Box Score

Sophomore Max Cepeda scored two touchdowns in overtime, including one from 25 yards on the final play of the game, as the Muhlenberg football team outlasted Juniata, 41-35, in double overtime.
 
It was the first multiple-overtime game ever for the Mules (5-2, 4-2), who have never lost to the Eagles (2-5, 1-5). And to pull out their third straight win, they needed some late-game heroics.
 
Juniata took a 28-21 lead on a touchdown pass with 4:26 left. Muhlenberg needed only five plays and 75 seconds to tie the game back up, with junior Nick Palladino hitting senior Mike Harris from 9 yards out.
 
The quick drive left the Eagles more than three minutes to drive down the field, and they reached the Muhlenberg 19 with one second left. After three timeouts, a 36-yard field goal try was blocked, sending the game into overtime.
 
The Mules had the first possession of overtime and scored on three rushes by Cepeda, the last from a yard out. Juniata faced fourth-and-8 on its possession but threw a 23-yard touchdown pass that send the game into a second extra period.
 
The Eagles gained only five yards on their possession to start the second overtime, and after a false start penalty, a 42-yard try field goal try went wide right. Muhlenberg wasted little time, as on the first play of its possession, Cepeda ran a sweep to the left, found open room, and slipped away from a defender at the 10-yard line en route to the end zone.
 
Ironically, Cepeda gained all 50 of Muhlenberg's yards in overtime after being held to 10 yards on seven carries in regulation. The bulk of the offensive load for the first four quarters was carried by the passing game.
 
Palladino completed 32 of 48 attempts for 383 yards and four touchdowns. It was his seventh career 300-yard game, and it moved the junior to within 153 yards of the program's all-time record of 6,938 yards. Senior Nick Lamb caught 14 passes (one short of the school record) for 212 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first Mule in 15 years with a 200-yard receiving game. Junior Ryan Delaney caught nine balls for 101 yards and a pair of scores.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, each team capped a 10-play drive with a touchdown pass. A bad snap on a PAT try left the Mules with a 7-6 lead at the break.
 
Delaney's second scoring reception of the game, from 21 yards, made it 14-6 Muhlenberg three minutes into the second half, but two touchdown passes and a two-point conversion put the Eagles ahead 21-14.
 
A 34-yard touchdown pass from Palladino to Lamb on the first play of the fourth quarter tied the score at 21, setting the stage for the wild finish.
 
Freshman Luke Wiley had two interceptions for the Mules, who had an edge of 520-418 in total yards.