SELINSGROVE, PA - It took maybe the second touchdown on Saturday to show where the eighth-ranked Susquehanna University football team was going to orchestrate another high-scoring frenzy to defeat Juniata 66-21 on Homecoming Weekend. After a 27-yard hookup between quarterback Josh Ehrlich and receiver Kyle Howes opened the scoring, rookie running back Rahshan La Mons helped erase any edge the Eagles might have had after backing the River Hawks up on their own four to start their next drive. Taking a shotgun handoff off tackle to the left, he broke away from two tacklers at the line of scrimmage and broke it out into the open for a 96-yard touchdown run, the longest play from scrimmage in school history. Then in the third quarter fellow tailback Matt Surtz popped off a 95-yard touchdown run for the second-longest scoring play in team annals.

These two coast-to-coast efforts helped land Susquehanna at 394 yards rushing for the day with six touchdowns on the ground. La Mons added another touchdown to his day with a 64-yard score in the second quarter as he finished with 185 yards on six carries, a whopping average of 30.8. Surtz, meanwhile, carried the ball a team-high eight times for 135 yards. Joining in on the rushing touchdown category was fellow back D.K. Wyche, who scored a touchdown for the second straight game while taking four carries for 24 yards, while Ehrlich ran in two scores of his own after taking off three times for 46 yards. Before he turned in for the day the quarterback completed 7-of-8 passes for 123 yards and two touchdown passes. He connected both times with Howes as the latter occurred late in the second quarter to make the score 49-14 going into halftime. Howes caught a team-best seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdown receptions, along with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown early in the second quarter for the fourth of his career.

Susquehanna had reached its 394 yards rushing by the end of the third quarter, putting them within striking distance of the school record of 455 rushing yards set against Lebanon Valley in 1998. While they eased off the gas pedal entering the fourth, they were able to manage ten points to close things out thanks to Wyche's two-yard touchdown run and a field goal by Dominic Bourgeois, with the usual kickoff specialist now 2-for-2 on the season on field goals. All three of Juniata's touchdowns came through the air from quarterback Calvin German, who took every snap and completed 34-of-45 for 371 yards, along with hooking up with receiver Sean Hakanson as he caught seven for 145 yards. SU went three quarterbacks deep on Saturday, with senior QB Bobby Croyle connecting on all nine of his passing attempts for 96 yards, while Tommy Wright completed three passes for 28 yards as all three totaled 247 yards and 19-of-25 passing. In all the offense combined for 641 yards, marking the third time this season the River Hawks had netted over 600 yards of total offense and second-highest this year. 

The defense stood tall, getting to German for three sacks and two turnovers, an interception and fumble apiece. Lineman Brian Layton delivered a strip sack on German, which was scooped up by Luke Hughes, who also had one sack on German. Linebacker Brayden Nolan had the interception, picking off German in the fourth quarter that set up Bourgeois' field goal. Tim Pherson Jr. and Jesse Ruisch joined forces for half a sack each as Ruisch led all tacklers with ten, including seven solo with 1.5 for loss. Senior linebacker Garrett Carter registered eight total tackles with five solo, while Josh Parson had five total tackles with three solo and one for loss. Hughes had five total tackles and two solo, along with one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry. 

History continues to follow Susquehanna as the program now stands at 499 all-time wins and one away from the all-time mark of 500 in its 125th season. Head coach Tom Perkovich remains undefeated in Goal Post Trophy games, with Susquehanna winning its last nine matchups dating back to 2015. On the career record board Howes has 167 receptions for 2,343 yards, both third all-time, and is now tied with Mike Ritter for second-most career touchdown receptions with 28. His kickoff return for touchdown single handedly put him over the 1,000 yard mark in that category with 1,053 for fourth all-time. Ehrlich, who in just two short years has found his way on the passing record board, now at 3,208 yards for ninth all-time and seventh with 33 touchdown passes.

The River Hawks, now 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Landmark, are set to have their most challenging conference matchup yet in next week's road matchup at Wilkes Saturday, Oct. 26 at 12 p.m., who also boast a 3-0 Landmark record and are 5-2 overall. Only Susquehanna, the Colonels, and Moravian remain unbeaten in Landmark action, with the Greyhounds standing at 2-0 (4-2 overall) with this weekend serving as their bye week. Susquehanna and Moravian will square off in Selinsgrove on Saturday, Nov. 2 as part of River Hawks Senior Day.