BETHLEHEM, PA – The unexpected balmy late October weather awaiting #11/12 Susquehanna Football at Moravian Saturday was just one instance of things the River Hawks needed to adjust to. After three straight lopsided Landmark Conference victories entering Saturday, SU was challenged by the upset-hungry Greyhounds in a matchup of the two remaining teams unbeaten in Landmark play this season. With Susquehanna holding Moravian just enough to go into halftime up by two scores, the River Hawks doubled down in the second half with plenty of ground game and defense towards a 33-14 victory.

The first few possessions lived up to this billing. With Susquehanna receiving the opening kickoff, quarterback Josh Ehrlich's pass on third down was broken up by Isaiah Johnson that went airborne and picked off by Aidan Lane to set Moravian up at SU's 45. Susquehanna's "Wild Dogs" defense was up to the task immediately, countering Moravian's charge with linebacker Steven Seibert, making his first career start, sacking quarterback Jared Jenkins on the opening play of the drive. Two plays later, Jenkins' deep pass down the left sideline was brought in by defensive back Andrew Wells to return the ball back to the River Hawks.

Susquehanna returned to the running formula that they have excelled in towards 96 yards for their first score. Once again it was the ball-carrying prowess of Tommy Grabowski that powered his way downfield, along with several running and passing touches of quarterback Josh Ehrlich. Grabowski finished off the nine-minute drive with a one-yard score for a 6-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first. Moravian's rebuttal was upended with a failed fourth-down conversion, giving SU the ball back at their own 34. Their next drive saw the reemergence of first-year back Matt Surtz. After two great performances in SU's first two games of the season and getting a fair share of carries in the Keystone and Juniata games, Surtz saw his case load spike up for Moravian, beginning with a 29-yard run on the opening play of the drive. He got called on four more times on the drive, culminating in a one-yard rush to cross the goal line towards a 13-0 lead halfway through the second.

The Greyhounds would not be denied as they tried to get on the board before the half came to a close. On SU's 24, Jenkins fired a strike to Jordan Bingham to set Moravian up at the River Hawks' one yard line with just over one minute to play. The defense came alive for a dramatic goal line stand, penetrating the line and sending running back Nate Boyle back three yards for second and goal at the four. Boyle regained the yardage on third down to set up fourth and goal at the one. Jenkins went for the quarterback sneak, but was swallowed up by Jake Schultes and company short of the goal line to end the first half scoreless.

Moravian would not go away, however, starting the second half receiving the ball. The Greyhounds wasted no time with a swift five-play, 75-yard drive that hit paydirt with the 27-yard touchdown strike from Jenkins to Bingham down the right sideline. A two-point conversion attempt followed to make it a one-possession game at 13-8. Susquehanna answered immediately with a five-play drive of their own, ignited by a 34-yard pass from Ehrlich to Howes, then capped off with a two-yard run from Grabowski to make it 20-8. Some nine minutes later the River Hawks added another goal-line push to the scoring when Ehrlich took it in himself from one yard out to make it 26-8 after three.

The Greyhounds didn't go down without a fight, as Jenkins found Brad Bryan for a 16-yard touchdown down the right side, trailing 26-14 after a failed two-point conversion halfway through the fourth. Moravian attempted an onside kick, which Susquehanna pounced on to maintain control. This was further cemented on perhaps the grittiest play of the day when Tommy Grabowski ran straight up the gut and trucked a defender on his way to a 12-yard touchdown run for the last points of the day.

Grabowski finished three yards shy of what would have been his seventh straight 100-yard game, but his two touchdowns added to his grand total of 12 rushing TD's that leads the Landmark. Ehrlich's two rushing touchdowns and 74 yards on 13 carries was supplemented by throwing for 12-of-17 for 125 yards. Surtz took ten carries for 70 yards with one touchdown. Howes was again SU's most frequent target, catching six passes for 67 yards, while Eddie Nugent caught two passes for 22 yards.

While Susquehanna outgained Moravian on the ground 241 yards to 113, the Greyhounds won the battle through the air 241 to 125. Both sides were efficient in their third-down conversions as Susquehanna converted 8-of-12 and Moravian 9-of-15. The River Hawks led in time of possession with a 31:36 time, including a first quarter where they possessed the ball for 10:09. While the Greyhounds displayed plenty of promise on offense to keep the game close, they were unable to stump the "Wild Dogs" defense, who collected five sacks and turned Moravian away on all three fourth-down conversions and just one red zone score on two trips down.

Josh Buck had one sack to go with eight total tackles, including three solo and one for loss. Drew Robinson garnered one sack as he had five total tackles with three solo and one for loss. Jake Shultes had a sack and five tackles with three solo and 1.5 for loss. Tim Pherson Jr. was next on the sack list, totaling four tackles with two solo and two for loss. Seibert, who filled in for an injured Garrett Carter, had a day with one sack and three tackles, including one for loss and one solo. Fellow linebacker Jesse Ruisch had eight total tackles with 1.5 for loss, while the defensive back Wells had seven solo tackles to go along with his one interception.

The win leaves Susquehanna as the only unbeaten team in Landmark Conference play at 5-0 and 9-0 overall entering the bye week. The only team standing in their way is Lycoming, their regular season finale opponent who defeated Juniata Saturday to improve to 3-1 in the conference and 3-5 overall. Both teams are set to face off on Saturday, Nov. 11 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Warriors will have their turn with Moravian next Saturday, Nov. 4. The River Hawks can clinch the Landmark Conference title as early as next week if the Greyhounds win.