By Ryan Prosick
Contributing Writer
For the first time in ten years and for the first time at home since 1977, the Susquehanna football team took down number-18 ranked Johns Hopkins 37–35 on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Selinsgrove.
Freshman quarterback Michael Ruisch led the River Hawks through the air going 18-32 for 270 yards and one touchdown.
Johns Hopkins struck first with a touchdown one minute and 15 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a Susquehanna fumble on their first play from scrimmage.
The River Hawks quickly answered back with a two-play scoring drive capped by a 51- yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mikah Christian.
Hopkins opened the second quarter with a six-play, 82- yard drive. Susquehanna then responded with a nine-play, 76-yard drive of its own which ended in a Ruisch one-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak to retie the game 14-14.
The Blue Jays gained good field position on a 47-yard kickoff return to take the lead. Johns Hopkins finished the job by going six plays 49-yards for the touchdown.
Susquehanna stalled on its next drive after an incomplete pass on fourth down on the Blue Jays’ 30-yard line.
On the very next play from scrimmage, senior defensive back Ricky Reyes intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards to the two-yard line. The play by Reyes set up junior running back Torrey Brown for the two-yard touchdown run that put the score at 21–21 going into halftime.
Coming out of the half, Hopkins put together a quick three-play scoring drive. Susquehanna and Rusich had yet another answer to the Blue Jays, as he was a critical 4–6 with 44 passing yards on the next drive. Ruisch threw a 20- yard pass to junior tight end Anthony McCoy which led to a one-yard touchdown run by junior Aaron Speight.
The momentum of the game shifted on the next Hopkins drive. After a false start penalty to start the drive, followed by a sack by junior defensive tackle Kashief Hyatt, Hopkins was put in a third-and-long situation.
Johns Hopkins had no choice after failing to convert on third down and had to punt the ball away. The snap ended up sailing over the punter’s head and resulting in a safety. The safety put Susquehanna up 30–28 and gave them their first lead of the game.
Susquehanna, after a drive that would take up a large chunk of game clock, would find the end zone once more with Brown scoring his second touchdown of the game. The River Hawks had a 37–28 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Hopkins then led a 10-play 58-yard drive to cut the score to 37–35 with 7:33 left to play in the game. After a stalled drive for the River Hawks, the Blue Jays had a chance to come back starting on its own 33-yard line.
Johns Hopkins got to the Susquehanna 17-yard line and sent its field goal unit with 24 seconds left to take the lead. The kick sailed wide right, and the River Hawks broke out in celebration from the sidelines. Ruish took a knee on the next play to end the game.
“I was shocked at first because I was expecting the worst but once I saw it go wide left I was overwhelmed with joy,” junior offensive lineman Mike McGimpsy said.
The missed kick avoided a second-straight late game loss to Hopkins after Susquehanna fell 38–34 on a late touchdown.
Senior inside linebacker Connor Thompson led the team with 13 tackles, while junior linebacker Cole Dixon and senior defensive back Jason Brougham had eight a piece.
Junior wide receiver Mitch Carsley had six receptions and 101 receiving yards in the contest.
Susquehanna returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 18 against Centennial Conference foe Muhlenberg at 1 p.m. in Selinsgrove.
The Muhles come into the contest 1–0 after a 14–3 victory against Dickinson.