Flynn Reaches 4,000 Passing Yards, but Bullets Fall at No. 7 Muhlenberg
Following are reports from yesterday's game at Muhlenberg.
First, from the Gettysburg College Website:
Flynn Reaches 4,000 Passing Yards, but Bullets Fall at No. 7 Muhlenberg
Box Score
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Muhlenberg College scored on five of its last six possessions and the No. 7 Mules won on homecoming, capturing their 14th consecutive regular season game in a 42-21 Centennial Conference win over Gettysburg Saturday afternoon at Scotty Wood Stadium.
Eric Santagato threw for 245 yards on 17-of-27 passing to lead Muhlenberg (3-0, 1-0 CC), which won its CC opener. Phil Cresta caught eight passes for 128 yards while John DeLuca added 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27 carries for the Mules.
Muhlenberg never trailed after jumping to a 21-0 halftime lead and led by no less than two touchdowns the rest of the way.
Gettysburg (0-4, 0-2 CC), playing a ranked opponent for the first time in three years and a top-10 opponent for the first time in nine years, received 259 yards on 21-of-33 passing from junior quarterback Matt Flynn (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional). Flynn also became just the second player in school history to reach 4,000 career passing yards, as he achieved the milestone late in the game. He now has 4,011 yards, trailing only Dennis Flaherty ’01 on the all-time list. Flaherty passed for 5,136 yards from 1997-2000.
Junior wing Ricky Manigat (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) grabbed seven passes for 56 yards while sophomore receiver Gavin Jablonski (Allenwood, N.J./Wall) had five receptions for 59 yards. Junior tight end A.J. Perrotti (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) caught two passes for a career-high 97 yards while senior tailback Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Bullets, who were called for a holding penalty while receiving the opening kickoff. After going three-and-out, a short punt and a 24-return gave the Mules the ball at the Gettysburg-24. Then on the next play, DeLuca found a hole and raced down the sideline and into the end zone, making it a 7-0 just 1:25 into the game.
The Bullet defense dug in from there, however, holding Muhlenberg to one first down on its next five possessions and forcing a three- or four-and-out on the final four drives of that stretch. On their second possession, the Mules appeared to have rushed for a first down on a fake punt, but the play was called back to a holding penalty.
On Muhlenberg’s fourth possession, senior defensive end Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) came up with his fourth sack of the year, an eight-yard hit seconds before the end of the first quarter that gave the Bullets the ball on downs.
Including DeLuca’s 24-yard touchdown run, Gettysburg held the Mules to 60 total yards on 15 plays in the opening quarter.
After forcing Muhlenberg to punt for the third time, the Bullets received great field position, as a 13-yard return from sophomore Charles Curcio (Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph) gave his team the ball at the Mule-29. But the Bullets were hit with a holding penalty on the first play of the drive, and three plays later they went for it on fourth-and-four at the Muhlenberg-23. However, Flynn’s pass was broken up by Mark Accomando, and Gettysburg came away empty-handed.
The Bullets came up with one more stop in the opening half, getting another three-and-out when senior linebacker Terence Hartigan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) made an open-field tackle at the Muhlenberg-29 on third-and-seven to stop DeLuca four yards shy of the first down, prompting the Mules fourth punt of the half.
Gettysburg was held to a three-and-out before the Mulenberg offense caught fire. After taking over at the Mule-32 with 6:27 on the clock, a pair of big plays jumpstarted the hosts. On the first two plays of the drive, Santagato hit Joe Caporoso with a 17-yard pass before DeLuca broke of 26-yard run to Bullet-25. Two plays later, Erik Snyder hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 4:36 to go in the half.
After forcing the Bullets to punt for the sixth time in the half, the Mules needed just 2:01 to go 66 yards on eight plays, with DeLuca leaping into the end zone from 1 yard out. Michael Katz’ third straight extra point gave Muhlenberg a 21-0 lead with 50 seconds showing.
The Bullets threatened to score inside the final minute of the half, as a 15-yard run by sophomore Jamel Mutunga (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air), who finished with 60 yards on 12 carries, gave the Bullets the ball at the Gettysburg-45 before Flynn connected with sophomore Brian Betley (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) for a 31-yard pass to the Muhlenberg-9 on the next play. However, Flynn threw the pass beyond the line of scrimmage, resulting in a penalty. Flynn followed up with a 14-yard run to the Mule-44 with five seconds left, but his Hail-Mary pass on the final play of the half was intercepted in the end zone.
Gettysburg got on the scoreboard on its first possession of the second half, driving 91 yards on an 11-play drive that lasted 4:51. Perrotti put the Bullets into Mule territory when he snared a tipped pass down the left sideline, and the 43-yard completion gave Gettysburg the ball at the 30-yard line. Three plays later, Manigat grabbed a pass in the middle of the field and took it to the Mule-1 before Mutunga plowed in for his third touchdown of the season. Senior Josh Huson’s extra point cut the deficit to 21-7 with 7:09 left in the third quarter.
Muhlenberg answered with an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ate up 6:17. During the march the Mules went 3-for-3 on third downs and scored on a third-and-12. After scrambling out of trouble, Santagato found Edward DeRisi open in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give the Mules a 28-7 advantage with 40 ticks showing in the third quarter.
Gettysburg pulled to within 14 twice more, but each time the Mules responded with a touchdown. McConnell capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive when he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 11:30 left to make it 28-14, but Santagato hit Cresta in stride in the end zone from 33 yards out to give the Mules a 35-14 lead with 7:49 to go.
Another long Flynn-to-Perrotti pass gave the Bullets – this one a 54-yarder – put the Bullets at the Muhlenberg-13, and three plays later McConnell scored on another 1-yard touchdown run. Huson’s third and final PAT gave pulled the visitors to within 35-21 with 6:38 showing.
The Mules converted a third-and-11 on their final drive to halt any chance of a Bullet rally, with Santagato hitting Cresta with an 11-yard pass to the Gettysburg-48. On the next play, he found Cresta again, launching a deep ball into the end zone to set the final score with 4:51 left.
Sophomore cornerback Tairi Mobley (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown), making his first collegiate start, led the Bullet defense with 10 tackles while Hartigan made eight stops, including 1.5 for loss.
Gettysburg returns home next Saturday, when it hosts Ursinus College at 1 p.m. in another Centennial Conference showdown.
From the Muhlenberg College Website:
Football begins defense with 42-21 win
Gettysburg may have had a large supply of Bullets on its sideline, but Muhlenberg had more weapons on the field and began defense of its 2007 Centennial Conference championship with a 42-21 Homecoming win.
The victory extended the Mules’ regular-season winning streak to 14 games, tying the second longest in CC history.
The biggest offensive weapon was the three-headed monster of seniors Eric Santagato and John DeLuca and junior Phil Cresta. Santagato finished 17-of-27 for 245 yards, tying a career high with four touchdowns, and did not throw an interception. DeLuca gained 134 yards on 27 carries to move into 12th place on the CC all-time list with 2,842 career yards. Cresta caught a career-high eight passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, moving over 1,000 receiving yards for his career.
Going against the top offense in the CC, the fifth-ranked Mules (3-0, 1-0) shut out Gettysburg (0-4, 0-2) in the first half, opening up a 21-0 lead. The game got off to a shaky start for the Bullets, as they were called for a holding penalty on the opening kickoff, went three-and-out an offense, then had a short punt that senior Brandon Doyle returned to the 24-yard line.
On Muhlenberg’s first play from scrimmage, DeLuca ran 24 yards for a quick touchdown just 1:25 into the game.
The score remained 7-0 for most of the first half. Gettysburg had its best chance to score after pinning the Mules inside their own 5 with a punt. The Bullets got the ball back at the Muhlenberg 29, but a fourth-down pass from the 23 was broken up by sophomore Mark Accomando.
The Mules went 58 yards in four plays to double their lead on Santagato’s 19-yard pass to senior Erik Snyder with 4:36 left in the half.
Muhlenberg held Gettysburg without a first down and regained possession with 2:51 on the clock. Consecutive completions of 12 and 21 yards by Santagato to Cresta put the ball at the 1, and DeLuca carried over with 49.4 seconds left to complete the eight-play TD drive.
Each team scored three touchdowns in the second half as the offenses took over, but the Bullets never got closer than two scores. Santagato threw a scoring strike of 19 yards to senior Edward DeRisi after escaping a sack in the backfield, and found Cresta on similar 33- and 35-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
The Mules finished with 442 total yards in beginning a season with three straight 30-point efforts for the first time since 2000. Muhlenberg has scored at least 30 points in eight of its last nine regular-season games (and put up 29 in the other).
Accomando recorded a career-high seven tackles and two pass breakups. Junior Frank Emmett also made seven stops, including two for loss, and senior Matt Rathbun intercepted a pass for the second straight week.
Click here for box score.
Click here for complete stats.
From The Harrisburg Patriot-News:
DIVISION III: MUHLENBERG 42, GETTYSBURG 21
D-3 power outscores Gettysburg
Sunday, September 28, 2008
From staff reports
ALLENTOWN - Quarterback Matt Flynn reached a Gettysburg College milestone Saturday, but Muhlenberg did most of the damage in a 42-21 Centennial Conference football victory.
Muhlenberg (3-0, 1-0), ranked seventh nationally in Division III, scored on five of its last six possessions to win its 14th consecutive regular-season game.
Eric Santagato threw for 245 yards and John DeLuca picked up 134 yards on the ground for the Mules.
For Gettysburg (0-4, 0-2), Flynn become the second player in school history to pass for 4,000 career yards. The junior from Northfield, N.J., completed 21 of 33 passes for 259 yards.
Tailback Nick McConnell (Cedar Crest) scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bullets, but they could never close the gap after falling behind 21-0 at the half.
From the Allentown Morning Call:
Mules jump on Bullets early, win 42-21
Extend Centennial Conference winning streak to 14 games.
By Bradley A. Huebner Special to The Morning Call
September 28, 2008
Muhlenberg College scored on its first play of the game then twice late to preserve a lead en route to a convincing 42-21 Homecoming win over Gettysburg on Saturday at Scotty Wood Stadium's Frank Marino Field.
The victory pushed the Mules to 3-0 and extended their Centennial Conference winning streak to 14, tied for second all-time with Dickinson (1987-88), 16 behind McDaniel (1997-99).
Ranked fifth nationally in Division III, Muhlenberg showed that its defense, while young, remains talented. The Mules limited the Bullets' high-powered offense, which had been averaging a league-best 436 yards per game, to 21 points, none in the first half when Muhlenberg jumped ahead 21-0.
''We prepared for them just like we did last year [when Muhlenberg escaped a close contest],'' said junior defensive end Frank Emmett, one of four Mules with seven tackles and one of two with a pair of tackles for loss. ''Coach Donnelly strategized perfectly for them. We know how explosive they can be.''
Muhlenberg set the tone offensively right away. After Brandon Doyle returned Gettysburg's first punt 24 yards to the Bullets' 24, running back John DeLuca rushed right for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead. DeLuca chiseled his way to 134 yards on 27 carries. He scored on runs of 24 and 1 yard to stake the hosts to a 21-0 halftime lead over the Bullets (0-4).
In the second half, after Gettysburg pulled to within 21-7, it started stacking the box with seven, eight and even nine defenders to stop DeLuca.
Muhlenberg adjusted by twice calling their ''Indiana'' play, a play-action fake to DeLuca that freezes the safety. Twice in the second half, quarterback Eric Santagato hit receiver Phil Cresta for touchdowns, one from 33 yards and another from 35.
They turned a potentially competitive 28-14 contest into a 42-21 romp.
''I knew the safety was biting on the play-action fake,'' said Cresta, a 6-3, 190-pound junior who also was 8-3 as a pitcher for the Mules' baseball team. ''I knew if Eric led me enough it would be the same result.''
Santagato finished the day 17-for-27 for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Playing against Gettysburg and intrepid quarterback Matt Flynn, Muhlenberg could not score too many points. Flynn completed 21 of 33 passes for 259 yards. The Mules sacked him three times, however, and intercepted him twice.
By the time Flynn found his comfort zone in the second half, it was too late.
Gettysburg scored on a 68-yard drive in just 3:32, then again on a 63-yard drive in just 1:03 in the fourth quarter to pull to within 35-21 with 6:38 left.
''They make you play assignment-perfect football,'' Muhlenberg coach Mike Donnelly said of Gettysburg and its four-receiver spread attack. ''They have a legitimate quarterback and they run all those options. They're just outstanding on offense.''
Muhlenberg wasn't so bad, either, with 442 yards against a defense that has given up 155 points in four losses. The Mules answered the Bullets' late surge with a six-play, 72-yard drive, capped by Cresta's second touchdown. That came after Cresta caught an 11-yard pass on third-and-11 two plays earlier to sustain the drive.
First, from the Gettysburg College Website:
Flynn Reaches 4,000 Passing Yards, but Bullets Fall at No. 7 Muhlenberg
Box Score
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Muhlenberg College scored on five of its last six possessions and the No. 7 Mules won on homecoming, capturing their 14th consecutive regular season game in a 42-21 Centennial Conference win over Gettysburg Saturday afternoon at Scotty Wood Stadium.
Eric Santagato threw for 245 yards on 17-of-27 passing to lead Muhlenberg (3-0, 1-0 CC), which won its CC opener. Phil Cresta caught eight passes for 128 yards while John DeLuca added 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27 carries for the Mules.
Muhlenberg never trailed after jumping to a 21-0 halftime lead and led by no less than two touchdowns the rest of the way.
Gettysburg (0-4, 0-2 CC), playing a ranked opponent for the first time in three years and a top-10 opponent for the first time in nine years, received 259 yards on 21-of-33 passing from junior quarterback Matt Flynn (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional). Flynn also became just the second player in school history to reach 4,000 career passing yards, as he achieved the milestone late in the game. He now has 4,011 yards, trailing only Dennis Flaherty ’01 on the all-time list. Flaherty passed for 5,136 yards from 1997-2000.
Junior wing Ricky Manigat (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) grabbed seven passes for 56 yards while sophomore receiver Gavin Jablonski (Allenwood, N.J./Wall) had five receptions for 59 yards. Junior tight end A.J. Perrotti (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) caught two passes for a career-high 97 yards while senior tailback Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Bullets, who were called for a holding penalty while receiving the opening kickoff. After going three-and-out, a short punt and a 24-return gave the Mules the ball at the Gettysburg-24. Then on the next play, DeLuca found a hole and raced down the sideline and into the end zone, making it a 7-0 just 1:25 into the game.
The Bullet defense dug in from there, however, holding Muhlenberg to one first down on its next five possessions and forcing a three- or four-and-out on the final four drives of that stretch. On their second possession, the Mules appeared to have rushed for a first down on a fake punt, but the play was called back to a holding penalty.
On Muhlenberg’s fourth possession, senior defensive end Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) came up with his fourth sack of the year, an eight-yard hit seconds before the end of the first quarter that gave the Bullets the ball on downs.
Including DeLuca’s 24-yard touchdown run, Gettysburg held the Mules to 60 total yards on 15 plays in the opening quarter.
After forcing Muhlenberg to punt for the third time, the Bullets received great field position, as a 13-yard return from sophomore Charles Curcio (Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph) gave his team the ball at the Mule-29. But the Bullets were hit with a holding penalty on the first play of the drive, and three plays later they went for it on fourth-and-four at the Muhlenberg-23. However, Flynn’s pass was broken up by Mark Accomando, and Gettysburg came away empty-handed.
The Bullets came up with one more stop in the opening half, getting another three-and-out when senior linebacker Terence Hartigan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) made an open-field tackle at the Muhlenberg-29 on third-and-seven to stop DeLuca four yards shy of the first down, prompting the Mules fourth punt of the half.
Gettysburg was held to a three-and-out before the Mulenberg offense caught fire. After taking over at the Mule-32 with 6:27 on the clock, a pair of big plays jumpstarted the hosts. On the first two plays of the drive, Santagato hit Joe Caporoso with a 17-yard pass before DeLuca broke of 26-yard run to Bullet-25. Two plays later, Erik Snyder hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 4:36 to go in the half.
After forcing the Bullets to punt for the sixth time in the half, the Mules needed just 2:01 to go 66 yards on eight plays, with DeLuca leaping into the end zone from 1 yard out. Michael Katz’ third straight extra point gave Muhlenberg a 21-0 lead with 50 seconds showing.
The Bullets threatened to score inside the final minute of the half, as a 15-yard run by sophomore Jamel Mutunga (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air), who finished with 60 yards on 12 carries, gave the Bullets the ball at the Gettysburg-45 before Flynn connected with sophomore Brian Betley (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) for a 31-yard pass to the Muhlenberg-9 on the next play. However, Flynn threw the pass beyond the line of scrimmage, resulting in a penalty. Flynn followed up with a 14-yard run to the Mule-44 with five seconds left, but his Hail-Mary pass on the final play of the half was intercepted in the end zone.
Gettysburg got on the scoreboard on its first possession of the second half, driving 91 yards on an 11-play drive that lasted 4:51. Perrotti put the Bullets into Mule territory when he snared a tipped pass down the left sideline, and the 43-yard completion gave Gettysburg the ball at the 30-yard line. Three plays later, Manigat grabbed a pass in the middle of the field and took it to the Mule-1 before Mutunga plowed in for his third touchdown of the season. Senior Josh Huson’s extra point cut the deficit to 21-7 with 7:09 left in the third quarter.
Muhlenberg answered with an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ate up 6:17. During the march the Mules went 3-for-3 on third downs and scored on a third-and-12. After scrambling out of trouble, Santagato found Edward DeRisi open in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give the Mules a 28-7 advantage with 40 ticks showing in the third quarter.
Gettysburg pulled to within 14 twice more, but each time the Mules responded with a touchdown. McConnell capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive when he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 11:30 left to make it 28-14, but Santagato hit Cresta in stride in the end zone from 33 yards out to give the Mules a 35-14 lead with 7:49 to go.
Another long Flynn-to-Perrotti pass gave the Bullets – this one a 54-yarder – put the Bullets at the Muhlenberg-13, and three plays later McConnell scored on another 1-yard touchdown run. Huson’s third and final PAT gave pulled the visitors to within 35-21 with 6:38 showing.
The Mules converted a third-and-11 on their final drive to halt any chance of a Bullet rally, with Santagato hitting Cresta with an 11-yard pass to the Gettysburg-48. On the next play, he found Cresta again, launching a deep ball into the end zone to set the final score with 4:51 left.
Sophomore cornerback Tairi Mobley (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown), making his first collegiate start, led the Bullet defense with 10 tackles while Hartigan made eight stops, including 1.5 for loss.
Gettysburg returns home next Saturday, when it hosts Ursinus College at 1 p.m. in another Centennial Conference showdown.
From the Muhlenberg College Website:
Football begins defense with 42-21 win
Gettysburg may have had a large supply of Bullets on its sideline, but Muhlenberg had more weapons on the field and began defense of its 2007 Centennial Conference championship with a 42-21 Homecoming win.
The victory extended the Mules’ regular-season winning streak to 14 games, tying the second longest in CC history.
The biggest offensive weapon was the three-headed monster of seniors Eric Santagato and John DeLuca and junior Phil Cresta. Santagato finished 17-of-27 for 245 yards, tying a career high with four touchdowns, and did not throw an interception. DeLuca gained 134 yards on 27 carries to move into 12th place on the CC all-time list with 2,842 career yards. Cresta caught a career-high eight passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, moving over 1,000 receiving yards for his career.
Going against the top offense in the CC, the fifth-ranked Mules (3-0, 1-0) shut out Gettysburg (0-4, 0-2) in the first half, opening up a 21-0 lead. The game got off to a shaky start for the Bullets, as they were called for a holding penalty on the opening kickoff, went three-and-out an offense, then had a short punt that senior Brandon Doyle returned to the 24-yard line.
On Muhlenberg’s first play from scrimmage, DeLuca ran 24 yards for a quick touchdown just 1:25 into the game.
The score remained 7-0 for most of the first half. Gettysburg had its best chance to score after pinning the Mules inside their own 5 with a punt. The Bullets got the ball back at the Muhlenberg 29, but a fourth-down pass from the 23 was broken up by sophomore Mark Accomando.
The Mules went 58 yards in four plays to double their lead on Santagato’s 19-yard pass to senior Erik Snyder with 4:36 left in the half.
Muhlenberg held Gettysburg without a first down and regained possession with 2:51 on the clock. Consecutive completions of 12 and 21 yards by Santagato to Cresta put the ball at the 1, and DeLuca carried over with 49.4 seconds left to complete the eight-play TD drive.
Each team scored three touchdowns in the second half as the offenses took over, but the Bullets never got closer than two scores. Santagato threw a scoring strike of 19 yards to senior Edward DeRisi after escaping a sack in the backfield, and found Cresta on similar 33- and 35-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
The Mules finished with 442 total yards in beginning a season with three straight 30-point efforts for the first time since 2000. Muhlenberg has scored at least 30 points in eight of its last nine regular-season games (and put up 29 in the other).
Accomando recorded a career-high seven tackles and two pass breakups. Junior Frank Emmett also made seven stops, including two for loss, and senior Matt Rathbun intercepted a pass for the second straight week.
Click here for box score.
Click here for complete stats.
From The Harrisburg Patriot-News:
DIVISION III: MUHLENBERG 42, GETTYSBURG 21
D-3 power outscores Gettysburg
Sunday, September 28, 2008
From staff reports
ALLENTOWN - Quarterback Matt Flynn reached a Gettysburg College milestone Saturday, but Muhlenberg did most of the damage in a 42-21 Centennial Conference football victory.
Muhlenberg (3-0, 1-0), ranked seventh nationally in Division III, scored on five of its last six possessions to win its 14th consecutive regular-season game.
Eric Santagato threw for 245 yards and John DeLuca picked up 134 yards on the ground for the Mules.
For Gettysburg (0-4, 0-2), Flynn become the second player in school history to pass for 4,000 career yards. The junior from Northfield, N.J., completed 21 of 33 passes for 259 yards.
Tailback Nick McConnell (Cedar Crest) scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bullets, but they could never close the gap after falling behind 21-0 at the half.
From the Allentown Morning Call:
Mules jump on Bullets early, win 42-21
Extend Centennial Conference winning streak to 14 games.
By Bradley A. Huebner Special to The Morning Call
September 28, 2008
Muhlenberg College scored on its first play of the game then twice late to preserve a lead en route to a convincing 42-21 Homecoming win over Gettysburg on Saturday at Scotty Wood Stadium's Frank Marino Field.
The victory pushed the Mules to 3-0 and extended their Centennial Conference winning streak to 14, tied for second all-time with Dickinson (1987-88), 16 behind McDaniel (1997-99).
Ranked fifth nationally in Division III, Muhlenberg showed that its defense, while young, remains talented. The Mules limited the Bullets' high-powered offense, which had been averaging a league-best 436 yards per game, to 21 points, none in the first half when Muhlenberg jumped ahead 21-0.
''We prepared for them just like we did last year [when Muhlenberg escaped a close contest],'' said junior defensive end Frank Emmett, one of four Mules with seven tackles and one of two with a pair of tackles for loss. ''Coach Donnelly strategized perfectly for them. We know how explosive they can be.''
Muhlenberg set the tone offensively right away. After Brandon Doyle returned Gettysburg's first punt 24 yards to the Bullets' 24, running back John DeLuca rushed right for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead. DeLuca chiseled his way to 134 yards on 27 carries. He scored on runs of 24 and 1 yard to stake the hosts to a 21-0 halftime lead over the Bullets (0-4).
In the second half, after Gettysburg pulled to within 21-7, it started stacking the box with seven, eight and even nine defenders to stop DeLuca.
Muhlenberg adjusted by twice calling their ''Indiana'' play, a play-action fake to DeLuca that freezes the safety. Twice in the second half, quarterback Eric Santagato hit receiver Phil Cresta for touchdowns, one from 33 yards and another from 35.
They turned a potentially competitive 28-14 contest into a 42-21 romp.
''I knew the safety was biting on the play-action fake,'' said Cresta, a 6-3, 190-pound junior who also was 8-3 as a pitcher for the Mules' baseball team. ''I knew if Eric led me enough it would be the same result.''
Santagato finished the day 17-for-27 for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Playing against Gettysburg and intrepid quarterback Matt Flynn, Muhlenberg could not score too many points. Flynn completed 21 of 33 passes for 259 yards. The Mules sacked him three times, however, and intercepted him twice.
By the time Flynn found his comfort zone in the second half, it was too late.
Gettysburg scored on a 68-yard drive in just 3:32, then again on a 63-yard drive in just 1:03 in the fourth quarter to pull to within 35-21 with 6:38 left.
''They make you play assignment-perfect football,'' Muhlenberg coach Mike Donnelly said of Gettysburg and its four-receiver spread attack. ''They have a legitimate quarterback and they run all those options. They're just outstanding on offense.''
Muhlenberg wasn't so bad, either, with 442 yards against a defense that has given up 155 points in four losses. The Mules answered the Bullets' late surge with a six-play, 72-yard drive, capped by Cresta's second touchdown. That came after Cresta caught an 11-yard pass on third-and-11 two plays earlier to sustain the drive.
posted by Pat McConnell | 6:34 AM
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