SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna University had no answer for the Gettysburg College ground game as the Bullets racked up a season-high 342 yards on the way to a 31-21 victory over the Crusaders in Centennial Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Lopardo Stadium.
Gettysburg (2-2, 2-1 CC) was led by junior tailback Kyle Wigley (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) who picked up a season-high 169 yards on 21 carries and scored a touchdown. Senior quarterback Zach Miller (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) added 78 yards on the ground and a touchdown, while senior Nick Ulassin (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) recorded 66 yards rushing and found the end zone twice, including a two-yard run late in the fourth quarter to set the final score.
Gettysburg's rushing defense was just as good as the offense, holding Susquehanna (0-4, 0-2 CC) to just 72 net yards on the ground.
The Bullets established the running game early with nine rushes on the opening drive. Back-to-back rushes by juniors Travis Andrews (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) and Kevin McCarthy (Yardley, Pa./Notre Dame) totaled 21 yards and set the stage for Miller's six-yard scamper for the opening touchdown.
After forcing a three-and-out by Susquehanna, Gettysburg was driving down the field again only to lose the ball on a fumble. The Crusaders converted on the turnover with an eight-yard toss by Nick Crusco to Denzell Walker to tie the game.
Ulassin picked up 35 total yards on a catch and two rushes on Gettysburg's ensuing possession, capping the drive with a 12-yard run to the end zone to lift his team back in front 14-7.
The hosts would find the equalizer just before the break as Crusco connected with Walker again to tie the game.
Sophomore Chris Miller (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) picked off Crusco's first pass of the second half and returned it 16 yards to the seven yard-line of Susquehanna. Wigley punched it in for his second touchdown of the season to give Gettysburg a 21-14 lead.
Later in the third, sophomore Garrett Long (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) capped a 12-play drive with a career-long 37-yard field goal to put the visitors ahead by 10 (24-14) late in the quarter. Susquehanna refused to back down as Crusco led a quick drive into Gettysburg territory and Tim Wade ran it in from 14 yards out to pull the hosts to 24-21 at the end of the third quarter.
After a missed field goal by the Crusaders, Gettysburg charged back down the field, covering 75 yards in just over three minutes with Ulassin picking up his second score.
Susquehanna picked up a pair of first downs to get into Gettysburg territory on its ensuing possession, but a sack by senior Drew Winters (Midlothian, Md./Mountain Ridge) helped quell the threat as the hosts eventually turned the ball over on downs. The Bullets running game ate up the remaining three minutes of action.
Gettysburg out-gained Susquehanna 490-408 with the rushing attack averaging six yards per carry. Miller finished with 148 yards passing, but saw his 13-game streak of throwing a touchdown pass come to an end. Wigley added a team-high 35 yards receiving on the way to a career-high 204 all-purpose yards.
Junior Kodie McNamara (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) led the defensive effort with nine tackles, while junior Dan Ciemniecki (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield) and senior Gordon Prince (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) each added eight. Two of Winters' tackles went for a loss.
Crusco piled up 336 yards through the air for Susquehanna, finishing 29-of-42 with two touchdowns. Walker caught 11 of those passes for 163 yards and two scores. Wade led the rushing game with 68 yards, while Jim Barry finished with a game-high 16 tackles.
Gettysburg returns home to face McDaniel College (1-3, 0-3 CC) on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m.