ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The streak of come-from-behind wins came to an end Saturday afternoon as the No. 25 Susquehanna University football team suffered their first loss of the 2019 campaign. Susquehanna (2-1, 1-1 CC) came up short in a 24-17 overtime Centennial Conference loss to No. 8 Muhlenberg College (3-0, 1-1 CC).
This is the second straight season the two teams have needed overtime to decide the contest. The Mules now lead the series history, 17-11, including a 9-6 record on their home field of Scotty Wood Stadium. The last six meetings have been decided by seven or less points.
No. 25 Susquehanna 17, No. 8 Muhlenberg 24 (OT)
How It Happened
Overtime
- Muhlenberg won the coin toss and claimed the first possession of overtime. Following an incomplete pass and a Mark Riggio three-yard rush, Michael Hnatkowsky ran 19 yards for a Mule first down on Susquehanna's three-yard line. Riggio rushed in for the eventual game-winning touchdown from three yards out. Todd Spirt's extra point attempt was good and Muhlenberg went up 24-17.
- The River Hawks then took the field and the possession got off to a slow start with a one-yard rush, an incomplete pass, and a five-yard penalty for false start before a pass interference call on third and goal moved the chains to the Muhlenberg 14. Junior running back Da'Avian Ellington (Carteret, N.J./Woodbridge) totaled six yards on two carries for 3rd and 4 at the eight-yard line.
- However, a sack by Dante Lonardo pushed Susquehanna back to the 15. Facing 4th and 11, SU called a run play and sophomore quarterback Michael Ruisch (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) came up just two yards shy of the first down as Daymon Fleming tackled him at the 6.
First Quarter
- Susquehanna punted on three of its four possessions despite converting 3-of-5 third-down conversions. The third drive of the quarter ended with Ruisch's third pick of the season.
- The Mules put up seven on the scoreboard with 4:43 left in the first as Ryan Curtiss capped off a –play, 50-yard drive with a two-yard run into the end zone.
Second Quarter
- The River Hawks' first possession ended in a punt which was blocked by Frankie Feaster, giving Muhlenberg the ball as the Susquehanna 43. The SU defense kept the Mules off the board as junior defensive lineman Riley Gaughan (Taylor, Pa./Riverside) tackled Riggio for a loss of three yards and sophomore strong safety L'Trell Bradley (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) picked off Hnatkowsky and ran it back five yards to the Susquehanna 23.
- The Bradley interception led to SU's first points of the game as sophomore kicker Elijah Hoffman's (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia Area) 35-yard field goal completed a 10-play, 59-yard drive. Ruisch completed strikes of 21 and 17 yards to senior tight end Anthony McCoy (Rosedale, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) and sophomore wide receiver Kyle Good (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area), respectively, while sophomore running back Xavier Briggs-DeVore (Paterson, N.J./Paramus Catholic) ran for 33 yards on three carries for four first downs.
- After Ruisch's second interception of the afternoon, seniors Cole Dixon (Dallas, Pa./Dallas) and Kashief Hyatt (Upper Marlboro, Md./Wise) forced Muhlenberg into a three-and-out in its ensuing possession to send Susquehanna into halftime down only 7-3.
Third Quarter
- The Mules struck first in the second half when Curtiss scored his second TD of the day, this time catching a 17-yard pass from Hnatkowsky for an 11-point lead halfway through the third.
- Ruisch pulled Susquehanna within four at 2:45 as he ran it in from 14 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the season after a 10-play, 59-yard march down the field.
- The final possession for each side ended punts.
Fourth Quarter
- The River Hawk defense limited Muhlenberg to just 37 yards on 12 plays in the Mules' first drive of the fourth quarter. And then the hosts turned the ball over on downs in their second and final drive of regulation.
- Susquehanna started on its own 24-yard line and with an 11-yard pass to Good on 2nd and 10 plus a 15-yard penalty for a personal foul had the River Hawks on 50-yard line. On 4th and 3, Ruisch found Good again for a first down at the Muhlenberg 36. After an SU timeout, Ruisch connected with senior wide receiver Mikah Christian (Bowie, Md./Bowie) for a 36-yard touchdown on 2nd and 10. Hoffman was good on the point after and the game was knotted at 17-17 with 34 ticks on the clock.
Inside the Box Score
- The Susquehanna defense totaled 62 tackles, four pass breakups, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one sack and one interception while only giving up 248 yards of offense, limiting the Mules to season-lows of 159 yards through the air and 89 yards on the ground.
- Muhlenberg held the River Hawks to season-lows as well of 253 passing yards and 91 rushing yards while registering six sacks.
Top Performers
- Ruisch finished the afternoon 23-of-36 for 242 yards with one touchdown and two picks while being sacked five times.
- Ellington carried the ball 14 times for 51 yards, including a long of 11, while Briggs-DeVore finished with 41 yards on seven carries.
- Good led the receivers with six catches while Christian caught four passes for a team-best 75 yards and the game-tying touchdown.
- Dixon continued his high-level play on defense with 11 tackles and one pass breakup while senior captain David Simpson (Dallas, Pa./Dallas) added nine tackles.
- Hnatkowsky went 15 of 27 for 159 yards with one touchdown and one interception while being sacked one. Joseph O'Hagan led the defensive effort with nine tackles and a pass breakup.
Up Next for the River Hawks
- September 28 vs. Franklin & Marshall (3-0) – Selinsgrove, Pa. / Doug Arthur Stadium – 1:00 p.m.
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