NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Perhaps the greatest season in the history of Susquehanna University football came to an end on Saturday, falling 66-0 to North Central in a NCAA Division III Semifinal match-up at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals advance to their fifth straight NCAA championship game appearance, winning the national crown in 2019 and 2022.
North Central scored touchdowns on each of its first seven drives as 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner Luke Lehnen passed for 271 yards and scored five times; four through the air and once on the ground. In the process, he tied the all-time Division III record for career touchdown passes. Lehnen found Jacob Paradee open for a 50-yard score on the game's opening drive before hitting Myles Walton for a 4-yard score on the next possession. North Central back Joe Sacco entered his name onto the scoresheet with a 30-yard TD run on the Cardinals' third drive before Lehnen found Thomas Skokna for a 3-yard score on the next one. Lehnen ran for a 11-yard score on the Cardinals' last full drive of the half.
Meanwhile, the River Hawk offense was held to 27 yards on 27 offensive plays during the first half. North Central carried a 49-0 lead into the halftime break.
The Cardinals picked up right where they left off in the second half when Sean Allen trotted into the end zone for a 9-yard score on their first drive of the third quarter. Later in the frame, Jordan Williams would extend their with a 22-yard touchdown run. Andre Casas rounded out the scoring with a 38-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
Susquehanna's play did improve in the second half, tallying 108 yards of total offense in the second half, coming close to scoring position multiple times. One highlight of the day was a fumble recovery by junior
Jesse Ruisch early in the fourth quarter.
The River Hawks, under tenth-year head coach
Tom Perkovich, ends the 2024 season with 12 wins, the most in program history. SU's 125th season also marked the school's first NCAA playoff win and semifinal appearance since 1991, when the then-Crusaders lost to eventual champions Ithaca. In a campaign where the team faced the No. 1, 2 & 3 ranked teams and played four ranked opponents overall, Susquehanna won its second straight Landmark Conference title and third consecutive conference title overall.
Senior wideout
Kyle Howes moved to second on the program's record-board in single-season receptions, now with 76, and only two shy of Mark Bartosic's 78 catches in the 2003 season. He is also second in career receiving yards and receptions, both to Bartosic. Junior quarterback
Josh Ehrlich became the program's single-season leader in completions, beating out Nick Crusco's 2017 campaign with now 221 completions.
Brian Layton also recorded a sack for a 16-yard loss, bringing him to 6.5 sacks this season and 7.5 in his career.
