Photos By Bailey Mullen and Paige Cuscino
By Abrielle Tutino
The River Hawks defeated Wilkes 26-3 on Saturday at Doug Arthur Stadium to clinch its third consecutive Landmark Conference title and fourth straight conference title overall.
Susquehanna (6-2 overall, 4-0 Landmark) showed an impressive dominance on both sides of the ball for this Senior Day win.
Quarterback Josh Ehrlich led the offense with 170 passing yards and 36 rushing yards.
“I have a lot of trust in our guys and the offensive line,” Ehrlich said. “We’re gonna keep this going in the playoffs.”
Wilkes (5-4 overall, 3-2 Landmark) led the River Hawks 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, but Susquehanna turned the game back around with Ehrlich passing to freshman Carter McCauley for a 1-yard touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.
Tailback Rahshan La Mons had a strong presence on the ground over the four quarters, tallying a total of 86 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards on five receptions.
“I wanted to win it for the seniors,” La Mons exclaimed. “I got to help them get their fourth ring, so I can live my life happy.”
Susquehanna’s defense once again delivered when it mattered most with Romero Lavalais intercepting a third-down pass in the red zone, preventing a touchdown.
Dominic Bourgeois nailed four field goals in the win, two in the first half and two more in the second. His third boot represented his 13th of the season, setting SU’s single-season record for made field goals.
“It felt great to break the record,” Bourgeois said. “I’m going to keep working to keep my kicks consistent for playoffs.”
Late in the third quarter, Ehrlich tossed another touchdown pass, this time to Hunter Morgenroth for a 13-yard score.
The River Hawks, ranked as the No. 24 team in the nation by D3football.com, have secured an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. To finish the season undefeated in conference play for the fourth straight year, SU will need to beat Moravian on the road next weekend.
“This team has overcome a lot of things on and off of the field,” SU coach Tom Perkovich stated. “I’m just so proud of how they have pushed through it and found a way to win.”
The River Hawks’ first-round opponent in the NCAA playoffs will be announced on a livestream at 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. It will be broadcasted on the NCAA’s website.
Susquehanna reached the national semifinals last season before falling 66-0 to eventual national champions North Central (Ill.).