Posted on by bigdaddc@comcast.net

Final Game – a look at the Mules. Lagniappe!

We enter into the final week of the 2018 season knowing  that we have been successful beyond many peoples’ ideas.  Few envisioned the Hounds standing where we do right now.

Much of that is do to your make up – your “Lagniappe”

You are all an amazing group of people – from the coaches, trainers, Special Forces, touchdown makers, defenders, equipment men, blockers, parents, friends, guardians, brothers and sisters.  You have worked to be excellent  on a daily basis.

In other words everyone of you have been giving “Lagniappe” at all times.  Always giving that little extra, the needed pat on the back, the word or encouragement – yes you are the fabric of the Greyhound TEAM.

I salute all of you and thank you for making this 2018 season such a fantastic experience.

******

This is a look at Muhlenberg for our final game of the season…but, more importantly a thought about our fantastic Seniors as they approach the last game they will play in as a Hound.

A salute to the Seniors and a big thank you for who you are.  TO THE SENIORS!

Muhlenberg is a fine football team that is loaded with good players at most positions.  But, the Hounds also have very good players – we are a team that is continuing to improve.

Our seniors have seen to that thru their leadership and ability to set examples of greatness each day!

I have watched our team and the individuals on it literally get better each day – on and off the field.  One of the most gratifying aspects of coaching is seeing the techniques, ideas and lessons that you present transform into action on the field.

Our seniors epitomize that….paving the way for younger members of our team to improve through their guidance and thru the standards that they set.

There is nothing like seeing a team work together day in and day out to achieve a common goal.  There are times you don’t achieve that objective – but that is the “real” world.

It doesn’t always go the way we want it to – the ending isn’t always what we planned.  But, it is the resilience we develop and the persistence that we have that makes for great teams.

What I have seen with the 2018 Hounds to this point is just that.  A commitment to “on going skill development,”  the chase of excellence and the bond of a brotherhood.

Again, here I give credit to our senior class.  Those guys are truly amazing young men.  They have all performed to their capabilities – all given much more than just attending practice to work.  They all came to become better and to contribute to the strength and success of the team.

I salute each of them and know that among them there will be great leaders and pioneers in whatever they decide to do after they leave school.  Their teammates are all better young men because of the seniors on the team.  I am a better person because of them!

HERE IS TO THIS FANTASTIC GROUP OF SENIORS…..THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE!

Here is a quick look at Muhlenberg:

MUHLENBERG COLLEGE

2018 RECORD AND SEASON : 8-1

Muhlenberg 14 – Dickinson 3

  1. Big defensive effort limiting Dickinson to 148 total yards with just 39 rushing.Following a first quarter FG Dickinson never threatened again.
  2. Frankie Feaster (6) had two sacks and Jack Fitzsimmons (40), Mickey Kober (41) and Kwasi Ampomah (8) all had standout games for the Mules.
  3. Nick Sirico (27) had a big third down interception in the fourth quarter.
  4. Offensively sophomore QB Michael Hnatkowski (18) threw for 199 yards on 15 of 32 passes and James Diggs (20) ran for 82 yards.

Muhlenberg 37 – Susquehanna 34 (Overtime)

  1. Todd Spirt kicked a 37 yard FG lifting Muhlenberg to 2-0.
  2. Muhlenberg opened up a 34-13 lead into the third quarter but Susquehanna reeled off 21 straight points to force overtime.
  3. James Diggs (20) rushed for 82 yards for the second straight week and he scored a pair of TD’s.
  4. Sophomore Nick Sirico (27) had an interception for the second straight week.
  5. Max Kirin (89) caught six passes for 116 yards as did Nick Ugarte (86).

Muhlenberg 62 – Juniata 7

  1. Muhlenberg moved to 3-0 with a high scoring game on Homecoming. The Mule offense was clicking on all cylinders as they gained over 500 yards in total offense.
  2. Michael Hnatkowski (18) threw four TD passes by completing 23 of 27 passes for 278 yards in basically one half of the game.
  3. The stout Muhlenberg defense held Juniata to just 127 yards (only 29 yards rushing).
  4. James Dixon (20) again paced the Mule rushers gaining 79 yards and one TD. Both Nick Ugarte (86) and Max Kirin (89) caught two TD passes.
  5. Jack Lavache (52) had a pair of sacks and Muhlenberg also had three interceptions – Mikey Kober (41), Kwasi Ampomah (8) and Owen Daddona (14) each had one.Daddona’s (14) for a TD.

Muhlenberg 42 – Franklin and Marshall 21

  1. Muhlenberg never trailed in the game…..jumping to a 21-7 lead at the half and then expanding that to a 42-14 lead over #24 ranked Franklin and Marshall by the end of the third quarter.
  2. The Mules overpowered F&M behind the running of James Diggs (20) – 110 yards rushing and the arm of Michael Hnatkowski (18) – 271 yards passing.
  3. Frankie Feaster (6) recorded two sacks on the first three plays of the game and the Mules had four interceptions along the way as they shut off the Franklin and Marshall offense.
  4. It was the second straight week that Hnatkowski (18) threw for four TD’s.

Muhlenberg 34 – Ursinus 14

  1. Undefeated (5-0) Muhlenberg defended their #24 ranking with a big win on the road at Ursinus.
  2. Muhlenberg rolled up more than 600 yards in offense with James Diggs (20) rushing for 163 yards and Mark Riggio (38) adding 155 yards as well. Michael Hnatkowski (18) threw three TD passes and was 19-31 for 244 yards.
  3. Muhlenberg again was overpowering on defense. The Ursinus running game – which entered the contest averaging almost 200 yards per game – was held to just 21 yards on 26 attempts.
  4. Frankie Feaster (6) had another productive game for the Mule defense recording 2 ½ sacks.
  5. Max Kirin (89) had four catches for 69 yards and a pair of TD’s for the Mules.

Muhlenberg 34 – Thomas More 31

  1. Todd Spirt (98) kicked a 20 yard FG as the clock expired to lead Muhlenberg to the hin over host Thomas More.
  2. On a big offensive day (850 yards of combined offene) Michael Hnatkowsky (18) passed for 386 yards and a pair of TD’s.
  3. Ryan Curtiss (11) had eight catches on the afternoon for150 yards and one score.
  4. Although the generally very strong Muhlenberg defense allowed 125 yards rushing they were able to curtail Hjavier Pitts – allowing just 70 yards to one of the top rushers in Division III.

Muhlenberg 42 – McDaniel 18

  1. 20thranked Muhlenberg ran their winning streak to 7-0 with a win over visiting McDaniel 42-18.
  2. Defensively the Mules intercepted three passes – Freshman John Washington (23) picked one off for a 39 yard TD – Junior Joseph O’Hagan (3) and Nick Sirico (27) added one each.
  3. The Muhlenberg offense continued to operate on all cylinders as Michael Hnatkowsky (18) passed for three more TD’s and had 250 yards thru the air.
  4. The Centennial Conference leading rusher sophomore James Diggs (20) ran for 68 yards and his backup Mark Riggio (38) scored a pair of TD’s. 

Johns Hopkins 27 – Muhlenberg 16

  1. Johns Hopkins knocked off previously undefeated visiting Muhlenberg 27-16.
  2. The Muhlenberg (7-1) defense slowed the Blue Jay offense down, but could not completely shut off one of the top teams in the country.
  3. Junior Frankie Feaster (6) had a very productive day from his defensive end position. He had three sacks and had two other plays that were TFL as well.
  4. The Michael Hnatkowsky (18) to Max Kerin (89) connection was operating at full tilt with Kerin catching 12 passes for 132 yards. (Hnatkowski passed for 287 yards).
  5. Hopkins (7-1) limited the CC’s top runner James Diggs (20) to just 33 yards on ten carries. 

Muhlenberg 49 – Gettysburg 0

  1. The Mules got back on track with a big win over visiting Gettysburg College.
  2. Following last week’s loss to Johns Hopkins Muhlenberg (8-1) rode the arm of Michael Hnatkowski (18) once again. The sophomore threw four more TD passes bringing his total to 23 with just six interceptions on the year.
  3. Frankie Feaster (6) continues to be a dominating player for the Mules defense as he had 1 ½ sacks and also intercepted a pass. Senior Nate Corvil (5) returned an interception for 26 yards.

 

2017 RECORD: 8-3

COACH:  Nate Milne (Hobart ‘03), 1st season

OFFENSE: (6 Returning Starters)

Quarterbacks: 

Michael Hnatkowski, Soph. 6-1, 204             2091 PASSING YDS 20TD, 61.3%

Receivers:

Josiah Lawrence-Wright, Sr. 5-7, 154            34 REC – 575 YDS 5 TD

Max Kirin, Jr.  5-10, 185                                  47 REC – 504 YDS  7 TD

Ryan Curtis (TE), Jr. 6-1, 236                          39 REC – 509 YDS 6 TD.  ALL CC

Runners:

NONE

Offensive Line:

LT – Kyle Oprisko, Sr. 6-2, 266                        22 Career starts, All CC

RT – Ryan Malarkey, Jr. 6-1, 293

DEFENSE: (6 Returning Starters)

Defensive Line

NT – Frank Cresta, Jr. 6-2,2 49

Linebackers

OLB – Kwasi Ampomah, Jr. 6-0, 293             8.5 Sacks, 10 TFK, 1stteam All CC

ILB –  Mickey Kober, Jr.  6-1, 210                    2 INT, 3.5 TFL

Secondary

CB – Nate Corvil,Sr. 5-11, 170                                    6 INT, 6 PBU, 1stteam ALL CC

CB – Michael Blank, 6-0, 198                        2 INT, 5 PBU

S – Luke Wiley, 6-0, 190

Special Teams (2)

P – Joseph O’Hagan, 5-9, 195                         47 P – 35.8 AVG. 20 – Inside 20, HM All CC

PK – Todd Spirt, Jr. 4 FG, 25 XP

The Mules are a very good football team and a worthy opponent to close out our 2018 season.

Let’s have a little “Lagniappe” this Saturday!