Box Score
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Chris Swensen blocked Josh Huson's (McLean, Va./McLean) 33-yard field-goal attempt with 34 seconds left, lifting Muhlenberg College to a 14-13 Centennial Conference win over Gettysburg College Saturday afternoon at a hot and muggy Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.
Gettysburg (2-2, 1-1 CC), which had its nine-game home winning streak snapped, had driven 52 yards on seven plays to set up Huson's attempt. Sophomore quarterback Matt Flynn had a 30-yard run during the drive that set up the Bullets at the Muhlenberg-26. The Bullets had not lost at home since their 41-20 setback to Rochester on Sept. 17, 2005.
After a 14-yard run by John DeLuca, Muhlenberg (3-0, 1-0 CC), which was playing its Centennial Conference opener, was able to run out the remainder of the clock.
For the second game in a row, the Bullet defense held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing, limiting the Mules to 67 yards on the ground and 222 total yards. Gettysburg also made a season-high four sacks, which all came in the first half.
DeLuca finished with 87 yards rushing while Eric Santagato completed 13 of 21 passes for 155 yards to lead the Mules. Santagato had a hand in both of the Mules' touchdowns, throwing a 9-yard scoring strike and running in from 2 yards out for another score.
Senior tailback Tom Sturges (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) led Gettysburg with 88 yards rushing and one touchdown.
The two teams combined to convert just 2 of 25 third downs, with Muhlenberg going 1-for-14 and Gettysburg making 1 of 13.
It was defensive battle in the early going, with neither team able to get anything going offensively. Eleven of the first 12 drives of the game resulted in a punt, with the other ending on a missed 37-yard field goal by Muhlenberg. It was a 0-0 game at the end of the first quarter.
An excellent punt from sophomore Andrew Weingart (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) midway through the second quarter helped set up Gettysburg's first score. Weingart's booming 50-yard kick was downed at the Muhlenberg-1, and after forcing the Mules to go three-and-out, a 14-yard punt return by freshman Stephen Gass (Crozet, Va./Western Albemarle) gave Gettysburg the ball at the Muhlenberg-27. Four plays later, Sturges raced into the end zone from 8 yards out, and a Huson extra point made it 7-0 with 5:40 left in the opening half.
Sturges' touchdown marked the first points scored against Muhlenberg this season, as the Mules had blanked their opponents over their first nine quarters this season.
Gettysburg's defense came up with its seventh straight stop on the ensuing possession, forcing the Mules to punt for the sixth time in the half, and Huson drilled a 35-yard field goal 1:26 before halftime, giving the Bullets a 10-0 lead at the break.
The Bullets held Muhlenberg to four rushing yards in the opening half, thanks in part to their four sacks that totaled 25 yards lost.
The Mules capitalized on Gettysburg's first turnover of the game to get on the scoreboard early in the second half. Safety Dan Aitkens made a juggling interception off a screen pass and returned the ball 23 yards to the Gettysburg-13.
Two plays later, Santagato hit Phil Cresta with a 9-yard touchdown pass, making it 10-7 with 11:46 on the clock.
Later in the quarter, the Bullets appeared to have stopped the Mules on a third-and-goal, but a pass interference penalty gave the visitors a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line. Santagato found paydirt on the next play, and Jordon Grube's second extra point gave Muhlenberg a 14-10 lead with 1:25 left in the third quarter.
On the next possession, Gettysburg marched 59 yards on nine plays, highlighted by a 44-yard catch-and-run down the right sideline by sophomore tailback Michael McInerney (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) that perched the Bullets at the Muhlenberg-17. Three plays later, Huson booted in his second field goal of the game, this one from 32 yards out, to trim the Mules' lead to 14-13 with 11:59 remaining.
A big 33-yard pass from Santagato to Matt Johnson gave Muhlenberg the ball at the Gettysburg-35 with less than four minutes left, but senior linebacker Harold Barton (Somerdale, N.J./Sterling) recovered a bad snap on the next play, setting up Gettysburg's late drive. Sophomore halfback Ricky Manigat (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) started the march with a 12-yard run before Flynn's 30-yard romp. Junior Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) put the Bullets at the Mule-14 with a 12-yard, first-down run, but Gettysburg lost two yards over the next three plays before Swensen's block.
David Mazzola handled all 11 of Muhlenberg's punts, averaging 32.5 yards per kick with three landing inside the 20. Weingart averaged 38.9 yards over nine punts, including a 50-yarder.
Barton finished with a team-high seven tackles and a sack for Gettysburg while junior defensive end Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) made 1.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss. Linebacker Matt Rathbun led all players with eight tackles for Muhlenberg.
The Bullets return to action next Saturday, when they visit Ursinus College at 1 p.m. in another Centennial Conference game.
