HUNTINGDON, PA- The Juniata football team rallied to get within two points of Franklin and Marshall, but fell just short as the Diplomats walked off with a 35-33 win at Knox Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss evens the Eagles' record at 2-2 while F&M improves to 1-2. JC is 1-2 in the Centennial as are the Diplomats.
The Eagles took over with 23 seconds left to play in the game. On second and 10, Ward Udinski (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) found wide out Aaron O'Brien (York, Pa/York Catholic) for a 40-yard completion. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Udinski went back to pass but would be sacked by the Diplomats' AJ Kokoi to run out the clock and end the game.
Udinski had a career day as he totaled 395 yards on 24-of-40 passing with two touchdown throws. He was not intercepted.
The Diplomats scored the game's first touchdown on their second possession. Quarterback Zachary Bradley was 5-of-6 on the drive which ended with a 12-yard score to Jordan Zackery to put F&M ahead 7-0 at 7:48.
Juniata took over on its one 25 after Nick Stubbs (Hagerstown, MD/South Hagerstown) took the ensuing kickoff nine yards. On a third and 8 from its own 38, Udinski hooked up Isaiah Slutter (Philadelphia, PA/Wallenpaupack Area) for a 27-yard gain to move into F&M territory. The drive eventually ended, however, as on fourth and 9 from the F&M 34, Udinski's pass to O'Brien fell incomplete and the ball went back to the Diplomats.
Franklin and Marshall began at its own 34. Their drive would stall and they were forced to punt. The Eagles received a huge break when on the punt attempt, the snap sailed over the head of Diplomat punter Cody Hubbs who chase the ball down. Juniata got the ball on the F&M 2 and two plays later, Udinski ran it in and with Kevin Bonalle's (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) extra point, the game was tied 7-7 at 2:31.
The Eagles defense forced a Diplomat punt and after a seven yard run by Udinski to end the first, they began the second quarter on its own 19. The big play came when Udinski connected with Slutter for a 51-yard catch and run to move to the F&M 18. Matt Lehr (Dover, PA/York Catholic) gained a yard on the next play and Udinki's pass to Slutter fell incomplete. Udinski was then dropped for a one-yard loss which brought on Ken Kysor (Port Allegheny, PA/Port Allegheny) to attempt a 34-yard field goal. Kysor's kick was good and JC led 10-7 at 12:42.
The Eagle lead was short-lived as F&M scored on another Bradley to Zackery connection to lead 14-10 with 6:43 left in the half. After the Eagles were forced to punt on their next drive, the Diplomats added another score as Bradley passed to Paul McGann to give the visitors a 21-10 advantage with 3:18 showing on the game clock.
Juniata looked to add a score before halftime. Starting at their own 26, Udinski's pass to Hunter Phillips (Funkstown, MD/South Hagerstown) got the Eagles to midfield. JC began to move its way deep into F&M territory and it got to the Diplomat 19. Kysor came on to attempt a 35-yard field goal, but it went wide left and F&M took over to run out the clock and go into the locker room ahead 21-10.
The Eagles began the second half with the ball. On 3rd and 5 from its own 38, Udinski hooked up with Kyle Schuck (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) who ran down the sideline for 55 yards to the F&M 7. Two plays later, Udinski scored his second touchdown of the game to make it 21-16 with Bonalle missing on the extra point.
Franklin and Marshall responded with a touchdown as Bradley threw to McGann for 18 yards to increase the Diplomat lead to 28-16 with 9:33 left to play in the third quarter. The Eagles answered with a 39-yard field goal from Kysor to narrow the score to 28-19 at 4:40.
The two teams exchanged punts to move into the final quarter of play. On the Diplomats' first possession of the fourth period, the Eagles defense forced a three and out. Hubbs came out to punt and his attempt would be partially blocked by Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) and traveled only 15 yards to the the F&M 44.
Juniata looked to take advantage of the excellent field position. Udinski hit passes of 26 yards to Slutter and then found O'Brien for 18 yards and the score with 10:35 remaining to play to move the score to 28-26.
Franklin and Marshall began its next drive with 10:32 showing on the game clock. 14 plays and 7:36 later, Taalib Gerald ran it in from six yards out to increase the F&M lead to 36-26 with just over three minutes remaining.
With under three minutes left to play, the Eagles began on their own 31. On fourth and 10, Udinski's 22-yard run gave JC the first down and the ball inside of F&M territory. Udinski then connected with Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) for 44 yards and the touchdown and the Eagles were only behind by two, 35-33, with 1:27 to play.
Kysor's onside kick would be recovered by Franklin and Marshall at its own 49. The Diplomats ran the clock down to 31 seconds before punting the ball away.
"It comes back again to consistency and we weren't consistent enough in some cases and it resulted in us getting behind," noted head coach Tim Launtz after the game. "It's not easy to play from behind but I'm very proud and this is a good football team. We didn't give up and we will continue to improve."
The Eagles totaled 502 yards of offense to 329 for the Diplomats. Udinski led in rushing with 62 net yards. Andre Pendleton (Penn Valley, PA/Harriton) added 33 yards on nine carries. Slutter caught a career-high 10 passes for 163 yards. Phillips tallied 51 yards on five grabs.
On the defensive side, Nick Bonavita (Sheffield, PA/Sheffield Area) led with eight tackles. Daulton Romano (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) and Ethan Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) both contributed seven each with Romano also picking up a sack.
The Eagles face a tough test next Saturday when they travel to Baltimore, MD to take on the #14 Johns Hopkins Bluejays. Kickoff from Homewood Field will be at 12 p.m.