/seasons/2016/boxscores/20161022_2dwb.xml
2016
Game Leaders
Muhlenberg
Pa:
Nick Palladino - 121
Ru:
Nick Savant - 277
Rec:
Nick Lamb - 81
Juniata
Pa:
Hank Coyne - 211
Ru:
Calvin Bembry - 30
Rec:
Kirby Breault - 115
Team Stats
Juniata
Muhlenberg
Passing Yards
211
152
Rushing Yards
36
380
Turnovers
1
2
Time of Poss.
33:01
26:59
More news about: Muhlenberg
Nick Savant rushed for a school-record 277 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Muhlenberg College football team to a 56-17 home win against Juniata.
Savant scored on runs of 8, 30, 9 and 61 yards to tie a school record for touchdowns in a game and help the Mules (6-1, 5-1) overcome an early 10-0 deficit. His 277 yards put him over 1,000 yards for the season and broke the previous mark of 263 set by Jason Brader in 1998.
Nick Palladino threw for 121 yards and two touchdowns and also made history with his legs, running for 62 yards and a score to break the school record for career rushing yards by a quarterback (1,363). The three touchdowns gave him 101 (passing and rushing) in his career.
Muhlenberg rolled up 532 yards of total offense and did not run a play that resulted in a loss. The Mule defense held Juniata's offense, which came in averaging 410.5 yards per game, to 247 yards, with 110 of those coming in the fourth quarter.
Mike Luby led the defense with 11 tackles, while Kyle Wilczynski forced a fumble with a sack and returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown.
The Eagles (4-3, 3-3), who have never defeated the Mules, forced a punt on the first possession of the game, then drove 47 yards in nine plays to take a 3-0 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Kevin Bonalle.
Three plays after the kickoff, Joel Reighard picked off a Palladino pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.
Muhlenberg responded by scoring touchdowns on its next six possessions, and Juniata did not get inside the Mule 40 again until the fourth quarter.
The Eagles tried an unsuccessful onside kick following the pick-six, giving the Mules the ball at the 34-yard line. Seven plays later, Palladino hit Ryan Delaney in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.
Muhlenberg took advantage of another short field after a three-and-out and blocked punt by John Feaster. Five plays and 25 yards later, Savant scored the first of his four touchdowns to put the Mules ahead for good.
Second-quarter touchdown runs by Savant and Palladino sandwiched around a three-and-out upped the lead to 28-10. Juniata got two first downs on its ensuing drive, but on second down from the Muhlenberg 46, Wilczynski intercepted a pass over the middle and raced untouched for his third career pick-six.
Ahead 35-10 at the half, the Mules needed little time to increase their lead. On their first drive of the third quarter, they covered 63 yards in just three plays, with Palladino rushing for 26 yards, completing a pass to Nick Lamb for 28, then handing off to Savant for the final nine yards.
Savant's 61-yard touchdown burst on Muhlenberg's first play of the fourth quarter gave him the record.
Lamb finished with seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, closing to within two of the Mules' all-time record of 169 career receptions.
Kirby Breault caught 10 passes for 115 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown, for Juniata.