LANCASTER, Pa – Muhlenberg's defense forced four interceptions and picked up seven sacks as the Mules defeated Franklin & Marshall 34-13 in Centennial Conference (CC) football action. Three of the interceptions led to touchdowns, which proved to be the difference in the game.
F&M (0-2, 0-1 CC) got on the board with a field goal on the first drive of the game. The Diplomats marched 62 yards on 11 plays to set up Chris DeStefano's 20-yard field goal. The drive was highlighted by a 28-yard jaunt by Lamont Jackson on the first play of the game.
The Mules (1-1, 1-0 CC) answered with an 11-play, 53-yard drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by J.T. Merklinger. Muhlenberg added two more scores to go into the break with 21-3 edge. Both scores were setup by interceptions.
Another interception led to the Mules fourth touchdown of the game in the third quarter when Andy Curley picked off John Harrison and returned the ball to the F&M four. Terrence Dandridge punched it in two plays later for the score. The Mules failed on the PAT, to make it 27-3.
F&M answered with its only touchdown on the next series. Kurt Rogers started things off with a 29-yard kickoff return to the Muhlenberg 49. E.J. Schneider went 3 for 3 for 34 yards to get the Diplomats in the red zone. Jackson picked up 12 yards andAlan Williams hit pay dirt from a yard out for the score.
The Diplomats added three more on a 35-yard field goal by DeStefano with 8:45 remaining in the game. It took Mules just over two minutes to answer when Isaish Vaugh took a Dan Deighan pass and raced down the sideline for a 95-yard touchdown and a 34-13 score.
Tim Muller picked up 101 yards on four catches to help pace the F&M offense. Jackson added 49 yards on seven carries out of the backfield while Schneider finished with 179 yards through the air.
Rogers led the defense with seven tackles and Donald Weizik end up with six. C.T. Marsh kept his sack streak alive with a sack today. The senior has recorded a sack in 12-straight games and moved up to the eighth position (19) of F&M's all-time sack list.
F&M returns to action next Saturday when the Diplomats travel to Ursinus for a 1:00 pm kickoff.
Muhlenberg vs Franklin & Marshall (Sep 10, 2011 at Lancaster, Pa.)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Muhlenberg 7 14 6 7 34 Record: (1-1,1-0)
Franklin & Marshall 3 0 7 3 13 Record: (0-2,0-1)
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:23 F&M Chris DeStefano 20 yd field goal, 11-62 4:37, MUHL 0 - F&M 3
00:01 MUHL J.T. Merklinger 1 yd run (Gregg Mercogliano kick), 11-53 5:24, MUHL 7 - F&M 3
2nd 03:32 MUHL J.T. Merklinger 6 yd run (Gregg Mercogliano kick), 5-26 2:03, MUHL 14 - F&M 3
00:43 MUHL Terrence Dandridge 4 yd run (Gregg Mercogliano kick), 6-46 2:11, MUHL 21 - F&M 3
3rd 06:45 MUHL Terrence Dandridge 3 yd run (Gregg Mercogliano kick failed), 2-4 0:25, MUHL 27 - F&M 3
04:02 F&M Alan Williams 1 yd run (Chris DeStefano kick), 6-49 2:36, MUHL 27 - F&M 10
4th 08:45 F&M Chris DeStefano 35 yd field goal, 8-8 3:05, MUHL 27 - F&M 13
06:47 MUHL Isaiah Vaughn 95 yd pass from Dan Deighan (Gregg Mercogliano kick), 3-94 1:58, MUHL 34 - F&M 13
RUSHING: Muhlenberg-Terrence Dandridge 20-88; Dan Deighan 8-40; J.T. Merklinger 9-38; Joe Carlucci 2-3. Franklin & Marshall-Lamont Jackson 7-49; E.J. Schneider 7-19; Scott LaValva 5-11; Alan Williams 3-3; Jordan Zachery 1-3; Sam Kind 4-minus 8; John Harrison 2-minus 16.
PASSING: Muhlenberg-Dan Deighan 8-19-0-183; Joe Carlucci 0-1-0-0. Franklin & Marshall-E.J. Schneider 13-22-1-179; John Harrison 9-17-3-85; Sam Kind 3-5-0-31.
RECEIVING: Muhlenberg-Isaiah Vaughn 4-135; Marcus Toomey 1-16; Michael Long 1-12; J.T. Merklinger 1-12; Eric Gilbert 1-8. Franklin & Marshall-Jordan Zachery 6-52; Colton Weaver 5-45; Tim Muller 4-101; Paul McGann 3-30; Joe Goggin 2-32; Lamont Jackson 2-16; Alan Williams 2-13; Scott LaValva 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS: Muhlenberg-Tim Vogel 2-19; Richard Reid 1-54; Andy Curley 1-26. Franklin & Marshall-None.
FUMBLES: Muhlenberg-Joe Carlucci 1-0; Terrence Dandridge 1-1; J.T. Merklinger 1-0. Franklin & Marshall-None.
SACKS (UA-A): Muhlenberg-Victor Taiwo 3-0; Patrick McDonough 2-0; Steve Nissley 1-0; Kenneth Cobb 1-0. Franklin & Marshall-C.T. Marsh 1-0; Kenny Provost 1-0; Mike Shin 1-0.
TACKLES (UA-A): Muhlenberg-Kory Crichton 9-0; Patrick McDonough 7-2; Chase Nadell 5-0; Richard Reid 4-0; Victor Taiwo 4-0; Tim Vogel 3-1; Steve Nissley 3-0; Mark Mounayar 3-0; Jeremey Thomas 2-0; Andy Curley 1-1; Ian Gimbar 1-0; Darnell Davis 1-0; Bryan Wilson 1-0; Kevin Van Laar 1-0; Greg DeLade 1-0; Kenneth Cobb 1-0; Michael Young 1-0; Andrew Onimus 1-0; TEAM 1-0; Tom Holland 0-1; Peter Sorrento 0-1.
Franklin & Marshall-Kurt Rogers 3-4; Donald Wiezik 3-3; C.T. Marsh 4-1; John Stark 3-2; Mike Shin 4-0; Ty Savastio 3-1; Jonathan Struss 2-1; Brian Low 2-0; TEAM 2-0; Brian Velasco 2-0; Kyle Wengerter 2-0; Nick Barbieri 1-1; John Gandolfo 1-1; Brendan Wengerter 1-1; Lamont Jackson 1-0; Colton Weaver 1-0; Scott Williams1-0; Kenny Provost 1-0; John Harrison 1-0; Jordan Studevan 1-0; Tim Muller 1-0; Phil Barbieri 0-1; Scott LaValva 0-1; Aaron Fant 0-1.