“The Big Red Machine” strikes again, defeats Line Mtn. 70-6

By Kenny Varner
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Updated: September 26, 2015

By Kenny Varner

MIFFLINTOWN – After defeating a young Pine Grove football team 79-0, Juniata coach Gary Klingensmith was hoping there would be no let down going into their Friday contest with a scrappy Line Mountain.
The veteran coach probably got a sigh of relief after scoring twice on its first three plays from scrimmage as the “Big Red Machine” kept pumping out high scoring games.
This time the took the Eagles to school unloading a 70-6 victory Friday night at Dietrick field.
With the win, the Indians have averaged over 70 points per game in their three season.
Even in its lose to Newport, Juniata scored over 40 points.
In the last eight quarters, the Indians have outscored their opponents 149-6.
“They are just playing fantastic. Everything seems to be clicking,” Klingensmith said. “Our passing game was absolutely outstanding. The kids are just playing outstanding ball.”
Quarterback Tyler Clark led Juniata’s air attack going 9-for-11 for 199 yards and three TD passes.
On the ground, the Indians once again were led by the speed of Chantz Swartz who grounded out and muscled his way to a 122-yard effort in the victory. Swartz also very popular in the passing game catching two passes for 84 yards.
Line Mountain only combined for 144 yards on the ground. The Eagles’ air attack only mustered 25 yards the entire game.
In the first, the Indians got the ball first and on the second play from scrimmage put themselves on the board.
With second down on their 36, Clark hit Swartz downfield for the 64-yard touchdown grab. With the successful PAT by veteran place kicker Noah Burns, the Indians led 7-0. Burns was perfect in PATs on the evening, hitting all 10 tries.
After forcing the Eagles to punt on a three and out, the Indians got the ball on their own 40.
With one slick hand off, Swartz got the ball and scampered for a 60-yard touchdown run, upping the lead to 14-0 with still 8:37 left on the clock.
Defensively, Juniata was just as effective forcing three fumbles and recovering two.
After punting for the first time in two games, luck knocked on Juniata’s door when Cole Kellison picked off a Kent Mace throw and took it to the Eagles’ 20.
This time the Indians took a long three plays to up its lead to 21-0 with still 4:25 left in the opening quarter.
Fletcher Hart got the call as he culminated the drive with a 5-yard TD run.
Juniata took the 21-0 advantage into the second as the first ended.
Early on in the second, Clark was at it again as he hit Aaron Zendt for 18-yard TD hook up.
With Juniata holding a 28-0 lead, Clark got the ball back and once again cashed it in through the air. This time Clark found Ross Mummah on a 22-yard corner route, upping it to 35.
However, Juniata gave the scoreboard operators more work before the intermission ended.
Clark hit Zendt on a 20- yard pass, ending the first half with a convincing 42-0 lead.
With the third quarter starting in the mercy rule in effect, Juniata still reeled off another 21 points in the quarter.
Bryson Clark recovered a Brent Osman fumbled and took it to the house.
Spencer Page upped it to 56-0 as he busted his way from one yard out.
In came the second and third string to finish the game.
Kellison came in and threw a TD pass to Ben Lauver, upping it to 63-0.
In the final stanza, Juniata’s Zac Piper took the hand off and ran around the right end for a 31- yard scamper.
Juniata was only seconds away from its second shut out in a row before Line Mountain’s Adam Malafi spoiled that going in from two yards out with 43.6 seconds left, ending it at 70-6.
Juniata is back in action this Friday as it travels to cross-county rival East Juniata. East Juniata fell to a tough Newport team 41-10.