Eagles Score 28 Points in Second Half To Earn Football's First Win of the Year
HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata football team outscored visiting Hartwick College 28-7 in the second half to come back and win, 31-21, Saturday afternoon at Knox Stadium.
The Hawks used a 49-yard rush on their first drive to get into the red zone and eventually scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Juniata used a good kickoff return by Joey Menke to start at their 45, and drove 43 yards before the drive stalled out. Wyatt Buell ensured JC got something out of the drive, as he booted a 29-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
The Hawks, starting from their own 24, used another big run before scoring on a 16-yard touchdown to push their lead to 11, 14-3.
The teams each held each other to zero points in the second, the only quarter to feature no points as the Eagles trailed 14-3 at halftime.
On the third play from scrimmage of the second half, Max Locke knocked the ball loose, and Sam Gunning fell on it for the Eagles as they took over in Hawk territory.
On the first play, Calvin German dropped back and found a wide-open Makih Hunt streaking into the endzone for six to bring Juniata within four.
The defenses traded stops, with a sack by Locke and Aaron Rothermel helping create a third and 14 that would see the Hawks punt. JC would start their next drive at their own 27.
Menke took his second carry of the drive, cut past a Hartwick defender in the secondary, and stiff-armed another who tried to keep up but ultimately could bring him down as he went 69 yards to the endzone to give Juniata their first lead of the day.
A big kick return and a 20-yard completion helped get the Hawks into the red zone, but the Eagle defense forced a turnover. On third and 10, the Hartwick QB rolled right and fired a pass while his wide receiver fell over, so Dawson Booher plucked the ball out of the air and ran it back to the JC 24.
Juniata couldn't gain any traction and so they punted, and Hartwick countered by going 67 yards on three plays as they retook the lead on a 35-yard touchdown, 21-17, with just over a minute to go in the third.
German found Quinton Stephens for a 17-yard gain, but eventually Juniata punted again, with Hartwick starting the fourth with the ball at their own 24. On first and 10, Dontey Rogan exploded into the backfield and forced a fumble that Michael Grapin scooped up and returned to the Hawk four-yard line. Hunter Wolfley carried the ball in from four yards out to give Juniata the lead again.
On third and 11 on the next Hartwick drive, Booher continued his huge day as he intercepted his second pass of the day as he snagged an overthrown pass before returning it to the Hartwick five-yard line.
On second and goal, German dropped back and tossed the ball to his left to Christian Gatlos for a TD that put the Eagles up by 10.
The Eagle defense shut down the Hawks the rest of the way, as they maintained the 10-point margin.
German was 14-23 for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while Menke ran for 106 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. Wolfley tallied 72 yards on ten carries and a touchdown, along with three catches for 44 yards.
Rothermel totaled ten tackles, including two sacks and 3.5 TFLs, while Booher had five tackles, .5 TFL's, and two interceptions. Locke had six tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The win is the first for head coach Blake Treadwell and the first for the team since October of 2021 against Moravian.
The Eagles are on the road next week, where they will take on Shenandoah at 7:00.