Photo by Edward Swanson
By Ryan Brinker
SELINSGROVE — Outside linebacker Keith Green had a key pass breakup late in the game on Saturday as Susquehanna defeated Johns Hopkins 26-24. The Riverhawks remain undefeated on the season.
Kicker Elijah Hoffman extended the Riverhawks’ lead with a 37-yard field goal to make the score 26-18, leaving 8:59 on the clock in the fourth quarter.
Riverhawks quarterback Michael Ruisch finished the game with 204 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception. Ruisch also had 33 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.
Blue Jays quarterback Ryan Stevens and the Blue Jays offense responded with an eight-minute scoring drive as Stevens connected with Josh Polce in the back of the endzone to make the score 28-26 Riverhawks.
Stevens had 273 yards passing and three touchdowns on the day for the Blue Jays.
Following an unsuccessful two-point attempt, the Blue Jays elected to go for the onside kick and the Riverhawks recovered with 0:48 left in the game.
The Riverhawks moved to 8-0 on the season and now have sole possession of first place in the Centennial Conference. The winner of the conference will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs.
Johns Hopkins fell to 7-1 and dropped to second place in the Centennial Conference. The loss snapped the Blue Jays’ 10-game winning streak.
The Riverhawks got off to a fast start on both sides of the ball, leading 14-0 on two touchdowns by Ruisch midway through the second quarter.
Wide receiver Kyle Howes tallied four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown for the Riverhawks.
The Blue Jays answered back quickly as Stevens fired a 25-yard touchdown to wide receiver Josh Polce to make it 14-6 Riverhawks with 6:35 to go in the half.
Polce had six receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns on the day.
The Riverhawks special teams unit made a big play as it blocked the PAT attempt by the Blue Jays, keeping the score at 14-6 Riverhawks.
Following a punt from both teams, linebacker Duncan Van Kouteren would intercept a Rusich pass at midfield with less than a minute left in the second quarter.
Stevens would capitalize on the field positioning as he found tight end Emmett Turner in the endzone for the score before halftime.
The Riverhawks got off to a good start in the second half as Hoffman extended the lead with a 32-yard field goal to make the score 17-12 Riverhawks early in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Jacob Erb was the leading target for the Riverhawks as he had four catches for 57 yards.
Johns Hopkins answered back quickly again as running back Geoff Schroeder had a 24-yard touchdown to make it 18-17 Blue Jays.
Running back Danny Wolf was the game’s leading rusher with 86 yards for the Blue Jays.
The Riverhawks would answer back with a touchdown of their own as running back Hunter Coulter plunged forward from two yards out to make it 23-18 Riverhawks with 3:46 to go in the third quarter.
Next week, the Riverhawks will take on Muhlenberg which is currently 5-3 on the season and 5-2 in the Centennial Conference.
