Posted: Sep 22, 2012
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College football made a sensational comeback against Franklin & Marshall (F&M) Saturday afternoon on Goodman Field at Knox Stadium, but fell short 45-38 as the Eagles dropped to 1-3 (0-3 Centennial) on the year.
Junior Zach McCaulley (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) accounted for two of the Eagles five touchdowns in 450 yards of total offense. The defense stepped up its play, forcing its first fumble of the year and picking up 66 tackles, eight of which totaled for a loss of 40 yards for F&M.
Juniata stayed aggressive on both sides of the ball throughout the game. The offense pounded out over 230 yards rushing and were led by freshman Deonte Alston (Bel Air, Md./Patterson Mill) who finished with a game and career-high 182 yards on the ground. Senior David Weiss (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) and sophomore Ethan Wilt (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) led the defense with seven tackles each.
With 2:13 left in the first quarter, Alston put Juniata on the board first with a 4-yard run. F&M (3-1, 2-1 Centennial) responded with back-to-back touchdowns but were only able to convert on one of their extra point tries.
After a 19-yard field goal by senior Scott Andrews (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona, Pa.) at 1:13 in the second quarter, the Eagles were within three (13-10). A 34-yard return from the Diplomat's Sam Massaro on the ensuing kickoff gave quarterback E.J. Schneider and their offense the spark they needed. Schneider passed for 58-yards in 53 seconds to give F&M the 20-10 lead at the half.
Juniata came out fighting after the break. Alston and McCaulley grinded out yard after yard of the Eagles first possession in the third quarter. It took five plays to cover 75-yards before McCaulley picked up his first touchdown of the afternoon on a three yard run. With Andrews extra point, Juniata pulled the score to 20-17.
Despite the strong start, the Eagles could not hold off F&M, who took a 38-17 lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter.
With the clock winding down, sophomore Ward Udinski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) hit senior Quadir Christian (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown) in the middle of the field for a 47-yard touchdown. It marked the longest reception of Christian's career and his first collegiate touchdown.
Freshman Ben Fowler (Reedsville, Pa./Mifflin County) forced a fumble on the kickoff return that fellow freshman Demetrius Floyd (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) recovered on Juniata's 34 yard line to start the fourth quarter.
The Eagles offense pushed 65 yards to set up Udinski's 1-yard run up the middle that pulled Juniata back within seven, 38-31, with 11:14 remaining in the game.
F&M scored its final touchdown of the day with 5:48 on the clock. Juniata was able to score again on a pass from Udinski to McCaulley, but ran out of time as the Diplomats took a knee to end the game.
Juniata heads down to Baltimore next to face John's Hopkins on Oct. 6, but returns back to Huntingdon for their homecoming game against Ursinus on Oct. 13.
