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Football Ends Season with Bowl Win

The Muhlenberg football team won a postseason game for the seventh straight season, defeating Widener 34-7 in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.

The Muhlenberg football team won a postseason game for the seventh straight season, defeating Widener 34-7 in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.

The Mules finished the 2024 campaign with an 8-3 record, reaching the eight-win mark for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons. 

Senior defensive end Derek Rosenow was named MVP after recording 3 sacks to lead a defense that allowed only 13 rushing yards, 275 total yards and three third-down conversions in 15 attempts. The lone touchdown for the Pride (5-6) came on a trick play in the third quarter.

Offensively, Muhlenberg rolled up an even 500 yards, with senior Joe Repetti throwing for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns in his final game. Three different running backs - junior Amari Dunn (92), senior Aaron Daniels (68) and junior Matthew Manning (63) - rushed for at least 60 yards.

The game turned on back-to-back plays early in the second quarter. After each team punted in the first five minutes of the game, Widener embarked on a 19-play drive that took more than 10 minutes off the clock. It stalled at the Mule 7, however, and resulted in no points when senior Andrew Franklin blocked a 24-yard field goal try.

On the very next play, Repetti found senior Andrew Darno alone behind the Pride defense for a 90-yard touchdown and the first points of the game. Darno finished with five catches for 122 yards, ending his career with his first 100-yard game, and became the third Muhlenberg player to catch a touchdown pass of 90 or more yards this season.

The Mules started their next drive on the 1-yard line and put together a 19-play, 10-minute drive of their own, converting four third downs before getting stopped at the 2 on third-and-goal. Senior Connor Fenstermaker connected on a 19-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 1:59 left in the half.

One of Rosenow's sacks forced the Pride to punt on its ensuing possession, and Muhlenberg got the ball back at its own 44 with 1:01 left. Consecutive completions from Repetti to senior Pelton Esannason Jr. set up Fenstermaker's second field goal, from 29 yards out as time expired in the half. It was the second 29-yard field goal on the final play of a half for Fenstermaker in the last three weeks. 

Muhlenberg put the game out of reach with a strong third quarter. The Mules drove deep into Widener territory on the first drive before losing the ball on a fumble, but got the ball back quickly after the defense forced a three-and-out and the Pride punter fumbled the snap and was downed at the 21-yard line. Three plays later, Manning carried in from a yard out to extend the lead to 20-0.

After another three-and-out that included a sack by senior Owen Kovacs, Muhlenberg needed seven plays to make it 27-0, with Repetti hitting junior John Runfolo in the end zone from 22 yards out.

An interception by Kovacs on the first play after Widener blocked a field goal set up the Mules' final score, on a 5-yard pass from Repetti to Darno.

Kovacs led the defense with 7 tackles. Senior Matt Papa recorded 1½ tackles for loss and broke up a pass in his last game for Muhlenberg, while seniors Keshon Davila, Michael Dotro and Franklin also contributed to the Mules' six sacks.