Johns Hopkins Moves to 2-0 with 34-7 Win at Susquehanna
SELINSGROVE, PA - Visiting Johns Hopkins held host Susquehanna to just 138 yards of total offense and got a pair of touchdown runs from junior JD Abbottas the Blue Jays ran their regular season winning streak to 16 games with a 34-7 victory at Lopardo Stadium Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Blue Jays' record to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Centennial Conference, while the Crusaders slip to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Centennial. The win is also JHU's 14th straight in league play.
It was an efficient offensive output for the Blue Jays, who got 231 yards passing and one touchdown from junior quarterback Robbie Matey, while the defense continued its impressive early-season surge as it held its second straight opponent to less than 200 yards of total offense. Johns Hopkins last held consecutive opponents to less than 200 yards of total offense early in the 2011 season.
The Blue Jays grabbed a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Abbott capped a 16-play, 78-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 48 seconds remaining in the opening period. The Blue Jays converted three third-down opportunities and one fourth down play to keep the drive alive.
As a steady rain began to fall, the Blue Jays capitalized on a Susquehanna miscue midway through the second quarter to push the lead to 14-0. Susquehanna punter John Slater mishandled the snap deep in Crusader territory and the Blue Jays needed just three plays to go 19 yards with Matey scoring on a 10-yard run to give the Blue Jays the two-touchdown advantage they carried into halftime.
The 14-point lead held until midway through the third quarter, when the Blue Jays went 91 yards on 10 plays with a 36-yard strike from Matey to junior Bob D'Orazio on a perfect play-action pass setting the Blue Jays up at the Crusader six-yard line. Senior Jonathan Rigaudswept around right end one play later to give the Blue Jays the 21-point lead.
The Crusaders, held to just 65 yards of total offense in the first half, got a big play from their defense late in the third quarter to set up their lone scoring drive of the day. Nick Aigeldinger intercepted Matey at midfield and returned it to the JHU 42-yard line. Eight plays later, sophomore George Pachucy connected with Casey Tosches across the middle from nine yards out to slice the deficit to 21-7.
Any hopes of a Susquehanna comeback were dashed midway through the fourth quarter when the Blue Jays struck for touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to account for the 34-7 final score. A two-yard touchdown run by Abbott and a 46-yard scoring pass from Matey to D'Orazio closed the scoring and secured JHU's fourth straight win in the series.
The Blue Jay defense was led by senior Adam Schweyer, who collected 10 tackles, including two for losses and one of five Johns Hopkins sacks in the game. Junior Joe DiTroliocollected two of the five sacks and three of JHU's 10 tackles for losses in the game. Susquehanna converted just 4-of-16 third-down opportunities and was 0-for-3 on fourth-down attempts.
Matey was 19-of-29 for 231 yards with the one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 35 yards and the one score to help fueld a ground game that accounted for 158 yards and four touchdowns. Rigaud led the way with 81 yards and the one score on 20 carries. D'Orazio had a career-high 122 yards receiving on five receptions with the one score.
Susquehanna struggled to mount a sustained rushing attack as 31 carries netted just 56 yards. Three SU quarterbacks combined to go 16-of-32 for 82 yards with the one touchdown. Johns Hopkins sophomore Ryan Ricealso had one interception.
Johns Hopkins will return to action next Saturday when the Blue Jays welcome Morvian to Homewood Field for a Centennial Conference game. The Blue Jays will be looking for their 150th win under head coach Jim Margraff, who improved to 149-79-3 (.652). Only one other college football coach in Maryland state history has won 150 games. Morgan State's Eddie Hurt is the winningest college football coach in state history as he won 174 games from 1929-59.
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