EDWARDSVILLE – Visiting Muhlenberg College jumped out to a 20-3 lead at the half only to be outscored 15-6 over the final two quarters of play holding on to a 26-18 victory over Wilkes University Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes slipped to 1-2 overall following the home defeat while Muhlenberg remained unbeaten at 3-0 on the season.
 
Muhlenberg used the deep ball to get on the board first when Dante Mahaffey connected with John Runfolo for a 63-yard touchdown pass to put the Mules ahead 7-0 with 4:18 left in the first quarter.
 
The Colonels began their first scoring drive two possessions later as Cooper King (Northampton, PA/Northampton) found Justin Moore (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) for a 23-yard reception to push the ball down to the Muhlenberg 38. After a pass interference call on the Muhlenberg defense moved the ball to the Mules 21, Wilkes ran three plays before settling for a 30-yard field goal from Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) to cut the advantage to 7-3 with 25 seconds left on the first quarter clock.
 
Muhlenberg's offense continued to fire on all cylinders as the second quarter began as the Mules outscored Wilkes 13-0 over the frame taking a 20-3 lead into the break. Using two quarterbacks throughout the game, Luke Spang scored on a designed quarterback run from eight yards out followed by another long pass from Mahaffey to Caleb Pasols for a 78-yard touchdown that gave the visitors a 17-point lead at the break.
 
Wilkes responded early in the third quarter as Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) capped off a 9-play, 60-yard drive with a perfectly executed wide receiver screen from three yards out to bring the Colonels to within ten at 20-10 with 10:13 left in the third. It proved to be the only points scored in the frame as the Wilkes defense began to tighten up.
 
After a 55-yard kickoff return midway through the fourth quarter, Muhlenberg was setup with great field position at the Wilkes 14. Four plays later Matthew Manning went in from one yard out to push the advantage to 26-10 after the extra point sailed wide left.
 
Wilkes stayed in the game on the next drive as King's arm came up big on two separate fourth down conversions. Facing a fourth and six from the Muhlenberg 26, King found Daniel Pigga (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) for a seven yard completion to keep the drive alive. Three plays later facing a fourth and five from the Mules 14, King connected with Rahmel Terry (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) in the middle of the end zone. The Colonels went for two to cut the deficit to eight and the King-to-Terry combo came up big yet again with a successful throwing attempt to bring the score to 28-16.
 
Muhlenberg was then able to run out the rest of the 4:38 on the ensuing drive using two first downs before kneeling out the clock.
 
King finished 29-for-44 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Moore was the top target finishing with four catches for 54 yards. Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) also posted four catches for 49 yards and a score while Terry added six receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown.
 
Wilkes was only able to muster 50 total yards on the ground led by Nigel Linton's (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) eight rushes for 18 yards.
 
Mahaffey and Spang combined to go 13-for-24 for 242 yards and two scores for the Mules under center. Pasols and Runfolo each eclipsed 100 yards receiving with Pasols finishing with four catches for 114 yards and a TD and Runfolo five receptions and 112 yards and the other score.
Wilkes closes out its non-conference slate next Saturday when the Colonels travel to the Garden State to face Montclair State University at 5:00 p.m. in Montclair, New Jersey.