Big plays on offense and special teams in the final 66 seconds pushed the Muhlenberg football team to a thrilling 39-36 win against Ursinus in an epic clash between Centennial Conference unbeatens.

Both teams came into the game receiving votes in the Division III polls, and both teams overcame 11-point deficits in the second half. 

Senior Dante Mahaffey threw two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including a 26-yarder to senior John Runfolo with 1:06 on the clock that gave the Mules (4-0, 1-0) a 39-36 lead.

The Bears (3-1, 0-1) started the ensuing possession at their own 25 and drove down to the Muhlenberg 21 on nine plays. With just three seconds left on the clock, they lined up to attempt a game-tying 38-yard field goal, but sophomore Chris Holland blocked it to preserve the win.

It was the second straight high-scoring three-point game between the two teams (Ursinus won last year 53-50) and the fifth straight meeting that was decided by eight points or fewer.

Ursinus jumped on top 14-0 on a pair of fourth-down touchdown passes in the first half, but the Mules took a 19-14 lead into the locker room on the strength of two touchdown runs by senior Matthew Manning and a 3-yard TD pass from Mahaffey to senior Aidan Mack with just 31 seconds left in the half.

Manning's third TD run of the game, from 4 yards out, ended the first possession of the second half and extended Muhlenberg's lead to 25-14.

The Bears scored the next three touchdowns, however, to open up a 36-25 advantage with 8:34 remaining.

The Mules found the end zone of their next possession, with Mahaffey connecting with Runfolo for 21 yards and Mack for 13 on two third-and-long plays before finding freshman Caleb Pasols for a 39-yard touchdown with 5:59 to play.

Muhlenberg's defense forced a three-and-out, and junior Tommy Donnelly returned the punt 20 yards into Ursinus territory, but the offense turned the ball over on downs with 3:06 to play.

Two plays later, senior George Europe forced a fumble on a running play that was recovered by junior Aaron Sylvester, and the Mules took over at their own 45 with 2:14 left.

Mahaffey again converted two long third downs, scrambling for 18 yards on third-and-16 and hitting Manning for 17 yards on third-and-10. On the next play, Mahaffey heaved the ball into the end zone, where Runfolo (pictured above, celebrating with Logan Nordeck) caught it along the sideline. 

Mahaffey flipped a pass to junior Isaac Schaffer-Neitz for a two-point conversion, assuring that Ursinus could only tie with a field goal.

The game marked the first time the Mules overcame a 14-point deficit to win since 2023, when they turned a 14-0 hole against Salisbury into a 29-17 win. They hadn't done it in a Centennial Conference game since 2011, when they trailed McDaniel 26-7 in the fourth quarter and came back to win, 34-26. 

Mahaffey threw for 203 yards and rushed for 116 on only 14 carries. It was the third straight year the Muhlenberg quarterback recorded a 100-yard rushing game against Ursinus.

Manning finished with 66 yards rushing, becoming the first Mule to rush for three touchdowns in a game since 2017.

Europe and senior Peyton Elliott led the defense, which held Ursinus to 79 rushing yards, with 10 tackles apiece. Sophomore Joseph Papa contributed to three tackles for loss, including a solo sack on the third play of the game.

Junior Justin Bernal blocked a punt in the first half, setting up Mack's first career touchdown.