Sophomore Nick Sirico returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown with 35.7 seconds left in regulation to give the Muhlenberg football team a thrilling 20-13 win at Delaware Valley in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
The victory was the first ever for the Mules (10-1) on the road in the NCAA Tournament and sends them to the Round of 16 for the third time in program history. They will be back at home for the next game, hosting Randolph-Macon, a 23-20 upset winner at John Carroll, at Scotty Wood Stadium on Saturday, November 24, at noon.
 
Sirico's pick-six, Muhlenberg's fourth defensive touchdown in the last six games, capped a comeback from a 13-0 first-quarter deficit. The Mules defense dug in after allowing two touchdown passes in the opening period, pitching a shutout the rest of the way.
 
The majority of the second half was played on Delaware Valley's side of the field; in fact, Sirico's touchdown came on the only snap the Aggies (9-2) took in Muhlenberg territory in the fourth quarter.
 
After tying the game on junior Todd Spirt's second 25-yard field goal two minutes into the second, the Mules let several opportunities to take the lead slip by. They missed a short field goal, had a bad snap on another field-goal try and fumbled inside the DelVal 5.
 
The defense came up with one big play after another, however, forcing five turnovers. Senior Nate Corvil had a huge interception – the 13th of his career - in the end zone late in the first half to keep the Mules within three. He also broke up a pass in the end zone in the first quarter. Freshman John Washington and junior Joseph O'Hagan also picked off passes, and junior Frankie Feaster recovered a fumble.
 
Senior Jack Fitzsimmons led the defense with 11 tackles, while junior Mickey Kober added 10, including a sack.
 
On offense, junior Max Kirin caught five passes for a career-high 136 yards, going over 100 receptions in his career in the process. Junior Mark Riggio rushed for a game-high 63 yards.
 
Sophomore Michael Hnatkowsky passed for 286 yards and tied a school record with his 27th touchdown pass of the season, a 20-yard strike to sophomore Thomas Murphy (pictured above) in the second quarter.
 
Senior Luke Wiley blocked the extra point following DelVal's first touchdown.
 
Muhlenberg reached double digits in wins for the third time in program history and can tie the school record for wins by beating Randolph-Macon.