Edwardsville, Pa.- The Juniata football team opened Landmark Conference play with a 63-14 loss on the road to Wilkes University Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
The Colonels received the ball and started from their own 34 to open the game. A 26-yard pass and a 27-yard run got the hosts into the red zone. Three plays later, they ran it in from two yards out to take an early 7-0 lead.
Noah Wright completed his first pass of the day for 17 yards to Austin Nash, but the Eagles ultimately had to punt.
Wilkes doubled their lead with a 75-yard touchdown pass as they led 14-0 after one.
Colonel had a high-scoring second quarter that saw them tally 21 points, scoring once on the ground and twice through the air. Their final touchdown of the half was a 70-yard touchdown pass on third and two.
Quinton Stephens took the opening second-half kickoff back 21 yards, so JC started at their own 31.
The Eagles used a roughing the passer penalty and a 24-yard completion to Dillon Wakefield to get to the Wilkes 20. Completions to Stephens and Christian Gatlos got the Eagles to the three, and Hunter Wolfley broke through to get Juniata on the board with a touchdown.
The hosts scored twice on the ground, with the second coming with 13 minutes to go in the contest, and made it 49-7 on the scoreboard.
On their next offensive play from scrimmage, Wright lofted a ball high down the left sideline to Sean Hakanson. He hauled the ball in right over the head of his defender, raced down the sideline, and got tripped up as he crossed the plane for the Eagle's final touchdown of the game.
The Colonels scored two more times to complete the scoring.
Wright went 16-21 with 226 yards and a touchdown, while Hakanson had two catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Walker Bredickas had seven total tackles, while Aaron Rothermel had seven, including a half sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Michael Grapin added seven tackles as well, with a half tackle for loss.
Juniata is on a bye next week and will host #12 Susquehanna University on October 14th at 1:00.
