SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Ursinus senior wide receiver Nick Giarratano (Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood) caught four passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns, including his school record 20th touchdown reception, as the Bears (5-2, 5-1 Centennial) defeated Susquehanna (4-3, 3-3 Centennial), 49-19, Saturday afternoon at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium.
Giarratano's 56-yard scoring reception in the first quarter gave him the school record, breaking a tie with Hall of Fame receiver Ron Floyd. Giarratano also caught scoring passes of 22 and 64 yards in the win, as Ursinus (5-2, 5-1 Centennial) moved into sole possession of second place with the win.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Curran (Oceanview, N.J./Ocean City) threw for 300 yards on 18-for-31 with four scores, while sophomore running back Bryan Ellis (Owings Mills, Md./McDonogh School) rushed for 92 yards on 16 carries. He also scored on a 54 yard run 1:35 into the game as Ursinus had 469 yards of total offense.
The defense unit tallied up four sacks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Senior defensive end Sean Whelan (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) had all four sacks with senior linebacker Greg Martell (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) had 11 tackles on the afternoon.
The win puts Ursinus in sole possession of second place with three weeks left in the season, heading into next Saturday's game with nationally-ranked and undefeated Johns Hopkins.
Ursinus won the toss, took the ball and scored on its third play from scrimmage as Ellis ran off tackle for a 54 yard score and a 7-0 lead with 13:25 left. Susquehanna then drove down the field, but, Martell forced a fumble by Greg Tellish at the Ursinus 42, which was recovered by junior defensive back Buddy Ferro (Clifton Heights, Pa./Episcopal Academy) at the Ursinus 43.
The Bears went up 14-0 as Giarratano caught a 56-yard scoring pass on the fourth play of the drive, with 9:31 left.
Susquehanna cut the lead to 14-3 in the second quarter as Spencer Hotaling kicked a 22-yard field goal with eight minutes left. Ursinus would go up 21-3 at intermission, as Giarratano caught a 22-yard pass from Curran with nine seconds left.
Susquehanna scored on its first drive of the second half, going 57 yards in 13 plays, capped by a field goal from Hotaling from 20 yards out, cutting the deficit to 21-6.
Ursinus went up 28-6 via a turnover, as after a Derek Giannetti punt, Spenser Ercole fumbled on the punt return which was recovered by Ferro at the Susquehanna 1. Sophomore running back Drae Lewis (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) rushed from 1-yard out on the next play for a 28-6 lead with 2:57 left in the third.
Susquehanna scored on its next drive as Rich Palazzi found Alex Patchin for a 27-yard scoring pass and a 28-12 Ursinus lead with 1:16 left. However, Ursinus struck right back as after the kickoff, Curran found Giarratano from 64 yards out and a 35-12 lead with 57 seconds left in the third.
Susquehanna scored on its first drive of the fourth quarter, as Palazzi and Patchin hooked up again, this time from 36 yards out for a 35-19 score in favor of Ursinus.
The Bears added two more scores, a 35-yard touchdown catch by senior Al Desiderio (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) with 11:19 left and another touchdown run from Lewis from 53 yards out with just 36 seconds left for the final 49-19 margin.
Junior defensive back Chris Rountree (Lawnside, N.J./Haddon Heights) and senior defensive back Mike Rissmiller (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) each had interceptions, while Ferro had two fumble recoveries.
Ursinus heads to Johns Hopkins next Saturday for a 1 p.m. start.