Carter and River Hawks have a dream season | sport

SELINSGROVE – Garrett Carter is making the most of what may be his final football season.

The former Central Columbia High School all-state player and reigning Landmark Conference Defensive Most Valuable Player at Susquehanna University is a senior with one more year of eligibility.

He will make his decision based on his health condition. Injuries have sidelined him throughout his career, including during his freshman year at Division I Bryant University in Massachusetts, when he redshirted before transferring to Susquehanna.

Heading into Saturday’s noon NCAA Division III quarterfinal home game against Bethel University (Minn.), 6-foot-1, 220-pound Mike linebacker leads the River Hawks in tackles with 74 tackles (nine for loss).

But his decision about that future will have to wait, as Carter and his teammates are still playing football and the team is one of eight that still has a shot at the national championship in Houston on Jan. 8.

It’s been a dream season so far and former Blue Jay and Los Angeles Rams high school teammate and NFL Rookie of the Year candidate Jared Verse is doing his best to help the locals reach the summit of NCAA Division III climb.

Last Saturday’s walk-off win over heavily favored No. 1 St. John’s University, also in Minnesota, was such an experience that the Hawks (11-1) may not have needed the plan to return to Pennsylvania would have.

Just as many questioned their chances of winning the game, some also wondered what the Hawks were thinking by giving free access to Johnnies All-American quarterback Aaron Syverson and his bevy of talented receivers to rally behind the to settle line.

“A lot of people asked us why we left the Underworld open, but at the end of the day when it comes to the playoffs, it’s about chess, not checkers,” Carter said.

“So we had to give something up and we gave up the little throws and it worked and we left Minnesota and Saint John’s with a win, which was the goal,” he added.

SU free safety Andrew Wells was a big believer in the game plan.

“It’s December and you have to stop the run and we did that really well,” said the 5-11, 175 senior from Nazareth.

“They ran 14 yards. We took away their basic game and made them one-dimensional,” he said. “They had a lot of yards (466, with five touchdowns), but if that’s their only way to move the football, they’ll eventually catch up. I felt like we executed our game plan very well. “We had them make the throws from down low, and aside from one big play they had, it was just passes that added up.”

Losses of the ball, both caused and wasted, are an important part of every game, but especially in the playoffs.

Defensive tackle Brian Layton, a 6-0, 250 junior, said, “Win the turnover battle (that’s something) we say all the time.” “This Saturday it’s going to be very important, so hopefully we can do that again. “

Sophomore quarterback Josh Ehrlich, this year’s Landmark Conference Offensive Player of the Year, is proud of how his team has taken care of the football in recent games, but knows that Saturday against a Bethel (11-2) Squad that leads the nation will be super important in several categories.

The Royals forced three missed field goals, intercepted two passes and had nine tackles for loss in last week’s win.

“It’s business as usual for us this week,” said the 6-1, 195 signal-caller from Baltimore. “From what I’ve seen, they’re a very good defense. They’re going to play a good game, that’s the plan, but I’m confident at the moment where we’re at offensively.”

Bethel has 22 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries as a team this season. Senior defensive lineman Caden DeWaldl ​​has 19 sacks, four fumble recoveries and six quarterback hurries.

Ehrlich, who has thrown just four interceptions in 290 attempts this year, said: “We won the turnover battle the last two weeks and that was a big part of our game plan and our winning plays.”

Faced with another life-or-death situation against another top team, Ehrlich would only want to fight this battle with his River Hawks teammates and coaches.

Helping Ehrlich (2,864 yards, 32 TDs) once again put up big numbers was a talented receiving corps of wideouts senior Kyle Howes, juniors Chris Bookter and Hunter Morgenroth, and tight ends senior Rowen Hershey and Junior Michael Robbins.

The speedy 6-0, 175 Howes, from Ijamsville, Md., leads the team with 1,130 yards on 70 catches and 16 touchdowns.

But Ehrlich also has a talented ace up his sleeve if all of the above are met.

Rookie of the Year standout freshman running back Rahshan La Mons has made many good defensive fronts look like Swiss cheese. And when he can’t find a way to penetrate a ball-carrying defense, he opens himself up downfield, often for first-down yards and more.

Ehrlich said, “It’s pretty easy to throw to those guys and Rahshan out of the backfield, so that made my job a lot easier.”

He added: “Having Rashan as a check-down is a bit of a cheat code at times and when he’s open up the field with Kyle and those guys with their speed, it’s pretty easy. So if teams want to out us, we take the following routes.”

In addition to his 1,453 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, La Mons caught 36 passes for 402 yards and three scores.

Senior center Eli Kantor loves knowing LaMons has his back.

“He brings us to the top when we mess up, he’s so electrifying. He’s definitely the best back I’ve ever had in my life,” said the 6-0, 270 lineman.

Defensive tackle Layton is ready to face a strong Bethel aerial attack again this week, but added: “(The Royals) have a little more of a running game, so it’ll be basically the same.”

He added: “I believe in our pass rush. (Fifth-year defensive player) Jake Schultes gets that strip sack (at St. John’s), that’s what we’re going to need again this week.”

Bethel’s 6-5, 215 sophomore quarterback Cooper Drews has thrown for 3,570 yards and 42 touchdowns this season.

He said they have to believe in the game plan and “I believe Coach Kola (defensive coordinator Tim Kologrivov) will put us in the right positions to make plays and it’s up to us to execute.”

Regardless of the result Saturday, Carter said, “It’s an incredible experience, especially for Susquehanna and the people of Selinsgrove. (On Saturday) it will be an incredible environment; and we’re ready to put on a show for Selinsgrove.”

Bethel

attack

No.;Player;Ht.;Weight.;Pos.;Class

9;Cooper Drews;6-5;215;QB;So.

26;Aaron Ellingson;6-2;220;RB;Gr.

83;Joe Kujawa;6-4;230;TE;Sr.

13;Will Eliason;6-0;185;WR;Sr.

15;Micah Niewald;5-10;180;WR;Sr.

2;Joey Kidder;6-3;220;WR;Gr.

63;Josh Helling;6-6;315;LT;Gr.

66;Isaiah Ward;6-2;275;LG;Jr.

73;Jaeger Ash;6-0;265;C;So.

62;Juan Orzco Sanchez;6-0;280;RG;Jr.

58;Roman Janes;6-3;305;RT;So.

33;Hugo Cifuentes;5-10;190;K;Gr. or

36;Eli Nowacki;6-0;190;K;So.

defense

No.;Player;Ht.;Weight.;Pos.;Class

16;Hunter Pratt;6-2;225;DE;Sr.

95;Reese Pantilla;6-2;280;DT;Sr.

92;Noah Richardds;6-2;270;DT;Jr.

45;Caden DeWall;6-1;225;DE;Sr.

46;Carter Johnson;5-11;210;LB;Sr.

44;Jacob Holman;6-3;225;LB;Sr.

10;Isaac Call;6-3;205;LB;Sr.

9;Devin Williams;6-1;210;CB;Jr.

8;Matt Jung;6-3;215;S;So.

21;Matt Farm;6-1;210;FS.Gr.

22;Gavin Rataj;6-2;190;CB;Sr.

13;Will Eliason;6-0;185;P;Sr.

Susquehanna

attack

No.;Player;Ht.;Weight.;Pos.;Class

14;Josh Ehrlich;6-1;195;QB;Jr.

28;Rahshan LaMons;5-8;180;RB;Fr.

84;Rowen Hershey;6-2;225;TE;Sr.

5;Kyle Howes;6-0;175;WR;Sr.

1;Chris Bookter;6-2;185;WR;Gr.

19;Hunter Morgenroth;5-11;155;WR;Jr.

53;Nick Gonzalez;6-3;285;LT;Gr.

55;Mark McFadden;6-2;275;LG;Sr.

70;Eli Kantor;6-0;267;C;Sr.

77;Josh Hill;6-2;285;So.;RG

73;Hunter Shimko;6-3;286;RT;Gr.

92;Dominic Bourgeois;5-10;190;K;So.

defense

No.;Player;Ht.;Weight.;Pos.;Class

0;Jake Schultes;6-3;230;DE;Gr.

98;Brandon Shipley;6-4;295;NG;Jr.

93;Brian Layton;6-0;250;DT;Jr.

9;Shawn Quast;6-2;230;Hawk;Sr.

4;Drew Robinson;5-9;200;Will;Gr.

8;Garrett Carter;6-2;240;Mike;Sr.

18;Jesse Ruisch;6-2;210;Star;Jr.

7;Steve Williams III;6-1;200;CB;Sr.

15;Dominic Winn;6-0;196;Hero;Jr.

2;Andrew Wells;5-11;175;FS;Sr.

6;Le’trey Bond;5-9;170;CB;Sr.

16;Christian Colasurdo;5-10;175;P;Sr.