The Muhlenberg football team nearly erased a 17-point deficit against one of the top defenses in Division III, but came up just short and fell to Delaware Valley, 30-27, in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.
 
The Mules finished the year 9-2, with their two losses coming by a total of nine points to teams with a combined record of 20-2.
 
In his final game, senior Nick Palladino continued to make history, going over 10,000 passing yards for his career. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 289 yards against the ninth-ranked passing defense in the country to finish with 10,250 yards.
 
Senior Ryan Delaney also had a big last game, catching 10 balls for 152 yards, while senior Nick Lamb, who ranks just ahead of Delaney as Muhlenberg's all-time receptions leader, hauled in eight balls, one for a touchdown.
 
The Mules trailed 23-6 late in the first half after the Aggies (9-2) used a heavy advantage in field position to score three touchdowns and a field goal. The outlook did not seem good against a DelVal defense that came in allowing just 13.2 points per game and had not given up more than 21 points all season, but Muhlenberg battled back.
 
A 38-yard hookup from Palladino to Delaney on third-and-12 put the Mules at the 1-yard line, and two plays later Palladino sneaked in to make it 23-13 with 12.2 seconds left in the half.
 
On Muhlenberg's second drive of the second half, Palladino hit Lamb with completions of 26 and 16 yards, then found sophomore Josiah Wright for a 14-yard gain to the Aggie 15. On third-and-6 from the 11, Palladino eluded pressure and scrambled for 10 yards. Junior Nick Savant, who scored the Mules' first touchdown on a 13-yard run, rammed through the middle on the next play, and suddenly it was a three-point game.
 
The teams traded touchdowns early in the fourth quarter, with Lamb's 10th receiving TD of the year making in 30-27 with 10:23 remaining.
 
Muhlenberg stopped Delaware Valley's next possession on three plays, and Delaney (pictured above) returned the ensuing punt 26 yards to the Aggie 45. The Mules drove to the 15, but a holding penalty drove them back. On fourth down with just over three minutes left, a game-tying 45-yard field goal try barely missed.
 
Delaware Valley got the one first down it needed to run out the clock and seal the win.
 
The Mules finished the game with 380 yards of total offense against a defense that came in allowing only 257.1 on average. On the other side of the ball, Muhlenberg allowed just 89 yards of total offense in the second half and only 57 passing yards for the game.
 
Senior John Feaster recorded eight tackles, including two for loss, to go along with two pass breakups in his final game. Another member of the winningest senior class in program history, Mike Luby, had 1½ tackles for loss.
 
Freshman Mickey Kober made eight tackles and forced a fumble that the Mules recovered.