When preseason camp started, the Muhlenberg College football team didn’t know what role Dante Mahaffey would fill this season.
The Mules saw enough selflessness from him in 2024 to choose him as a 2025 captain anyway.
After finishing last season as a linebacker, Mahaffey opened the 2025 season back at his regular position of quarterback. The senior and Saucon Valley graduate delivered an efficient game in his first college start at QB, producing 189 yards of total offense and two touchdowns Friday in a 38-19 win over rival Moravian.
Mahaffey went into Friday expecting to be in a quarterback rotation. The plan called for him to play two series and then sit for two series while sophomore Luke Spang (Parkland) took over at QB.
Muhlenberg’s coaches told Mahaffey and Spang they would stick with that plan unless someone established a rhythm leading the offense. Mahaffey’s effectiveness as a runner and passer earned him an extended run at QB in the second half.
“Obviously there’s room for improvement everywhere on the field,” Mahaffey said by phone Wednesday. “First week, get the jitters out, kind of get back in the groove of things, especially not playing quarterback [in a game] in a couple of years sitting behind Joe Repetti there.
“I thought I did all right. There were a couple of throws I made where we could have had more yards, maybe another touchdown or two. But overall I’m excited with where this team is and where this offense stands right now. I’m looking forward to the future.”
Muhlenberg coach Nate Milne wasn’t surprised to see Mahaffey deliver while back at quarterback. He recalled Mahaffey winning a starting spot at linebacker last season after only four or so days of making the switch from backup quarterback during the season.
Mahaffey first caught the coaching staff’s attention with four special-teams tackles and a forced fumble against Ursinus. After that, they approached him about a move to defense.
A week later, he started at linebacker against McDaniel. His second start against Gettysburg featured 10 tackles, a broken hand and a dislocated shoulder.
Mahaffey missed a week but returned to finish out the season before eventually having surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder in December 2024.
“We obviously had a superstar quarterback last year in Joe Repetti,” Milne said. “Dante was too talented to have standing on the sideline signaling next to me. We said, ‘We need him to contribute to this team.’ He said, ‘I’ll do anything.’
“When he came over there and did that, it set the tone for what our defense needed to do. It changed a couple of guys’ demeanors. They said, ‘Hey, maybe my spot isn’t set in stone if they’re bringing somebody over from offense.’ ”
Mahaffey isn’t taking his current role for granted. He and Spang could both see time at quarterback again this week when the Mules visit Endicott (Mass.). The Gulls are 1-0 and receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association Division III poll.
Milne said Endicott reminded him of Muhlenberg teams from the past decade or so. Mahaffey is eager to face whatever challenges the Gulls present.
“We’re just going to go out there, execute to the best of our abilities, do what we’ve been practicing for the last five weeks,” Mahaffey said. “We’ll play with some heart, play with some grit and hopefully come out victorious.”
Extra points: Kutztown redshirt junior running back Jaedyn Stewart was named the PSAC East offensive athlete of the week after running for a career-best 150 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening win over Assumption. He also had 47 receiving yards. … ESU junior defensive lineman Ashton Blose was chosen as the PSAC East defensive athlete of the week. He had nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in a 31-12 win over Pace.
Here’s a look at this week’s games.
Kutztown (1-0 overall) at Edinboro (1-0)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Taking note: Edinboro had a bye last week after opening its season Aug. 28 with a 29-14 win over ESU. … Kutztown went 11-for-17 combined on third and fourth downs in its 51-14 win over Assumption. … Senior wide receiver Trevor Amorim (Northern Lehigh) led Kutztown with 52 receiving yards against Assumption.
East Stroudsburg (1-1) at Gannon (0-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Taking note: ESU has held opponents to 2.4 yards per carry through two games. … Gannon has averaged 296.5 passing yards in its two games. Its ground game has averaged only 2.6 yards per carry. … ESU has amassed 11 penalties for 121 yards.
Muhlenberg (1-0) at Endicott (1-0)
When: noon Saturday.
Taking note: Muhlenberg generated three turnovers in its season-opening 38-19 win over Moravian. … The Mules had four players with seven-plus carries in their opener. They finished with 204 rushing yards. … Endicott (Mass.) amassed 394 yards of total offense and didn’t commit a turnover in its season-opening win Saturday against Misericordia.
Moravian (0-1) at Rowan (0-0-1)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Taking note: Moravian junior wide receiver Avery Koser (Southern Lehigh) caught five passes for a career-high 89 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s season-opening loss to Muhlenberg. … Malachi McNeil-Harrison, a Bethlehem native, tied for the Moravian team lead with six tackles and one tackle for loss against the Mules. … Rowan’s season opener against Case Western Reserve was ruled a 17-17 tie after two lightning delays that lasted a combined four hours.
