Eagles Claim Goalpost with Thrilling 44-35 Victory Over Susquehanna

SELINSGROVE, PA- The Juniata Eagles football team ended the season on a high note as it defeated Susquehanna 44-35 in the annual Goalpost Game on Saturday afternoon at Lopardo Stadium. The goalpost returns to Juniata for a second straight season and the Eagles claim their first victory in Selinsgrove since 1980.

Playing his final game in a Juniata uniform, senior quarterback Ward Udinski (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) passed for 390 yards on 29-of-34 attempts with two touchdowns. He also made plays with his legs as he ran 20 times for 65 yards and three scores. Fellow senior Isaiah Slutter (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack) also went out on top as he caught a team-high 11 balls for 140 yards. 

JC won the coin toss and elected to receive. On first down, Udinski connected with Slutter for 26 yards to move the Eagles into Crusader territory. Another completion, this time to Colton Myers (State College, PA/State College Area HS), brought the ball to the SU 30. From there, Juniata pounded the ball with five straight rushes that culminated with Deonte Alston's (Bel-Air, MD/Patterson Mill) four-yard score. Kevin Bonalle (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) missed the extra point and Juniata's lead stood at 6-0.

After the Eagles defense forced a three and out from the Crusaders, JC went back to work. Starting their drive at their own 32, Udinski hit Aaron O'Brien (York, PA/York Catholic) for 15 yards on second and 10 to bring the Eagles near midfield. A Slutter rush got Juniata into Susquehanna territory. Back-to-back completions to Slutter with a Udinski four-yard run, got the Eagles to the SU 15. A six-yard catch from Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) was followed by Breault's nine-yard touchdown reception and with Bonalle's extra point, JC extended its lead to 13-0.

The Juniata defense again stood its ground the Crusaders went for it on 4^th and 2 from the Juniata 27 but were denied. After an exchange of punts, SU finally put together a scoring drive with 5:19 left in play in the second quarter on a Nick Crusco-to-Jordan Zezza 19-yard touchdown pass as the Eagle lead was now 13-7.

JC increased its lead to 16-7 as Ken Kysor (Port Allegheny, PA/Port Allegheny) nailed a 21-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, SU's Kwane Hayle ran it back 83 yards for a touchdown and the Eagle lead was down to two, 16-14, with 1:24 left to play in the second quarter.

The Eagles had an answer back. Nick Stubbs (Hagerstown, MD/South Hagerstown) returned the kickoff 33 yards to the Juniata 45.  An SU pass interference moved JC into Crusader territory. Udinski then hit Breault for 15 yards and then connected with Alston for 32 yards and the score as Juniata went into halftime up 23-14.

Susquehanna again narrowed their deficit to two points on a Crusco to Taylor Kolmer seven-yard pass on the team's first drive of the third quarter. Two Udinski one-yard scores sandwiched a Kwane Hayle 53-yard TD grab and at the end of three, Juniata still had a nine-point lead at 37-28.

The Crusaders started their next possession at the end of third frame that carried into the final period of play. Hayle would haul in his second score of the game, this time from 36 yards, as the JC lead was now 37-35.

Juniata began its next drive with 12:07 left to play. The Crusaders thought they would get the ball back but an offsides penalty gave the Eagles a first down at the SU 43. With new life, JC marched down the field as Udinski hooked up with Slutter for 20 yards to the SU 23 and with a facemask called on the defense, the Eagles had the ball at the SU 11. Three plays later, Udinski called his own number for the third time and JC moved out in front 44-35 with just over 11 minutes left to play.

The Eagles defense forced a Crusco fumble on the Crusaders next possession to set up the offense on the SU 27. This time the Juniata offense came away empty as Kysor missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.

In the span of nearly five and a half minutes of game time, the two teams combined for five turnovers. The final one went Juniata's way as Demetrius Floyd (Coraopolis, PA/West Allegheny) picked off Crusco in the endzone for a touchback with a little over two minutes remaining in the contest to seal it for the Eagles.

The Eagles' offense finished with a total of 517 yards gained. Alston caught five passes for a career-high 109 yards and added 26 yards rushing. O'Brien finished with five grabs for 34 yards and Breault ended with four catches for 31 yards.

Defensively, Floyd had eight tackles as did Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone HS). In addition to his interception, Floyd also forced a fumble and broke up two passes. Bologa added a sack and a pass breakup. Ethan Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area HS) had six solo tackles.