Michael Hnatkowsky tied his own school record for freshmen with five touchdowns and the defense forced five turnovers as the Muhlenberg football team came out of its bye week with a convincing 40-13 win at McDaniel.

Hnatkowsky completed 18 of 27 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns – two apiece to sophomores Max Kirin and Ryan Curtiss – while also rushing for a score. He was also responsible for five touchdowns in his first career start, against Juniata.

Another freshman, James Diggs, had a breakout game, rushing 17 times for 168 yards and a 55-yard touchdown. He became the third player for the Mules (5-2, 4-2) to record a 100-yard game this season.

Junior Nate Corvil intercepted two passes, one in the end zone, to increase his Centennial Conference-leading season total to six. Freshman Joshua Barnett recorded his first career interception, and senior Jake Morra also picked off a pass.

The defense set up the first points of the game after sophomore Joseph O'Hagan downed a punt at the 1-yard line for the sixth time this season following Muhlenberg's first possession. Two plays later, junior Luke Wiley forced a fumble that was recovered by senior Amir Blair at the 9-yard line.

On the next play, Hnatkowsky hit Curtiss in the end zone to give the Mules a 6-0 lead.

Muhlenberg scored on its next possession to make it 12-3, with consecutive passes by Hnatkowsky of 26 yards to junior Josiah Wright and 23 yards to Kirin highlighting the 81-yard drive. Hnatkowsky ran it in himself from 5 yards out.

The Green Terror (3-4, 2-4) made a field goal on the first play of the second quarter, but the Mules added two more touchdowns before halftime. Hnatkowsky connected with Curtiss for 4 yards eight plays after Barnett's interception and hit Kirin from 11 yards out with 1:08 left in the half to increase the lead to 25-6.

A 33-yard catch-and-run by Curtiss accounted for the lone Muhlenberg score of the third quarter, and freshman Brian Goodwin hit a 17-yard field goal for his first career points to close out the scoring with 6:01 left.

The Mules held McDaniel, which came in third in the CC with 196.8 rushing yards per game, to 61 yards on 28 carries.

Sophomore Mickey Kober led the defense with 10 tackles, with Blair adding nine. Junior Michael Blank broke up two passes.

pictured above: Blank and Blair combine on a stop in the second quarter.