/seasons/2014/boxscores/20140913_jko1.xml
2014
Game Leaders
Muhlenberg
Pa:
Nick Palladino - 229
Ru:
Max Cepeda - 104
Rec:
Nick Lamb - 100
Franklin and Marshall
Pa:
Matt Magarity - 73
Ru:
Scott LaValva - 28
Rec:
Jordan Zackery - 33
Team Stats
Franklin and Marshall
Muhlenberg
Passing Yards
83
229
Rushing Yards
86
205
Turnovers
1
1
Time of Poss.
33:26
26:34
More news about: Muhlenberg
Allentown, Pa. – Freshman Max Cepeda rushed for 104 yards on only seven carries and the Muhlenberg football team cruised past Franklin & Marshall, 42-7, in its home opener and first Centennial Conference game of the season.
The Mules ran four fewer plays and had a seven-minute deficit in time of possession but used explosive plays to outgain the Diplomats, 434-169, and combined that with big plays on special teams to build a commanding early lead.
Nick Palladino completed 16 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. After gaining 99 yards receiving in his first game last week, Nick Lamb caught five passes for 100 yards for his first 100-yard game.
Ian Gimbar led the defense with eight tackles, including a sack, and a pass breakup. Jeremey Thomas added five tackles, including a sack and another tackle for loss, a breakup and a fumble recovery.
An 11-yard punt in rainy conditions following F&M's first drive of the game set up the Mules at the Diplomat 42 early in the first quarter. Seven plays later, Cepeda ran around the right side for his first career touchdown, a 9-yard score.
Later in the quarter, on the first play following an F&M punt, Cepeda burst into the clear off right tackle and sprinted 83 yards for his second score. It tied for the fourth-longest rushing play in Muhlenberg history and was the longest in 30 yards.
On its next drive, Muhlenberg faced a fourth-and-10 near midfield when Matt Aspinwall ran 17 yards on a fake punt. Three plays later, on the second play of the second quarter, Palladino hit Luke Primerano in the front of the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
Franklin & Marshall had a golden opportunity to score on its next drive, getting a first-and-goal on the 1. But the Mules came through with a goal-line stand, stopping three straight runs up the middle before a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Palladino hit Lamb from 13 yards out with 24.9 seconds left in the half to extend the lead to 28-0. At halftime, Muhlenberg had a 296-101 advantage in total yards even though possession time was 20:20-9:40 for the Diplomats.
Matt Pagano returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a touchdown – following Muhlenberg's second blocked punt of the game – to make it 35-0 midway through the fourth quarter. Matthew Stickney scored the Mules' sixth touchdown on an 11-yard run.
F&M got on the board with 2:51 left on a 2-yard run by Taalib Gerald.
The Diplomats' Brendan Daly led all players with nine tackles and added a forced fumble.