Eagles and Crusaders Battle for the Goalpost
HUNTINGDON, PA- A tradition that goes back over 60 years will once again be renewed as the Juniata football team travels to Susquehanna for the annual Goalpost Game. Kickoff from Lopardo Stadium will be at 1 p.m.
HUNTINGDON, PA- A tradition that goes back over 60 years will once again be renewed as the Juniata football team travels to Susquehanna for the annual Goalpost Game. Kickoff from Lopardo Stadium will be at 1 p.m.
The two teams will be playing for the 75th time overall but this will be the 54th Goalpost Game. The goalpost was taken back to Huntingdon following Juniata’s 12-7 win over SU in 1952. The next year, the goalpost officially became a symbol of the friendly rivalry between the two schools. The Crusaders hold a 28-24-1 edge in the Goalpost games.
Juniata is 4-5 overall and coming off a 27-21 defeat at the hands of Moravian last Saturday at Knox Stadium. Quarterback Ward Udinski (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) ran for all three of the Eagles’ touchdowns but had a rough day passing as he threw three interceptions with two of those coming in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Aaron O’Brien (York, PA/York Catholic) had a career afternoon with 10 catches for 94 yards. Defensively, the pair of Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) and Ethan Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area HS) combined for 21 tackles.
The Crusaders come into the contest at 2-7 and defeated McDaniel 24-16 last week.Susquehanna scored at least three points in all four quarters while blanking the Green Terror in the first and fourth quarters. Ian Richardson had both a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown, the first of his career. He finished with 113 yards on the ground. Freshman quarterback Nick Crusco went 23-for-31 for 246 yards and one touchdown and did not throw an interception. Fullback Pat Murtha led the receivers with four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Kwane Hayle had four catches for 39 yards and another touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, C.J. Williams led the team with nine tackles and had a game-high three pass breakups.
The Eagles won last year’s game 17-10 in Huntingdon. Juniata’s last win in Selinsgrove occurred in 1980 (27-10). With a victory, the Eagles can post back-to-back seasons with a .500 record or better for the first time since going 5-5 in 1998 and 6-4 in 1999.