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HUNTINGDON — The Juniata football team lost to visiting The Catholic University of America, 35-31, Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Knox Stadium.
Isaiah Randall made his first start of the season and went 10-26 for 149 yards with two touchdowns. Ivan Foreman tallied 108 yards on the ground on 26 carries. Dalvin Wheeler hauled in two passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Stephen Griffin totaled 10 tackles and a pass breakup, while Tucker Lowery picked off two passes, and returned one of them 100 yards for a touchdown. Cayden Jarett added a pick six of his own, and Mikey Chisolm also had an interception.
The teams exchanged punts to open the game, with the Eagles starting their second drive from their own 25. Brysen Delany drew a pass interference penalty, Randall found Hankerson for a 20-yard completion and three plays later found him streaking down the middle of the field on a post route for a 41-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing Catholic drive, on second and 10, Chisolm leapt up and snagged the ball out the air as Juniata took over at their own 45. Juniata turned that into a 29-yard field goal by Cody Paige.
Catholic cut the Eagle lead to three early in the second quarter when they drove 64 yards in seven plays, scoring a touchdown on the ground from three yards out. They retook the lead on the 79-yard run up the middle, making it 14-10.
The Eagle defense reclaimed the lead the next time they had an opportunity. On third and four from the Catholic 11, as Jarett intercepted the ball and returned it down the far sideline and into the endzone for six. Paige’s extra point put JC back up three 17-14. The Eagle defense continued to make splash plays, with Lowery getting under a floating pass from the Cardinal QB at the visitor’s 31.
Juniata couldn’t capitalize on the turnover, and Catholic responded by marching down the field to the Eagle one in the final seconds of the half. The Cardinal QB tried to find his receiver near the pylon, but Lowery broke in front and nabbed the pass out of the air in stride. He was gone the other direction before any Catholic player could think about catching him, taking the ball for a program-record 100-yard pick-six.
Juniata led 24-14 at the half.
Catholic got the ball first to start the third, and went 63 yards in 10 plays, converting on one-yard rushing touchdown to get within three.
Juniata responded, with Foreman bursting through the line for a 34-yard run that helped the Eagles get into the red zone. On second and eight from the 17, JC dialed up a nifty screen to extend the lead. Randall rolled right before turning and finding Nick Rice all alone on the left side of the field. He easily cut past the lone defender and cruised into the endzone to make it 31-21.
Catholic answered with another rushing touchdown early in the fourth to get back within three 31-28. After they forced Juniata to punt, they drove 97 yards in 12 plays to take the lead back at 35-31.
The Eagles, starting at their own 44 following a strong 26-yard kickoff return from Dalvin Wheeler, got down to the Cardinal eight. On fourth and goal, Randall’s final attempt fell incomplete.
Juniata will travel to take on Susquehanna in the final game of the season, next Sunday at 12:00.