Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Abrielle Tutino
Susquehanna University advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight after a dominant 29-0 shutout at Eastern last Saturday.
Despite a quiet first half, the River Hawks (11-2 overall) exploded offensively in the third quarter and produced key defensive plays to secure the postseason victory.
Quarterback Josh Ehrlich credited the halftime turnaround to his team’s mentality. “It was trust in the game plan and trust in the guys around me,” Ehrlich stated. “We knew we didn’t play up to our standard of football in the first half and wanted to really prove it to ourselves in the second and come away with a huge playoff win.”
Susquehanna held an 8-0 lead at the break behind two Dominic Bourgeois field goals and a safety. The River Hawks’ offense found its rhythm in the third quarter when Ehrlich connected with Hunter Morgenroth for a 12-yard touchdown.
Defensively, the River Hawks controlled the game from start to finish. Cornerback Xavier Maple recorded two turnovers, including an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that sealed the shutout.
Maple explained his mindset, “Score a touchdown no matter what. I had a similar play my freshman year and got tackled by the quarterback. I knew I couldn’t let that happen again.”
Saturday’s defensive performance came at the perfect time, as the win sets up a rematch against Johns Hopkins for a spot in the final four.
SU prepares for Johns Hopkins’ strong offense that took out their defense in a Week 3, 40-22 loss. The River Hawks were ranked No. 4 in the country at the time, while Johns Hopkins stood strong at No. 3
“This shutout was crucial for our team’s confidence,” Maple said. “Now instead of us worrying about their offense, they have to worry about our defense.”
Ehrlich emphasized how the team’s development throughout the year has shaped this playoff run.
“The way everybody has bought into the culture and the process throughout the year,” Ehrlich said. “A lot of young talent has really proven themselves and come along all year.”
The River Hawks aren’t new to avenging regular season losses in the playoffs this year, as just last week Susquehanna avenged their week four loss against Christopher Newport to move on to the Sweet 16.
This time, a harder task is at tale with a proven Johns Hopkins team who is also seeking their first Division 3 title in program history.
“Obviously we aren’t the same team we were in week 3. We see this as a business trip, and we’ll continue to stick to our process.”
Susquehanna will travel to Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13 for another chance at the Blue Jays with a spot in the national semifinals on the line.