Gettysburg College outscored Juniata 27-6 in the second quarter to take a 34-37 lead into the locker room before completing its most offensive day in more than a decade with a 61-41 victory in the season opener for both teams.
The Bullets enjoyed multiple standout performances.
Michael Zrelak turned in a career day to lead the Bullets’ offensive onslaught, racking up 214 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just ten carries to average 21.4 yards per touch. It was the first in his career that he had rushed for even 100 yards; Rocco Abdinoor threw for 266 yards and two scores, completing 20 of 34 passes, but also ran for 123 yards and two more touchdowns; Jason Roskam posted his first career 100-yard receiving day with 141 yards on eight grabs. He also had both receiving touchdowns, and Nate DeLorenzo led the defense with 12 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries – one of which he returned 18 yards for a score.
Juniata took the opening possession of the game 66 yards on eight plays for a 7-0 lead just 2:17 into the game. Calvin German hit Sean Hakanson for 29 yards as the big play on the drive to set up the hosts with a first down at the Gettysburg 24. Hunter Wolfley capped the march with a three-yard run four plays later. After the Eagle defense forced a three-and-out, Wolfley broke off a 71-yard run on the second play of the drive to make it 14-0 with 10:28 on the clock. The teams traded three-and-outs before Rocco Abindoor connected with Jason Rosk on a third-and-2 for a 41-yard touchdown to cut the deficit in half with 7:25 remaining in the opening quarter. After a blocked field goal was returned, the Juniata 41, German hit Stephen for 44 yards, and three plays later, Wolfley rushed it in 10 yards for a 21-7 lead after one quarter.
On the Bullets’ first possession of the second quarter, three plays moved the ball near midfield, and then Michael Zrelak broke off his first big run of the day – a 51-yarder to make it 21-14 with 10:42 showing. After Juniata punted on its ensuing possession, Abindoor connected with Connor Whitlow (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) for 20 yards, then ran it the final 48 himself, but the PAT was missed, keeping it a 21-20 game with 8:07 on the clock. Wolfley responded in kind, taking the first Eagles play from scrimmage 65 yards to the house just 13 seconds later. Again, though, a missed PAT kept it a seven-point lead. Not to be outdone, Zrelak took the first play of the next drive 67 yards for a housecall and draw the game even with 7:35 remaining. A 37-yard Luke Denison punt return set up his offense at the Juniata 20, and Abdinoor needed just four plays to engineer a go-ahead score. Zrelak capped it with a one-yard burst for a 34-27 lead with 2:55 on the clock.
On Gettysburg’s opening possession of the third quarter, Zrelak broke off a 50-yard run to key an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Abdinoor running it in the final eight and 41-27 lead with 9:37 to play. The Eagles responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive of their own that ended with German finding Stephen on a 12-yard strike with 5:58 remaining. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Abindoor hit Roskam in stride he took it to paydirt just nine seconds into the period to push the lead back to 47-34. A Nate DeLorenzo forced fumble, scoop, and score from the 18-yard line extended the lead to 54-34 with 11:59 on the clock. A Daniel Smith touchdown capped an 11-play Juniata march to make it 54-41 with 7:04 to play. Gettysburg, however, burned 5:37 on the clock with an 11-play, 67-yard drive capped by Zrelak off the left end for the 61-41 final.
As a team, Gettysburg racked up 656 yards of total offense – the most in a game since going for 678 at Bridgewater in the 2015 opener. The 390 rushing yards were also the most since going for 574 on the ground in that game.
NEXT UP
Gettysburg returns to action at Montclair on Saturday. Game time is 3 p.m.
The story first appeared on the Gettysburg College website.