Oct. 21, 2006

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Muhlenberg sophomore quarterback Eric Santagato (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) rushed for 26 yards on the Mules' first play of the game. For the remainder of the game the Mules generated a total of just 14 more yards on 40 plays as a suffocating Johns Hopkins defense kept the Muhlenberg offense off balance all day and the Blue Jays held on for a 10-7 win at Homewood Field. The 40 yards allowed are the fewest ever by Johns Hopkins. The previous school record for fewest yards allowed in a game was 55 against Haverford in 1961.

Johns Hopkins, which controlled the ball for over 41 minutes and held a 244-40 advantage in total offense, improves to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Centennial Conference with the victory. The Mules lost for the fourth time in their last five games and slip to 3-4, 1-3.

After Santagato's run moved the ball into Blue Jay territory, the Hopkins defense stiffened and forced a punt. The Mules never got the ball over midfield again, were forced to punt eight times, threw four interceptions and turned the ball over on downs once. The first down run by Santagato was Muhlenberg's last first-down until the Mules converted a fourth-and-seven play with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Muhlenberg generated a total of just six yards of total offense in the second half.

Still, the Blue Jays found themselves in a tight game late after building what appeared was a comfortable 10-0 lead late in the third quarter. Senior Ben Scott (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) drilled a 20-yard field goal to polish off a nine-play, 39-yard drive midway through the second quarter, but it wasn't until late in the third quarter that the Blue Jays punched one into the end zone as sophomore Greg Chimera's (North Potomac, Quince Orchard) first career touchdown on a two-yard reception from freshman Michael Murray (Ijamsville, MD/Urbana) capped a 10-play, 52-yard drive to push the lead to 10-0.

Hopkins had several chances to increase the lead, but a pair of red zone turnovers kept the Mules alive and one got them back in the game. A Tom O'Neill (Neshanic Station, NJ/Immaculata) interception for Johns Hopkins on the second play of the fourth quarter set the Blue Jays up at the Muhlenberg 31-yard line. Freshman Andrew Kase (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing) sandwiched a pair of rushing plays that netted 10 yards around a 13-yard reception from Murray to set the Blue Jays up with a second-and-four from the Muhlenberg eight-yard line, but Murray's screen pass to Corey Sattler (Monroeville, PA/Gateway) sailed on him and freshman Cameron Ahouse (Woodbury, CT/The Gunnery) intercepted it at the five and returned in 95 yards for touchdown. At that point the Mules had 18 yards of total offense, but now trailed by just three, 10-7.

Down the stretch it was two more big plays by the defense that sealed the Blue Jays' second straight win over the Mules. Senior Brian Cook (New Freedom, PA/Susquehannock) and junior Zach Rosswog (Mars, PA/Mars Area) tackled Keith Shalvoy (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) two yards short of a first down on a fake punt and sophomore Jim Jeffers (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) pass on second-and-10 from the Muhlenberg 25 was intercepted by Dan Requena (Fairlawn, NJ/Fairlawn) with just under two minutes remaining and the Blue Jays ran out the clock to seal the win.

Cook led the way defensively with six tackles, including 1.5 sacks. In addition to O'Neill and Requena, freshman Devin Hewlett (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) and senior Chris Chauvin (Brentwood, TN/Blair Academy) also came up with interceptions for the Blue Jays, who have now played three straight games against Muhlenberg that have been decided by three points (a 9-6 Muhlenberg win in 2004 and a 13-10 JHU win in 2005). In addition, all seven JHU games this season have been decided by 10 points or less and five of the seven have been decided by seven points or less.

Kase led the way offensively with 101 yards rushing on 21 carries. He added 21 yards on three receptions and is the first freshman running back in school history to rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back games as he had 113 against Gettysburg last week. He is just the fourth freshman in school history to rush for more than 100 yards twice. In all the Blue Jays amassed 144 yards rushing and Murray was 15-of-28 for 100 yards with three interceptions. Scott also continued his assault on the record book as he moved into a tie for fifth place on the NCAA Division III career field goals list with his 20-yarder. His school and Centennial Conference record for career field goals now stands at 40.

Junior Matt Johnson (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic) had a team-high 10 rushing yards for Muhlenberg, which totaled just 19 rushing yards and 21 yards passing. Santagato was 3-for-14 for seven yards and threw three interceptions before Jeffers took over midway through the fourth quarter and was 2-for-8 for 14 yards with the late interception.

Tom Tarsitano (North Haledon, NJ/Manchester Regional) led a Muhlenberg defense that did all it could to keep the Mules alive. Tarsitano had a game-high 12 tackles and one pass breakup, while Ahouse added five tackles and two interceptions, which he returned for a total of 121 yards, including the 95-yard score. Chris Musselman (Lambertville, NJ/South Hunterdon) added five tackles and had two of the Mules' three sacks in the game.

Johns Hopkins hits the road for the final time this season next Saturday when the Blue Jays travel to Ursinus, which lost to Gettysburg, 27-18, earlier today. Muhlenberg will host Gettysburg next Saturday.

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