Sep 07, 2019
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Junior running back Da'Avian Ellington (Carteret, N.J./Woodbridge) ran for career-highs of 179 yards, including a career long of 63, and two touchdowns to lift the Susquehanna University football team to a 42-26 home- and season-opening victory over Lycoming College on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Susquehanna holds on to the Stagg Hat Trophy for the third consecutive season.
Susquehanna 42, Lycoming 26
How It Happened
- Susquehanna staked an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter behind a three-yard run by sophomore running back Xavier Briggs-DeVore (Paterson, N.J./Paramus Catholic), capping a five-play, 78-yard drive in 2:55. Highlighting the drive was a 54-yard reception by sophomore wide receiver Samuel Darrell (Plainfield, N.J./Pope John XXIII) from sophomore quarterback Michael Ruisch (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland).
- Jamie Fisher put the Warriors on the scoreboard with a 33-yard field goal to end an 18-play, 59 yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock and cut the deficit to 6-3 with 1:09 left in the first frame.
- The two sides combined for 31 points in the second quarter and the River Hawks would carry a 23-17 advantage into halftime.
- SU went up 10-3 on a 30-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Elijah Hoffman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia Area) before the Warriors claimed their first lead of the game, 10-9, with 7:47 left in the first half on a Stephen Toczylousky 60-yard reception from Elijah Shemory. Shemory would add to Lycoming's lead with a 25-yard rushing TD for an eight-point cushion.
- A 63-yard rushing score by Ellington and a 43-yard receiving touchdown by senior captain Mitch Carsley (Elverson, Pa./Twin Valley) in a span of just over two minutes sent Susquehanna into the break with a 23-17 margin.
- Lycoming pulled within three in the third quarter on a 40-yarder by Fisher at 8:17. Then senior tight end Anthony McCoy (Rosedale, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) stretched the SU lead to 29-20 on a 30-yard reception from Ruisch in the final minute.
- The River Hawks jumped to a 15-point lead in the fourth behind a Ruisch one-yard rushing touchdown before Ellington picked up his second 60-plus run of the day for his second score of the game.
Inside the Box Score
- Susquehanna put up 541 yards of offense, including 294 through the air as Ruisch completed 18 of 30 passes with no interceptions.
- The River Hawk defense stifled Lycoming's run game, holding the Warriors to just 81 yards on the ground.
Top Performers
- Darrell paced the Susquehanna receiving corps with 91 yards on two receptions, including his long of 54 in the first quarter.
- Senior captain David Simpson (Dallas, Pa./Dallas) notched 11 tackles and a pass breakup to lead the defense while seniors Kashief Hyatt (Upper Marlboro, Md./Wise) and Salvatore Gurnari (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) recorded one sack a piece.
- Hyatt also registered 2.5 tackles for a loss of 12 yards and two pass breakups.
- Shemory went 16 of 32 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and a long of 60 while Keith Batkowski returned four kickoffs for 105 yards, including a long of 51. Allen Martin led the Warrior defense with 7.0 tackles.
Up Next for the River Hawks
- September 14 at No. 5/6 Johns Hopkins (1-0) – Baltimore, Md. / Homewood Field – 1:00 p.m.
Facebook: susquehanna.riverhawks | Instagram: @gosusqu, @susquehannafootball
Twitter: @GOsusqU, @SURiverHawksFB | Hashtags: #AllIn, #GOSU, #RiverHawkPride