Juniata tops Line Mountain in nailbiter

By rscaife
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Updated: October 21, 2017

MIFFLINTOWN – It was old school, smash mouth football at its best on Friday night when the Juniata Indians played host to a dangerous air attack of Line Mountain.
After picking off Eagles quarterback Evan Herb three times and forcing him to a late game sack and fumble, the Indians were able to hold onto a 14-6 contest.
After honoring the seniors at the beginning of the game, both defenses went right to work holding each other scoreless for the first quarter.
The game remained scoreless until late in the second when the Indians’ defense provided Juniata the opportunity it needed to get in the end zone.
Ben Lauver stepped back and intercepted a Herb pass and ran it down to the Eagles 22.
From there the offense took over and scored two plays later on a Jeremiah Parson quarterback keeper from one yard out, making it 6-0.
Juniata held Line Mountain scoreless in the remaining four minutes, taking the lead into the half.
Opening the second half, the Indians special teams got into the act on the Eagles’ second possession of the half, partially blocking a punt, putting their offense is scoring position once again, this time starting off at the Line Mountain 23.
Facing a 4th and long, Parson booked up with Lauver for a 20-yard touchdown pass, putting the “Big Red Machine” up 12-0.
Juniata was successful on the 2-point conversion, upping the lead to 14-0.
But with a strong air attack, Line Mountain finally got on the board just a little over a minute later when Erb hooked up with Brendon Kreger for a 44-yard touchdown. Line Mountain missed the PAT making it 14-6 with a quarter left to go.
The Juniata defense took over big time in the final stanza, picking off Herb on a drive that looked to have points on it. However, Bryce Leonard intercepted it giving the ball back to Juniata on the one.
The icing on the cake on Line Mountain’s final drive.
Herb went back to pass and he was sacked by Zach Piper forcing a fumble and falling into the possession of teammate Lauver.
With the win, Juniata ups it’s overall record to 6-3 while going 6-2 in the league.