(Posted September 23, 2006)

Moravian 33, Juniata 14 HUNTINGDON, Pa. ? The Juniata College football team got a strong offensive effort in the first half and a solid defensive performance in the second half, but were unable to put them both together as the Eagles dropped a 33-14 decision to visiting Moravian College in Middle Atlantic Conference action at Knox Stadium Saturday afternoon Juniata fell to 0-4 overall, 0-3 in conference play with the loss while Moravian improves to 2-1 overall and in the MAC. Despite being outgained by just 30 yards, and seeing the Greyhounds earn just one extra first down, Juniata could not pull itself out of a early hole. Moravian got solid quarterback play from Marc Braxmeier who was 13 of 24 for 184 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. On the other side Juniata got another 100-yard game from senior back Duane Ehredt Jr., (Bellwood-Antis/Altoona) who gained 123 yards on 29 carries and scored twice. It was the third-straight game in which Ehredt has topped the 100-yard mark. And sophomore quarterback Jay Leonard (Big Spring/Newville) passed for 222 yards while completing 20 of 39 passes. But after heading into halftime trailing 27-14, the Eagles could muster only eight first downs and 111 yards in the second half. The Greyhounds took the opening kickoff and began its first possession at its own 42-yard line. Sophomore running back Tyler McCambridge (Northampton, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) capped a five-play drive with a 21-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Brian Reckenbeil added the extra-point for a 7-0 Moravian lead with 12:45 remaining in the first quarter. The teams then exchanged stops before Moravian got the ball on its first possession of the second quarter. Braxmeier threw his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 13-yard score to junior tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) to cap the six-play, 44-yard drive. Reckenbeil?s extra-point went wide to the left, leaving the score at 13-0 with 12:35 remaining in the first half. Juniata answered immediately as the Eagles took the ensuing kickoff and drove 85 yards to score their first points of the game. Leonard found Lance Tippett (Altoona/Altoona) for several completions and then Ehredt capped the 11-play drive with a one-yard run off the right side. Junior David Nicklaus (Lampeter-Strasburg/Lancaster) added the extra-point to pull Juniata within 13-7 with 8:08 left in the second quarter. Tippett finished with a team-high five catches for 80 yards on the game A strange bounce on the kick-off worked well for the visitors as the ball caromed off a Greyhound player and right to Edward Savoth who returned it 43 yards into Juniata territory. Three plays later, sophomore running back Tyler de Rouen ran off the right side for a 16-yard touchdown. Moravian went for the two-point conversion with McCambridge running off the left side for the conversion, giving the Greyhounds a 21-7 lead with 6:38 remaining in the half. Juniata?s offense answered again, this time putting together an 11-play scoring drive that covered 72 yards. The drive featured three Leonard completions and then was capped by two-yard scoring run from Ehredt. Nicklaus made the extra-point to cut Moravian?s lead to 21-14 with 2:25 remaining in the second quarter. But in a pivotal momentum swing the Greyhounds were able to take the momentum back with one more drive late in the half. Moravian would score with 1:12 left on the clock on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Braxmeier to senior wide receiver Shawn Martell. Reckenbeil missed the extra-point again to the left, giving the Greyhounds a 27-14 halftime lead. After neither team was able to move the ball on the opening drives of the half, another special teams play from the Greyhounds led to the game?s final score. Moravian senior defensive back Justin came off the left side of the line to block a Juniata punt. Freshman defensive back Brad Bodine (picked up the ball at the Juniata 31-yard line and returned it six yards to the Juniata 25-yard line, setting up Moravian?s next possession. Braxmeier would cap off the four-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore fullback Morgan de Rouen on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Greyhounds would go for the two point conversion again but Braxmeier?s pass was broken up by Juniata freshman defensive back Tyler Hall (Juniata Valley/Alexandria), leaving the Moravian lead at 33-14 with 14:49 remaining in the game. Juniata would have three more chances to cut into the lead, but were unable to put anymore points on the board. A long completion from Leonard to Chad Steiner (Frederick/Frederick, Md.) moved the ball into Moravian territory on the Eagles? final drive. But Juniata was unable to get in with four chances inside the ten, and turned the ball over on downs. Steiner caught four passes for 41 yards on the contest. Juniata?s defense held Moravian to 384 yards for the game, and just 132 yards in the second half. Hall led the defensive effort for the Eagles as he made 12 tackles, including two for a loss, with a sack. Josh Roy (Northern Lebanon/Fredericksburg) added six tackles, while four other players provided four tackles, including Nick Reiter (Philipsburg-Osceola/West Decatur) who also had a sack. Bodine led the Moravian defense with ten tackles while Andrew Morrissey added nine tackles with a sack, one of four by Moravian in the game. Carl Robinson and junior safety Zach Santiago each had seven tackles with Robinson breaking up two passes and Santiago adding a sack. Juniata will return to action next Saturday as the Eagles travel to play Albright, while Moravian will be hosting Widener. ###

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