HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- Senior quarterback Ward Udinski ran for a touchdown and threw for another to lead the Juniata College football team to a 14-6 Centennial Conference win over visiting Moravian College Saturday at Goodman Field at Knox Stadium.
The Eagles won their second straight game to improve to 3-6 overall and 2-6 in conference action this season while the Greyhounds fall to 2-7 overall and 2-6 in Centennial Conference play this season.
Juniata received the opening kickoff and drove 63 yards on ten plays with Udinski capping off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run on a third-and-goal play. Senior Scott Andrews connected on the extra-point to give the Eagles a 7-0 with 10:02 to play in the first quarter.
Moravian sophomore quarterback Jimmy Lahue completed a 12-yard pass to senior wide receiver Albie Moran on the Greyhounds' second play, and a penalty moved the ball to the Juniata 47-yard line. Moravian's drive stalled, and senior Tyler Thompson came on to punt with the ball downed at the 13-yard line.
The Eagles would drive the field again, this time going 87 yards in 11 plays with Udinski finishing the drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Dominic Bornman. Andrews was true on the extra-point to push Juniata's lead to 14-0 with 2:57 to go in the first quarter.
After a penalty on the kickoff, Moravian would start at the Juniata 45-yard line. Lahue found junior tight end Chase Zimnik for a 25-yard completion on the first play. The Greyhounds moved down to the inside the ten-yard line before the drive stalled. Thompson would come in and connect on a 30-yard field goal with six seconds left in the opening quarter to cut the Juniata lead to 14-3.
Each team would punt on its next possession. The Greyhounds would get the ball near midfield with just under 11 minutes left in the second quarter when sophomore linebacker Ed Buoye forced Juniata freshman running back Michael John to fumble. Sophomore linebacker Kevin Bracken covered the ball at the Juniata 46-yard line.
Moravian would move town to the 20-yard line on a third down run from Lahue and a pass from Lahue to freshman wide receiver Will McLaughlin. On third-and-five, Lahue attempted to hit freshman wide receiver Jimmy McCarthy with a pass inside the five-yard line but the ball was intercepted by Juniata junior defensive Brendan Cohn.
The Eagles started at their own six-yard line and would move the ball to the Moravian 35-yard line before freshman Jonah Plymire punted into the end zone.
Moravian faced a third-and-14 on the ensuing drive when Lahue connected on a pass with McCarthy. As McCarthy reached the first down marker, Juniata senior defensive lineman David Weiss hit McCarthy from behind and forced a fumble, and sophomore linebacker Ethan Wilt covered the ball at the Juniata 33-yard line.
The Greyhounds would get the ball right back when senior defensive back Travis King intercepted a pass by Udinski. However, the Greyhounds would run just two placed before Lahue was intercepted by Juniata sophomore linebacker Kevin Gorman.
The Eagles moved the ball to the Moravian-nine yard line before their drive stalled on three incomplete passes. Andrews came in to attempt a 26-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the first half but it was wide left.
The Greyhounds would receive the opening kickoff of the second half but would end up punting after picking up a first down on an 11-yard run by Lahue.
Juniata was moving the ball, and was near midfield when Udinski completed a short pass to John. King hit John from behind and forced a fumble with junior defensive back Brandon Lesko covering the ball at the Moravian 46-yard line.
Moravian picked up first downs on a passes from Lahue to freshman wide receiver Ryan Sickler for ten yards and senior wide receiver Ryan Onushco for 11 yards to move to the Juniata 25-yard line. The Greyhounds' drive would stall before Thomspon came in to attempt a career long 40-yard field goal. The ball just made it over the crossbar to cut the Juniata lead to 14-6 with 7:23 to play in the third quarter.
The Eagles would drive down to the Moravian 26-yard line on their next possession before three incomplete passes by Udinski would turn the ball back over to Moravian.
Lahue connected on a trio of passes to McCarthy for first downs to move the Greyhounds to the Juniata 28-yard line. However three incompletions and a sack of Lahue on fourth down would turn the ball back over to the Eagles.
After the teams traded punts again, Juniata moved into the red zone again. On a third-and-goal from the seven yard line, Udinski was intercepted in the end zone by Moravian senior defensive back Rees Judge.
Lahue hit McCarthy with a 22-yard completion on first down but McCarthy left with an injury after being tackled. The Moravian drive would stall, bringing Thompson into punt again.
On Juniata's second play, Udinski was unable to control the snap, and Moravian senior defensive end Luke Trexler covered the ball at the Juniata 19-yard line. Moravian was unable to move the ball, bringing Thompson in to attempt a 33-yard field goal. The kick was low and short of the uprights, leaving the Eagles lead at 14-7 with 8:56 left in the game.
Juniata would drive down the field and take over six minutes off of the clock. Andrews came in to attempt a 30-yard field goal attempt to make it a two possession game, but the field goal was wide left.
Lahue connected on a 44-yard pass play with McLaughlin on the Greyhounds' first play. Two plays later, Lahue was intercepted by Juniata freshman defensive back Jordan Shroyer at the Juniata six-yard line. The Eagles would run three plays to run out the clock.
Udinski completed 25-of-42 passes for 258 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and he also had 108 yards and a score on 19 carries. Senior wide receiver Julian Valdiserri caught ten passes for 93 yards while Bornman had five receptions for 66 yards with his touchdown. Freshman running back Deonte Alston added 43 yards on nine carries while John had 32 yards on four attempts.
Lahue completed 20-of-42 passes for 252 yards with three interceptions. McCarthy caught six passes for 91 yards while McLaughlin pulled in three passes for 51 yards. Sickler grabbed four receptions for 28 yards while Onushco had two catches for 34 yards. Moran pulled in two passes for 18 yards while senior running back C.J. Billera ran for a team high 33 yards on 12 carries.
Buoye led the Moravian with a career high 17 tackles to go with three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Bracken contributed 11 tackles with a fumble recovery while King added ten tackles with a tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. Senior linebacker Nick Clingan had eight tackles while Lesko and sophomore defensive back Rick Sinnig each made seven tackles with a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. Judge had six tackles with four passes defended and an interception while senior defensive back Rocco Del Priore added three passes defended and a tackle for loss among his four tackles.
Gorman led the Juniata defense with nine tackles including one and a half for loss and an interception while junior defensive lineman Brandon Felus had six tackles including two sacks.
Moravian returns after three straight road games will close out the 2012 season next Saturday, November 10th when the Greyhounds host rival Muhlenberg College at Rocco Calvo Field in Bethlehem with kickoff set for 12:00 p.m.
