The Muhlenberg football team backed an outstanding defensive effort with two touchdowns and defeated Dickinson, 14-3, in its 2018 season opener, giving new head coach Nate Milne a win in his first game.
 
The Mules held the Red Devils to 148 total yards, including just 39 on 41 rushing attempts, and recorded six sacks. After allowing a field goal in the first quarter, Muhlenberg pitched a shutout the rest of the way en route to its ninth straight win against Dickinson.
 
Senior linebacker Jack Fitzsimmons led the defense with a career-high 15 tackles, including 3½ for loss. Junior linebacker Mickey Kober added 11 stops and a sack, and junior defensive end Frankie Feaster notched a pair of sacks. Junior Kwasi Ampomah recorded 2½ tackles for loss among his six stops.
 
Sophomore defensive back Nick Sirico made two big plays in the fourth quarter, breaking up one pass on fourth down and intercepting another on third down.
 
Muhlenberg trailed 3-0 before sophomore Michael Hnatkowsky hooked up with junior Max Kirin on a 38-yard touchdown pass with 3:13 left in the first half, capping a five-play, 53-yard drive.
 
The second score, a 2-yard run by Mark Riggio with 8:44 left in the fourth, was set up when junior nose tackle Frank Cresta recovered a fumbled snap near midfield. Third-down completions to junior Chris Hillburn - his first career reception - and Kirin kept the drive alive.
 
Sirico's first career interception ended the next Dickinson drive, and Muhlenberg ran out the final 7:03.
 
Sophomore James Diggs rushed for a game-high 82 yards on 14 carries for the Mules, gaining 48 of his yards in the fourth quarter alone. Hnatkowsky finished 15 of 32 for 199 yards.

Sophomore Nick Ugarte, who caught four passes all last season, hauled in three in his first game of the new year.