Football Falls to Muhlenberg

ALLENTOWN, PA- Host Muhlenberg held a commanding 35-0 lead before Juniata scored its first touchdown as the Mules defeated the Eagles 42-13 on Saturday afternoon at Scotty Wood Stadium. The loss drops JC to 3-4 overall and 2-4 in the Centennial while Muhlenberg improves to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

The Mules won the opening toss but deferred to their visitors. The Eagles moved to near midfield but were unable to go any further as they were forced to punt.

On Muhlenberg's first play from scrimmage, quarterback Nick Palladino was picked off by Luke Navin (Bel-Air, MD/John Carroll) at the Mules' 16. The Eagles were granted the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the turnover as they drove to the one-yard line. Faced with a fourth and one, Juniata elected to go for the first down but Ward Udinski (Doylestown, Pa/Central Bucks West) would be stopped for no gain and the Mules regained possession.

On its second possession, the Mules would not go empty-handed. Muhlenberg drove down to the Juniata 44 where running back Max Cepeda busted off a 44-yard run to the end zone as the home team went up 7-0.

Muhlenberg added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 21-0 at the half.  Juniata had a chance to get on the board with just over three minutes remaining in the period but Ken Kysor's (Port Allegheny, PA/Port Alleghany) 42-yard field attempt would be blocked and recovered by the Mules.

The Mules scored on its first possession of the third quarter to go ahead 28-0. They would also score at the beginning of the final frame to go up 35-0.

The Eagles got their first score of the day at 11:24 of the fourth when Udinski connected with Isaiah Slutter (Philadelphia, PA/Wallenpaupack Area) for 61 yards. After the Mules scored their final touchdown of the game with 6:49 to play, the Eagles scored with a minute left on a Hank Coyne (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford HS) to Jaime Fell (Perryopolis, PA/Frazier) four-yard touchdown.

Udinski completed 29 out of 42 pass attempts for 267 yards and one score. Coyne hit six out of seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Udinski was also the Eagles' leading rusher with 23 yards. Deonte Alston (Bel-Air, MD/Patterson Mill) ran four times for 10 yards.

Slutter had seven receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. Fellow wideout Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) also had seven catches for 103 yards. Aaron O'Brien (York, PA/York Catholic) caught six balls for 43 yards.

Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) led the defense with 11 tackles. Mitch Shober (Stevens, PA/Cocalico HS) added eight tackles.

Juniata returns to Knox Field next Saturday to host McDaniel on Pink Day. Kick off will be at 1:30 p.m.