HUNTINGDON, PA- The Juniata football team returned to the gridiron on a cloudy and cool Saturday afternoon at Knox Field. The host Eagles held a 24-7 lead at halftime as they cruised to a 38-10 victory over Ursinus. It was the Eagles' first homecoming win in eight years.
The victory snaps a three-game winless streak for JC while the Bears suffer their first loss and are 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Centennial. Juniata moves to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
Ward Udinski (Doylestown, Pa/Central Buck West) passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 61 yards and a score. Running back Deonte Alston (Bel-Air, MD/Patterson Mill) had 27 yards rushing and a touchdown while also adding four receptions for 62 yards.
The Juniata defense picked off Ursinus quarterback Kevin Monahan twice as he completed only 13 out of 34 passes for 117 yards. The Eagles broke up six passes with Nicholas Stubbs (Hagerstown, MD/South Hagerstown) turning away three.
Ursinus won the opening coin toss but deferred to the Eagles. Juniata's first drive did not end the way it wanted as Udinski fumbled at the UC 48 and the Bears took over at their own 42. Ursinus grabbed advantage of the JC miscue as it drove inside Juniata territory and Nick Pustizzi ran for the one-yard score as the Bears took the 7-0 lead.
The Eagles punted on their next possession and Ursinus started its next drive at Juniata's 46. The JC defense stood its ground as Bear kicker Eric Boyer missed a 45-yard field goal.
After taking over at the JC 28, Udinski missed on his first two passes. He made good on his third attempt as he hooked up with Kyle Schuck (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) for 20 yards and the first down at the JC 48. With possession in Bear territory, Udinski hit Alston for 33 yards and another first down as the opening quarter came to a close.
Juniata moved to the UC 6 but its drive stalled. Ken Kysor (Port Allegheny, PA/Port Allegheny) came on for a chip shot 22-yard field goal and nailed to make it 7-3 Bears.
The Eagles stopped Ursinus on its next possession. With the ball on its own 37, Udinski passed to Aaron O'Brien (York, PA/York Catholic) for 21 yards to move to the UC 42. Three straight rushes brought Juniata to the UC 18. On second and 10, Udinski found Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) for the 18-yard touchdown and with Kevin Bonalle's (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) extra point, the Eagles took their first lead of the game, 10-7, with 9:05 showing on the game clock.
Ursinus would turn it over on the ensuing possession as Stubbs picked off a tipped pass at midfield. Eight plays later, Udinski called his own number to give Juniata a 17-7 advantage.
The two teams exchanged punts and the Bears had the ball with 44 seconds left in the half. The drive lasted only two plays as Monahan would be intercepted by Brian Bologa (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) who ran to the UC 16. Udinski connected with Slutter for 16 yards and the Eagles went into halftime with a 24-7 lead.
Ursinus opened the third quarter with six straight runs to move into Juniata territory. The JC defense again stood firm as the Bears were held to a 21-yard Boyer field goal to put the score at 24-10.
Juniata began its drive on its own 22 following a Stubbs 18-yard return. 13 plays and 58 yards later, Alston took it in from the UC 2 to put the Eagles up 31-10.
The score stayed at 31-10 until late in the fourth quarter. After Ursinus' possession ended on downs, JC started on the UC 38. On third down from the Bears' 14, Udinski passed to Schuck for the touchdown to move the Eagles ahead 38-10.
Slutter caught five balls for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also had three carries for 19 yards. O'Brien had four catches for 56 yards. Schuck finished with two receptions for 34 yards and the one score.
Ethan Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) led the defense with eight tackles. Brian Pyle (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield), Nick Bonavita (Sheffield, PA/Sheffield Area), and Jake Diviney (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) all picked up five stops each.
Juniata will look to make it two in a row next Saturday when it travels to Allentown to take on Muhlenberg. Game time will be at 1 p.m.