By Joshua Yoder
HUNTINGDON – It wasn’t how the Eagles wanted to start conference play as they fell to the Wilkes Colonels by the final score of 54-7 during a NCAA Division III Landmark Conference football game Friday night over at Chuck Knox Stadium.
It didn’t take very long for things to go south for Juniata College as right on the opening kickoff, the Eagles fumbled the football and Wilkes were all over it on the 11 yard line. And on their first play of the game, the Colonels capitalized as Elijah Jules went 11 yards for the touchdown. Tyler Wetzel then completed the two point conversion making it 8-0.
The Eagles struggling again offensively in their next possession and were forced to punt the ball. However, Wilkes jumped on that too and blocked the punt landing on the 16 yard line. And then the second play in the game for the Colonels, quarterback Xavier Powell found Jana Simms to completed the touchdown pass extending their lead to 15-0.
A little while later in the first quarter, Powell struck again this time finding Jimmy Johnson who then turned on the jets and flew for 42 yards for the touchdown.
With the score now 23-0 heading into the second quarter, the Juniata College defense stepped up in a big way facing three red zone situations and in all three times the Eagles scored a fumble, an interception and a turnover on downs to keep them within striking distance.
The defense nearly pitched a shutout for the second quarter, but Powell broke loose on a Quarterback keeper and went 58 yards with 59 second remaining in the half.
The Colonels nearly went for 200 yards rushing in the opening half of the game.
Jules came back for more during the third period where he finished off the drive with a three yard run into the endzone. Making it a 37-0 lead.
But Juniata College continued to battle as the offense finally got some points on the board and prevented the shutout as Quarterback Calvin German found receiver Sean Hakanson for 52 yards for the touchdown.
The Colonels responded with a big play of their own as Powell connected with Zane Grover for a 32 yard touchdown pass.
Then in the fourth quarter Wilkes added two more scores, starting with a 32 yard field goal from Nick Volpone and then Leo Egbe Jr. scored the final touchdown of the game.
The Colonels collected a grand total of 342 yards on 50 carries. Jules led the way on the ground and had 140 yards carrying.
German led the way offensively for the Eagles going 18 of 33 for 198 yards and a touchdown pass. Hakanson had seven catches for the night and went 112 yards scoring the lone touchdown.
Defensively, Juniata College was led by Senior Linebacker Gunner Lesher who had 14 tackles for the game. Not far behind, teammate Ethan Shank had 13 total tackles.
Juniata College (1-4, 0-1) will look to recover a bit heading into the bye week and will try to rebound on Saturday October 19 as the Eagles will travel to face Susquehanna at 1 p.m.