BY GREG WILLIAMS

Sentinel reporter

gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com

GETTYSBURG — At 6-2 and 210-pounds, Juniata High School product Makih Hunt provides a big target for Juniata College Eagles’ quarterbacks.

Last year, Hunt appeared in 10 games and caught a career-high 10 passes for 82 yards as the Eagles went 2-8.

A new year has brought a new season with plenty of new expectations for Hunt and his teammates.

Juniata opened the season with a thrilling 31-30 victory at Gettysburg College on Friday night. Hunt caught a 33-yard strike in the second quarter to set up a Juniata touchdown then hauled in a short three-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to power the Eagles’ comeback.

The Indians led 19-13 at halftime but saw Gettysburg notch a pair of TDs in the third quarter to go up 27-19. Hunt’s TD catch brought Juniata within 27-25 at the 14:22 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Eagles took the lead when quarterback Isaiah Randell connected with tight end Jordan Horm on a 47-yard pass with 7:37 to play. That gave Juniata a 31-30 lead.

Hunt finished the game with four receptions for 48 yards and the one score. Randell threw for 132 yards and three TDs on the day, while running back Ivan Foreman rushed for 133 yards and two scores.

Midd-West product Carter Sauer played in the game, while Parker Boop (Midd-West) and Naiym Francis (Mount Union) did not.

The Eagles won their first season opener since 2017, and the win over Gettysburg is their first since 2016. Juniata hosts Allegheny at 1 p.m. Saturday.

In other college football action on Saturday:

BOWIE STATE 23,

SHIPPENSBURG 7

SHIPPENSBURG — Samuel Graham returned a fumble 53 yards for a touchdown and a pair of running backs combined for 146 rushing yards as Bowie State knocked off Shippensburg.

Bulldogs quarterback Malakai Anthony found wide receiver Challenger Valentine for a 29-yard scoring strike in the first quarter and Graham’s scoop and score put the Bulldogs up 13-0.

QB Riley Gunnels hit wide receiver Jaevon Parker from 10 yards out to bring the Raiders within 13-7 at the half. That proved to be the only offensive highlight for the Raiders. Bowie State’s Maximus Jones plowed into the end zone from a yard out in the third quarter and Chris Coleman booted a 35-yard field goal in the fourth to set the final.

Shippensburg outgained the Bulldogs 315-285 in yardage and 19-16 in first downs. Offensively, the Raiders converted 2 of 9 third downs and failed twice on fourth down. Shippensburg also fumbled the ball twice and lost both.

Mifflin County product Cyrell Green did not play for the Raiders, who travel to Clarion on Saturday.

LOCK HAVEN 16,

GLENVILLE STATE 13

LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven raced to a 16-point first half lead then held on for a season-opening win over Glenville State (W.Va.).

Running back Damir Green rushed for a pair of first half touchdowns as he scampered 44 yards with 4:18 to play in the opening quarter to give the Bald Eagles a 6-0 lead.

After a Caden Bauer field goal from 22 yards out made it a 9-0 game, Green broke loose again for a 13-yard scoring run.

The Pioneers rallied to within 16-7 at halftime as quarterback Anthony Garrett connected with Naseem Pacheco for a 39-yard TD pass. Garrett found Kordell Lewis for a 18-yard scoring strike to make it 16-13 with 1:56 to play in the third quarter.

Lock Haven quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky went 15 of 26 passing for 190 yards and 1 interception, while Garrett threw for 296 yards. Ezequiel Johnson led the Bald Eagles with 11 rushes for 90 yards and wideout Ceasar Durrell added 63 receiving yards with four catches.

Lock Haven plays at Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday.