WILKES-BARRE, PA - The main focus for the Susquehanna University football team Saturday was to maintain their Landmark supremacy and their top-ten status with a satisfying win over second-place Wilkes Saturday on the Colonels' battlefield. They did so with a 48-21 win, but also got much more from a historical perspective as it counted towards the program's 500th all-time victory through 125 competitive seasons. The River Hawks dropped in the first 28 points of the game, while the defense set a new season best with three interceptions, as Susquehanna's season improves to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play with two regular-season games to go.

The legend of Rahshan La Mons' extraordinary rookie season continued to grow as he logged a rushing touchdown and yet another punt return touchdown to bring him to 15 total touchdowns on the season. But it was his role in the game's first TD that set him apart. Knocking on the door in Wilkes' redzone on their opening drive, quarterback Josh Ehrlich set La Mons in motion, who was set out wide. Ehrlich handed it off to him for what appeared to be a jet sweep to the right. What resulted was the first pass attempt of La Mons' collegiate career, as Ehrlich ran out left on a swing route and La Mons patiently delivered the ball to his quarterback for a 7-0 lead. The River Hawks' first drive of the second quarter yielded similar results, only this time La Mons took the handoff as given to run it in for a seven-yard score and a two-touchdown advantage for Susquehanna. It was then the defense's turn to make their first big play of the game to keep Wilkes off balance. After quarterback Xavier Powell found receiver Devin Higgins for a 20-yard connection and good field position, it turned out to be a primrose path as on the next play the Colonels' attempt at a trick play backfired. Running back Elijah Jules got a direct snap and ran to the right, only to throw it back to Powell who saw nothing but a wide open Jimmy Johnson running down the field. What he didn't see was safety Andrew Wells beating down on Johnson, as he caught up to the deep ball, batted it away, and formed a sensation tip drill with linebacker Drew Robinson for the senior's second interception of the season.

Susquehanna needed just one play to cash in on the change of fortune as Ehrlich connected with receiver Kyle Howes down the right sideline for a 72-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead. The bewildered Colonels tried to get something going on their ensuing possession to save face, but it stalled out at their own 43. Set to punt the ball away and knowing La Mons would be on the other end of it, Wilkes sent it high and short, landing at Susquehanna's 25 yard line. It appeared La Mons would let it lie, but it took a bounce in his direction and he decided to take off with it, fielding it from his own 18 and finding a crease up the middle for the game's fourth touchdown with 8:58 to play in the second quarter. Despite getting picked off by Dominic Winn on their ensuing drive, Wilkes finally got on the board before the end of the first half when Powell found Janas Simms for an eight-yard touchdown connection to make it 28-7 going into intermission. They had a chance to string together another score receiving the second-half kickoff, but it was three and out thanks to some more shrewd defense by SU.

The River Hawks got back on the board a few drives later when Ehrlich found a wide-open Chris Bookter down the left side on a hitch route to set up a 38-yard passing touchdown and opening up a 34-7 lead. They added to their lead once more when the familiar passing combination of Ehrlich and Howes met again as the quarterback threw a 16-yard back-shoulder grab to the decorated wideout to make the score 41-7 through three quarters. Though the Colonels were able to find the endzone twice in the fourth quarter to narrow the lead to 41-21, they also threw the ball away twice to the River Hawks defense. After Susquehanna tailback Drew Hutchins generated his second touchdown of the season on a 36-yard run to bump the lead back up to 27 at 48-21, Powell's second pass on the team's next drive was intercepted by Nick Campbell.

Susquehanna finished the day with 555 yards of total offense, clocking in 33 minutes and 20 seconds of possession time over 72 plays. Ehrlich's day ended just after the third quarter, completing 16-of-23 passes for 322 touchdown and three TDs, along with the first touchdown reception of his career. La Mons netted 98 yards rushing on 23 carries, while Hutchins was the team's next highest ground gainer with 69 yards on four touches. Howes caught five passes for 122 yards and two touchdown receptions, moving him solely into second place all-time with 30 career touchdown catches. He also upped his career receptions total to 172 for third all-time, along with his receiving yards total to 2,465, also third best all-time. La Mons' now has 15 total touchdowns this season between rushing, receiving, and returning, while Howes has 13 total scores. 

Apart from the three interceptions on Powell the defense got one sack on the day courtesy of Steven Seibert. Robinson added to his day with a team-high five total tackles, including two solo and half a tackle for loss. Defensive back Steven Williams III and linebacker Garrett Carter each had four total tackles, with Carter registering two of his tackles for loss. Wilkes' offense was limited to 379 total yards split between 248 yards passing and 131 on the ground. Powell took every snap for the Colonels' offense, completing 15 out of 43 pass attempts with two touchdown and three picks. On special teams kicker/punter Christian Colasurdo made 4-of-5 extra points and punted four times for 147 yards, an average of 36.8 yards per punt. Fellow kicker Dominic Bourgeois kicked off seven times for 480 yards, recording four touchbacks for an average of 61.4 yards, while making 2-of-2 extra point tries. 

With two more games to go in the regular season Susquehanna is set to take on the last remaining unbeaten team in Landmark action at home against Moravian Saturday, Nov. 2 as part of Senior Day. A victory over the Greyhounds can all but pave the River Hawks' path to another conference title with two more weeks of season to play. Susquehanna has a bye week the weekend of Nov. 9 before heading to Lycoming for its regular season finale Saturday, Nov. 16.