Eastern University Football welcomes the Susquehanna University Riverhawks and their fans to Radnor Street Road for this afternoon's NCAA Division III Tournament Third Round Game. It is the first match-up between the two programs.

The Riverhawks come into today with way more NCAA experience. In 2024, they reached the National Semifinals, and they are playing ina  fourth-straight NCAA Tournament.

With both the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year winners from the Landmark Conference, Susquehanna has playmakers on both sides of the ball. In his three seasons in Selinsgrove, quarterback Josh Ehrlich has been a star. He has thrown for 76 Touchdowns and run for 27 more. A consistent threat to tuck the ball and run, Ehrlich has 30 touchdown tosses against only two interceptions.

Eleven different Riverhawks have caught touchdown passes this year. Susquehanna dismantled the Landmark Conference by a 302-37 margin. With kicker Dominic Bourgeois going 17-for-17 on kicks this year, they have scored in 58-of-60 red zone trips. The Riverhawks only two failures in the red zone came when the game clock ran out.

On defense, Galen Limantour has been a menace to opposing quarterbacks. In two NCAA  Tournament games, he has six sacks. Off the pressure, the Riverhawks have forced 21 turnovers.

The Eagles will continue to rely on ball control and great defense. Brett Nabb earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year and was the only DIII player in the country to score four times last week. He and running back Jeremiah Avrilien form a tough twosome in the run game. Both are able to power through for a tough yard while possessing the speed to get into the second level.

With Nabb and Avrilien able to score from in tight, Eastern has been good in the red zone, scoring on 34-of-41 visits. John Nolek has made eight field goals this year. While Nabb has not thrown a lot, the eagles have ripped off big chunks of yards when teams load the box to stop the run. 

The Eastern defense has been a strength all year, and will need to be against the Riverhawks. The Eagles have speed at every level and have handled throwing teams pretty well, but they will have to get pressure on Ehrlich. Even against a tempo offense from F & M,  the defensive line generated good pressure late and forced a pair of turnovers. First-year defensive linemen Wayne Clark and Freddie DiNardo have both come up with big plays in the backfield.

Jason Bateman, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year will have to continue to be in many places at once to limit scramble plays and to jump in and help against the run. Gashawn Moody Sr. and Jaden Todd each came up with interceptions in last week's win.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 5-17 and will be available at the gate for payment in either cash or credit. 

Fans coming to the game are encouraged to look at parking information.

The winner of today's game will play the winner of Johns Hopkins and Salisbury next weekend.