Susquehanna Wins Stagg Hat Trophy Game, 55-7!
Susquehanna Advances to 3rd Straight NCAA D3 Playoffs
Susquehanna Dominated the Competition
The Susquehanna University football team won their third-straight Stagg Hat Trophy game, definitively defeating the Moravian University Greyhounds 55-7 on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Bethlehem. The Crusaders improved to 10-0 overall and clinched at least a share of their third consecutive Centennial Conference championship.
Susquehanna wasted no time establishing their dominance, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. Moravian briefly tied the game at 7-7 with a touchdown of their own, but Susquehanna quickly regained the lead and never looked back. They scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a commanding 31-7 lead into halftime.
A Comprehensive Victory
Susquehanna's offense was firing on all cylinders, amassing 464 total yards. Quarterback Michael Ruisch threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Noah Thigpen rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Matt Carrothers led the receiving corps with five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.
The Crusaders' defense was equally impressive, limiting Moravian to just 221 total yards and forcing three turnovers. Linebacker Andrew Burke led the way with eight tackles, while safety Evan Hannan had an interception.
Moving Forward
With the victory, Susquehanna earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. They will host an opening-round game on Saturday, Nov. 19, against an opponent to be determined.
Susquehanna is now 13-1 all-time in Stagg Hat Trophy games, which are played annually between the two schools. The Crusaders have won the last three meetings and have not lost to Moravian since 2015.
Additional Notes
- Susquehanna has now won 10 consecutive games this season.
- The Crusaders have outscored their opponents by an average of 39.4 points per game this season.
- Susquehanna is ranked No. 2 in the latest D3football.com national poll.
