SELINSGROVE, PA - #12 Susquehanna University football began the 2024 season under the lights in Friday night action against Bridgewater. A series of big plays, perhaps no bigger than the three-touchdown career debut of first-year running back Rahshan La Mons, generated 617 yards of total offense and sent the River Hawks to a 41-7 handling of the Eagles. La Mons finished the night with 123 rushing yards on nine carries, while quarterback Josh Ehrlich passed for 279 yards, connecting on 20-of-32 with three touchdown passes while running for another, netting 108 yards on the ground on 14 tries. 

Receivers Chris Bookter and Kyle Howes each contributed one touchdown through the air, as Howes hauled in six passes for 68 yards and Bookter three catches for 52 yards. La Mons nearly had 100 yards receiving with 99 on three catches as his first big score of the day occured in the second quarter, catching a screen pass from Ehrlich and finding daylight down the left side for an 86-yard touchdown, the third-longest passing completion in school history. Susquehanna's 617 yards, split between 325 yards passing and 292 rushing, marked the fourth-highest yardage for Susquehanna ever. Friday night also marked SU's return to night football at home since 2021 when they played Gettysburg, which coincidentally also ended in a 41-7 victory for the River Hawks. 

Friday night's game also had some historical undertones as Susquehanna University welcomed six new members to the SU Football Ring of Honor in George Kirk (Class of 1917), John Vignone (Class of 1965), Jeff Goria (Class of 1971), Ken Vermillion (Class of 1971), Thomas Shoemaker (Class of 1987), and the 2009 Liberty League championship team. Upon conclusion of the game the current River Hawks added to the historic feats, earning the program's 494th all-time victory and adding to the school record with 22 consecutive regular-season wins. 

The scoring began late in the first quarter as Josh Ehrlich completed a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a five-yard run. On their next drive Susquehanna was backed up 3rd and 13 from their own 14. Ehrlich was set up solo in the shotgun with a five-receiver spread. He swung it out to La Mons in a bubble screen, finding a crease thanks to heads-up downfield blocking from Bookter and linemen Nick Gonzalez and Eli Kantor that sprung him loose for an 86-yard touchdown reception for his first career TD. Bridgewater's only rebuttle of the evening came on the ensuing kickoff as Brendan Robinson ran it back 96 yards to cut SU's lead to 14-7. It did little to phase the River Hawks, as well as La Mons who again struck pay dirt halfway through the second on a 22-yard touchdown run to open up a 21-7 lead. With time running out in the first half, Susquehanna continued to march. Faced with a 3rd and 2 at BC's 40, Ehrlich threw a quick slant over to Bookter at the 27 for a first down, but Bookter broke to the right sideline and found his way into the endzone with 46 seconds left as the River Hawks took a 28-7 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was scoreless, though not without several more big plays ripped by SU. La Mons carried the ball for a 61-yard run into the Eagles' red zone, a drive which SU wound up empty-handed on attempting to score a touchdown on a fourth and goal from the six. Bridgewater moved considerable ahead up the field, but stalled near midfield. The River Hawks got the ball back on their own 12, which set into motion one of the biggest, unusual plays of the game. Facing fourth down and eight from their own 30, Susquehanna orchestrated a fake punt. Drew Robinson received the direct snap, then threw a jump pass to Michael Robbins who ran it up to the Bridgewater 47. This set up the first of SU's final two touchdowns of the game in the fourth quarter as Ehlrich found Howes in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard connection and a 34-7 lead with 11:13 to go. Six minutes later the maroon and orange turned to La Mons, who ran it in from five yards out, but not before shedding tacklers on his way in for a 41-7 final. 

Susquehanna's defense forced four turnovers by Bridgewater, three interceptions and one fumble recovery. The first of these honors went to Steve Williams. Ahead 21-7 and Bridgewater threatening in the red zone, Jaicere Bateman threw one for the endzone that Williams picked off, which ended any hopes to that point of Bridgewater working its way back into the game. The next occurred in the fourth quarter, when Robinson earned the distinction of completing a pass and then intercepting one as new BC quarterback Samuel Dragovich threw one over the middle that hit Robinson in the chest and ending the Eagles' drive. After Susquehanna gave up a fumble to Bridgewater on the ensuing drive, it didn't last long as on Bridgewater's first play lineman Jake Schultes batted a pass at the line of scrimmage and returned it five yards, setting up La Mons' touchdown. Kicker and punter Christian Colasurdo delivered five extra points, while sending two punts in the air for 73 yards, including a high of 40 yards. 

Bridgewater was held to 264 yards of total offense on 57 plays, connecting for 81 rushing yards on 25 carries and 183 yards passing, including 164 from the starter Bateman on a 16-for-26 outing with one interception. Dragovich connected on 2-of-6 with a pair of interceptions with 19 yards passing. SU linebacker Garrett Carter led the team with eight total tackles and four solo, administering one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. Josh Buck contributed six total tackles with four solo and half a sack and tackle for loss. Safety Andrew Wells had four total tackles.

Susquehanna's 1-0 start is a postive one, though the biggest of challenges lie ahead these next few weeks. They have SUNY Brockport next Saturday at home at 1 p.m., a team that they defeated 6-5 by the narrowest of margins last season, then hosting the defending national champion and two-ranked SUNY Cortland Saturday, Sept. 21 at 12 noon, with their matchup last season accounting for the Red Dragons' lone loss on their way to the natty in a 38-35 victory.