Aaden Lopez runs, passes Muhlenberg to first win
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Will Welliver — LNP/Lancasteronline
LEBANON — Junior quarterback Aaden Lopez capped a long scoring drive with a 5-yard, fourth-quarter run as Muhlenberg earned its first win, beating Lebanon 13-7 Friday in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 opener at Lebanon Stadium.
The win snaps a nine-game losing streak for the Muhls (1-3); their last victory also came against the Cedars, 47-25, last season at Laureldale.
Muhlenberg’s defense yielded just 103 total yards and eight first downs.
Tied 7-7 at the break, the Muhls (1-3) scored the game-winning touchdown with 10:04 left in the fourth quarter.
Facing a fourth-and-14 from the Lebanon 42, Lopez hit senior Isiah Dodson for a 31-yard completion down the right sideline. Three plays later Lopez bounced to his right on the quarterback keeper for a touchdown to cap a 14-play, 64-yard drive that spanned 7:07 of the second half.
With Lebanon’s winless skid set to hit 26 games, the Cedars (0-1, 0-4) had two possessions in the fourth quarter to try and snap it. The first stalled out near midfield and ended with a punt; the Cedars’ final drive ended after one play when Jeffrie Collado intercepted Paul Trace at the Lebanon 32.
Lebanon had the ball to start the second half and drove to the Muhls’ 16. Trace hit Malachi Briddell for a 16-yard touchdown that was called back by an ineligible receiver downfield. Between a penalty and run, the Cedars lost 20 yards on the next two plays and ended up punting; the Muhls scored on their next drive.
Lopez was 11-for-23 for 119 yards and one touchdown; he had 11 carries for 70 yards.
The Muhls went up 7-0 in the first quarter on Lopez’s 30-yard scoring pass to sophomore Michael Miller.
The Cedars tied it in the second quarter, on a 1-yard run by Kai Rivera.
Lebanon entered the game allowing nearly 400 yards per game but limited Muhlenberg to 239 yards and just 13 points, easily their best defensive performance of the season.
The Muhls continue league play next week at Gov. Mifflin.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Muhlenberg | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Lebanon | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Muhlenberg | Miller, 30 pass from Lopez (Maduena kick) | 0:21 |
| 2 | Lebanon | Rivera, 1 run (Infante kick) | 3:03 |
| 4 | Muhlenberg | Lopez, 5 run (kick failed) | 10:04 |
Team statistics
| Muhlenberg | Lebanon | |
| First downs | 13 | 8 |
| Rushes-yards | 37-120 | 19-64 |
| Passing yards | 119 | 39 |
| Total yards | 239 | 103 |
| Passes | 11-23-1 | 11-19-2 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| Punts-average | 2-41 | 3-28.7 |
| Penalties-yards | 10-90 | 8-74 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Muhlenberg: Lopez 11-70, Torok 20-52, Miller 2-13, Dodson 1-10, Archie 1-1, Mayden 1-(-26).
Lebanon: Trace 6-22, Rivera 7-18, Medlock 2-14, Trace 1-8, Read 1-3, M. Briddell 2-(-1).
PASSING
Muhlenberg: Lopez 11-23-1–119.
Lebanon: Trace 11-19-2–39.
RECEIVING
Muhlenberg: Dodson 3-43, Miller 3-39, Archie 2-29, Madueno 2-8, Cruz 1-0.
Lebanon: Infante 5-18, D. Briddell 3-20, Beaver 2-3, M. Briddell 1-(-2).
INTERCEPTIONS
Muhlenberg: Urbaez, Collado.
