Photo by Bailey Mullen
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SELINSGROVE — Susquehanna’s defense allowed zero points in the entire first half Saturday against Juniata as the River Hawks won 66-15.
The River Hawks, ranked no. 13 in the nation, already clinched the Centennial Conference with their 28-24 win over Muhlenberg last week which included their 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter.
The win for the River Hawks last week marks the first time that Susquehanna will be playing in the NCAA playoffs since 2009.
This week’s game against Juniata also marks Susquehanna’s final game in the Centennial Conference, as the River Hawks will be moving to the Landmark Conference next year for the 2023 season.
The River Hawks got off to a fast start as Michael Rusich rifled a 22-yard pass to Michael Lefever for the touchdown, making the score 7-0 River Hawks.
Frankie Negrini would extend the lead for the River Hawks as he took the carry outside for seven yards and the touchdown to make it 14-0 River Hawks.
Andrew Wells took the team lead in interceptions as he would get his fifth of the season.
The River Hawks got tricky as graduate center Dalton Simpson lined up in the backfield and ran for a two-yard touchdown to make the score 21-0 River Hawks.
Ruisch extended the River Hawks’ lead as he threw a seven-yard pass to Hunter Coulter for the touchdown, making the score 28-0 River Hawks.
Ruisch found Eddie Nugent for his third touchdown of the day as he lofted a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-0 River Hawks.
Ruisch’s last throw of the game would be a touchdown as he connected with Kyle Howes over the middle for the 13-yard touchdown to make it 42-0 River Hawks.
Ruisch finished the game 12-19 passing with 205 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Howes would be the game’s leading receiver for the River Hawks as he had six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Backup quarterback Brayden Knoblaugh would enter the game for the River Hawks as he would find Jacob Erb in the endzone for the eight-yard touchdown pass to make it 49-0 River Hawks at halftime.
DK Wyche would enter the game for the River Hawks as he ran the ball up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 56-0 River Hawks in the second half.
Wyche would finish the game as the leading rusher for the River Hawks as he would tally eight carries for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Thomas O’Chuida III would finally get the Eagles on the scoreboard as he completed a one-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Sweger to make it 56-8 after a successful two-point conversion on a rush by Quinton Stevens.
O’Chuida finished the game 16-33 passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Elijah Hoffman would extend the River Hawks’ lead as he would convert a 32-yard field goal to make it 59-8 River Hawks late in the third quarter.
O’Chuida would get the Eagles a little bit closer as he completed another pass to Stevens for a 30-yard touchdown.
Stevens had a great second half for the Eagles as he finished the game with four receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Bobby Croyle would enter the game as he would make his collegiate debut for the River Hawks.
Junior running back Dashon Bundy would also enter the game for the River Hawks later in the third quarter as the River Hawks led 59-15.
Bobby Croyle would throw an interception to Selinsgrove native Aaron Rothermel and the Eagles would get the ball back early in the fourth quarter.
After a turnover on downs by the Eagles, the River Hawks would get the ball back and first-year running back Tommy Grabowski would run for the 15-yard touchdown. The final score was 66-15 River Hawks.
