A valiant comeback effort fell short as the Muhlenberg football team lost at eighth-ranked Johns Hopkins, 34-27.

The Mules (3-3, 3-2) allowed touchdowns on each of the first five Johns Hopkins drives and trailed 34-14 early in the fourth quarter. But the defense stiffened and did not allow any more points, giving the offense a chance to tie in the closing minutes.

Senior James Nye caught a career-high eight passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns, tying the school record for a tight end. Senior Michael Feaster added nine catches for 92 yards.

After senior John Washington returned the opening kickoff to midfield, Muhlenberg zipped down the field in only six plays, with sophomore Joe Repetti hitting Nye from 6 yards out with the first of his four touchdown passes.

Nye's second TD reception, from 11 yards out early in the second quarter, tied the game at 14, but the Blue Jays (6-0, 5-0) scored the next three touchdowns.

Late in the third quarter, three plays after senior Kevin Olifiers downed a 55-yard punt at the 1-yard line, senior Alex Jr. Batista picked off a deep pass near the sideline. A 28-yard pass to Nye followed by a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Thomas Jenkins covered the distance to the end zone, drawing Muhlenberg to within 34-20 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

After another defensive stop, the Mules marched 84 yards in eight plays, capped by Nye's 9-yard TD catch, to cut the gap to a touchdown.

Johns Hopkins used a fake punt to get a first down at the Muhlenberg 15 on its next possession, but the defense held and forced a field goal try that was blocked by sophomore Andrew Franklin.

The Mules took over at their own 23 with 2:37 left and drove to midfield before turning the ball over on downs.

Senior John Lohrer led the defense with 12 tackles, while junior Keshon Davila (pictured above) and senior Tyler Ekstrom recorded nine apiece.