook led the way for the Blue Jays as he amassed 177 all-purpose yards in the win. He rushed 12 times for 60 yards and had a career-high nine receptions for 57 yards. Triplin had three receptions for 64 yards and the one score. His three receptions give him 35 on the year, which ties the Centennial Conference record for receptions by a freshman.

Johns Hopkins will host Ursinus next Saturday at Homewood Field, while Muhlenberg can assure itself of a share of the Centennial Conference title with a win next week at Gettysburg.

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