By Dan DiLizia, Staff Writer
The No. 16-ranked Susquehanna football team dominated Juniata 63-7 to end the regular season on Nov. 16, as six different River Hawks found the endzone in Huntingdon, Pa. This is only the second time Susquehanna has scored 63 points against Juniata.
“It was great to beat our rival, what a way to send our seniors out,” sophomore defensive lineman Nick Silenok said.
The River Hawks scored a mere 22 seconds into the game after an interception by junior defensive back Sean Ryan allowed sophomore wide receiver Kyle Good to convert a 10-yard rushing touchdown.
At 11:52 of the first quarter, Susquehanna scored again, as junior running back Da’Avian Ellington ran 21 yards on two carries. A fumble recovery by Ryan on Juniata’s four-yard line allowed Ellington to notch his second touchdown of the game via a one-yard run.
Ellington shined yet again as he landed his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon at 13:24 of the second quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Michael Ruisch then connected with sophomore wide receiver Darius Copeland, allowing Copeland to score his first career touchdown via an eight-yard pass, bringing the score to 35-0.
Ruisch would end up completing 12 of 20 passes over the course of the contest for 120 total yards and three touchdowns.
Susquehanna headed into halftime with a massive lead of 42-0 after senior captain Mitch Carsley caught a 24-yard pass from Ruisch. Carsley was a top performer during the game, returning six punts for 139 yards with a long of 37.
Good stepped up his game even further during the third quarter, catching an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ruisch to finish a seven-play, 50-yard drive. Good also had a 22-yard reception during the drive.
Senior wide receiver Robert Marks scored his first touchdown of the season via a 37-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Hezekiah Patterson.
Juniata was able to avoid a shutout during the final quarter at 8:53 when Calvin Bembry scored a one-yard rushing touchdown.
Senior running back Torey Brown then sealed the deal for the River Hawks, putting up a career-long 79-yard rush and ending the drive on a six-yard scoring run. Brown rushed for a career-high of 138 yards on a career best of 12 carries with one touchdown.
Through it all, senior linebackers Cole Dixon and David Simpson held the line, with Dixon landing his second straight double-digit tackle game and Simpson contributing nine tackles.
Susquehanna finished their regular season with a stellar record of 9-1, placing second behind an undefeated Muhlenberg in the Centennial Conference.
“It was a big rivalry, we came out, we knew we had to get the job done, we took care of business,” freshman defensive lineman Liam Barry said.
Susquehanna will now conclude their season with a Centennial-MAC Bowl Series game against Wilkes University at home on Nov. 23 in Selinsgrove, Pa.
