SELINSGROVE, PA (October 15, 2021) -- Senior quarterback Michael Ruisch tossed a career-high five touchdowns Friday night, leading the No. 20 Susquehanna University football team past Gettysburg College 47-7 in action from Amos Alonzo Stagg Field in Doug Arthur Stadium.
With the victory and Johns Hopkins University's 21-6 loss to Muhlenberg College tonight, Susquehanna moved into sole possession of first place in the Centennial Conference with four games left to play in the 2021 regular season. It was also SU's 14th consecutive victory, and the 12th straight home victory in Doug Arthur Stadium.
SU (6-0, 5-0 Centennial) got a 3-and-out after the opening kickoff, the River Hawks marched down the field on five plays over 55 yards before Ruisch connected with senior tight end Michael Lefever from 17-yards out for his third touchdown of the season. After a missed field goal by Gettysburg (1-5, 1-4 Centennial), SU would take 4:10 off the clock before Elijah Hoffman finished off an 11-play drive with a 39-yard field goal to make it 10-0.
The River Hawks finished off another drive at the end of the first quarter with a 29-yard field goal by Hoffman, and then added to their lead to make it 19-0 early in the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown catch by senior Kyle Good. For Good, it was his fifth receiving touchdown of the season. On the ensuing drive, Gettysburg had their drive extended twice on penalties and found the end zone with a 31-yard touchdown catch from Mike Vigliano to make it 19-7.
The offensive units for each team would start to struggle through the second quarter before Susquehanna added onto its lead with 2:23 to go in the half. On the drive, first-year Gavin Coles busted a huge 78-yard run down to the Gettysburg 6, and Ruisch hit Sammy Darrell for a six-yard touchdown catch on the next play to make it 26-7 at the intermission. The Susquehanna defense after surrendering the lone touchdown went into lockdown mode, allowing just 59 yards of total offense over the last 11 drives for Gettysburg. The defense forced GC into eight punts after its lone score, picking off the Bullets twice with the only other drive ending with the finish of the game.
While the domination was occurring on defense, the offensive unit continued to pile on the points in the second half. Early in the second half the River Hawks needed just one play to go 78 yards, as Ruisch's play-action fake got Lefever wide open over the middle and the senior rumbled untouched into the end zone for his second score of the season. It was a career-long reception for the tight end, and the second-longest touchdown pass of the career for Ruisch.
Later in the third, Ruisch finished up his day with another passing touchdown, this time hitting Eddie Nugent from seven-yards out to cap a seven-play drive to make the score 40-7. The SU reserves got in after that, and senior quarterback Mikey Giancaspro collected his first career touchdown pass when he hit Bryce Ellinger from 34 yards out for his first career touchdown catch.
The River Hawks dominated the total offense battle Friday 515-144, while surrendering only 88 passing to Gettysburg on the night. SU held Gettysburg to 4-of-16 on third downs and also won the takeaway battle 3-0. Offensively, Ruisch finished with 267 yards on 17-of-33 passing, while Coles needed just two carries to lead SU on the ground with 85 yards. Dashon Bundy averaged nine yards a carry en route to 36 yards on four totes, and Frankie Negrini rushed for 32 net yards.
Darrell finished with 72 yards receiving on five grabs, and Nugent and Good each posted four grabs and a score. Hoffman added three touchbacks in addition to his two field goals for SU. Defensively, Brendan Krumenacker led the squad with 10 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and Sal Gurnari added seven stops. Andrew Wells, Drew Robinson and Anthony Scicchitano all had six tackles, and Craig Roumes totaled five stops, a sack and two pass breakups. David Gilchrist and Edwin Maxwell each also added interceptions for SU, which finished with eight tackles for loss.
Mason Stolarik was 13-of-26 for 80 yards through the air for GC, and Von Musgrove led the Bullets with nine tackles.
Up Next
- Susquehanna will be right back in Doug Arthur Stadium next Saturday, October 23 at 1 p.m., hosting McDaniel College in Centennial Conference play for Homecoming 2021.
Facebook: susquehanna.riverhawks | Instagram: @gosusqu
Twitter: @GOsusqU | Hashtags: #AllIn, #GOSU, #RiverHawkPride