Lancaster, Pa. – The Susquehanna University Football Team overcame a 14-point deficit with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and then won in five overtimes, defeating Franklin and Marshall College 30-28.
Once the game went into the third overtime, the new NCAA rule kicked, where each team has the ball placed at the two-yard line, and two-point conversions are attempted by each team until a winner is decided. After two standard college football overtimes, where each team begins with the ball at the 25-yard line, the game remained tied, sending the game into the new NCAA Overtime Regulations.
The River Hawks took a 7-0 lead into halftime as quarterback
Michael Ruisch (Fogelsville, PA/Parkland) took a rush 17 yards to the house. The Hawks' defense was having no trouble with the F&M offense early on, holding them to under 100 total yards in the first half.
However, the Diplomats found their stride with their second drive of the second half, as they were able to tie the game on a 72-yard drive. After F&M took the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, a bad River Hawk drive put the Diplomats at their 32-yard line, setting up a short drive for F&M to take a two-touchdown lead with over 10 minutes to go.
That's when the comeback began for Susquehanna. Starting with the ball at their 16-yard line,
Ruisch led them on an 84-yard drive to make it a one-possession game. The drive was highlighted by a spectacular 47-yard run from the senior quarterback, on a 3rd and 7. After a touchback, a huge defensive stand gave the River Hawk offense a chance to keep the momentum and tie the game with over six minutes to go.
While the offense couldn't take advantage of their first opportunity, another three and out by the Diplomat offense, gave Susquehanna a chance at the 47-yard line with 1:58 to go. On back to back plays,
Ruisch connected first with
Eddie Nugent (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) for 16 yards, and then threw a strike to
Samuel Darrell (Plainfield, NJ/Pope John XXIII) for a 31-yard touchdown, sending the River Hawk fans into a frenzy.
Elijah Hoffman (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia Area) then nailed the extra point, tying the game with 1:42 left on the clock.
After the defense once again stopped the Diplomat offense on third down,
Craig Lyttleton (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) blocked the F&M field goal attempt, sending the game into overtime. Four consecutive overtimes of each team matching each other finally led to a fifth overtime that broke the stalemate.
With the Diplomats finally failing to convert on a two-point conversion, the stage was set for a potential win.
Ruisch handed the ball off to his left to
Frankie Negrini (Riverdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes), who ran to the edge, dragging a defender with him and just reaching out to touch the pylon with a diving attempt into the end zone, giving the River Hawks the win.
Other Notes
- Defensively, Craig Roumes (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) and Cameron Noble (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) each had nine tackles, with Roumes recording half a sack.
- Brendan Krumenacker (Chester Springs, PA/Owen J. Roberts) recorded half a sack and added seven tackles, for SU defense. Dahmir Barefield (Clementon, NJ/Highland Regional) added a sack a half for the defense.
- David Gilchrist (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.) had an interception and also added a pass breakup.
- Ruisch threw for 261 yards and rushed for 84 yards as well in the win. He threw and rushed for a touchdown as well.
- Negrini rushed for a touchdown and recorded 40 yards on nine carries.
- Darrell and Kyle Good (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) each had 84 yards receiving, while Darrell caught the game-tying touchdown.
Up Next
- The Susquehanna Football team will head to Moravian next Saturday, September 18th, and play the Greyhounds at 1 p.m.
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