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GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Senior Matt Flynn (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) threw for 335 yards and a touchdown on 21-of-38 passing and Gettysburg picked up its first victory of the season, defeating Muhlenberg 20-3 in the Mules Centennial Conference opener at a rainy Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.

Junior tailback Jamel Mutunga (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) rushed for 91 yards on 27 carries and caught another five passes for 58 yards for Gettysburg (1-3, 1-1 CC), which shut out Muhlenberg over the final three quarters and out-gained the Mules 486-220. It was the fewest points Gettysburg allowed since its 10-3 win over Muhlenberg on Oct. 29, 2005, which was also their last win over the Mules. Muhlenberg, the two-time defending Centennial Conference champion, had won the previous three meetings.

Gettysburg also held the Mules to their lowest point total in a regular season game since Muhlenberg's loss to the Bullets in 2005.

Junior wing Charles Curcio (Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph) scored a pair of touchdowns on a 10-yard run and a 24-yard pass and finished with 144 all-purpose yards, including 70 yards receiving on four catches. for Gettysburg while junior receiver Gavin Jablonski (Allenwood, N.J./Wall) caught four balls for 65 yards. Junior Mike Barrett (Selinsgrove, Pa./Lewisburg) scored eight points on a pair of field goals (21 and 27 yards).

Flynn continued to climb the Centennial Conference all-time charts, moving into second in total offense (7,309) and sliding into fourth in passing yards (6,457).

Phil Cresta caught nine passes for 131 yards to lead Muhlenberg (1-2, 0-1 CC) while Terrence Dandridge rushed for 93 yards on 23 carries for the Mules, who fumbled three times. Justin Kreamer threw for 147 yards on 12-of-23 passing for the visitors.

Junior defensive end Matt Coffey (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) paced the Gettysburg defense, which limited Muhlenberg to 61 rushing yards, as 3.0 of his five tackles were for loss, including 2.0 sacks. He also forced a fumble. Sophomore safety Joe Delaney (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) made a team-high seven tackles.

Junior linebacker Bryan DiSabato (Cedarhurst, N.Y./Lawrence) sealed Gettysburg's win when he intercepted a pass at the Bullet-15 with 3:29 left.

After receiving the opening kickoff, Gettysburg drove to the Muhlenberg-10 but was unable to put points on the board as Barrett missed wide right on a 27-yard field goal. However, Muhlenberg fumbled on its first possession, with Coffey jarring the ball loose and junior defensive tackle Sebastian Sullivan (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) falling on it at the Gettysburg-43.

The Bullets converted the turnover into three points, marching 42 yards on seven plays before Barrett knocked through a 21-yard field goal to make it 3-0 with 5:03 left in the opening quarter. The drive was highlighted by a 34-yard pass from Flynn to Curcio on a third-and-nine that set up the Bullets at the Mule-11.

Muhlenberg answered with its only points of the game on the ensuing drive. After a short kickoff, the Mules set up at their own 41, then drove 32 yards on six plays before Michael Katz just cleared the crossbar with a 45-yard field goal with 1:35 to go in the first quarter.

The two teams combined for seven punts over the remainder of the half. The Bullets held the Mules to six first downs and 112 yards in the opening half.

The Bullets forced the Mules to go three-and-out on each of their first two possessions of the second half, and they started at the Muhlenberg-45 on their second drive. Flynn immediately found Jablonski for a 33-yard pass to the Mule-12, and two plays later Curcio took a pitchout left and raced into the end zone from 10 yards out, diving over the goal line to make it 10-3 with 7:31 left in the third quarter.

Muhlenberg fumbled on its next two drives before the Bullets forced another three-and-out early in the fourth quarter. Another big pass play got things started again, as Flynn hit senior wing Ricky Manigat (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) for a 40-yard hookup that put the Bullets at the Mule-25. Three plays later, Curcio made an over-the-shoulder catch on a perfectly thrown ball by Flynn for a 24-yard touchdown reception down the right sideline with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter, making it 17-3.

After forcing the Mules eighth and final punt of the day, Barrett set the final score when he booted through a 27-yard field goal with 5:11 left.

The Gettysburg defense came up with one final stop when it held Muhlenberg on downs at the Bullet-12 with 1:14 remaining.

Sullivan finished with six tackles for the Bullets while senior linebacker Tim Widdoes (Newark, Del./St. Mark's), freshman linebacker Wes Taylor (Silver Spring, Md./Gonzaga), and sophomore cornerback Rob Pennella (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), who was making his first collegiate start, each dealt five hits. Taylor had 1.5 tackles for loss while Widdoes had a sack and a pass breakup.

Patrick McDonough led all players with 10 tackles for Muhlenberg.

The Bullets return to action next Saturday, when they visit Ursinus College in another Centennial Conference showdown starting at 1 p.m.