Sophomore
Michael Hnatkowsky threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Muhlenberg football team to a 62-7 Homecoming win against Juniata.
The win kept the Mules (3-0, 3-0) undefeated heading into next week's home showdown with nationally ranked Franklin & Marshall.
The 62 points were the most scored by Muhlenberg at home against a Centennial Conference opponent since 2002.
Hnatkowsky completed 23 of 27 passes for 278 yards while playing only two series in the second half. It was the third time in his career he accounted for five touchdowns; the first was last year vs. Juniata in his first career start.
Juniors
Max Kirin and
Chris Hillburn caught two touchdown passes apiece for the Mules, who broke open a 7-7 tie by scoring on four straight possessions in the second and third quarters.
The defense, meanwhile, held the Eagles (0-4, 0-3) to 127 total yards, including just 4 on 29 rushing attempts, and picked off three passes.
Hnatkowsky's 3-yard sneak gave Muhlenberg a 7-0 lead after its first drive. The Mules moved quickly on their next possession, gaining 42 yards in five plays, before losing fumbles the next two times they touched the ball. Given new life, Juniata drove 69 yards in nine plays to tie the score on a 3-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.
Hnatkowsky broke the tie by completing touchdown passes of 9 and 28 yards to Kirin and 5 yards to Hillburn before halftime, giving the Mules a 28-7 lead.
Muhlenberg took the opening kickoff of the second half and needed only eight plays to make it 35-7 on Hillburn's second TD catch of the game, and his career.
The defense was responsible for the next touchdown on the first play after junior
Joseph O'Hagan pinned the Eagles at the 4-yard line with a punt. Junior defensive end
Frankie Feaster batted a pass attempt into the air, and freshman linebacker
Owen Daddona caught the ball in the end zone for a pick-six.
Sophomore
James Diggs (14 rushes, 79 yards), junior
Nick DeLucas (7-59) and senior quarterback
Matt Gibbon all rushed for fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Junior
Mickey Kober led the defense with 10 tackles and picked off a pass. Junior
Kwasi Ampomah (pictured above) also added an interception, the first of his career.
A pair of reserve defensive linemen, sophomore
Christian Nazare and freshman
Jacques Lavache, helped punctuate the win by combining for three fourth-quarter sacks.
Freshman
Gabe Robles accounted for 132 yards on kick returns, bringing back a punt 56 yards.
Senior
Sean Elliott recorded his first career reception, catching a pass on the drive that ended with Muhlenberg's eighth touchdown.