SELINSGROVE, PA – Susquehanna University football checked off their senior day and Landmark Conference championship celebrations all in one day Saturday as the River Hawks clinched their third straight Landmark title and fourth overall with a 26-3 win over Wilkes. The defense did another superb job this week keeping their opposition out of the endzone, while Susquehanna's two-touchdown day was bolstered by four field goals from kicker
Dominic Bourgeois, who in the process set a new program record with 14 field goals in one season at a perfect 14-of-14 on the year.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- Wilkes 3, Susquehanna 0 – Wilkes won the toss and received, putting together a six-and-a-half minute drive that ended with a Nick Valone 42-yard field goal, which turned out to be the only score of the first quarter.
- Susquehanna 7, Wilkes 3 – The Colonels' first-quarter lead didn't hold up long in the second, as on just the second play of the quarter signal-caller Josh Ehrlich found Carter McCauley in the back of the endzone for a one-yard touchdown.
- Susquehanna 10, Wilkes 3 – Wilkes' ensuing drive had them knocking on the door to retake the lead. Facing 3rd and Goal from the nine, quarterback Cooper King tried to loft one to his receiver in the back-right corner from the endzone, only for cornerback Romero Lavalais Jr. to make an acrobatic interception and keep his feet in bounds to deflate a promising Colonels drive. Though a series of short, forgettable drives followed from both sides, Susquehanna got a drive going to set up the first of Dominic Bourgeois' four field goals on the day to tie his career high. This first one cleared the uprights from 40 yards out.
- Susquehanna 13, Wilkes 3 – The Colonels suffered a quick three-and-out, but even worse their punt from their own 30 yard line went off the side of punter Peter Zarafonitis' foot that set the River Hawks up at Wilkes' 40. They worked their way down to Wilkes' red zone before Bourgeois lined up for a 30-yard field goal to take a ten-point lead into halftime.
- Susquehanna 20, Wilkes 3 – Susquehanna received the ball to begin the second half, which turned out to be a great opportunity to take a hold of the game. Return man Aaron Angelo got the offense a short enough field after his 45-yard return, leading to Ehrlich gifting receiver Hunter Morgenroth with a 13-yard touchdown reception to celebrate his senior day and a 17-point lead.
- Susquehanna 23, Wilkes 3 – The River Hawks used the fourth quarter to tack on two field goals to move into position to take the Landmark title. Bourgeois had a 29-yard field goal try to break the program record for field goals in a season that was shared by three kickers with 12 – Christian Colasurdo (2023), Elijah Hoffman (2021), and Randy Helt (1988). He calmly drilled it to etch his name into the record books early in the fourth quarter to a warm ovation from the home crowd.
- Susquehanna 26, Wilkes 3 – The Colonels were once again held to a three-and-out, giving SU another chance to carve out a lengthy drive to drain time off the lock. Bourgeois was again called on to offer up the points, taking it from 31 yards out.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Susquehanna generated 334 total yards between 192 through the air and 142 on the ground. Ehrlich connected on 22-of-29 passes for 170 yards and two touchdown throws. Running back Rahshan La Mons also had a day with 86 yards rushing on 20 carries. Ehrlich added 36 yards on ten takeoffs.
- Daniel Growney led the receivers with seven catches for 28 yards. La Mons caught five and scampered for 39 yards to lead the team in receiving yards for the day.
- The defensive seniors had a day as Luke Hughes led the defensive unit with nine tackles and two solo. Fellow linebacker Jesse Ruisch had seven solo tackles and nine total.
- Romero Lavalais Jr. complemented his key interception with two pass breakups and three solo tackles.
- The River Hawks again led the possession time battle at 33:09, sustaining drives thanks to converting on 7-of-14 third down conversions and succeeding on their lone fourth down conversion. Wilkes converted on just 3-of-12 third down attempts.
- Susquehanna was a perfect 5-for-5 on its red zone chances, while Wilkes' costly interception early in the game illustrated an 0-for-2 day in the redzone.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna hangs the Landmark Conference banner for the third straight year with one regular-season game remaining at Moravian Saturday, Nov. 15 at 12:30 p.m.
- The River Hawks are 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the Landmark. They clinched the conference title today as second-place Lycoming is 4-1 in the Landmark. The River Hawks claimed a 69-7 victory over the Warriors to hold the tiebreaker over them.
- Following their meeting with the Greyhounds Susquehanna awaits its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, Nov. 16's selection show.
