HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Coming off a 26-13 season opening win over Grove City last Saturday, the Juniata football team goes on the road to begin Centennial Conference play. The Eagles battle the Red Devils of Dickinson at 1 p.m. at Biddle Field.
Defense and special teams ruled the day against the Wolverines. The Eagles totaled six sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. One of those fumbles was taken back for a touchdown by Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone). Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown and Jake Diviney (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area HS) blocked a Grove City field goal attempt.
Offensively, Deonte Alston (Bel Air, Md./Patterson Mill) enjoyed the first 100-yard rushing performance by an Eagle running back in nearly two years as he ran for 105 yards on 21 carries. Juniata had 164 yards rushing on the afternoon with Matt Lehr (Dover, Pa./York Catholic) adding 52 yards on 10 carries and Breault rushing once for 16 yards.
Making his first career start under center, Hank Coyne (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford HS) completed 19 out of 37 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. Coyne spread the ball amongst five different receivers with Aaron O'Brien (York, Pa./York Catholic) grabbing seven catches and Breault and DaVon Mitchell (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) both catching five balls.
The Red Devils did not fare as well in their first game as they were defeated by #16 Hobart, 29-7. Hobart finished with 427 yards of offense, led by 21-of-30 passing for 248 yards by Shane Sweeney. Conner Hartigan and Bradley Burns combined for 137 yards rushing on the day. Jack Pfohl finished with six catches for 86 yards to lead all receivers. Jacob Stanley tallied 5.5 tackles and a pair of sacks to lead the Hobart defense. Zach Thornton added 1.5 tackles-for-loss and an interception. Senior linebacker Jake Myers led the Red Devils with eight tackles while Pat Schlecker tallied seven stops. Mark Manganaro finished with four tackles, a blocked extra-point and a pass break-up in the end zone.
Dickinson holds a 16-10 lead in the series but the Eagles have won the last two meetings. In Huntingdon last season, Ward Udinski's 10-yard touchdown run with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter gave Juniata a 38-35 victory over the Red Devils for JC's first home win against Dickinson since 1956.
