Sept. 29, 2007

Box Score

ALLENTOWN, PA - Host Muhlenberg forced five Johns Hopkins turnovers, including two in the final five minutes, and the Mules capitalized on several big plays to hold off visiting Johns Hopkins, 28-21, in Centennial Conference football action at Scotty Wood Stadium Saturday afternoon. Muhlenberg improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial with the win, while Hopkins dropped its fourth straight and slips to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the Centennial.

The Blue Jays trailed 20-7 after running back John DeLuca capped an impressive 12-play, 74-yard drive to open the second half with a four-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option to quarterback Eric Santagato. The Mules, who entered the game having allowed a total of just 13 points in the first three games of the season, appeared to be in complete control after the touchdown, but Hopkins struck for two touchdowns in a three-minute span to take a stunning 21-20 lead late in the period.

Freshman Brian Hopkins polished off a nine-play, 71-yard drive with his second touchdown reception in as many games to narrow the gap to 20-14. The Blue Jays converted a pair of third-downs on the drive and scored three plays after facing a second-and-16 from the Muhlenberg 23.

Muhlenberg netted just 11 yards on its ensuing possession and a 16-yard punt by David Mazzola set the Blue Jays up at their own 43-yard line with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter. It took just one play and 14 seconds for Hopkins to pull even as sophomore Andrew Kase got to the corner around the left side and sprinted 30 yards down the sideline before cutting back to the middle of the field and racing to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown run. Freshman Alex Lachman's extra point gave the Blue Jays a 21-20 lead - a lead that proved to be short-lived.

Muhlenberg's Brandon Doyle returned Lachman's ensuing kickoff 35 yards to midfield and DeLuca took care of the rest as he gained six yards on first down then sprinted to his left, cutback inside and raced untouched to the corner of the end zone to give the Mules a 26-21 lead. A successful two-point conversion made it 28-21, but the Blue Jays would have three, and nearly four, more attempts for the game-tying score.

After going three-and-out on their first two possessions of the final period, the Blue Jays took over at their own 21 with 6:39 remaining and moved into Muhlenberg territory with plenty of time remaining. However, a Michael Murray pass on a first-and-10 from the Mule 41-yard line was tipped at the line and intercepted by Dan Aitkens to kill what proved to be the final threat of the day for Hopkins. The Blue Jays forced a Muhlenberg punt with just over 90 seconds remaining, but sophomore Devin Hewlett mishandled the punt and Aitkens recovered with 1:32 remaining to seal the win.

The big plays started midway through the first quarter as Erik Snyder took a pass down the middle 86 yards for a touchdown for the fourth-longest pass play in Muhlenberg history. The Blue Jays answered with the first of their several impressive drives in the game as they moved 73 yards in 10 plays to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. Murray hit junior fullback Greg Chimera on a backside screen and Chimera weaved his way 25 yards through traffic for the game-tying score.

Muhlenberg carried a 14-7 lead into the half as Matt Rathburn intercepted Murray and raced 59 yards for a touchdown less than one minute into the second quarter. The interception was the first of three in the quarter for the Mules, but the only one they cashed in on. The 14-7 lead stood until DeLuca's touchdown pass to Santagato midway through the third quarter.

Kase turned in his second straight 100-yard rushing game as he rushed 24 times for 140 yards and the one score against a Muhlenberg defense that entered the game allowing just 50.3 yards per game on the ground. He has now rushed for 303 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games. He also added three receptions for 32 yards to account for 172 all-purpose yards. He has 402 all-purpose yards in the last two games.

Murray was 19-of-33 for 213 yards with the two touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Corey Sattler had seven receptions for a career-high 119 yards and became the 15th player in school history to reach 1,000 yards receiving. He now has 1,045 career receiving yards (14th place) and moved into a tie for 14th on JHU's career receptions list with 73. Colin Wixted led the Blue Jays with seven tackles, including one for a loss.

DeLuca rushed 28 times for a career-high 131 yards with the one touchdown run and one touchdown pass to his credit. Santagato was an efficient 10-of-15 for 188 yards with the one touchdown and one interception. Rathburn posted 12 tackles to go along with his interception return for a touchdown, while Aitkens had 10 tackles, two interceptions, the fumble recovery and one sack.

Johns Hopkins will return to action next Saturday at Dickinson, a 24-23 winner at Moravian earlier today. The game against the Red Devils (5-0) will be JHU's third straight against a team that will enter the game undefeated. Muhlenberg will play at Juniata next Saturday.