Boxscore

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Susquehanna University's sophomore quarterback Rich Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) completed 13 of 22 passes for a game- and career-high 193 yards and three touchdowns, and visiting Susquehanna dominated Juniata College, 43-13, in a non-conference football game at Knox Stadium on Sept. 12.

SU (2-0 overall) retains possession of the "Goal Post" trophy with this rivalry win over Juniata (0-2 overall) in the 50th all-time "Goal Post Game." The trophy is an actual piece of goal post taken from Susquehanna's old University Field by Juniata fans following their team's upset of the Crusaders in 1952. SU is now 26-23-1 all-time in Goal Post games.

The score was closer than the game truly was, as the Crusaders scored the first 22 points and led, 43-3, heading into the fourth quarter before the Eagles scored twice while backups and reserves saw more playing time.

Palazzi hit senior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) for a 6-0 lead on the first drive of the game, followed by an extra point from junior punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley).

Palazzi was accurate from a variety of distances and threw no interceptions. He hooked up with Moran for a TD twice before the first half ended. Moran finished with three receptions for 32 yards, including the two scores.

SU's senior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) caught a game-high five passes for a game-high 98 yards. Teammate and sophomore split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) added three catches for 49 yards, and sophomore running back Josh Gordon (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS) had two catches for 14 yards, including an 11-yard TD.

Gordon also carried the ball 11 times for 66 yards, though teammate and senior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) was the game's rushing leader. Paveletz ran 26 times for 143 yards and two TD. Sophomore running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) added nine carries for 34 yards, including a one-yard TD.

Juniata's senior quarterback Alex Snyder (Boalsburg, Pa./State College Area) completed nine of 18 passes for 145 yards. Snyder threw no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Junior running back Derek Kramer (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) rushed 11 times for the Eagles for a team-high 51 yards and his squad's lone TD.

Juniata's sophomore wide receiver Lance Curry (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) caught a team-high three passes (for 21 yards). Junior tight end Ronnie Shrift (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) led the Eagles with 66 receiving yards (on one catch).

The Susquehanna defense has allowed just 13 points this year thanks to this game and a 24-0 shutout of Moravian College in the season opener on Sept. 5. The Crusaders have outscored their 2009 opponents, 67-13.

Senior defensive end Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) led Susquehanna in this game with six tackles--including a team-high five solo stops, a game-high 3.5 tackles for a loss and a game-high 2.5 sacks. Johnsen now has a team-high 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss this year.

SU's sophomore defensive end Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll), senior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) and freshman defensive back Jalon Scott (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS) all had four tackles. All of Scott's were solo, while Terpening and McDonough both had three solo stops. McDonough also racked up 2.5 tackles for a loss, and Terpening had 1.5 for a loss, including a sack in the end zone for a safety.

Sophomore defensive back Jesse Eggerton (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) made three tackles for the Crusaders (two solo) and broke up a pass. Tellish recovered a fumble on special teams. Sophomore defensive lineman Ken Philips (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) shared a sack with Johnsen.

The Eagles' senior defensive back Brandon Spayd (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) made a game-high 10 tackles (five solo). Senior linebacker Tyler Hall (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) was right behind with nine stops, including a game-high seven solo tackles.

After Moran and Eppleman made the score 7-0 on the opening drive, Eppleman booted the ensuing kickoff down to the Eagles five-yard line. The Juniata returner caught the ball but immediately stepped out of bounds. That mistake proved costly, as two plays later, Terpening wrapped up Snyder in the end zone for the safety. Snyder got rid of the ball before he hit the ground but was flagged for intentional grounding.

SU received the free kick but was forced to punt on that possession. However, another Eagles return gaffe resulted in more Crusaders points.

This time, the Juniata returner muffed the punt return, and Tellish pounced on the loose ball. Two plays later, Palazzi hit Gordon for an 11-yard TD on a swing play. Eppleman's extra-point attempt glanced wide off the left upright, but the score was still 15-0 with 5 minutes, 17 seconds yet to play in the first quarter.

Neither team scored again until Susquehanna put together a game-changing 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with Tellish's one-yard TD run and Eppleman PAT with 7:44 left in the first half.

Juniata answered on its next possession. Shrift caught a pass and scampered 66 yards before senior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) ran him down from behind to save a TD. The Eagles eventually settled for a 32-yard field goal from freshman placekicker Scott Andrews (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona).

The Crusaders responded on their next possession as well when Palazzi hit Moran for a five-yard TD that ended a 10-play, 57-yard drive. Eppleman converted the PAT to make the score 29-3 at halftime.

SU made the most of its first possession of the second half too. Paveletz capped a nine-play, 69-yard drive with a one-yard TD plunge. Eppleman then hit the PAT for a 36-3 lead that effectively put the game away.

Paveletz scored again with 4:23 to play in the third. He ran into the end zone from five yards out, and Eppleman hit another PAT to make it 43-3 and finish the Crusaders scoring spree.

Juniata scored twice in the fourth quarter after both teams began to empty their benches.

Susquehanna held an impressive 439-241 advantage in total yards, a 24-13 advantage in first downs and a 34:02-25:58 nod in time of possession.

Paveletz has now run for 40 career TD, which is second-best in Susquehanna history. Matt Wichlinski '00 ran for 45 TD from 2001-04.

Next Game: Saturday, Sept. 19, vs. Lycoming (Stagg Hat Game - non-conference), 1 p.m.