BY NICK GILL
TIMES SHAMROCK CORRESPONDENT
Susquehanna’s Brett Hepler answered the call for his team with a game-deciding interception return for a touchdown to lift the ninth-ranked Sabers to a 21-17 win over Nanticoke on Friday night.
“He burned me the last time, so he wasn’t going to burn me again,” Hepler said. “Then, I knew I was clear to the end zone.”
Nanticoke was the first team to strike with a touchdown on its second possession. Running back Blake Balderrama broke loose on a 37-yard touchdown run. He took the handoff through the middle, shrugged off a few arm tackles and raced to a score that gave Nanticoke a 6-0 advantage.
Susquehanna had trouble getting its offense going because of the pressure generated by the Nanticoke defense in particular the defensive line, which held dynamic quarterback Austin White to minus-10 yards rushing in the first half.
White did get the offense started late in the first half when the Susquehanna defense forced Nanticoke to punt deep in its own territory.
With great field position, White went to the air on consecutive 12-yard passes to Austin Felter and Austin Darrow. He punched in the touchdown from 1-yard out that put Susquehanna ahead 7-6 at the half.
On Nanticoke’s first possession of the third quarter, Alec Norton made a 37-yard field goal to take a 9-7 lead. A.J. Hunter pushed it to 17-7 on his 67-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Hanna that got Hepler.
Susquehanna responded immediately when White connected with Darrow on a 20-yard touchdown pass that cut the lead to 17-14.
The Saber win over Nanticoke boosted Susquehanna one spot in the rankings to eighth place.
The team faces Meyers at home this week. Meyers shut out Montrose in the season opener.
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