Junior Quarterback Grant Johnson rushed for two touchdowns and repeatedly hurt New Oxford with his mobility as Gettysburg opened its football season with a 32-10 road victory over the Colonials on Friday.
Johnson produced the game’s decisive play early in the second quarter. Shortly after New Oxford lost a fumble while reaching for the goal line, Johnson turned a broken play into a 66-yard touchdown run down the left sideline. The ensuing two-point conversion gave Gettysburg a 16-7 lead.
New Oxford cut the deficit to 16-10 with a 34-yard field goal before halftime, but Gettysburg controlled the second half with its running game and held the Colonials scoreless.
Johnson extended the Warriors’ lead with a 22-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Gettysburg again converted a two-point attempt to make it 24-10.
The Warriors then mounted a long drive that carried into the fourth quarter. Junior Running Back Trevor Cunningham completed it with a seven-yard touchdown run, and another two-point conversion established the final margin.
Gettysburg also scored on its opening possession. Johnson connected with Cunningham on a short screen, and Cunningham broke several tackles on his way to a 41-yard touchdown. The Warriors converted the first of their four successful two-point attempts for an 8-0 lead.
New Oxford responded after recovering a Gettysburg fumble. Kamden Lamke scored on a five-yard run, and the extra point narrowed the margin to 8-7.
Lamke and receiver Tayvon Jacoby helped the Colonials move the ball at times, but New Oxford was unable to turn several promising drives into touchdowns. The goal-line fumble proved especially damaging, producing a potential 14-point swing when Johnson scored shortly afterward.
Gettysburg’s special teams also contributed by blocking a third-quarter punt. Nate Rawlings recovered the ball near midfield, setting up the possession that ended with Johnson’s 22-yard touchdown.
The victory gave interim coach Jake Johnson a successful debut as Gettysburg’s head coach. The Warriors will host Hershey next, while New Oxford will travel to Bermudian Springs.
Featured image caption: GHS in action during the 2025 season.