Nick Palladino of Millstone rallied his team back in his final football game for Muhlenberg College, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Mules from falling short short to Delaware Valley University, 30-27, Nov. 19 in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.
Palladino went over 10,000 passing yards for his career. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 289 yards against the ninth-ranked passing defense in the country to finish with 10,250 yards.
Both teams went to 9-2, with Muhlenberg’s two losses coming by a combined nine points.
A 38-yard hookup from Palladino to Ryan Delaney on third-and-12 put the Mules at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Palladino ran into the end zone to make it 23-13 with 12.2 seconds left in the half.
On Muhlenberg’s second drive of the second half, Palladino had completions of 26 and 16 yards before a 14-yard gain to the Aggies’ 15-yard line. On third-and-6 from the 11-yard line, Palladino eluded pressure and scrambled for 10 yards. Junior Nick Savant, who scored the Mules’ first touchdown on a 13-yard run, rammed through the middle on the next play to make it a three-point game.
Muhlenberg got no closer as both teams traded touchdowns from there.
On the season, Palladino threw for 2,786 yards and 27 touchdowns, completing 68 percent of his passes (221-of-325). He was intercepted nine times. Palladino also rushed for 463 yards and nine touchdowns.