Audio (Jim Zauzig on Play-by-Play)
HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Juniata hosts Moravian in the final regular season home game of the season this Saturday at Knox Stadium. Kickoff will be at 12:00 p.m. Prior to game time, the team will recognize its 26 senior players and four senior cheerleaders.
The Eagles (4-4, 3-4 CC) dropped a 20-13 decision to McDaniel at home last Saturday. McDaniel's Bamasa Bailor caught a 10-yard touchdown pass with 4:16 remaining in the fourth quarter for the game-winning touchdown. The Eagles were driving deep into McDaniel territory with 2:15 to play to try and even the game up. Hank Coyne (Royersford, Pa/Spring-Ford) completed a 14-yard pass for Jake Notestine (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) who fumbled trying to extend the play and the ball went out of bounds to give possession to McDaniel. The Green Terror then ran out the clock to secure the win. Coyne completed 16-of-20 passes for 206 yards and three one touchdown. He was sacked three times and intercepted twice. Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) caught seven passes for 108 yards and a score. He went over 1,000 yards receiving and became the fourth player to Juniata history to achieve that mark and the first since Lance Tippett in 2007 to do so. Matt Lehr (Dover, Pa./York Catholic) led in rushing with 90 yards on 16 carries. Mitchell Shober (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) and Jake Diviney (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) both totaled nine tackles on defense. Diviney also had half a sack and a QB hurry.
Moravian (4-4, 3-4 CC) enters Saturday's game on a three-game losing streak and are playing their third straight road contest. Moravian fell to Gettysburg, 52-21 last week. Junior quarterback Kordell Theadford made his first career start, replacing injured starter Mike Hayes, and Theadford completed 19-of-38 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Theadford also led the Moravian running attack with 102 yards, and a score on 21 carries. Moravian's offense had 474 yards on 95 plays in the game including 229 yards on the ground with all-time leading rusher senior Chris Negron adding 89 yards on 27 attempts. Freshman running back Roberto Diez contributed 36 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Junior wide receiver Aaron Hudson caught a team-high seven passes for 105 yards while senior wide receiver Liam Nolan pulled in four receptions for 54 yards. Senior wide receiver Jalen Snyder-Scipio returned to action after missing four games with an injury, and he caught four passes for 51 yards with one touchdown. Senior linebacker Edward Delia led Moravian's defense with 15 tackles, and also had a pass break-up. Freshman linebacker Joseph Milano added 11 tackles with a forced fumble while senior defensive back Noah Miller and freshman defensive back Alkiohn Dunkins both had nine tackles with Miller recovering a fumble.
The Greyhounds and Eagles are tied for fifth in the Centennial Conference. Saturday is the 62nd meeting between Juniata and Moravian in a series that dates back to 1932. The Greyhounds hold a 31-28-2 lead. Five times have the games gone into overtime including four straight from 1996-1999 and Moravian has a 3-2 edge in those decisions. The Greyhounds have won the last two meetings.
