LA PLUME, PA- Juniata's football team picked up a huge road win at Keystone College, 43-38, in a game that came down to the final seconds.
In a match where each of the last three full drives yielded points, the first three all resulted in punts. Great team defense was played though, as the Eagles forced two of those punts early to get their offense the ball. On the Eagles' second offensive drive, Hunter Wolfley broke through with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 5-play, 40-yard drive where the Eagles converted a two-point conversion attempt to claim an 8-0 lead early. Within the next few plays, Logan Williams recovered a fumble by the Keystone offense and returned it 36 yards to add seven more points to the Eagle lead. On the next drive, Keystone responded well with three straight rushing plays that eventually put them into the endzone after starting the drive with good field position. After an interception on Juniata's next drive where they got to the Keystone 11 yard line, the Giants of Keystone had the ball again. This time the Giants connected on a deep pass to bring the game within one point at the end of the first quarter, 15-14.
In the second quarter, Keystone was still riding high and they scored touchdowns on their first three possessions. The Eagles were driving again late in the half, but the Keystone defense made another interception on the 17 yard line. At this point, the Giants had scored 35 unanswered points and led 35-15 heading into the halftime break.
But this would not be the end of the Eagles. Keystone began the second half with a failed fourth down try, giving the Eagles the ball on their own 34 yard line for what would become a seven play, 66 yard drive resulting in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Calvin German to Sean Hakanson. The Eagles were back in it down 35-22. After another big stand from the Eagles defense on a fourth down try by the Giants, the Juniata got the ball back with 4:47 left in the third quarter. That drive came to a 4th & 10 on the Keystone 18 yard line, where the Eagles took a timeout to make their decision. They would go for it, and the risk paid off as German connected with Quintin Stephens in the endzone to make it a one score game at 35-28 heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
The fourth quarter started with a long Juniata drive where they reached Keystone's four yard line, but they were unable to score as the Giants defense forced an incompletion on 4th & 1. Juniata then turned Keystone's momentum right around on defense, forcing a quick three and out to give German the ball again. With good field position, the Eagles drove down to the redzone after converting a key 4th down play. After reaching the one yard line, German and the Eagles offense pushed through to make it 35-34. They decided to go for two instead of taking the extra point, and again this risk paid off as Carter Marr caught German's pass on the two-point try to give the Eagles a 36-35 lead with six minutes to play. Keystone was driving on the following possession, but the defense did well to force them to a field goal attempt, which they would convert to regain the lead, 38-36.
The Eagles got the ball back with 1:55 left on the clock, down by two. After two incompletions, the Eagles gained six yards on the ground to give them a manageable fourth down situation. German then rattled off three straight completions for a collective 46 yards, bringing them to the Keystone 27 yard line with 36 seconds remaining after a Giants timeout. Juniata took a timeout after an eight-yard completion on the following play, facing a 2nd & 2 at the Keystone 19. German then threw a 19-yard strike to Hakanson for the touchdown, securing a 43-38 lead with little to no time left on the clock. In Keystone's final play, they threw a deep pass which was intercepted by Ethan Shank to ice the game and complete a remarkable comeback victory.
German threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Two of those touchdowns were caught by Hakanson, who also led in receiving with 135 yards on 10 catches. Stephens also totaled 99 yards on 10 receptions, while Wolfley gained 91 yards on the ground in addition to his early touchdown. Dillon Wakefield led on defense with 12 total tackles on the day.
The Eagles will look to carry the momentum from the win into their final match of the season next Saturday when they host Catholic University at 1:00 p.m. on senior day.
