ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall football team gave No. 22 Muhlenberg all it could handle during a 48-45 double overtime loss in Allentown. The contest was a back-and-forth battle through the air as both quarterbacks passed for over 300 yards and five touchdowns before the Mules (8-1, 5-1 CC) scored a touchdown on their second possession of the overtime to clinch the victory. The Diplomats (6-3, 2-3) had a touchdown during their first overtime possession and converted a field goal with their second chance of the extra time.
All five of those passing touchdowns went to Gary Lewis. The previous F&M record for touchdown receptions in a single game was three which had been accomplished 19 times prior to today. The most recent to do it was Lewis during the team's home opener this season against TCNJ. In addition to shattering the school record, Lewis also became the first player in Centennial Conference history with five touchdown receptions as the previous conference record of four receiving touchdowns had been achieved six times previously – most recently during the 2018 season. Lewis' five touchdowns tied the school record with 30 points in a single game which is now shared with Ryan Murray (2007) and Wally Witmer (1951). Lewis' five touchdowns on Saturday give him 15 on the season, tying him with Dale Amos (1989) for the most receiving touchdowns in a season in program history.
Ty Tremba passed for 338 yards, with Jake Fant adding 10 more. Tremba's five touchdown passes tied the school record that had been accomplished previously by four different quarterbacks a combined seven times. The most recent F&M quarterback to throw for five touchdowns was Tanner Erisman against McDaniel during the 2017 season.
First Quarter (Muhlenberg 14, Franklin & Marshall 7)
The Diplomats' defense also got into the act early as Jeff Decker came up with a strip sack on the Mules' first possession which left just nine yards that F&M needed to cover for its first touchdown. A five-yard touchdown reception was the first of many to come from Lewis, but it was host Muhlenberg leading 14-7 after 15 minutes.
Second Quarter (Muhlenberg 21, Franklin & Marshall 14)
Muhlenberg's lead reached 21-7 during the second quarter, but Lewis had two big receptions on the ensuing drive to help cut the lead to 21-14 at the half. His first was an 18-yard grab on third down, before he got the final 20 of the drive during another third down attempt. Jack Sutton also had a key third down conversion during that touchdown drive when he got free for 27 yards.
Third Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 28, Muhlenberg 21)
Franklin & Marshall tied the game on their first offensive touch of the second half as Ty Tremba found Lewis for 70 yards. The F&M defense then forced a pair of three-and-outs and looked to be headed for a third straight three-and-out, but Matt Scully picked off Joe Repetti on third down before that could happen. Ben Moir's 39-yard reception got the ball into the red zone where Tremba scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown run in what the only Diplomats' touchdown that did not involve Lewis on the day. Tremba had a hand in all six as he finished with the five touchdown passes in addition to that score on the ground.
Fourth Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 35, Muhlenberg 35)
F&M's defense again had a three-and-out to continue its stifling second half effort, but the Mules replicated that defensive effort on their own and put together a 70-yard drive which knotted the game at 28. That Muhlenberg lead did not last long as F&M marched its possession 78 yards down the field over the course of 4:18, taking a 35-28 lead with 5:06 left in regulation time. Gary Lewis capped the scoring drive with a 13-yard touchdown reception from Tremba.
The Diplomats forced a turnover on downs during Muhlenberg's next possession and reclaimed possession with 2:35 to kill on the game clock. However, the Mules' three saved timeouts certainly paid off as they got the ball back with 1:17 left in regulation despite one F&M first down on the previous drive. Taking over at their own 20, Muhlenberg's Chris Ardito caught a touchdown pass with 42 seconds to play before the extra point tied the score at 35 as F&M elected to play for the win in the overtime.
Overtime (Muhlenberg 48, Franklin & Marshall 45)
Muhlenberg got the ball first during the overtime from its 25. The Mules took just one play to score their first overtime touchdown. F&M needed five plays, but the end result was the same. The Diplomats were facing a fourth-and-goal from the Muhlenberg 17 during that first overtime, but Moir was able to draw a defensive pass interference call that put the ball at the two, leaving the final touchdown chance of the day for Lewis.
Franklin & Marshall was held without a first down on its second drive of the overtime, but Laurence Miller's 36-yard field goal put the Diplomats up 45-42. Following a 17-yard reception to start Muhlenberg's second overtime drive, the Diplomats appeared to have slowed down the Mules, but a key face mask penalty against the Diplomats - with a potential third down looming - gave the hosts a first down and they needed just two more plays before the walk-off game-winning touchdown pass to James Nye who had two touchdown receptions of his own.
Key Stats/Performances
The Mules finished the game with 511 yards of total offense and 28 first downs, compared to 401 yards and 19 first downs for the Diplomats. The two teams were similar through the air, but the Mules added 125 additional yards on the ground. Tremba completed 25 of his 38 passes for 338 yards and the five touchdowns while under pressure from four sacks. On top of his touchdowns, Lewis finished with eight receptions for 148 yards. Sutton also had a nice day in the receiving game with seven catches for 96 yards. The Diplomats averaged over eight yards per pass attempt through the Centennial Conference matchup.
Senior Owen Walsh was all over the field with 13 tackles and one pass break up to headline a number of key defensive performances. Matt Wertz and Scully both finished with nine tackles through the contest. Scully also had a tack for loss in addition to his interception which was one of two takeaways for the F&M defense as the other came on Decker's sack.
Up Next
Football is now tied for fourth place in the Centennial Conference standings with just one week to go in the regular season. F&M concludes the regular season schedule next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Gettysburg in what will also be Senior Day for the Diplomats. That ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2024 will get underway at 12:35 p.m.
F&M is tied in the conference standings with Ursinus who it defeated with just one second to go in regulation time earlier in the year. However, Ursinus could force a three-way tie for third place in the conference standings with a win against Dickinson who is currently one game ahead of the Diplomats but needed the final play of regulation to secure that victory.
