DANBURY, CT – The Susquehanna University football team made an unprecedented trip to Western Connecticut State Saturday to take on the newest Landmark Conference football member in the Wolves. After three consecutive games leading comfortably at halftime and lighting up the scoreboard with 50-60 points, the River Hawks found themselves ahead just 14-0 at halftime, with the help of a defensive goal line stand to keep WestConn off the board. In the second half the offense found its rhythm as SU registered 20 second-half points, while the defense held firm to pitch its first shoutout of the season in a 34-0 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Much of the offensive scoring was again heralded by quarterback Josh Ehrlich, keeping up his hot stretch throwing 20-of-27 for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Two of these resulted in both the team's first-half touchdowns, with wideout Daniel Growney on the receiving end of both.
- Growney led all receivers with seven catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. The first touchdown came on a 12-yard catch from Ehrlich with six minutes left in the first quarter, followed by a catch in the endzone from four yards out with 2:14 left in the second quarter.
- While the defense didn't produce any turnovers, their sheet was clean in keeping the Wolves off the scoreboard. Their most notable contribution came in the first quarter that perhaps changed the complexion of the game.
- WestConn traveled down to Susquehanna's seven yard line for first and goal. Quarterback Dylan Jackson missed his pass on the first try, then on second down was sacked by Berkeley Wagner to send them back to the 12. He then made an 11-yard run on third down to get the ball to the one yard line and was given the green light to go for it on fourth down. He tried a QB keeper out of the shotgun, but was swallowed up with linebacker Jesse Ruisch leading the pack.
- Ruisch finished with three solo tackles with one for loss, while Wagner provided one of the team's four sacks on the afternoon with a team-high five solo tackles with one for loss.
- The River Hawks received the ball to start the second half, churning out over a seven-minute drive that resulted in Dominic Bourgeois making the first of his two field goals from 20 yards out. He is now 10-for-10 on the season and just two field goals shy of the school record of 12.
- WestConn attempted to answer back on its first drive of the second half, but faced 4th and 9 at SU's 32. Jackson attempted a pass over the middle but it fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs again as the Wolves finished 0-for-2 on fourth down conversions and 2-for-10 on third down conversions.
- Susquehanna made it hurt as they put together a quick-scoring drive that put them firmly in control exiting the third quarter. Ehrlich found an open Carter McCauley for a 34-yard connection that set up another 30-plus yard catch, with Ehrlich finding senior receiver Hunter Morgenroth for a 31-yard touchdown pass and a 24-0 lead with 2:03 to go in the third.
- Morgenroth's scoring catch was his lone grab of the day, while McCauley had two catches for 41 yards. Fellow receiver Shawn Cain finished with a game-high 62 receiving yards on four catches.
- The Wolves' next drive proved fruitless with a three and out, highlighted by a Galen Limantour sack as he finished with two on the day and four tackles, including two solo.
- The River Hawks regained possessino and kept their momentum going with another touchdown drive. Ehrlich's super day through the air was matched with a 100-yard rushing day, netting 105 yards on 18 rushes. He found the endzone this way with a six-yard run to put Susquehanna up 31-0 with 12 minutes to play.
- Running back Rahshan La Mons hung 63 yards rushing on 20 carries, while catching two passes for 12 yards. His work contributed to the offense clocking a season-best possession time of 39:42. The River Hawks converted on 12-of-17 third down conversions and 1-of-2 fourth down conversions as they amassed 27 first downs to WestConn's ten.
- Linebacker Toby Mackall offered up Susquehanna's fourth and final sack on the day on third down to force another Wolves punt. Mackall had three solo tackles with one for loss.
- Susquehanna took over and led one more scoring drive. This time they were led by quarterback Tommy Wright, who completed 3-of-3 passes for 44 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal for Bourgeois for the final points of the game.
- Jackson attempted to get WestConn into scoring position on its final drive, but several incomplete passes left the Wolves scoreless on the afternoon. Jackson completed 13-of-23 passes for 138 yards as their offense generated just 168 total yards all day with 30 rushing yards. Susquehanna, meanwhile, bested that total nearly three-fold with 478 yards between 265 passing yards and 213 on the ground.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- The River Hawks keep their Landmark record unblemished at 4-0 with a 6-2 overall mark. They are 16-0 all-time in the Landmark since the conference began football in 2023. WestConn dropped to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in its first run through the Landmark.
- Susquehanna is in position to lock up the Landmark Conference title for the third straight year next Saturday, welcoming Wilkes to Doug Arthur Stadium for a noon kickoff on Senior Day.
