By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Juniata College football improved to 5-3 on the season, 4-3 in the Centennial Conference, after running through McDaniel College Saturday afternoon in Gill Stadium. This was the first time Juniata has put up 40 points against the Green Terror since 1985. The Eagles now lead the all-time series 13-12-1 and have matched their highest win total since 2002. The win also marks the first time since 1999 that Juniata has had a winning road record.
"Again, anytime you go on the road and come away with a victory, it's a great thing," said head coach Tim Launtz. "This is not a bad football team we played against today. We kept our focus and we were willing to be all in. You can see what happens when we play with that kind of focus and that kind of determination. We are a very good football team."
Senior Zach McCaulley (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) had a career day on the turf. The tailback rushed for a career-best four touchdowns on 16 carries. His career-high 24 points ties him fourth all-time in Juniata football's single-game record book for scoring.
"Zach put the ball on the ground one time and at one point in this program's history, that kind of adversity would have paralyzed us," said Launtz. "But you can see that young man came back and scored four touchdowns because you have to move on. All your focus and concentration, and Zach McCaulley is a great example, is in the next play."
After the Green Terror opened up the game with a touchdown, the Eagles held them scoreless for nearly 50 minutes as the offense pounded the ground and put up 42 straight points. Juniata's defense earned a season-high four interceptions and kept McDaniel's offense to just 147 net yards from scrimmage.
Offensively, the Eagles rushed for a season-high 350 yards with two grinding out over 100 yards individually. Sophomore Deonte Alston (Bel Air, Md./Patterson Mill) finished with a game-high 138 net yards and junior Ward Udinski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) earned 118 of his own, respectively.
"I thought one of the keys to the game offensively and defensively were our lines," added Launtz. "We were very physical up front and that makes a world of difference. The offensive line and the defensive line were both very physical and that's where the game has to start, right up front."
Senior captain Kevin Gorman (Waverly, N.Y./Waverly Central) and sophomore Jonah Plymire (York, Pa./Central York) tied with a team-high five tackles. Plymire recorded a career and team-best two tackles for a loss of nine yards and his first career interception.
Juniata is having its most successful season since 2002. With two games left, the Eagles have a chance at an above .500 record for the first time since 1999. They face Centennial rival Moravian College on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is set for noon. Juniata is 27-28-2 all-time against the Greyhounds. They won 14-6 when the team's met last year.
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