Box Score

 Johnson scored on runs of 2, 16 and 1 yards to put the Mules (7-1, 4-1 CC) one victory from their fourth straight conference championship. Muhlenberg would clinch the CC title with a win at McDaniel next Saturday.

 Despite allowing 143 rushing yards – nearly 112 more than their Division III-leading average of 31.3 per game entering the contest – the Mules posted their first shutout of the 2004 season and their third straight home shutout against the Bullets (1-7, 1-3 CC). In addition, Muhlenberg recorded its fifth straight victory against Gettysburg.

 Bullet senior Mike Schwalb (Bernardsville, NJ/Pingry School) carried 17 times for a season-high 115 yards, becoming the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Mules this season. Joe Gossweiler (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) completed 12 of 31 passes for 134 yards, but couldn’t lead Gettysburg to its first points in Allentown since 1998.

 Muhlenberg entered the day with questions at running back due to a flurry of injuries. Johnson provided all the answers.

 A flea flicker set up the Mules’ first touchdown on their first drive of the day. After taking a pitch-back from Johnson, starting quarterback Nick Rosetti fired a 41-yard pass to Chris Giannini at the Gettysburg 5. Three plays later, Johnson powered in from the 2 to make it 7-0 with only 3:26 gone.

 The Bullets threatened late in the first quarter, thanks to a 58-yard pass from Gossweiler to Derek Landi (Vineland, NJ/Vineland South). Gettysburg managed only one yard on its next three plays, however, and John Edgar’s (Gettysburg, PA/Gettysburg) 39-yard field goal attempt came up just short.

 Muhlenberg drove 39 yards on three Johnson runs for its second score. Johnson opened the march with a 13-yard run, ripped off 10 yards on his next carry, then found the end zone on a 16-yard dash to make it 14-0 with 8:55 left in the first half.

 Keyed by 53 rushing yards from Schwalb, Gettysburg moved from its 18 to the Muhlenberg 18 in an attempt to answer late in the first half, but Phil Gasker’s interception on fourth-and-11 from the 20 ended the threat.

 Johnson added a third touchdown on a one-yard run to make it 21-0 late in the third quarter, capping a five-play, 46-yard drive.

 The Bullets’ 71-yard drive across the third and fourth quarters, featuring a 33-yard, highlight-reel Schwalb carry to the Mules 9, ended with an interception by Justin Adair in the end zone. Gettysburg’s final attempt to break the shutout came to a halt at the Muhlenberg 29 with less than one minute remaining.

 Rosetti completed 5 of 13 passes for 121 yards on the afternoon while Johnson – who came to Muhlenberg as a quarterback – connected on 3 of 5 halfback option tosses for 30 yards. Ryan Peer led the Mule defense with 10 tackles, including two sacks.

 Bullet linebacker Grant Acker (Howell, NJ/Peddie) led all players with 13 tackles while Craig Casagrande (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) recorded three sacks. Dan Silva (Lahham, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt) recorded a season-high nine tackles (eight solo) and also recorded his second interception in as many weeks.

 Gettysburg returns to action on Saturday at Dickinson. Game time is 1 p.m.