Despite a strong defensive effort, the Muhlenberg football team suffered its first loss of the season, 27-16 at Johns Hopkins in a matchup of nationally ranked Centennial Conference teams.

The result left the Mules (7-1, 6-1) and Blue Jays (7-1, 6-1) tied for first place with two games remaining in the regular season. Muhlenberg can secure a share of its 10th CC title by winning its final two games.

The Mules held the Blue Jays to 376 total yards, well below their average of 558.3 (second in Division III) coming in. Hopkins had been averaging more than 50 points per game but was held to six in the second half to give Muhlenberg a chance to come back from a 21-0 deficit.

Junior Frankie Feaster led the defense with nine tackles, including five for loss and three sacks. Sophomore Spencer Kirin also recorded nine stops and recovered a fumble.

The defense gave the Mules their first points early in the third quarter when Feaster forced a fumble with one of his sacks. The Blue Jays recovered the fumble in their own end zone for a safety. 

Muhlenberg took the ensuing free kick and drove 60 yards in 10 plays for its first touchdown. Junior Mark Riggio carried in from 3 yards out to make it 21-9.

Johns Hopkins responded with a touchdown drive of its own to make the score 27-9 early in the fourth quarter. The Mules turned the ball over in their own territory on two of their next three possessions, but the defense kept the Blue Jays off the board.

A 51-yard completion by sophomore Michael Hnatkowsky to sophomore Thomas Murphy following a fourth-down top set up the Mules' second touchdown, on an 11-yard pass from Hnatkowsky to junior Max Kirin. 

Feaster forced another fumble on the next play from scrimmage, but a Johns Hopkins interception with 6:43 left ended Muhlenberg's last serious scoring threat.

Kirin caught a career-high 12 passes for 132 yards, becoming just the second Mule in the last nine years with a dozen receptions in a game. Hnatkowsky passed for 278 yards to go over 4,000 for his career.