BETHLEHEM, Pa.-The Juniata football team fell on the road to Moravian, 31-14, Saturday afternoon at Rocco Calvo Field.
Juniata started the game on defense and they were quickly on their heels as the Moravian offense picked up two quick first downs. Add a JC penalty and all of a sudden, they're on the Eagle 45. A personal foul made it 1stand 25, and the Greyhound drive stalled there. On third and 17, Thayer Phillips (Cuddy, Pa. / South Fayette HS) and Josh Parson (Port Royal, Pa. / Juniata H.S. (Kutztown) combined for a sack to end the drive.
Juniata went three and out and Moravian took over at their own 47. On the fourth play of the drive, Jamel Foster (York, Pa. / Red Lion Area Senior H.S.) knocked the ball out of a Greyhound wide-receiver's hands. Hunter Price (Mill Creek, Pa. / Huntingdon Area HS) recovered it for the Eagles at their own 32.
Juniata couldn't gain any traction on the offensive side of the ball and had to punt. Brenden Gardner (Muncy, Pa. / Hughesville Area HS) smashed a punt 65 yards to the Moravian one, pinning them up against their own end zone. The Greyhounds weren't perturbed as they drove 99 yards in 11 plays to take a 6-0 lead after a failed extra point.
Shaheed Ross took the ensuing kickoff 24 yards to the JC 40 to start the drive. Tim Graham (Clarks Summitt, Pa. / Abington Heights) completed passes to Daulton Snyder (New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford), Bryce Walter (Claysburg, Pa. / Claysburg-Kimmel HS) and Sean Owens (Schwenksville, Pa. / Perkiomen Valley HS)while Ian Border (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area H.S.) hadruns of seven, nine and three yards to get the ball into the red zone. Ross drew a 15-yard pass interference which moved them to the three. Two plays later Border ran it in as the ensuing Sam Craig (Mullica Hill, N.J. / Kingsway Regional HS)extra point made it 7-6 Juniata.
On the kickoff, Adam Kipp (Mt. Wolf, Pa. / Northeastern) forced a fumble and Dan Drop Jr (Hatfield, Pa. / North Penn HS) recovered it at the Moravian 21. Border picked up four on the ground and Graham connected with Aj Brocato (Hatfield, Pa. / North Penn HS) for 15 yards to get down to the two. Following an Eagle timeout, Graham found Ross in the end zone to make it 14-6 Juniata.
Juniata tried to surprise Moravian with an onside kick, but the Greyhounds recovered at the 50. Two plays later they scored on a 35-yard touchdown through the air to make it 14-14 with 10:18 to go in the half.
After stopping Juniata, Moravian went 48 yards in 12 plays to the Eagle three. The defense held strong there and forced a field goal, which Moravian converted, to make it 17-14. JC went into the half down 17-14.
Juniata opened the third from their own 32. Graham got them down to the Moravian 31 and JC went for it on fourth and three, but the pass fell incomplete. The Greyhounds responded by scoring a 67-yard touchdown on third down on to make it 24-14 Moravian.
Juniata went three and out, and another precise Gardner punt pinned the Greyhounds at their own four. Moravian didn't care, as they went 96 yards in 17 plays, as the drive that bled into the fourth quarter with Moravian ahead, 31-14.
The Eagles got down to the Moravian 20 twice the rest of the contest, but couldn't get into the end zone.
Juniata will host Dickinson, Saturday at 1:00.
