Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna football squad wrapped-up a month that included four home games with a fitting 17-0 shutout of visiting Centennial Conference opponent Muhlenberg on Saturday afternoon on Homecoming Weekend.

The shutout was the Crusaders first since a 20-0 blanking of Moravian on Oct. 15 of last year and was the first time the Mules has been shut out in league play since the 1996 season.

Running back Connor McGrath (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional/Assumption) took the bulk of the offensive game on his back, finishing the afternoon with 44 carries for 153 yards and two scores. His 44 carries were just three shy of the single-game mark of 47 set by Dave Paveletz in 2008.

McGrath accounted for both of the Crusaders' scores and the team finished with 166 yards on the ground and 84 yards passing. Quarterback Taylor Kolmer, making just his second career start, finished the day 11-for-20 for 84 yards and zero picks.

Defensively, SU racked up an impressive seven tackles for a combined loss of 22 yards and had three interceptions from three different players. Ken Schetroma (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) was one of those players as the defensive lineman came up with his first career interception.

The first half was all SU on both ends of the ball. Spencer Hotaling (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) booted a 31-yard field goal with just 5:36 left in the opening quarter, which marked the lone quarter of the opening 15 minutes.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, McGrath took one of his 44 carries into the endzone on a one-yard run to capp off a 15-play, 70-yard run to make it 10-0 Crusaders.

The SU defense limited the Mules to only 59 yards in that half and just four first downs to keep it a 10-0 Susquehanna lead as the teams headed into the locker room at halftime.

There was just one scoring play in the second half but it provided all the insurance SU needed. With 4:28 remaining in the third quarter, McGrath pounded his way into the Muhlenberg endzone for a six-yard score and put his team ahead 17-0.

Susquehanna iced the game thanks a Jack McCarty (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) interception with 1:09 on the clock. McCarty finished the day with five tackles and a fumble recovery in addition to his fourth pick of the season.

At halftime, there were several ceremonies including the recognition of the six members of the 2012 SU Sports Hall of Fame Class which was inducted on Friday evening at a ceremony on campus.

The Crusaders will enjoy a bye week next Saturday before traveling to face Moravian on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.