Muhlenberg keeps rolling, pitches shutout to down McDaniel for the first time since 1993
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – John DeLuca ran for 135 yards and a touchdown, eclipsing the total amassed by McDaniel, to lead Muhlenberg to a 43-0 victory in Centennial Conference (CC) football action on Saturday.
Entering the game having not defeated the Green Terror (1-5, 1-3 CC) since a 29-27 victory in 1993, the Mules (6-0, 4-0 CC) exploded for 470 yards of total offense while the nation’s third-best defense held its visitors to 100 total yards and pitched its third shutout of the season.
Muhlenberg racked up 28 first downs and held the ball for more than 38 minutes while allowing McDaniel to move the chains just four times – twice by penalty.
T.J. Develin (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) accounted for 46 of McDaniel’s yards, 43 of which came on the team’s second play from scrimmage.
Leading 3-0 on a TJ Chiarolanza 22-yard field goal with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter, the Mules lit the scoreboard for 27 points in the second quarter to take a 30-0 lead into the locker room.
A DeLuca seven-yard scamper and a pair of Eric Snyder touchdown runs from inside the five-yard line accounted for three of Muhlenberg’s four second-quarter scores.
A DeLuca 21-yard catch from Eric Santagato with 17.4 seconds showing before halftime stretched the lead to 30 at the break.
Not needing to punt in the first three quarters, the Mules second quarter consisted of 31 plays covering 229 yards and ate up 9 minutes, 19 seconds.
Snyder added a one-yard dive early in the third quarter and Codie Bender covered the final six yards of a 13-play, 73-yard drive that gave Muhlenberg its highest offensive output in the 39-game series.
Travis Wenrich (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), in addition to seven tackles and his third interception of the season, punted five times for an average of 38.8 yards, including a 65-yard boot in the third quarter, in relief of his older brother, Tom Wenrich (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), who was knocked out of the game in the second quarter.
Aaron Slaughter (Baltimore, Md./Loyola) led the defense with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops.
McDaniel returns to action at home against Ursinus on Saturday. Game time is 1 p.m.
-30- |
