Game 607: Muhlenberg shuts down high-flying Salisbury to gain D-3 semi-final, 24-8
Salisbury, MD – In a game between two undefeated playoff teams, the Muhlenberg Mules (13-0) of the Centennial Conference raced out to a quick start. They shut down a potent Salisbury Sea Gull offense to move on to the D-3 national semi-finals with a 24-8 victory. In a classic matchup between a leading defensive unit against a formidable offense, the Mules’ defensive strategy shut down the Gulls triple-option offense averaging 343 rushing yards per game to just 127.
The Sea Gulls of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, second nationally in passing efficiency, completed only four of 17 pass attempts. The quick, stifling, well-coached Muhlenberg defense held Salisbury (12-1) to only eight points after averaging 51.1 points per game coming into Saturday’s game at their home field. They scored 61 the previous week in their win over Union College of New York and 84 in the play-off opener against SUNY-Maritime.
A college footfall first for anyone?
For Collegefootballfan.com, the Mule’s win offers us a very unique opportunity. Previously this season, we watched No. 1 North Dakota State of the FCS knock off Delaware, 47-22. Three weeks ago, we attended the PSAC championship game where undefeated Slippery Rock got by Kutztown, 37-35. They entered the D-2 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Super East Region. Muhlenberg hosts North Central of Illinois in their semi-final game next to get a crack at the D-3 national championship a week later. Today, we just booked a trip to the Peach Bowl to see No. 1 LSU (13-0) play No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) to play the winner of Clemson and Ohio State for the FBS championship on January 13 in New Orleans.
If all these teams seen continue to win their remaining games until the very end of the 2019 season, we at Collegefootballfan.com could say that we attended games played by all four NCAA football champions this season. If LSU wins it all, all four champs seen will be undefeated. What a fantastic season it’s been for us during the 150th season of college football in which we also attended our 600th game since 1979!
Early action
After recovering a fumbled pitch by Salisbury ending their opening drive at the Muhlenberg 11. The Mule offense drove the length of the field for a 22-yard TD pass from QB Michael Hnatkowsky to Max Kirin (6 catches, 88 yards, two TDs) for a quick 7-0 lead. The stifling, quick Muhlenberg defense forced a Salisbury punt after the next possession ending in a three and out. Kirin caught a 28-yard pass to keep their possession alive on a third and two, and then caught a nine-yard TD pass to build a sudden 14-0 lead for Muhlenberg.
Well-prepared Mule “D”
Through the second and third periods, the tough Mule defense moved well laterally on run plays either side the offense veered to to quickly plug holes for dive plays. The adequately covered the ends tightly on pitch-outs to keep the Sea Gull running game in check. Guest Game Analyst Brian Donnelly (Towson) who has Navy season tickets with us, did not see the strategy nor the execution skills of the triple option run by the Gulls as effective as do the Midshipmen.
As Brian stated, we’ve been spoiled by watching the likes of Keenan Reynolds and Malcolm Perry run the triple option the last eight years. On the other hand, Muhlenberg came in with a defensive scheme that was working, and Salisbury never adapted. The Sea Gulls also seemed to quickly abandon the offense that got them this far. They never developed a rhythm nor ran the QB on the fake option to the outside. It seemed way too early for a team whose success was built on this run-first offense to go to the air as quickly as they did.
On pass attempts, the Mules sacked QB Jack Lanham five times. CB John Washington broke up four Sea Gull pass attempts including a fourth down attempt into the end zone to stop a drive in the second. The takeover on downs resulted with Todd Spirit launching a 34-yard FG to take a 17-0 lead by halftime. By the end of the third period, the Mule defense had not allowed a point through eleven quarters in the D-3 playoffs.
Record-breaker
In the third period, Muhlenberg drove 80 yards in 14 plays to extend their lead 24-0 on Hnatkowsky’s third TD pass, this time from 22 yards to Mitch Daniel (6 catches, 64 yards, one TD). The left-handed, Junior QB completed 24 of 38 passes for 264 yards. His three TDs boosted his career school record to 96 passes for touchdowns with another full season ahead of him.
Threat quashed
An interception by Salisbury in the fourth put the Sea Gulls at the MU 34. Six plays later, Salisbury got on the scoreboard. With Lanham’s six-yard run and his subsequent run for the two-point conversion, they trailed 24-8 with 6:49 left. The onsides kick attempt failed as WR Ryan Curtiss (Franklin Lakes, NJ) recovered. RB Mark Riggio (Verona, NJ) ran the ball 43 yards before sliding down at the Salisbury two. With 2:46 remaining, the two teams exchanged handshakes before Hnatkowsky took a knee four times as the game clock wound down.
Playoff action heating up
Next Saturday, the Mules return home to Scotty Wood Stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania to host North Central of Illinois (12-1) in the D-3 semi-final. The Cardinals defeated the Delaware Valley Aggies at home on Saturday, 31-14. The week prior, the Cardinals pulled of the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating ten-time D-3 champ and top-seeded Mount Union, 59-52. The only North Central loss this year was to their conference foe, Wheaton, who fell for the first time on Saturday to St. John’s of Minnesota, 34-33. The Johnnies will play Wisconsin-Whitewater on the other side of next week’s D-3 playoff bracket.
North Central averages 53.2 ppg. Delaware Valley of Doylestown, PA, held them to their lowest score of the season. This could be a good signal for the Mules whose defense prepared well for a style of offense they had never play against last week and yet held the Sea Gulls to only eight points. There should be some great action the next two weeks in the final games of Division III football.
Next!
We at collegefootballfan.com would love to attend the Muhlenberg-North Central game a short hour and fifteen-minute drive away. However, CFF.com looks forward to attending the traditional end of the 2019 regular college football season in Philadelphia. We will attend our 12th Army-Navy game, the 120th meeting in this great, storied rivalry. The Midshipmen of Navy (9-2) ranked No. 21 in the nation will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak to the Cadets of Army (5-7). Throw out the records. GO NAVY!
And then
Besides the addition of the Peach Bowl on December 28 between LSU and Oklahoma, we will be attending the Military Bowl the day before in Annapolis. At noon, North Carolina of the ACC will be duking it out with Temple of the American Athletic. We’ll be up to 610 games at end of this season.