Michael Hnatkowsky accounted for five touchdowns in his first career start and senior Nick Savant rushed for 160 yards in his return to full duty as the Muhlenberg football team improved to 3-1 with a 56-40 win at Juniata.
 
Hnatkowsky completed 20 of 28 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns – two to sophomore Max Kirin – while also rushing for a score. The five total offense touchdowns tied a school record for freshmen.
 
Savant, who missed almost all of the last two games with injury, ran for two touchdowns and caught a pass for one. The 160 yards moved him into fourth place on the Mules' all-time list with 2,745 career yards.
 
Junior cornerback Nate Corvil intercepted a pass and recovered a fumbled snap in the end zone for his third career touchdown. He also forced a fumble.
 
Muhlenberg began the game with an onside kick but failed to recover, and Juniata scored just three plays later. The Mules scored the next five touchdowns, however, to open a big lead.
 
The first score was set up when junior Jack Fitzsimmons (pictured above) sacked the Eagle quarterback, forcing a fumble that was recovered by sophomore Frank Cresta. Hnatkowsky capped the nine-play, 40-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Ryan Curtiss.
 
Hnatkowsky and Curtiss hooked up for a 16-yard gain to the one on Muhlenberg's next drive, and the quarterback sneaked in on the next play to give the Mules their first lead.
 
Both of Muhlenberg's second-quarter touchdowns were set up by turnovers. Corvil's fourth pick of the season led to Hnatkowsky's 9-yard scoring pass to Kirin. Two plays after senior Kyle Wilczynski recovered a fumble on a punt return, Hnatkowsky hooked up with Savant from 11 yards out.
 
The Mules forced another turnover in the second quarter on freshman Daymon Fleming's first career interception.
 
Muhlenberg needed only three plays after the second-half kickoff to score again. A 44-yard pass play to Kirin set up Savant's 12-yard run, making it 35-7.
 
Juniata closed the gap to 35-20 on a passing touchdown and a blocked field goal return for a score.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Juniata was set up to punt from its own 5 after sophomore Joseph O'Hagan downed a punt at the 1-yard line for the fourth time this season. The Juniata punter bobbled the snap, and Corvil pounced on the ball in the end zone.
 
Fourth-quarter touchdowns by Savant (11-yard run) and Kirin (9-yard catch) closed out the scoring for the Mules.
 
Muhlenberg held Juniata to 57 yards rushing and forced five turnovers.