German to Hakanson's Touchdown Connection in Final Minute Gives Eagles First Win of the Year
ONENOTA, NY- Juniata's Football team traveled to Hartwick College on Saturday and picked up their first win of the year in the dying moments of the game, winning by a final score of 37-30.
Late in the first quarter, Calvin German capped off a nice drive for the Eagles with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Quintin Stephens to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
Juniata made it 13-0 early in the second quarter as Division III rushing leader Hunter Wolfley took one to the house from nine yards out on another efficient Eagles drive. Hartwick responded quickly and threw a 74-yard touchdown pass on their following drive to make it 13-7 in the second quarter. After three punts on the next three drives, the Hawks had the ball again. They completed a deep 40-yard pass, which set them up to tie the game 13-13 on an eventual eight-yard rushing touchdown. Juniata managed the clock well on their last drive of the half, and Alex Mullin converted a 35-yard field goal attempt to secure a 16-13 lead heading into the halftime break.
Hartwick would tie the game up on their first drive of the second half with a 47-yard field goal and then take the lead on a 14-yard passing touchdown on their next offensive drive after an Eagles punt. Wolfley got going again on the Eagles' following drive and took one to the house from 39 yards. The game was tied 23-23.
In the fourth quarter Stephens caught a 58-yard bomb from German for his second touchdown of the day to give the Eagles a 30-23 lead early.
Hartwick then went on a nearly six-minute long drive which resulted in a 15-yard passing touchdown and tied the game 30-30. Each team punted their next drive away, and Hartwick looked like they would take the last drive of the game right up until Walker Bredickas picked off the Hartwick quarterback.
Two plays later, Bredickas' interception turned into seven points and a late lead for the Eagles on a 20-yard touchdown pass from German to Sean Hakanson.
Trailing 37-30 with 58 seconds remaining, the Hawks were unable to mount a comeback.
German threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Stephens. He also totaled 164 yards receiving. Wolfley led with 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Lucas Branigan led with 12 tackles on defense. Bredickas added the interception for the Eagles while Gunner Lesher and Conner McCracken each added a sack.
The Eagles will look to carry their momentum in next week's home matchup against Shenandoah University at 1:00 p.m.