Box Score HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Grove City College football team opened its 123rd season Saturday afternoon by dropping a 42-31 decision to host Juniata at rain-soaked Chuck Knox Stadium.
Sophomore wide receiver
Nick Ponikvar (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) helped pace Grove City's 443-yard offensive attack by hauling in nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Freshman wide receiver
Cody Gustafson (Newburg, Pa./Shippensburg) made his collegiate debut by catching five passes for 99 yards while senior
Matt Pennypacker (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) added four catches for 46 yards and a score.
Sophomore quarterback
Brett Laffoon (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) completed 19 of 27 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore running back
Wesley Schools (Sparrowbush, N.Y./Port Jervis) led the ground game with 61 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Grove City scored the final 17 points of the first to take a 17-7 lead into halftime. On Grove City's first possession, Ponikvar capped a 7-play, 82-yard drive by catching a 15-yard touchdown pass from Laffoon with 8:50 left in the first quarter. Sophomore kicker
Mitch Causer (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont-Hilltop) drilled the extra point, tying the game 7-7.
The Wolverines surged ahead with 5:12 left in the first half when Laffoon fired a 28-yard touchdown pass to Pennypacker, pushing the lead to 14-7. A 25-yard punt return by sophomore cornerback
Jacob Ross (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) set up the 6-play, 34-yard drive.
Causer's 20-yard field goal on the final play of the first half gave Grove City a 17-7 lead.
Juniata cut Grove City's lead to 17-14 three minutes into the second half on Austin Montgomery's seven-yard touchdown pass to Justin Helsel. Grove City countered quickly, however, with an 8-play, 90-yard touchdown drive that culminated in Laffoon's 34-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver
Gabe Greco (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton) on fourth down.
Juniata then scored the next 28 points, however. Montgomery scored on a three-yard run with 6:05 left in the third quarter, cutting Grove City's lead to 24-21. Juniata then reclaimed the lead, 28-24, with 12:18 remaining when Helsel caught an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Following a Grove City turnover, Montgomery threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jake Notestine at the 11:12 mark. Joel Reighard then returned a Grove City punt 70 yards for a touchdown at the 8:44 mark to close Juniata's scoring.
Schools scored on a three-yard run with 3:26 left. Juniata recovered an onside kick attempt and did not relinquish possession.
Senior defensive end
Jacob Armbrecht (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) led the Grove City defense with eight tackles, including three for loss. Armbrecht also had a sack while senior linebacker
Deion Minor (Sykesville, Md./Century) and senior defensive tackle
Quinton Reed (Oil City, Pa./Oil City) combined for a sack.
Senior linebacker
Andrew Seifert (Kettering, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) snuffed out a Juniata scoring opportunity by intercepting a pass at the Grove City 1. Senior defensive end
Caleb Allen (La Grange, Ky./Oldham County) recovered a fumble.
Grove City held a 443-441 edge in total offense. The Wolverines had 26 first downs while Juniata had 24 first downs. Grove City owned a 34:03-25:57 edge in time of possession.
Montgomery completed 26 of 32 passes for 333 yards. Helsel caught nine passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns.
Grove City opens its home schedule next Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against Washington & Jefferson.
