LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall football team scored 14 unanswered points during the third quarter to take a 17-14 lead against Muhlenberg and went up 23-21 with just 1:20 left in regulation time. However, the visiting Mules had the final say as Connor Fenstermaker knocked a 29-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired to give Muhlenberg a 24-23 victory during the Diplomats' home finale.

The host Diplomats had just taken a 23-21 lead when Aaron Rascoe capped a 72-yard scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown run with just 80 seconds left in regulation time. That capped a drive which was highlighted by a 44-yard reception from Jack O'Hearen to get his side inside the red zone. With F&M forced to kick off from the 20 after an unsportsmanlike penalty after that play, the Mules returned the ball just past midfield before three consecutive completions got the visitors into scoring position. The Diplomats tried to ice the kicker with their remaining timeout, but it was to no avail as Fenstermaker converted to give his team sole possession of third place in the Centennial Conference standings.

First Quarter (Muhlenberg 7, Franklin & Marshall 0)

The only scoring of the opening quarter came when Andrew Darno caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Joe Repetti. That touchdown came just one play after Repetti ran for 25 yards to pick up a third down conversion and keep the drive alive. F&M attempted to counter by driving the ball down to the Muhlenberg 24 after a 21-yard reception from Jack Harrison. That drive ultimately ended in a missed field goal as the Mules led 7-0 after 15 minutes.

Second Quarter (Muhlenberg 14, Franklin & Marshall 3)

Muhlenberg put together its longest drive of the game to go up 14-0 early in the second quarter as the Muled marched 76 yards over 16 plays before Repetti found Christopher Ardito for the quarterback's second touchdown through the air. Franklin & Marshall got on the board with a 31-yard field from Laurence Miller, but the Diplomats would make their biggest offensive strides during the second half.

Third Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 17, Muhlenberg 14)

Receiving the ball to start the second half, Brady Aselton caught a 25-yard touchdown from Ty Tremba to make the game a one score difference out of the locker rooms. The F&M defense followed that up by forcing a three-and-out before the hosts covered 55 yards over 12 plays, capped by a nine-yard touchdown reception courtesy of O'Hearen.

Fourth Quarter (Muhlenberg 24, Franklin & Marshall 23)

The teams traded the lead throughout the fourth quarter as Muhlenberg went ahead 21-14 with 12:30 remaining in regulation after a 74-yard drive. An interception and turnover on downs halted the Diplomats' next two promising drives, but Rascoe finally got his team ahead with 1:20 as three different seniors accounted for the team's three touchdowns on Senior Day. However, the ensuing celebration resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which gave even better position to Muhlenberg for the eventual game-winning field goal after a 28-yard kickoff return.

Key Stats

Franklin & Marshall out gained Muhlenberg by a 371-253 margin in total yards. Tremba accounted for 297 yards passing and two touchdowns through the air. O'Hearen continued to stake his claim as the Centennial Conference's top receiver with 10 receptions for 127 yards on Senior Day. Rascoe led the team's rushing efforts as he averaged 4.4 yards per carry for a total of 58 yards.

Nico Medlar led the defensive effort with 11 tackles – including nine solo stops – in addition to three pass break ups. Jacob Hille was second on the team with eight tackles that featured a sack. In total, F&M made eight stops behind the line of scrimmage. Six Diplomats finished with at least five tackles on the afternoon.

Up Next

Franklin & Marshall wraps up the regular season at Gettysburg next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for a 1 p.m. With a win during the final week of the regular season, the Diplomats can officially secure their place in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series where matchups for those playoff games will be announced following that final weekend of conference action.