After playing against the Juniata College Eagles on Sept. 17, the ninth-ranked Hopkins football team are now 3-0 and 2-0 in the Centennial Conference.
On the morning of the game under the Homewood bleachers, the Blue Jays’ football team was preparing for the match.
Senior wide receiver Lance Large swept into the locker room, pumped up at the thought of the amazing atmosphere he’d get to play in. As he got ready to warm up, he imagined the routes that he might have to run during the game, picturing all the different possibilities that might occur on the field.
On the other side of the room, junior defensive back Luca Lutzel suited up, swinging open his locker and pulling out the cleats he hasn’t worn since the Wednesday practice three days ago. He casually applied his eye black in the shape of two crosses on his face, a pregame routine he’s had since high school.
Nearby, junior defensive back Gabriel Feliciano-Munoz sat on a bench with headphones on. The music is a blur, as he focuses on the last minute film in front of him — reminding himself of the game plan and all the work put in that week at practice.
The three of them have been in this position countless times — dealing with the nerves and adrenaline of playing yet another football game. But this time, it feels different — and that’s because today is the 2022 homecoming of the Blue Jay football team.
Having previously traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to play Case Western and Collegeville, Pa. to face the Ursinus Bears, the team’s Centennial Conference rivals, a home game was a long time coming.
Within the first three minutes, junior running back, Spencer Uggla, had scored a 29-yard touchdown. Four touchdowns followed in less than five minutes in the opening period. Graduate quarterback, Ryan Stevens, made touchdown passes to graduate and senior wide receivers Quinn Revere and Artie Collins. The Jays then turn a fumbled snap by the Juniata punter, and an interception by senior defensive back Jameson Lajoie led to more touchdowns by Uggla and freshman running back Geoff Schroeder.
Stevens threw two more touchdown passes to Revere and graduate tight end Emmett Turner before retiring to the bench. Sophomore quarterback Bay Harvey took over and connected with sophomore running back Jacob Chapman to bring the score to 63-0 at halftime.
In the second half, the Blue Jays force four Juniata turnovers. Lajoie, junior defensive back Josh Andersson and Lutzel all had interceptions, and freshman defensive lineman Xavier Newell recovered a fumble on a kickoff return. Their efforts were rewarded as the team ended with a 70-0 victory.
Hopkins held Juniata to -14 rushing yards; the first time the Jays held an opposing team to negative rushing yards since Nov. 7, 2009, when they held Franklin and Marshall to -20 yards in a 51-13 victory.
In an interview with The News-Letter, Large commented on the exciting win.
“It feels great. It shows the competitive nature of the team. We’re a very sound group and we buy in to what our coaches bring into us,” he said. “The culture is really amazing and it definitely helps us win by that margin. Juniata is a great program and all respect to them. They are fun to play against.”
Lutzel added that the team’s trust in the coaches and hard work the week before led to some great moments, like his interception.
“We had been practicing well all week and coaches put in a great game plan. I kind of knew the play was coming; I was ready for it and then the opportunity came,” he started. “Coach had preached all week that when the opportunity comes, don’t close the blinds and I was able to make the play and take the opportunity.”
Feliciano-Munoz spoke on the mentality of the team during the game, especially when they entered the half 63-0.
“I think a lot of the focus was on knowing the younger guys were going to get into the game and having an understanding that the standard is the standard,” he said. “Just because you’re a guy who doesn’t start, doesn’t mean there should be any fall-off. We should all play the same level, whether you’re a starter or not.”
The Blue Jays will return to Homewood Field on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. to welcome the Moravian University Greyhounds for another Centennial Conference game.
Feliciano-Munoz expressed his excitement for the game.
“We’re all pretty excited. It’s a Friday night game — we don’t really get too many of those so definitely nice to be under the lights at Homewood once again,” he said.
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