In the second straight game at Scotty Wood Stadium to feature more than 100 combined points, the Muhlenberg football team dropped its Centennial Conference opener to Ursinus, 53-50.

The Mules (2-2, 0-1), who entered the game ranked third in Division III in total offense, racked 519 yards, including 191 on the ground against a Bear defense that allowed only 50 total rushing yards in its first three games. Muhlenberg led 42-33 early in the fourth quarter, but Ursinus (4-0, 1-0) scored touchdowns on three straight possessions, including a backbreaking 79-yard run, to take a 53-42 lead with 3:13 to play.

Senior Joe Repetti threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to senior Christopher Ardito, then ran in a two-point conversion, to make it 53-50 with 1:50 left. The Mules got the ball back deep in their territory in the final minute but turned the ball over on downs.

Repetti, who in last year's game against Ursinus became the first Muhlenberg quarterback ever to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game, duplicated the feat. He finished with 328 yards through the air and a career-high 121 on the ground, including a career-long 61-yard burst in the first quarter. Repetti tied a school record with six total touchdowns, passing for four and rushing for a pair.

Each team scored on its first two possessions. Muhlenberg finally forced a punt early in the second quarter but had to take over inside its own 10 following a penalty on the punt. On the second play, however, Repetti connected with junior Matthew Manning for a 92-yard touchdown pass to give the Mules their first lead at 21-14. The touchdown, which came on Manning's first touch of the season, was the second passing score of longer than 90 yards this season for Muhlenberg. Entering this season, the Mules had recorded only two touchdown passes of longer than 90 yards in their entire history.

Trailing 27-21 at the half, the Mules went ahead when senior Timothy Buda caught a 56-yard pass from Repetti, then extended their lead to eight points when Repetti ran in from 5 yards out on the second play after the Ursinus punter fumbled the snap.

Sophomore Aaron Sylvester batted away the two-point conversion attempt after the Bears' next touchdown, leaving Muhlenberg with a 35-33 lead. Senior Aaron Daniels scored on a 1-yard run on the next possession to give the Mules a two-score lead.

Ardito finished with seven catches, and senior Matt McKenna hauled in six balls for 42 yards, including a touchdown.

Sophomore Ayden Scharper was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points and dropped two of his four punts inside the 20.

Junior Dante Mahaffey had a spectacular day on special teams, making four tackles in coverage, one of which forced a fumble on a punt return that was recovered by the Mules.

pictured above: Senior Ray Vender recorded one of the Mules' two sacks