GETTYSBURG, PA- Juniata football trailed 21-17 heading into the fourth quarter but host Gettysburg scored a touchdown with eight minutes to play and added a field goal with just over two minutes remaining to defeat the Eagles 31-17 on Saturday afternoon at Shirk Field. Juniata is now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Centennial Conference while the Bullets are 1-2 and 1-1.
The Bullets took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. GC started with possession on its own 24 and got 38 yards from Kyle Wigley plus an eight-yard reception to move to the Juniata 26. After a one-yard Fred Caruso run, quarterback Zach Miller hooked up with Kevin McCarthy for a 25-yard score and the Bullets were ahead with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Eagles took possession and got to midfield but had to punt. Jonah Plymire's (York, Pa/Central York) punt only went 19 yards and Gettysburg took over on its own 35. Aided by a Brandon Sparks catch for 17 yards and a Travis Andrews 27-yard run, GC moved down to the JC 6. The Eagle defense forced a fourth and goal but the Bullets would convert and score to go up 14-0 at 11:50 of the second quarter.
Juniata started to generate some offense on the ensuing possession. With the ball at the GC 20, Ward Udinski (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) found Hunter Phillps (Funkstown, MD/South Hagerstown) in the end zone and with the Kevin Bonalle (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) extra point, it was 14-7 Gettysburg with 7:17 showing on the clock.
The Eagle defense forced a turnover on the Bullets' next possession as Nick Stubbs (Hagestown, MD/South Hagerstown) stepped in front of Miller's pass at the GC 33. JC could not take advantage as its drive stalled on the GC 41 and it was forced to punt the ball away.
After a Gettysburg punt that Stubbs returned for 19 yards to the GC 25, the Eagles took over but on fourth and 12, Udinski was intercepted by Brian Calatozzo at the seven. The Bullets had 2:12 to work with and managed to get to the Juniata 22. On third and 10, Miller would be sacked by the combo of Andrew Paterno (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area) and Donovan Cobb (Aliquippa, PA/Aliquppa Jr./Sr. HS) and forced to call a timeout with two seconds left. Kicker Garret Long lined up for a 42-yard field goal but missed wide left and Gettysburg led 14-7 at the half.
The Bullets started the second half with the ball. GC converted on third down on a Miller rush and had the ball at Juniata's 47-yard line. Miller then hooked up with Caruso for 32 yards to the JC 15. Two plays later, Nick Ulassin ran for a 10-yard touchdown to increase the Bullet lead to 21-7.
The ensuing kickoff resulted in a touchback but an unsportsmanlike penalty on GC gave Juniata the ball at its own 40. A Matt Lehr (Dover, PA/York Catholic) nine-yard run and a Udinski-to-Aaron O'Brien (York, PA/York Catholic) five-yard completion got the Eagles past midfield. JC eventually got to the Gettysburg 9 but could not punch the ball in. Ken Kysor (Port Allegheny, PA/Port Allegheny) came in for a 25-yard field attempt and nailed it to make it 21-10 at 8:46.
The Eagle defense stood tall on Gettysburg's next possession and forced a punt. Stubbs took the kick 26 yards to the GC 30. On a second and 10 from the 23 yard line, a pass interference penalty on GC gave Juniata the ball at the Bullets' three. Two plays later, Udinski called his own number and the score stood at 21-17 with 3:38 to play in the third period.
Gettysburg looked to add to its lead as it had the ball at the JC 9. On first down, Kyle Wigley lost five yards and then was stopped for no gain. On third down, Miller would be sacked by Daulton Romano (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) and the third quarter came to a close. Long came on for a 35-yard field goal but missed right and Juniata retained possession.
The Eagles would be stymied on its ensuing drive and forced to punt. Gettysburg got down to the JC 28, but three straight incompletions from Miller turned the ball over on downs to Juniata. The Bullet defense stopped the Eagles cold and forced them to punt yet again.
The Bullets started their drive with 9:47 left to play in the game on the Juniata 45. On second and eight from the JC 31, Miller connected with Brandon Sparks for the touchdown to increase the GC advantage to 28-17.
The Eagles tried to mount a comeback but were denied when after Udinski passed to Kyle Schuck (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) for 17 yards, Schuck was stripped of the ball by Kodie McNamara with Joseph Vegso coming up with the ball at the GC 42. Now in ball control mode, the Bullets ran the ball to use up clock and got down to the Juniata 6 where Long connected from 23 yards to make the score 31-17.
Gettyburg doubled up the Eagles in first downs, 30-15. The Bullets amassed 300 yards on the ground to just 89 for Juniata and had 500 yards of total offense.
Udinski was 19-of-31 passing for 163 yards and threw for one touchdown. He had 14 net yards on the ground and one score. Lehr gained 40 yards on the ground. O'Brien had six catches for 59 yards. Phillips had three grabs for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Eagles had six sacks and 11 tackles for losses. Ethan Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) led the way with 18 tackles, one sack, and one pass breakup. Luke Navin (Bel-Air, MD/John Carroll HS) added nine and half tackles, one and a half sacks, and a forced fumble.
Juniata will look to get back on track next Saturday when it hosts Franklin and Marshall. Game time from Knox Field will be at 1 p.m.
