An Early Look at Muhlenberg
The following is taken from the pre-season Kickoff Edition of D3Football.com:
Muhlenberg Mules
Last time not in playoffs: 2003
Last conference title: 2004, shared five ways
Head coach: Mike Donnelly, ninth year, 53-32
Starters returning: 15 (eight offense, seven defense)
Position battle to watch: Quarterback. Senior Tom Kelleher, who started five games as a sophomore but was only 1-for-15 as the No. 2 guy last year, will contend with sophomore Matt Johnson, who completed nine of 14 for 85 yards and a touchdown from his running back spot last year. Someone must emerge from the pack to jump-start a sporadic offense.
Pressure is on: The defense. The unit carried the Mules in 2004, leading the country in allowing only 195.5 yards per game, only to cough up 31 points in their playoff appearance. A repeat in 2005 will be much needed.
Their season will be defined by: The Nov. 5 meeting with McDaniel. Muhlenberg is 0-12-1 in its last 13 meetings against McDaniel. A win over McDaniel could push the Mules over the top in a tight race.
Predicted record: 7-3, 4-2
Capsule: My kingdom for an offense. The Mules struggled to put points on the board in the conference games that mattered most last season, averaging only 8.3 points in the three games against the teams we predict to be in the top four of the Conference this year: F&M, Johns Hopkins, and McDaniel. Despite carrying a 1-2 record against those teams, Allentown's finest won a five-way tiebreaker and earned a trip back the NCAA playoffs before a throttling at the hands of St. John Fisher. Whoever ends up on top at quarterback will have a formidable task of taking control of the offense. Defense, however, has been in plentiful supply. Mike Donnelly's squad allowed four rushing touchdowns last season and went 24 consecutive quarters without allowing a passing touchdown. Conference defensive player of the year Ryan Peer has graduated along with fellow linebacker Dan Walker. Walker had tied a school record with 10½ sacks last year. With two anchors of the linebacking corps gone, the Mules will need mustang-like performance from the defense to again return to the postseason.
Muhlenberg Mules
Last time not in playoffs: 2003
Last conference title: 2004, shared five ways
Head coach: Mike Donnelly, ninth year, 53-32
Starters returning: 15 (eight offense, seven defense)
Position battle to watch: Quarterback. Senior Tom Kelleher, who started five games as a sophomore but was only 1-for-15 as the No. 2 guy last year, will contend with sophomore Matt Johnson, who completed nine of 14 for 85 yards and a touchdown from his running back spot last year. Someone must emerge from the pack to jump-start a sporadic offense.
Pressure is on: The defense. The unit carried the Mules in 2004, leading the country in allowing only 195.5 yards per game, only to cough up 31 points in their playoff appearance. A repeat in 2005 will be much needed.
Their season will be defined by: The Nov. 5 meeting with McDaniel. Muhlenberg is 0-12-1 in its last 13 meetings against McDaniel. A win over McDaniel could push the Mules over the top in a tight race.
Predicted record: 7-3, 4-2
Capsule: My kingdom for an offense. The Mules struggled to put points on the board in the conference games that mattered most last season, averaging only 8.3 points in the three games against the teams we predict to be in the top four of the Conference this year: F&M, Johns Hopkins, and McDaniel. Despite carrying a 1-2 record against those teams, Allentown's finest won a five-way tiebreaker and earned a trip back the NCAA playoffs before a throttling at the hands of St. John Fisher. Whoever ends up on top at quarterback will have a formidable task of taking control of the offense. Defense, however, has been in plentiful supply. Mike Donnelly's squad allowed four rushing touchdowns last season and went 24 consecutive quarters without allowing a passing touchdown. Conference defensive player of the year Ryan Peer has graduated along with fellow linebacker Dan Walker. Walker had tied a school record with 10½ sacks last year. With two anchors of the linebacking corps gone, the Mules will need mustang-like performance from the defense to again return to the postseason.
posted by Pat McConnell | 8:58 AM
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