Muhlenberg College Athletics

In a game dominated by the defenses, the Muhlenberg football team opened up Centennial Conference play with a 17-7 loss at Ursinus.

The Mules (2-2, 0-1) held the Bears (4-0, 1-0) well below their season average of 32 points per game coming in and made several big stops on defense. But the offense managed only 262 total yards and one touchdown.

Ursinus drove into Muhlenberg territory on each of its first two drives, only to be stopped on fourth down both times. 

Early in the second quarter, the Bears had a first-and-goal at the Mule 4. After a short running play and an incompletion, a sack for an 8-yard loss on third down by sophomore David Gjergji forced Ursinus to attempt a field goal, which sailed wide.

Muhlenberg drove to the Bear 29 on its first possession before fumbling and did not come close again in the first half. The teams went into the break scoreless - a first in a Mule game since the 2007 season opener at The College of New Jersey.

The Mules lost another fumble of the third play of the first half, but the defense held and Ursinus had to settle for a field goal for the first points of the game. 

The Bears came close to scoring the first touchdown midway through the third, but their receiver fumbled the ball just short of the goal line on a play that was upheld by video review. 

Ursinus finally did get a touchdown later in the quarter, and Muhlenberg responded with its lone scoring drive, a 13-play, 68-yard possession that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass from junior Luke Spang to sophomore Caleb Pasols with 11:19 left in the game.

Pasols, who finished with six catches for 75 yards, became just the second Mule since 2008 to catch a touchdown pass in each of the first four games of the season.

Ursinus came right back with a long drive of its own, taking nearly eight minutes off the clock and putting the game away with a 27-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

Junior Thomas Cerruti led the defense with 11 tackles. Freshman Chase Hoag, making his first career start, recorded 8 stops, as did junior Myles Byrd Rice (pictured above, combining with sophomore Triston McNeal on a tackle in the fourth quarter).

Freshman Algee Macon notched his first career sack.