WESTERN NEW ENGLAND - After three straight weeks at home to open the season, the Susquehanna University football team takes their first steps off campus this regular season for a Week 4 matchup at Western New England. The Saturday affair kicks off at 1 p.m. The River Hawks bring with them a number nine ranking by D3football.com and a ten spot from the AFCA in both circuits' national rankings, moving up from number 11 the last two weeks and number 12 to start the season. The River Hawks and Golden Bears both come into the contest at 2-1, with this match serving as SU's last non-conference test of the season. 

While Susquehanna's much-anticipated matchup with defending national champions and #2 SUNY Cortland last Saturday ended SU's 23-game regular season win streak with a 40-38 defeat, it did little to wear off the team's shine. As a matter of fact it moved them up in the polls after a few top-ten teams lost over the weekend, including number-three Wisconsin-Whitewater falling to Mary Hardin-Baylor 35-17 to drop below Susquehanna. Both SU and Cortland were at their combative bests for the Top-25 showdown, with the Red Dragons utilizing the ground game for five rushing touchdowns and one kickoff return for a TD. SU quarterback Josh Ehrlich threw for a career-best four touchdown passes to three different targets, including Kyle Howes who eclipsed 2,000 career receiving yards after catching six passes for 135 yards, with his 12-yard touchdown catch opening the scoring early in the first quarter. Kicker/punter Christian Colasurdo was awarded the Landmark Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking 5-for-5 on extra point tries and one 36 yard field goal, while punting four times for 146 yards (36.5 average) with a long of 41 yards and one inside the 20. 

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SUSQUEHANNA TAKES MANY WINS DESPITE 40-38 LOSS TO #2 CORTLAND
While many Susquehanna hopefuls were eyeing a win over SUNY Cortland for the second straight year, it was last year's Division III National Champions who exacted revenge on the River Hawks Saturday by a 40-38 score after Susquehanna dealt them their lone loss on their way to the 2023 natty and a 14-1 record. Despite the defeat, pundits continue to view the River Hawks in a positive light, even yielding a move up the national rankings at ninth on D3football.com and tenth in the AFCA. 

SU's hopefuls did have reason to celebrate as the maroon and orange got off to an early 14-0 lead on its opening two drives, put together by Josh Ehrlich finding Kyle Howes for a 12-yard touchdown strike, then on the next possession first-year back Rahshan La Mons breaking into the open for a 61-yard touchdown. Cortland got the spark it needed on the ensuing kickoff as Jaden AlfanoStJohn ran back the return 100 yards to cut the deficit to 14-7. The River Hawks made it 3-for-3 on their drive charts with touchdowns thanks to Ehrlich finding Chris Bookter for a nine-yard touchdown pass, followed by kicker Christian Colasurdo making a 36-yard field goal for Susquehanna's largest lead of the game at 24-7.

Cortland, however, worked its way back into the game by halftime with a pair of rushing touchdowns from QB Zac Boyes to cut the deficit to 24-20. They continued to perfect the running game as running back Ethan Gallo represented all three of the Red Dragons' touchdowns in the second half, with his second coming early in the fourth quarter to give the visitors a 33-31 lead. Cortland was on the doorstep of victory as late in the fourth quarter Gallo ran the ball inside Susquehanna's redzone, only for Drew Robinson to jar the ball loose and Le'trey Bond recovered it in the endzone for the first turnover of the day and a game-winning drive opportunity for Susquehanna. It was short-lived, however, as on SU's first play Ehrlich was strip sacked and recovered by the Red Dragons, who refused to spoil this opportunity with Gallo running it in to take a 40-31 lead. Susquehanna put together one last-ditch effort with Ehlrich finding Morgenroth in the endzone from 14 yards out with 31 seconds remaining, but the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds to give Cortland kneel-down time. 

Ehrlich threw for four touchdowns, while passing for 314 yards on 19 completions off 33 attempts. Howes led in receiving with 135 yards on six catches with one touchdown and a game-best 45-yard reception. La Mons broke 100 yards rushing with 122 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. These efforts helped Susquehanna lead in total offense with 450 yards to Cortland's 439, including leading through the air 314-182. The Red Dragons led on the ground 257-136, led by Gallo's 165 yards with three touchdowns and quarterback Boyes taking off for 110 yards on 18 carries, while throwing for 182 yards on a 13-of-21 afternoon.