SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Juniata football team dropped four touchdowns to Susquehanna in the first quarter and three touchdowns in the second en route to a 66-15 defeat to #13 Susquehanna University in the 62nd edition of the Goal Post Trophy game.
The Eagles started with possession of the ball on their 28 but could not convert the first down. The River Hawks started from their 30 and earned two consecutive first downs to get into JC territory. They converted a nine-yard pass from third down and three and soon converted their first touchdown on a 22-yard pass to open the scoring.
The Eagles began the next drive from their 15 and could gain no yards, going three and out for the second consecutive time. The River Hawks were faced with third and 13 to open their next drive, converting with a 25-yard pass to get into the Juniata half. From there, a three-yard rush, a 12-yard rush, a 13-yard pass, and a seven-yard rush doubled their advantage.
The Eagles again started deep in their territory, and Noah Wright's second and 12-pass was intercepted by Susquehanna, with the River Hawks starting on the JC six. The Eagles forced a third and 8, but a pass interference call put Susquehanna on their two, and they rushed for another touchdown on the following play.
Juniata again struggled to advance and was unable to convert a first down. This was compounded by a fumbled punt, putting Susquehanna at the seven. Susquehanna found the end zone on the third down with a seven-yard pass for a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Thomas O'Chuida III took over duties at quarterback on the next drive and executed a 58-yard pass to Hunter Wolfley on third and 18 to get to the Susquehanna 15. They could not advance beyond that point on the drive, and the call to go for first down on fourth and 14 resulted in an incomplete pass for a turnover.
Susquehanna swiftly moved on the next drive with a 43-yard pass to get to the JC 38. The decision to go for a first down on fourth and three led to their fifth touchdown. Juniata gained no yards on the next drive and punted on fourth and seven. Susquehanna used three consecutive passes of more than 13 yards to grab another touchdown.
Juniata found themselves at their own one to start the next drive and progressed to the 22-yard line before having to punt. On three consecutive plays, Susquehanna rushed for ten-plus yards to swiftly get to first and goal. On the next play, they found the end zone on an eight-yard pass for a 49-0 advantage at halftime, as neither team could convert on their final drives of the second quarter.
Juniata would find positives to take from the day as the Eagles outscored the River Hawks 15-10 in the third quarter. The River Hawks started the second half with possession and efficiently found the endzone on three plays off a seven-yard rush, a 26-yard rush, and a 12-yard rush.
The Eagles took control from their 13 and began a 15-play trek to find their first touchdown of the day. The drive featured a key pass from O'Chuida on third and 8 for a 14-yard Sean Hakanson reception and consecutive 11-yard receptions from Julian Jackson and Dylan Sweger. O'Chuida found Sweger from one yard out to open the scoring. Quintin Stephens served as quarterback on the extra point and crossed the plane for two points.
The River Hawks were forced into a 32-yard field on their next play as they drew a 59-8 lead.
Stephens and O'Chuida alternated duties as quarterback on the next drive as a pair of 30-yard plus passes gave the Eagles their second touchdown, with O'Chuida finding Stephens on the deciding play.
Susquehanna rounded out scoring in the game with one more touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 66-15 final score.
O'Chuida had a career day posting 228 passing yards and 16 completed passes on 33 attempts with the first two touchdowns of his career in his final appearance for the Eagles.
Hunter Wolfley totaled 100 receiving yards over three carries, Stephens had 82 receiving yards on four carries and a receiving touchdown, while Dylan Sweger posted 43 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.
Michael Grapin had nine total tackles on defense, with seven tackles each from Dontey Rogan and JR Harrison. Stephens totaled two pass breakups, and Aaron Rothermel had one interception in the fourth quarter.
The Juniata Eagles finish the 2022 season with a 0-10 record with a 0-9 record in their final season in Centennial Conference play as the Eagles join the inaugural season of Landmark Conference football in 2023 with Juniata joining Catholic, Lycoming, Moravian, Susquehanna, and Wilkes in search of the inaugural conference championship and five non-conference opponents to be determined on the 2023 schedule.