By Rachael Cataldo
Asst. Sports Editor
Thanks to a last second touchdown pass from Moravian, the Susquehanna football team dropped a tough 21–18 loss to the Greyhounds on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field in Selinsgrove during homecoming weekend.
The Greyhounds (4–2, 3–2) took the early lead after a 28- yard fumble recovery to make the score 7–0 in the first quarter.
The River Hawks (3–3, 2–3) got on the board after a 34-yard field goal by freshman kicker Elijah Hoffman with 3:50 left in the first quarter.
“Our biggest challenge during the loss against Moravian was our inability to be consistent and execute. If we play to our highest level from start to finish, no one can beat us,” junior cornerback Danial Shelton said.
Susquehanna briefly took the 9–7 lead when freshman quarterback Michael Ruisch threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mitch Carsley.
The Greyhounds quickly answered when junior running back Roberto Diez ran for 5 yards into the end zone to score. The Moravian PAT was good, and Susquehanna trailed 14–9 with a little over two minutes to go until the half.
A 68-yard drive by Susquehanna allowed Hoffman to kick a 26-yard field goal to bring the score to 14–12 before heading to the locker room for halftime.
Both teams had long and extended drives in the third quarter but neither could get on the board.
The Greyhounds started off the fourth quarter with a long drive but were unable to score on a 42-yard field goal attempt.
The River Hawks followed with another lengthy drive, but the team lost a scoring opportunity after the offense fumbled the ball.
On the following Moravian drive, Shelton was able pick up a blocked field goal attempt and return it 75 yards to give Susquehanna an 18–14 lead.
Neither team could score for the next 13 minutes of play. The Greyhounds changed that late in the fourth quarter after a five-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Chris Mills to junior wide receiver Alex Pierce with 17 seconds remaining.
Susquehanna was unable to score in the final seconds and was defeated in a close conference game 21 – 18.
Junior wide receiver Mikah Christian led the offense with 71 receiving yards while Carsley added a touchdown pass. Junior running back Aaron Speight rushed for 42 yards.
Ruisch finished with 175 passing yards on the day.
Defensively, senior linebacker Connor Thompson recorded 14 tackles and junior linebacker Cole Dixon added 13 tackles. Junior defensive lineman Kashief Hyatt also had eight tackles for Susquehanna.
“One thing that we need to continue to get better at is finishing,” Thompson said. The three games we have lost we lost by 7 points or less, meaning that we are right there we just need to finish the game and give it everything we got.”
Susquehanna had the weekend off on Saturday, Oct. 13.
“This bye week came at a perfect time for our team. We have so many guys that are banged up and this off week has really helped them get themselves healthy,” Carsley said. “With the mental aspects, our practices during the week were a lot more mental than physical.”
The River Hawks return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 as they travel to Collegeville for a Centennial Conference matchup against the Ursinus Bears.
Both Thompson and Carlsey said they are treating this matchup and the rest of the season “as playoff games.”
Ursinus comes into the game with a 4–2 record.
