Box Score
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Joshua Carter rolled up 226 all-purpose yards and Mike Burke returned one of his two interceptions 60 yards for a touchdown to lead Muhlenberg to a 41-0 win over Gettysburg in Centennial Conference (CC) football action on Saturday.
Despite an off day from quarterback Michael McCabe, the Mules (5-2, 4-2 CC) still managed to outgain the Bullets (0-7, 0-5) 396-166 in total yards while posting the program's biggest win ever against Gettysburg in the 65 meetings between the two schools. Muhlenberg's previous record margin of victory came in a 38-7 decision over Gettysburg in 1912.
Sophomore running back Anthony Wolfsohn carried 19 times for 139 yards and the game's opening touchdown, but left with an injury in the second quarter and did not return.
Carter finished the day with five receptions for 94 yards and his program record-tying 11th touchdown reception of the campaign, a 39-yarder in the opening minutes of the second half. He also recorded 122 return yards and carried once for 10 yards. McCabe completed only 8 of 25 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions on the afternoon.
Bullet quarterback Dennis Flaherty (Oreland, PA/Bishop McDevitt) also had his toughest day of the 2000 season, completing just 8 of 24 passes for 51 yards while throwing three interceptions. Gettysburg halfback Alex Nicholas (Far Hills, NJ/Bernards) rolled up a team-best 82 total yards of offense while fullback Bryan Pojanowski (Rockaway Twp., NJ/Morris Knolls) led the team with 52 rushing yards on 22 tough carries. Muhlenberg scored the only points it wound need on its second possession of the afternoon. Following a 27-yard punt return by Carter, the Mules drove 32 yards on three Wolfsohn carries, capped by a 14-yard touchdown with 10:18 left in the first quarter to make it 7-0.
Gettysburg forced the Mules to punt on their next two possessions, but the Muhlenberg defense struck late in the first quarter to extend the lead to 14-0.
With the Bullets facing second-and-9 on the Muhlenberg 43, Burke stepped in front of a Flaherty pass in the right flat and returned the interception 60 yards for his first career touchdown to make it 14-0 with 1:28 left in the opening quarter.
Bidding to cut the lead in half, Gettysburg drove to the Muhlenberg 30 with four minutes left in regulation. The Mules thwarted the scoring threat, however, by dropping Nick Nocar (Baltimore, Md./Gilman School) for a four-yard loss on second-and-6, then sacking Flaherty for an 11-yard loss on the next play. Bill McGuinn and Doug Folger combined on the sack to force a Bullet punt on fourth-and-22.
On the ensuing drive, Muhlenberg marched 77 yards on seven plays in the final 2:27 of the half to increase its lead to 21-0.
McCabe opened the drive with a 27-yard strike to Carter before Wolfsohn ripped off a 28-yard run to the Gettysburg 22. On the next play, Wolfsohn carried seven yards to the Bullet 15, but was lost for the game with an apparent leg injury. Three plays later, Matt Bernardo carried the ball in from two yards out for the first of his two touchdowns on the day to give the Mules a 21-point cushion.
Muhlenberg made it 28-0 on a 39-yard touchdown pass from McCabe to Carter on the Mules' first offensive play of the third quarter. The home team then put the game away when Bernardo scored on a one-yard run with 8:40 left in the quarter following a blocked punt. Mike Dickinson capped the scoring with fourth-quarter field goals from 30 and 22 yards.
Defensively, Cliff Mason (Greenville, PA/Greenville) led the Bullets with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops and one for loss. Bullet freshmen Frank May (Biglerville, PA/Biglerville) and Anthony Greco (Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Memorial) both recorded their first collegiate interceptions on Saturday.
For the Mules, Beau Sherry led the way with 11 solo tackles, including 2.5 for loss, while Folger finished second on the squad with 10 total tackles. In addition to his interception for a touchdown, Burke also returned an interception 26 yards early in the fourth quarter.
Gettysburg returns to action on Saturday, October 28 at home against St. Lawrence University. Game time is 1 p.m. The Mules stay in the Centennial Conference, travelling to Ursinus College next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game with the Bears.
