Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS Juniata's Isaac Ramirez stiff arms Camp Hill's George Miller while running back the opening kickoff for a large gain.

MIFFLINTOWN — On Friday night, the Juniata Indians football team and Camp Hill played an “old school” smash mouth contest early on in the contest. In a game that had more of a defensive look to it, the Indians were able to wear down the Lions with their physical play.

It was a battle between 2-2 and 0-4 as the Indians held the edge as it was playing in front of its home crowd at Dietrick Field at Klingensmith Stadium.

In the end, the Juniata offense exploded for 27 points in the 27-10 win.

“I’m just thankful to get a win. We struggled again in the first half. I’m not sure what that is. I keep trying to tell the guys we need to figure out who we are. Right now we’re a second half team,” said Juniata coach Kurt Condo. “I’m thankful for that. The guys do what they have to but we got the whole thing together and played a complete football game.”

It was a game that Juniata was looking to jump over the .500 mark as it battled the feisty Camp Hill team looking for its first win of the year.

In the first half, the two teams combined for just nine points with the Indians leading 6-3.

Coming out of the intermission, the game slightly changed as Juniata’s offense started to find its groove.

However, it would be the Lions that drew first blood, taking the opening possession and taking it down and cashed in a 6-play drive. MA Scaringi capped off the drive with a hard-fought 10-yard TD run with the George Miller PAT, the Lions jumped back into the lead with 9:37 left in the third.

Juniata did not fare so well in its first possession, losing the ball via a fumble at midfield.

But like it did for most of the night, the Juniata defense came up big when they needed to as they were able to get the ball back close to where they lost it, holding Camp Hill at bay for four downs.

After that, the Juniata offense went back to work and this time, they marched the ball downfield with its ground attack.

With the ball down into Lions territory, Juniata quarterback Jason Condo found Jasper Shepps in a 25-yard TD hook up, taking back the lead at 12-10 with 3:38 left in the third.

Despite the 2-point conversion coming up just short, the Indians continued the momentum.

The “Big Red” defense once again took center stage as it forced Camp Hill into a fumble. It would be Bryce Harlon that recovered the fumble, giving his team the ball at the midfield mark.

Juniata continued to grind things out with its multi-back setup. In the process, the Lions were almost out of gas, allowing the ball to go down to the Camp Hill one.

Condo called his own number as he muscled his way through the line for the 1-yard TD run. With the Andel Lopez kick, Juniata added to its lead with 2:05 still left in the third, leading 19-10.

Going into the final stanza, the Indians closed its grip on the once potent passing game of Camp Hill.

They would bend but not break as they pressured Camp Hill quarterback Colby Luther all night, posting four sacks.

In the fourth quarter, the Indians added some insurance as they would rumble down the field one more time.

Isaac Ramirez would get his name called as he muscled in on a 7-yard TD run. Juniata went for two and was successful. Cam Bargo got the call and he completed the 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 27-10 with 9:15 left in the game.

From there, the Indians defense was able to contain the Lions in two separate drives before getting the ball back and running out the clock to give them and the home crowd the victory.

Juniata 27, Camp Hill 10

Camp Hill 3 0 7 0 – 10

Juniata 6 0 13 8 – 27

First Quarter

CH – George Miller 31-yards Field goal, 2:13.

Second Quarter

JUN – Isaac Ramirez 16-yard TD (kick failed), :47.3.

Third Quarter

CH – MA Scaringi 10-yard run (Miller PAT), 9:37.

JUN – Jason Condo 25-yard TD pass to Jasper Shepps (Conversion failed), 3:38.

JUN – Jason Condo 1-yard run (Andel Lopez kick), 2:05.

Fourth Quarter

Isaac Ramirez 7-yard run ( Cam Bargo 2-point conversion), 9:15

TEAM STATISTICS CH JUN

First downs 13. 15

Total Yards 220 239 Rushes-yards. 28-16 40-197

Yards passing 204. 42

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 20-25-0 2-6 -0

Fumbles-lost 1-1. 1-1

Penalties-yards 10-110 2-20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: CH – AJ Serdar 15-35, Owen Grove 2-(-6), M.A. Scaringi 6-33, Hayden Ziegler 1-0, Colby Luther 4(-36) JUN – Jason Condo 7-34, Jasper Shepps 3-6, Colten Rowles 4-31, Isaac Ramirez 10-57, Devin King 4-16, Cam Bargo 10-45, Cole Fike 1-4, Ty Fahnestock 1-4.

PASSING: CH – Luther 20-25-204. JUN – Condo 2-6-42.

RECEIVING : CH – Serdar 3-16, Grove 7-61, Scaringi 6-81, Sam Miller 3-51, Zeigler 1-5, . JUN – Shepps 2-42.