Football falls to Hopkins as Mules lose Homecoming heartbreaker in final seconds

An energetic crowd at Scotty Wood Stadium couldn’t predict such a frustrating end. Saturday’s Homecoming game between Muhlenberg College Mules and Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays was back and forth all afternoon, and it came down to the wire in exasperating fashion.

Hopkins has been a thorn in the Mules’ side for a while. Muhlenberg hasn’t beaten the Blue Jays since 2010. And, since the beginning of 2011, they are 0-5 against Hopkins and 38-4 against all other opponents. For much of Saturday, however, the Blue Jays and Mules seemed completely even. Both offenses put up almost 500 yards, both had 8 third-down conversions (on 16 and 18 attempts, respectively), and both committed 4 turnovers. Yet, as the game trickled along, Muhlenberg continuously threatened to pull away, only to come up unsuccessful. Up 21-17 late in the second, Mules quarterback Nick Palladino ’17 had a potential 11-yard touchdown pass on third and five dropped by Nick Lamb ’17. Muhlenberg had to settle for a field goal to go up by seven, and Hopkins would answer with one of their own to wind down the first half.

In the second half, Scotty Wood Stadium was overtaken by big and sloppy plays. The third quarter alone contained five turnovers and one missed field goal. The latter killed Muhlenberg; after Nate Corvil ’19 picked off Hopkins quarterback Jon Germano, a drive starting from the Blue Jays’ 12-yard line ended in a missed 23-yard field goal. On the ensuing Hopkins drive—which included a 49-yard catch by receiver Brett Caggiano —the road team punched in a 5-yard touchdown run to take a 27-24 lead.

In the 4th quarter, the Mules continued to throw away chances. Twice they went for it on fourth down from their own territory—the 37 and 48-yard line respectively—and twice they failed to convert. Suddenly, after holding Hopkins to a 35-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, the Mules were down 30-24 with four minutes left and 93 yards to go for a potential game-winning touchdown. It was showtime, and Palladino and his offense were eager to answer.

Muhlenberg’s quarterback completed seven passes in a row, including three each to wide receivers Nick Lamb and Ryan Delaney ’17. The Mules were set with a first and goal from the 6-yard line with about a minute to go. After Palladino’s first attempt popped out of Delaney’s outstretched hands in the endzone, the 2016 Homecoming Game reached its pinnacle. On second and goal, Palladino fired a pass far into the back of the endzone, but it was a little high, and it bounced out of the receiver’s hands. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Blue Jays’ defensive back Jack Toner scraped the ball out of the air, somehow keeping it off the ground for an impressive interception.

As Hopkins fans erupted, the Muhlenberg faithful couldn’t feel anything but stunned. While the Mules were able to get the ball back from Hopkins with 19 seconds left, their final hail mary attempts were unsuccessful. Johns Hopkins had beaten them for the sixth straight year in agonizing fashion.

Even so, Saturday’s game wasn’t without its positives for Muhlenberg. Running back Nick Savant ’18 averaged 5.4 yards per carry and ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Delaney and Lamb both reeled in ten catches, and Delaney gained 153 receiving yards to earn a new career high. Defensive back Amir Blair ’18 recorded 11 tackles and forced a fumble, and Nate Corvil had six tackles, one interception, and also blocked a Hopkins field goal attempt.

And, for the first time in a while, Muhlenberg held even with Johns Hopkins. In the past four seasons, the Blue Jays had outscored the Mules by 81 points, never beating them by less than 12. So, if Homecoming 2016 is a preview of the future, maybe the Mules are finally ready to get over the Hopkins hump, but it will have to wait for next year.

Photos courtesy of Kaitlin Errickson