Playing for pride; Juniata takes Halifax to the brink

By Kenny Varner Jr.
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: October 13, 2018

By Kenny Varner

MIFFLINTOWN -One thing you will never find in the Juniata football vocabulary is the word quit!

Coming into the game sporting a 1-6 record, the Indians went to do battle with undefeated 7-0 Halifax in a Tri-Valley battle.

To say the least, Juniata was not intimidated at all with the Wildcats record and went right at them in a good old fashion smash mount football game that was filled of great defensive plays on both sides.

Despite leading going into the second half, Halifax was able two muster two scoring drives after intermission to squeak by the feisty and hard hitting Indians Friday night at Dietrick field 13-6.

“Our kids played hard and played a whale of a football game. This was the best defense we have played against this team. We were able to hold them to 13 points,” said Juniata coach Gary Klingensmith. “We lost one of our best players at the beginning of the second period. That hurt, especially at the goal line. This is the way it’s been this whole year. When you look underneath you can see they are learning a good lesson, just keep fighting and never let up. They took on the league’s best and traded them punch for punch. They have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Juniata’s defense came out hitting. After having to punt the ball away on their first possession, the Indians’ defense came up with the first big play of the young ball game.

On second and one on the Wildcats 41, Juniata forced a fumble and it was recovered by Jim McGlaughlin at the Halifax 30.

The drive stalled and the ball went back to the visitors, ending the first quarter.

Halifax was able to get the ball to their own 38 but Juniata’s defense held, forcing a punt.

As the clock continued to on the first quarter, the Indians caught a break as their punt forced Halifax to start at their own one.

It was a quick three and out and Juniata found itself with the best field position they had all night.

With the ball sitting on Halifax’s 27, the smash mouth running game of the Indians worked their way downfield quickly.

Facing a 1st and goal on the three, Ty Martin gave Juniata a 6-0. However, the PAT failed and the Indians had to settle for a 6-0 advantage with 7:34 left in the half.

Halifax’s offense looked frustrated at times on the field and the secondary had Wildcats quarterback London Johnson flustered.

The Indians had another chance to cash one more touchdown in before the intermission.

Facing a first and goal at the three, quarterback Jacob Condo called his number three consecutive times, driving the ball down to the 1/2 yard line.

On a fourth and goal, Halifax’s Broc Zerby came through the middle and cut Martin’s feet from out from under him saving the touchdown.

When the buzzer sounded, the half belonged to Juniata.

The Indians allowed only 45 yards rushing and 35 passing while its offense rushed for 88 and passed for 48.

Even in the beginning of the second quarter, Juniata’s defense played tough.

With the two tough defenses going toe-to-toe against the others offenses, the Wildcats were able to escape with a late score in the third quarter.

After starting at their own 20, Halifax drove the ball down the field and marched on a 9-play drive which ended in a 16-yard run by Jay Zerby, tying the game at six with 1:18 left in the third. With a successful PAT by Tai Lehmen, the Wildcats took the lead for the first time, 7-6.

Going into the fourth quarter, it was still either team’s ball game.

The Wildcats increased its lead on its next possession, when Johnson hooked up with teammate Blake Miller from 10-yards out, making it 13-6.

However, the Indians special teams blinked the extra point, keeping their team to within striking distance.

Juniata was able to put the pressure on as its offense rolled down to the 20 of Halifax before the drive stalled.

The also were able to get the ball back two more times before the game expired but it would be Halifax defense that wold have the last day as it came up with two interceptions by Nick Sheaffer and Grosser to give the Wildcats a sigh of relief as they escaped Mifflintown with 13-6 victory.

Juniata was led on offense by Jeremiah Parson who rushed for 56 yards and Steven Ranck who caught two passes for 51.

Halifax’s ground game was led by Zerby who muscled his way for an 86-yard running night while teammates Tyler Berzowski and Grosser both finished with 57 yards receiving.