By Kenny Varner

MIFFLINTOWN- Down goes the champ!

After a nail biting loss against Selinsgrove last Friday on the road, the Juniata football team was looking to get in the win column as they hosted Steelton-Highspire at Klingensmith Stadium on Dietrick Field.

The Rollers are coming off consecutive PIAA Class A championships and a 69-0 blanking of Fairfield and newest member of the Mid-Penn’s Capital Division.

Early on, the Rollers brought their multi faceted high tempo style to the forefront resulting in two first quarter scores.

But the physical play by the Indians proved too much for the Rollers, wearing them down and grinding out the run game, upsetting the defending state champs 29-14.

“Coming into this we really didn’t have real good film on them. We knew they were very well coached, good athletes and quickness,” Juniata coach Kurt Condo said. “Our kids didn’t panic. We just went back to “caveman football”. Thats what we did. So, I’m very happy for our kids. They worked hard in preseason, in the scrimmage, and that loss last week, we still had questions going into this week. So I’m happy for the kids to get the win.”

Steelton -Highspire opened the game with the ball and went right down the field, handing it to their myriad of running backs.

Starting deep in their own end, the Rollers maneuvered downfield via an 11-play drive that saw them gamble two times on fourth. Both were successful.

Facing a 2nd and five from the 50. Yahmir Ceasar took the ball and blazed his way downfield resulting in a 50-yard TD. With a Judah Hernandez kick at 6:19, Steelton made it 7-0.

On its first offensive drive, Juniata lost the ball deep in their own territory on a fumble.

The Rollers came out of the pile with the ball and a first down on the Indians 32.

Again, Ceasar got the call running it in from 7-yards out for the TD Hernandez kick again was on target. With 2:37 left in the first, the Rollers held a 14-0 advantage and had the momentum.

In the first couple of possessions, the Indians could not find an answer for the swift defensive attack of Steelton. They would dodge two bullets in the first half on two interceptions.

But the Indians were able to keep steady after the early wave of the Rollers opportunistic offense, keeping the score at 14-0 as the half was quickly approaching.

Steelton gambled with a fake punt in their own territory, giving Juniata the ball on the Rollers 30.

From there, the Juniata’s rushing game started to wear down Steelton.

With 12.7 seconds left, Wyatt Ehrenzeller called his own number and blasted his way into the endzone from two yards out, cutting it to a14-6 deficit.

While lining up for the extra point, Steelton was called for an offsides penalty, resulting in Big Red going for the 2-point conversion.

Lane Peiper got the call and he blasted through the line of scrimmage, cutting the Rollers lead to six.

Going into the intermission, Juniata had cut the lead making it a 14-8 contest, as they got the ball to start the second half.

Coming out with the first possession, the Indians picked up where they left off at the end of the half, marching their way down field for the go ahead  touchdown.

This time, Juniata went to the air on fourth down and hit paydirt as Ehrenzeller hit a diving Connor Boreman in the end zone for the touchdown. With the successful extra point, the Indians took the lead 15-14 with 6:44 left in the third.

But on the following Steelton possession, running back Ni Shaun McMullen broke the line of scrimmage and headed for the end zone, Jasper Shepps was able to catch McMullen at the Juniata 15.

However, not before McMullen tallied a 62-yard scamper to put his team in scoring position at the 15.

Steelton moved the ball up to the 2-yard line before facing another 4th down.

The Juniata defense was up for the challenge as they held the Rollers and took over at their own two.

One play later, Juniata found themselves on the other end of the field ready to cash in yet another touchdown.

Sitting with the backs to their own endzone, Ehrenzeller handed the ball off to Lane Peiper. Peiper broke through the interior and found daylight and was able to pick up an 88-yards run to put the Indians at the Steelton 12.

Ehrenzeller did the rest as he called his number again and easily scored from 12-yards out. The two-point conversion was again successful and Big Red was now the one with the total momentum, leading 23-14.

Later in the fourth, the Indians ground game continue to plow through the Rollers defense and Javier Lopez scored late to put the final touches on the victory.

With time running out, it looked as though Steelton might make the game closer driving down in the final three minutes.

But Boreman came up big once again, this time snatching an interception, all but ending the contest with less than a minute to go.

Juniata is back at it next Friday against Line Mountain.

Juniata 29, Steelton 14

Steelton     14 0   0 0 -14

Juniata        0. 8 15 6 – 29

Scoring:

First Quarter

SH – Yahmir Ceasar 50-yard TD (Judah Hernandez kick), 6:19

SH – Yahmir Ceasar 7-yard TD (Judah Hernandez kick), 2:37

Second Quarter

JUN – Wyatt Ehrenzeller 2-yards run (2-point conversion), 12.7

Third Quarter

JUN – Ehrenzeller 11-yard TD pass to Connor Boreman (6:44)

JUN – Ehrenzeller 12-yards run (2-point conversion), 1:51

Fourth Quarter

JUN – Javier Lopez 7-yards run (failed 2-point)

TEAM STATISTICS      ST  JUN

First downs                    10  12

Total Yards                    314 252

Rushes-yards.             34-244 29-221

Yards passing             70   31

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-12-0 2-5-0

Fumbles-lost            2-1    5-2

Penalties-yards      5-24  3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: ST – Jayce Jones 1-10, James Evans 9-31,Nazier Fuller 4-23, Yahmir Ceasar 9-44, NaiShaun McMullen 3-76, JaiShaun George  5-53, Angel Luciano 3-7. JUN – Jasper Shepps 1-2, Javier Lopez 12-59, Lane Peiper10-127, Gage Harlon 5-34.

PASSING: ST –   Evans 4-47,Fuller 1-8, Ceasar 1-0, McMullen 2-15.

JUN – Shepps 1-20, Connor Boreman 1-11.

RECEIVING :  ST  – 70.   JUN  –  31.