Muhlenberg beaten in OT by Octorara
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story will be updated later tonight with additional details and postgame reaction.)
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Octorara quarterback and linebacker Braedon Wood scored the go-ahead touchdown and then recovered a fumble at the goal line in overtime to preserve a 15-7 non-league victory for the Braves over Muhlenberg Friday night in Laureldale.
First-year Octorara head coach Ed Smith picked up his first victory.
Muhlenberg’s Kyle Archie appeared to have taken the opening kickoff 100 yards for a score, but an illegal block nullified the touchdown.
Running back Colton Focht scored the first touchdown on the Braves’ next drive with an 8-yard run with 5:40 left in the first quarter.
The Muhls buckled down on defense in the middle quarters and embarked on a 66-yard drive that sophomore Michael Miller finished with an 8-yard touchdown run off a pitch with 3:30 left in the third quarter.
Muhlenberg decided to kneel with its punter on fourth down to run the clock out in the fourth and go to overtime, but the Braves were awarded 2 seconds and a chance at a 41-yard field goal, which doinked off the crossbar.
Wood ran for 9 yards, pounded in a quarterback sneak for the go-ahead score, then converted the two-point conversion after Muhlenberg jumped offside.
The Muhls got to the 2-yard line in OT before the lost fumble ended their chances.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final | |
| Octorara | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 |
| Muhlenberg | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Octorara | Focht, 8 run (Kurtz kick) | 5:40 |
| 3 | Muhlenberg | Miller, 8 run (Madueno kick) | 3:30 |
| OT | Octorara | Wood, 1 run (Wood run) | —- |
Team statistics
| Octorara | Muhlenberg | |
| First downs | 8 | 13 |
| Rushes-yards | 39-127 | 34-79 |
| Passing yards | 34 | 99 |
| Total yards | 161 | 178 |
| Passes | 3-10-1 | 14-27-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 3-1 | 3-1 |
| Punts-average | 4-28.3 | 4-23.5 |
| Penalties-yards | 9-53 | 5-32 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Octorara: Murray 10-48, Stoltzfus 6-26, Wood 12-22, Focht 4-16, Kurtz 6-9, Mastrippolito 1-6.
Muhlenberg: Lopez 11-56, Miller 10-29, Torok 4-11, Clemison 2-5, Ortiz 3-1, Colon 2-0, Team 2-(-23).
PASSING
Octorara: Wood 3-10-1–34.
Muhlenberg: Lopez 14-27-0–99.
RECEIVING
Octorara: Mallon 2-34, Kurtz 1-0.
Muhlenberg: Archie 5-35, Miller 4-28, Dodson 4-24, Madueno 1-12.
INTERCEPTIONS
Muhlenberg: Urbaez.
MISSED FIELD GOALS
Octorara: Kurtz 31, 41.