Box Score

Franklin & Marshall scored two touchdowns in the final 4:24 to overcome a 12-point deficit and hand the Muhlenberg football team its first loss of the season, 16-15, in a game that was delayed twice by lightning.

The Mules held a 15-3 lead and had limited the Diplomats to fewer than 99 total yards when the second lightning delay occurred with 12:45 left in the fourth. But in their second drive after play resumed, the Diplomats drove 57 yards in seven plays for their first touchdown to close to within 15-10.

Muhlenberg took the ball back and attempted to take time off the clock by running the ball, but lost a fumble at its own 39 with 2:13 to play.

F&M went 39 yards in eight plays, twice converting on third down, to take its first lead on a 3-yard quarterback scramble with 61 seconds on the clock.

Following the kickoff, the Mules were on the F&M 32 with 11 seconds left and appeared to get into range for a field goal on a pass to the 16. But they were called for illegal touching, and a pass from the 32 on the final play of the game was incomplete.

Muhlenberg built a 9-0 lead by scoring on two long drives in the first half. A 12-play, 64-yard drive culminated with a 2-yard touchdown pass from junior Nick Palladino to sophomore Matthew Stickney with 37 seconds left in the first quarter, and a 19-play, 78-yard drive ended with a 32-yard Casey Fosbenner field goal with 4:30 to go in the half.

After the Diplomats returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards to the Mule 6, the defense held and forced a field goal just before the first lightning delay.

A fumble forced by senior Khiry Hughes and recovered by sophomore Jake Morra set up the lone touchdown of the third quarter, a 4-yard pass from Palladino to junior Jake Solari.

Palladino finished 19-of-29 for 189 yards and was also the Mules' leading rusher with 57 yards on 17 carries. Junior Ryan Delaney caught eight passes for 79 yards.

Morra and senior Lenny Smith led the defense with 12 tackles apiece, while senior Ronald Christian made three tackles for loss. Juniors John Feaster and Brian Wiegand recorded interceptions.  

pictured above: Junior Michael Hogan makes a tackle for a defense that allowed only one run of longer than 8 yards.