COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus football team never trailed in their matchup against No. 18 Muhlenberg on Saturday afternoon at Patterson Field and earned a 35-28 Centennial Conference victory, upsetting the Mules for the second-straight season.
 
 
With the win, the Bears improved to 2-1 overall and bounced back to level their Centennial Conference record to 1-1. Meanwhile, the Mules fell to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
 
 
Senior quarterback Jack Psenicska was efficient yet again under center for the Bears as he went 16-of-28 for 200 yards while tossing four touchdowns. Psenicska has thrown at least three touchdown passes through three games this season with two having four recorded. Senior wide receivers Dallas Evans caught just two passes against the Mules, but he made the most out of both with each catch being a touchdown reception. Senior wide receiver Zachary Throne led the Bears with three catches for 65 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Justin Collier added two catches for 40 yards along with hauling in his first collegiate touchdown.
 
 
Sophomore running back Tony Holden continued his blazing pace to the 2022 season by recording his third-straight game with 100+ yards on the ground. Holden carried the rock for 156 yards on 33 carries with one score. He is the first running back to record three-straight 100-yard outings on the ground since Jason Golderer rushed for at least 100 yards in five-straight games to open the 2013 season. Junior fullback Dawson Fresses set a career-high on the ground as well with 64 yards on nine carries. Fresses gave the Bears much-needed yards when they needed them the most in the fourth quarter, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
 
 
The defenses ruled early in the first quarter as the first three drives between the two squads ended in punts. Muhlenberg marched down into Ursinus territory on their second drive as they reached the four-yard line, seeking to break the early scoreless tie. However, the drive imploded after the ensuing snap sailed over the Mules quarterback head and junior defensive end Ryan Bodolus stripped the ball on a sack one play later to give the Bears the ball.
 
 
Ursinus took advantage with a methodical 14-play 77-yard drive that ended with Psenicska finding Collier wide open up the middle for a 24-yard touchdown, putting the Bears up 7-0 at the 9:35-mark of the second quarter. The drive consisted of a pair of third down conversions along with a fourth and four conversion at the Mules 24-yard line while chewing up 7:02 of the clock. After a three-and-out forced by the Bears defense, Psenicska went to work once again and put the Bears up 14-0 following a 45-yard catch and run from Throne with 5:42 left in the first half. Muhlenberg quickly countered following a strong kick return to cut the lead down to 14-7 in a 38-second drive. However, Ursinus put the clamps on any potential momentum swing by scoring with 38 seconds left in the half on a 10-yard strike from Psenicska to Evans on third down and eight.
 
 
Muhlenberg opened the second half with a three-and-out but pinned the Bears deep at their own 11-yard line with their punt. The Mules forced a three-and-out and capitalized on a line drive punt caught at midfield to set themselves up at the Bears 38-yard line. Muhlenberg made quick work of the short field with a five-play drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown to make it a 21-14 game at the 10:37-mark. Ursinus was forced to punt again and the Mules for the first time all game seemingly had momentum swinging on their side. Bodolus put the advantage back with the Bears by crushing Mules quarterback, Joe Repetti, a second time to force another fumble that was recovered by freshman Sean Spinosa. Holden punctuated a short drive with a 24-yard touchdown to put the Bears back up two scores at 28-14. Muhlenberg countered with a 37-yard strike from Repetti to All-American wide receiver, Michael Feaster, to make it a 28-21 game in the final minute of the third quarter.
 
 
Ursinus took to the ground to begin the fourth quarter and pushed its way down the field to take a 35-21 lead following Evans' second touchdown catch of the game at the left pylon. The Bears forced a Mules three-and-out but were pinned deep once again at their four-yard line with 9:40 left in regulation. Needing a long drive, the Bears chewed up 6:40 of the clock and drove down to the Mules 25-yard before turning it over on downs. Muhlenberg swiftly moved down the field and scored a touchdown to make it a one-score game again at 35-28 with 1:29 left in regulation. The Mules onside kick attempt rolled out of bounds and Ursinus put the finishing touches on the win with one first down conversion behind 12 tough yards from Fresses.
 
 
Senior defensive lineman Ethan Belville led the Bears with six tackles (three solo), 1.5 TFL, and one sack. Ryan DiVergilis added five tackles (four solo) with 1.0 TFL while Bodolus recorded three stops behind his two sacks, two forced fumbles, and broke up a pass. The Bears out-gained the Mules 432-303 and a whopping 233-67 advantage on the ground. Ursinus dominated the time of possession as well, holding the ball for 39:13.  
 
Repetti finished the game going 14-of-26 for 236 yards and one touchdown while adding a pair of scores on the ground with 19 yards. Feaster caught five passes for 135 yards and one touchdown.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Saturday, September 24th as they will travel to face Franklin & Marshall at 1 p.m. in Centennial Conference action.