HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata football team lost at home to visiting #12 Susquehanna University, 56-0, on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Knox Stadium.
This was the 63rd edition of the Goalpost Trophy game and the 84th matchup of the teams overall.
The Eagles punted on the opening possession of the game, and Susquehanna took over at their own forty. They drove 60 yards on eight plays and capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass.
After another JC punt, SU returned the punt 23 yards to start their next drive in the red zone. Talbot Reed-Jaquay broke through the line on second and two for a sack, but two plays later, they ran it in to make it 14-0.
Noah Wright opened the next drive with a pass to Dillon Wakefield for a 20-yard completion out to the Eagle 38. The drive stalled from there, and Wyatt Buell punted it down to the SU 20.
The River Hawks only needed a single play as their QB hit their wide receiver streaking down the field, and he ran it in for an 80-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 after one.
SU scored once on a 31-yard rushing touchdown early in the second as the only points of the second quarter.
The Juniata defense started the third quarter off with a bang as Ethan Shank intercepted a pass in the endzone to halt the River Hawk opening drive.
Wright found Sean Hakanson for a nine-yard completion across the middle on third and five to keep the drive alive a bit longer, but three downs later, Buell was called upon again. He booted another well-placed ball to the River Hawk 16.
The River Hawks went 84 yards in nine plays, capping the drive with a bruising 25-yard rushing touchdown to make it 35-0.
On the next Eagle drive, an SU defender stepped in front of a pass and returned it 25 yards for a TD.
The visitors added 14 points in the final quarter to complete the scoring.
Dontey Rogan led the team in tackles with 13 total, while Shank had six to go with his interception. Ian Brunner and Reed Jaquay each had a sack.
The Eagles will host the Moravian Greyhounds on Saturday at noon on Homecoming.
