Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna's passing game was in full swing on Saturday, but a solid Muhlenberg defense held the Crusaders to just 66 yards on the ground and a critical fourth-down stop by the Mules late in the fourth quarter sealed SU's 21-14 conference loss at Lopardo Stadium.

Trailing 21-14 nearly midway through the final quarter, Susquehanna took over on its own eight-yard line with 9:21 to play. The Crusaders (1-2, 1-2) burned more than six minutes off the clock, but their 80-yard drive was stalled on two consecutive incomplete passes by junior Rich Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) that ultimately turned the ball over on downs and allowed Muhlenberg (1-1, 1-0) to run down the clock.

Palazzi finished the afternoon 20-for-37 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, both to junior split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area), the reigning Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Ritter led the receving corp with 193 yards.

Despite the loss, SU's young defense had a solid showing. Sophomore Jack McCarty (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) broke through for six solo and five assisted tackles while junior Greg Hunter (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) recorded the team's lone sack of the afternoon. McCarty also had a team-high two tackles for loss.

It was Susquehanna that got on the board first. After going three-and-out on their first possession, the Crusaders took over on downs at their own 23-yard line and took  just over two minutes for SU to march down the field. The big play came on Ritter's 32-yard reception that was followed one play later when Palazzi connected with Ritter again, this time for a 24-yard touchdown reception. A Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) PAT made it 7-0 with 5:06 on the clock in the opening quarter.

That marked the lone scoring in the quarter. It remained 7-0 SU until the Mules took over on their 33-yard line with 8:07 to play in the half. Running back J.T. Merklinger carried the ball on back-to-back possessions to move into Susquehanna territory. Quarterback Dan Deighan kept the ball on first-and-goal and ran his way into the endzone and a successful PAT knotted the game at seven.

It did not stay tied for long as on their next drive, the Mules put up another seven points, this time courtesy of a Deighan four-yard pass to Merklinger that made it 14-7 following another successful PAT.

With only 11 seconds left in the half when SU took over, the Crusaders had no time to put together a scoring drive and went into the lockerroom down 14-7.

The only scoring in the third quarter came in the form of another Muhlenberg touchdown. With 5:10 remaining in the third quarter, Deighan connected with John Gruver for a 14-yard touchdown reception that capped off a nine-play, 56-yard drive and put SU in a 21-7 hole.

Fortunately Susquehanna's defense did not give up another score in the quarter, or the game, and the Crusaders headed into the final quarter down by two touchdowns and the lead still in sight.

Palazzi and Ritter made it game when head coach Steve Briggs went for it on fourth-and goal following three incomplete Palazzi passes. Palazzi found Ritter in the corner of the endzone and Eppleman continued his steady kicking with his second PAT of the afternoon to close the gap to a touchdown.

SU's defense forced a three-and-out on the Mules' next drive before taking over for what would be the Crusaders' final drive of the game. On fourth down at his own 38, Palazzi extended the drive with an 11-yard pass to Ritter. Susquehanna worked its way into Muhlenberg territory but faced a foruth-and-nine at the Muhlenberg 13. In what was clearly a make-or-break spot, Palazzi's intended pass for Mike Knouse (Elliottsburg, Pa./West Perry) was imcomplete, sealing the loss.

Muhlenberg quarterback Dan Deighan went 19-for-25 for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Merklinger finished the game with 119 yards on the ground.

Next game: Sept. 23 at Ursinus, 1 p.m.

Postgame Notes:

- Mitch Phillips, Mike Ritter and Greg Tellish served as honorary captains

- Through three games, Ritter has four touchdowns. He had seven all of last season as a sophomore.

- Saturday's game was designated as Autism Speaks Awareness Day. The football team raised money for the cause throughout the week and the cheerleaders connected donations during halftime.