Eisenberg to Horm for ANOTHER Late Win gives the Eagles a 2-0 Start

HUNTINGDON, PA- Juniata football marked their first 2-0 start to a season since 2016 with a win over the Allegheny College Gators on Saturday, 40-38.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Eagles made their mark early in this game. The opening drive lasted for 15 plays and over six minutes, resulting in a nine-yard rushing touchdown from Isaiah Randall. 

The Gators responded promptly though, finding gaps in the Eagles rushing defense and taking one up the middle from ten yards out to tie the game at seven. 

After an Eagles punt, the Gators took their next drive into the second quarter, and into the endzone. A rush from ten yards out put the Eagles down 7-14. A punt from the Eagles put the defense back on the field, and they came up with a crucial stop after the Gators missed a field goal. This started the next drive at the Eagles own 15 yard-line, and they marched down the field. Alex Eaton gained 33 of the 80 yards gained on the drive through the air and on the ground, and Ivan Foreman gained 32 yards of his own, including a one-yard touchdown rush which knotted the game at 14. Less than a minute remained in the half now, and neither team were able to take a lead before heading into the locker room.

The third quarter did not begin in the Eagles favor, as it took the Gators less than three minutes to connect a deep 43-yard pass into the endzone. The Gators led 14-21. A quick fumble put the ball back into the Gators hands, and they capitalized on a six minute, 30 second drive to extend their lead, 14-28. Plenty of time remained for the Eagles though, and they wasted none of it with a sharp nine-play, 75-yard drive and touchdown in less than three minutes again. Foreman found his second of the day, this time on a two-yard rush. A failed point after attempt kept the game at 20-28. 

An early punt gave the Eagles the ball with a chance to tie the game to start the fourth quarter. A huge 4th & 10 conversion from Ethan Eisenberg to JJ Asante kept the drive alive, and just two plays later, Eisenberg found Asante again. This time it was in the endzone. A failed two-point try kept the Eagles behind though, 26-28. 

Allegheny converted a field goal attempt on the following drive, giving the Eagles another chance to take the lead on offense. Halfway through the drive, Foreman made a huge catch on 4th & 4, just reaching past the sticks for a first down. Later, on 3rd & 3, Foreman capped off the drive by scoring his third touchdown from five yards away and giving the Eagles a 34-31 lead.

The offense seemed to have done their job, but an 80-yard kickoff return took the Gators into the endzone, and the Eagles' offense was called back into duty with one minute and three seconds remaining. Eisenberg delivered bullet after bullet, completing 10, 16, 18, and 15-yard passes to bring the Eagles into the redzone. With 12 seconds left, the Gators took a timeout and talked things over. After an incompletion, seven seconds remained, and the Eagles only had a couple more chances to catch one in the endzone. Eisenberg stepped back, and delivered a strike into Jordan Horm's arms for a clutch touchdown. In the remaining seconds, the Eagles would see out the 40-38 lead and clinch their second straight win. 

Eisenberg's two passing touchdowns came on 169 yards passing, while Randall added 83 yards through the air and a rushing touchdown. Foreman scored three on the ground in 115 yards rushing, and Jendy Cuello tallied 64 rushing yards. Horm and Asante caught the touchdowns through the air, while Carter Marr led with 76 receiving yards. Ethan Shank and Caleb Hicks led the way on defense with seven total tackles each. Nick Johnson also forced one fumble.  

The Eagles will travel to face the McDaniel University Green Terror next Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and look to continue their strong play.