COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, Ursinus had its attempt at a game-winning drive halted by an interception deep in Juniata territory, as the Eagles (2-4, 1-4 Centennial) held on to defeat the Bears (2-4, 1-4 Centennial) 21-17 on Saturday afternoon at Patterson Field.
Sophomore quarterback James Emmitt (Pittston, Pa./Pittston) had his pass intercepted by Juniata senior safety Nick Bonavita at the Eagles' 15-yard line with just over 20 seconds remaining to end the game.
Emmitt, making his first career start, was 15-for-34 for 181 yards. Junior running back Corey Kelly (Conshohocken, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) was named the Kenneth R. Walker Trophy Award Winner as he had 121 yards on 23 rushes and a score. The Walker Trophy is given to the most outstanding Ursinus player in the Homecoming game. Kelly also caught four passes for 38 yards.
Junior wide receiver Matt Raymond (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) had four passes for a team-high 96 yards.
Defensively, senior defensive back Kyle Adkins (Holland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) had a game-high nine tackles and a fumble recovery.
Juniata was led by junior wide receiver Aaron O'Brien who had seven catches for 129 yards and two scores, scoring on passes 4 and 33 yards out. Junior quarterback Hank Coyne was 16-for-31 for 218 yards and the two scores.
On its first offensive drive, Ursinus went seven plays in 45 yards to take a 7-0 lead when Emmett scored on a 1-yard run at the 11:20 mark. Juniata would tie the score late in the first quarter on Coyne's first TD pass, a 33-yard strike to O'Brien with 51 seconds left. The play was set up by a 32-yard punt return from junior Kirby Breault.
Juniata's next score came when the Eagles were given a second chance. On 2nd-and-5 from the Ursinus 36, Coyne had his pass intercepted by junior linebacker Tim Rafter (Springfield, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep). Rafter was stripped of the ball at the Bears' 42-yard line by Breault and the Eagles got a fresh set of downs.
From there, Juniata went 42 yards in four plays capped by a 4-yard pass from Coyne to O'Brien for a 14-7 Juniata lead with 5:20 left.
Ursinus tied the score at 14-all when Kelly rushed from 6-yards out ending a 63-yard, five-play drive with 2:42 on the clock. The big play was a 45-yard pass from Emmett to Raymond.
Juniata then took the ball and drained the clock, scoring with just eight seconds left in the half on a 1-yard run by junior running back Matt Lehr for a 21-14 halftime lead.
The only score in the second half was a 28-yard field goal from senior kicker Eric Boyer (Fort Washington, Pa./Upper Dublin) with 8:43 left in the third quarter.
Ursinus heads to Susquehanna next Saturday.