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HUNTINGDON -- With three conference games scheduled for October, the Juniata College Eagles hoped for at least one Landmark Conference win.
Powerful Western Connecticut State ended in a rout. Catholic was a close call but a loss.
Saturday's clash with rival Susquehanna - the last chance for Juniata - left the Eagles still in search of that first win. Quarterback Josh Ehrlich passed for 313 yards and five touchdowns and the River Hawks defense limited Juniata to 170 yards of total offense in a 56-7 romp at Knox Stadium in Huntingdon.
The loss was the Eagles' fifth-straight defeat since opening the season at 2-0.
Ehrich threw scoring strikes to three different receivers in the first quarter as Susquehanna (4-2, 2-0 Landmark Conference) grabbed a 21-0 lead. Carter McCauley, who had 105 receiving yards on the day, caught two of them. The second TD pass to McCauley went for 74 yards.
The River Hawks continued to pound Juniata (2-5, 0-3 LC) in the second quarter as Rahshan La Mons ran 35 yards for another score and Ehrlich threw TD pass No. 4.
Susquehanna made it a 42-0 game in the third quarter after Ehrlich threw TD pass No. 5. Juniata answered with a 1-yard run from Ivan Foreman and Alex Mullin added the PAT to cut the deficit to 42-7.
The River Hawks responded with a pair of TD passes as backup QB Tommy Wright passed 10 yards to Reese Gaughan and 28 yards to Frankie Mroz to cap the scoring.
The Eagles started Axel Ramos at QB who went 6 of 9 for 31 yards. Eight different Juniata receivers had one catch, including two for a loss, while Foreman finished with 17 carries for 88 yards. Defensively, Dillon Wakefield led the Eagles with 12 tackles.
Locally, Midd-West High School's Carter Sauer started at left guard for Juniata and Mount Union Area High School product Naiym Francis played, but neither of them had any statistics. Former Juniata High School standout Mykah Hunt and Midd-West's Parker Bobb did not play.
The Eagles return to action at Wilkes on Nov. 1.
In other local college football action on Saturday:
Lock Haven 28, West Chester 21
LOCK HAVEN -- Lock Haven saved some of its best football of the season until the final stages of Saturday's Homecoming contest with West Chester, and the late-game heroics lifted the Bald Eagles to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division win.
Lock Haven scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes to record its first victory over West Chester in 34 years, snapping a 13-game losing streak to the Rams (3-4, 2-3 PSAC East).
Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, Jake Roberts returned the kickoff 88 yards to put the Bald Eagles (3-4, 2-2 PSAC East) on the scoreboard.
After Colin O'Sullivan answered with his second TD pass of the game to restore West Chester's 14-point led, Lock Haven's Cureem Hathcock ran four yards to make it a 21-14 ballgame.
The Bald Eagles pulled even in the fourth quarter as quarterback Jackson Ostowsky connected with Mekhi Watson from 2 yards out to tie the game at 21-21 with 4:54 to play.
That set up the game-winner as Damir Green rushed 29 yards for a touchdown with 59 seconds left.
Ostrowsky went 22 of 36 for 257 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, while O'Sullivan was 24 of 35 for 282 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Green ended the day with 15 carries and 67 yards, while Justin Popovich racked up 136 receiving yards for Lock Haven.
Lock Haven travels to Shippensburg on Saturday.
EAST STROUDSBURG 24, SHIPPENSBURG 7
EAST STROUDSBURG - Host East Stroudsburg's offense exploded for 17 points in the second quarter, which proved to be the difference in a PSAC East clash on Saturday.
After a scoreless opening quarter, quarterback Sean McTaggart found Beau Heyser up the middle from 15 yards out to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead at the 7:18 mark.
Five minutes later, Harrison Susi rushed right for 18 yards to increase the margin to 14-0. With 50 seconds remaining in the first half, Ty Quintois booted a 41-yard field goal to make it, 17-0.
Shippensburg's defense accounted for the Raiders only points as Eli Rodriguez sacked McTaggart, who fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Rodriguez for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Ajani Walker scored on a 1-yard run for East Stroudsburg in the fourth quarter to set the 24-7 final.
Raiders QB Riley Gunnels went 19 of 30 for 118 yards and one INT. He also lost a fumble. Defensively, Nate Myers led Shippensburg with nine tackles, including one for loss.
McTaggart ended the night 10 for 20 for 136 yards and one TD. The Raiders were outgained 322 to 181 yards.
Shippensburg hosts Lock Haven for Homecoming on Saturday.