SELINSGROVE, PA - The two-time defending Landmark Conference champions and NCAA Division III Tournament bound Susquehanna University football team will host a national playoff game for the third straight year when they welcome Hobart College, the Liberty League champions, down from Geneva, N.Y. in the second-round game on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 12 p.m. Both the River Hawks and the Statesmen, each 9-1 overall, achieved a first-round bye, mainly in part to each side going undefeated in their respective conferences as Susquehanna (6-0 Landmark), finished the regular season defeating Lycoming 55-7, while Hobart (6-0 Liberty) beat University of Rochester 37-7. The River Hawks are ranked sixth in both the AFCA and D3football.com national polls, while the Statesmen received votes in both polls. Susquehanna also held the 17th spot in the recent NCAA Division III Power Index (NPI), while Hobart stood 23rd. 

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Selinsgrove once again serves as a host site for a NCAA Division III Football Championship matchup as head coach Tom Perkovich's team celebrates their third year in a row earning an automatic qualifier. Susquehanna enjoyed a 2022 championship berth, its first since 2009, after clinching the Centennial Conference title with a 10-0 record and hosting Utica in the first round. SU moved to the Landmark Conference for the league's inaugural football season in 2023, going 10-0 again and hosting Grove City. Both times, however, the River Hawks were dealt defeats. New to the tournament this year is the expansion of 40 teams from 32, which features eight first-round games the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 23. With a bye week in place, Susquehanna has time to rest and draw up a blueprint for Hobart. The two teams will reunite after once serving as conference foes during Susquehanna's time in the Liberty League from 2007 to 2009, winning the league title in the latter. In that time the Statesmen won two of the three matchups in 2007 and 2008 before Susquehanna had the last word in 2009 on its way to the league crown. 

The River Hawks entered the season ranked 12th in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25, never slipping, instead rising up halfway to the top. Outside of the Landmark the River Hawks opened with four noteworthy non-conference adversaries, including a Week 3 bout with SUNY Cortland in the team's lone defeat of the season as the defending national champions pulled out a 40-38 victory. Despite the defeat, it only boosted Susquehanna's stock as the River Hawks held a 17-point lead early in the game, while quarterback Josh Ehrlich had one of his finest performances of the season throwing four touchdowns, while completing 13-of-33 balls for 314 yards towards Landmark Offensive Athlete of the Week. Rounding out these non-conference contests included a 41-7 Week 1 Friday-night win over Bridgewater, a 27-21 victory in Week 2 over fellow Empire 8 power SUNY Brockport, then a 34-21 win at Western New England in Week 4. The only time Susquehanna trailed at halftime all season was in Week 9 against second-place Moravian. The Greyhounds' bid went as far as a 20-14 halftime advantage before Susquehanna turned it on with 35 second-half points, backed by a staggering 284 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns carried out by rookie back Rahshan La Mons' 171 yard with three scores and back Matt Surtz delivering 101 yards with a score.

Many familiar faces for the River Hawks during these last three championship seasons are back looking to add the final pieces to the championship puzzle. These faces include receiver and return man Kyle Howes, who flourished his senior season with 14 touchdown receptions and returning one kickoff for a touchdown against Juniata, earning Landmark Special Teamer of the Week. He's second all-time with 33 career touchdowns and third with 183 receptions, 2,660 receiving yards, and 4,186 all-purpose yards between run, receiving, and return yards. Fellow receiver Chris Bookter has offered balance to SU's receiving corps with seven touchdown receptions. On the defensive side upperclassmen Garrett Carter, Drew Robinson, Jake Schultes and Andrew Wells have led the charge for a unit that has combined for 33 sacks and 16 turnovers. Schultes leads the team with five sacks, along with one interception and one fumble recovery. The linebacker Carter leads with 69 tackles with nine for loss, along with two sacks. Robinson has been a formidable presence at linebacker, whether it be as a secondary presence with two interceptions and three pass breakups to his credit or up on the line to aid in 48 total tackles with three for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. At safety Wells registered 45 tackles with 1.5 for loss and five breakups.

The influx of talent over these last two seasons have aided in the sustained success of Susquehanna Football. One notable transplant was Ehrlich, a former transfer from Marist who became the starter in 2023 on his way to a breakout season. A dual threat, Ehrlich continued to serve this up for 2024, though his passing prowess greatly improved. He was named a three-time Landmark Offensive Athlete of the Week this season, throwing for 28 touchdown passes with only four interceptions, while completing 163-of-232 for 2,403 yards. Perhaps no one can encapsulate a better rookie campaign in NCAA Division III other than running back and return man La Mons. Initially set up in the backfield to offer quickness and as a receiving option, La Mons broke the mold with the 11th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history with 1,167 yards on 145 carries, an average of 8.0 yards per carry, for 14 rushing touchdowns. He broke off numerous runs of 80-plus yards for touchdowns, including a 96-yarder against Juniata that set the longest run from scrimmage in school history. He also added three touchdown receptions, including an 86-yard reception off a screen pass in the opener against Bridgewater in a hallmark career debut, along with three punt return touchdowns, including two against Keystone and the other at Wilkes.