It’s become almost cliché when football coaches preach to their teams that games are won or lost on special teams.

But as the Muhlenberg football team has learned during the past few seasons, more often than not, that old axiom proves to be true.

The latest example came during the Mules’ thrilling win over Ursinus yesterday.

Trailing by three, the Bears lined up for a potential game-tying field goal with 2.7 seconds to play in regulation. But Muhlenberg sophomore Andrew Onimus rose above the pile at the line of scrimmage to block the kick and preserve a 24-21 victory.

It was the first block of any kind of his career, high school and college, and could not have come at a better time.

“I just tried to jump as high as I could and luckily I got a piece of it,” Onimus said. “That was so amazing.”

Click here to watch video of the game-saving block.

Muhlenberg has blocked five kicks this season, which is tied for the most since 2003, but none were bigger than the one against the Bears.

The last time the Mules won a game on a blocked field goal was in 2007, when Chris Swensen swatted away a 33-yard try with 34.5 seconds left at Gettysburg, preserving a 14-13 win that was a springboard to an undefeated season.

While Onimus’ big block drew much of the postgame attention, two drives earlier, senior Gregg Mercogliano provided another special teams play that also had a huge impact.

After missing his first attempt of the day, Mercogliano got some redemption by nailing a 38-yard field goal with 1:43 to play that would prove to be the game-winner.

It was the eighth field goal of the season for the first-time starter, which is tied for the most in the Centennial Conference. And according to senior Phil Musick, there was never any doubt as to whether Mercogliano’s kick would be good.

Musick said he has seen Mercogliano hit countless field goals at the end of practice with the entire team yelling to try to distract him.

“I have a lot of faith in Gregg,” he said. “He’s always making pressure kicks during practice, and he has really come through this year. That was a big kick, and I knew he would make it.”

And according to senior Chris Hartzell, it was just another example why he considers it an honor to play on special teams.

“We take pride in special teams,” Hartzell said. “It’s all about effort and who wants it more. It can be the difference between winning and losing, and that’s what happened today.”

photos by Lisa Youngentob