HUNTINGDON, PA- The Juniata football team embarks on one of its toughest tests of the season when it heads down to Baltimore, MD to face the #10 ranked Johns Hopkins University this weekend. Kickoff from Homewood Field is set for 12 p.m.
The Eagles are 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the Centennial Conference. They are coming off a 35-33 defeat at the hands of Franklin and Marshall last week at Knox Field. With 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter, on second and 10 from its own five-yard line, Ward Udinski (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) found wide out Aaron O'Brien (York, PA/York Catholic) for a 40-yard completion. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Udinski went back to pass but would be sacked by the Diplomats' AJ Kokoi to run out the clock and end the game. Udinski had a career day as he totaled 395 yards on 24-of-40 passing with two touchdown throws and was not intercepted. The Eagles totaled 502 yards of offense to 329 for the Diplomats. Udinski led in rushing with 62 net yards. Isaiah Slutter (Philadelphia, PA/Wallenpaupack Area) caught a career-high 10 passes for 163 yards. On the defensive side, Nick Bonavita (Sheffield, PA/Sheffield Area) led with eight tackles. Daulton Romano (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) and Ethan Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) both contributed seven each with Romano also picking up a sack.
Johns Hopkins is undefeated at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference. The Jays raced out to a 22-point lead against Muhlenberg in their last game but did not put the game away until a 56-yard touchdown pass from Braeden Anderson to Bradley Munday with just over two minutes to play to come out with a 42-26 victory over the Mules. Anderson, who had never thrown for more than 218 yards in a game, finished 29-of-38 for 359 yards with four touchdowns, while Munday had career highs in receptions (13) and yards (150) with his 56-yard sprint to the end zone the final dagger in the victory. For its part, the Johns Hopkins defense allowed four field goals and held the Mules to 348 yards, 59 of which came on their final drive of the game after Munday's touchdown.
The Blue Jays are the five-time defending Centennial Conference champions and have qualified for the NCAA playoffs in the last three seasons. The Eagles are seeking their first win over Johns Hopkins since joining the conference in 2007. The only victory that JC has had came in the first-ever meeting between the two schools in 1929 where Juniata won 7-0 in Baltimore.
