Cardinals Top Eagles to End the Year
WASHINGTON, DC- The Juniata football team wrapped up their season with a hard-fought 34-20 loss on the road at the nation's capital to the University of Catholic Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals won the toss and elected to receive. They opened the game with a 52-yard kick return as they started at the Eagle 37. Four plays later, they completed a five-yard pass to take an early 7-0 lead.
The teams traded punts, with the Eagles starting their second offensive drive of the game at their 22. Noah Wright found Sean Hakanson for eight yards, and Joey Menke broke a 19-yard run to the Eagle 44. Three plays later, Menke burst through for a 55-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven.
The Cardinals responded with a 12-play drive that saw them get to the Eagle one, but back-to-back sacks by Aaron Rothermel and several Eagles on the next snap pushed Catholic back to the 26 as the first quarter ended. Catholic kicked a 43-yard field goal to retake the lead.
Catholic hit a 35-yard touchdown later in the quarter to push their lead to 10.
Later, with the Eagles starting at their 41, Wright found Austin Nash for a 17-yard completion, Hakanson for 14, and Quintin Stephens for 22 to get down deep in Cardinal territory. Wright eventually found Makih Hunt for a five-yard touchdown to bring JC back within four.
Catholic kicked a field goal as the half expired, as JC trailed 20-13 at the break.
The teams went scoreless in the third, and Catholic scored twice in four minutes to extend their lead to 21 before Wright drove the Eagles 74 yards on 11 plays, culminating with finding Stephens for six. During the drive, Wright converted a third and 21 with his legs to keep the drive alive.
From there, Catholic ran down the clock to end the game, 34-20.
Wright went 17-28 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, while Menke ran for 76 yards and a touchdown. Stephens had four catches for 48 yards and a TD. Ethan Shank led the team in tackles with 15 to go with a pass breakup, Ian Brunner tallied two sacks while Michael Grapin and Aaron Rothermel each had one.
Juniata finishes the year 1-9.