By Olivia Parke, Staff Writer
The Susquehanna football team defeated Franklin & Marshall 42-13 after senior wide receivers Anthony McCoy and Mikah Christian carried the team by combining for five touchdown receptions on Sept. 28 in Selinsgrove, Pa.
The victory marks the fourth time out of 20 games that the River Hawks have beaten the Diplomats since 1898. Susquehanna is the first team to score more than 20 points against Franklin & Marshall this season.
“We wanted to be physical and mentally on point with everything we did,” McCoy said. “For the past two years we would come into the F&M game drained from playing Muhlenberg and Johns Hopkins back to back. However, we came in hungry this year and got over that hump.”
Towards the end of the first quarter, the River Hawks jumped ahead to a 7-0 lead behind Christian’s first touch- down of the day, a 49-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Michael Ruisch.
The River Hawks were able to score 21 points in the second quarter, going into half- time with a 28-0 lead.
Sophomore strong safety L’Trell Bradley intercepted a pass from Franklin & Marshall junior quarterback Garret Perschy to give the River Hawks the ball to begin the second frame. Susquehanna was then able to turn the interception into points, as McCoy scored on a three-yard touchdown pass from Ruisch.
McCoy also scored his second touchdown of the game during the second quarter, as he caught a 24-yard pass on fourth and two to extend the team’s lead.
Susquehanna’s defense also exhibited strong play and was able to keep the Diplomats off of the scoreboard for the remainder of the half.
McCoy lead the River Hawks with five receptions as three were touchdown catches while Christian led the River Hawks with 124 reception yards on three catches.
Senior linebacker Cole Dixon played a huge role in the team’s top notch defensive play, leading the way with eight tackles, while senior defensive back Danial Shelton and sophomore outside linebacker Brendan Krumenacker each added seven tackles.
“We were all very focused during the week of practice leading into this game,” Krumenacker said. “We were ready to expose F&M and come out victorious.”
Susquehanna punted on its first two drives of the second half before Ruisch connected with McCoy for the third time, delivering a 15-yard pass for a 35-0 River Hawk lead.
In the fourth quarter, Franklin & Marshall sophomore defensive back Thomas Downs intercepted a pass from Susquehanna sophomore quarterback Hezekiah Patterson at the Susquehanna 35, allowing Franklin & Marshall to avoid a shutout game defeat.
Following the interception, sophomore running back Joe Hartley-Vittoria scored on a five-yard run to get the Diplomats on the board.
Da’Avian Ellington, a junior running back, scored the River Hawks final touchdown with 10 minutes left in the game and had a career-long run of 63 yards.
Franklin & Marshall scored with three seconds remaining in the game on an eight-yard pass from senior quarterback Jack Donaghy to junior wide receiver Grant Gale.
With the win, Susquehanna improved their overall record on the season to 3-1. In addition, Ruisch was once again named the Centennial Conference Football Offensive Player of the week, while McCoy was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week. The River Hawks also jumped to No. 22 in the D3football.com Top 25.
The River Hawks will be back in action and will look to improve their record with a game at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 against Dickinson University in Selinsgrove, Pa.
