SELINSGROVE, PA – Host No. 15 Susquehanna University raced out to a big halftime lead and never looked back posting an 88-24 victory over Wilkes University in the Centennial/MAC Bowl game Saturday afternoon.
 
Wilkes concluded its season with an 8-3 overall record after appearing in its first postseason game since 2010. The eight wins is also the most since the 2006 season when Wilkes went undefeated in the regular season and finished 11-1 overall. Susquehanna finished its season with a 10-1 overall mark and its third straight Centennial/MAC bowl victory.
 
Susquehanna opened the scoring on its second possession after a quality return gave the River Hawks the ball at the Wilkes 25. One play later Michael Ruisch connected with Kyle Good for a 25-yard touchdown pass to give Susquehanna the early 7-0 advantage.
 
Wilkes responded on the ensuing possession to cut into the lead. Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) found Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) on a third and six for nine yards to keep the drive alive before another third down conversion from Tabora to Jordan Jones (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) moved the ball down to the Susquehanna 46. After another completion to Nelson, the drive stalled and the Colonels opted for a 33-yard field goal from Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) which sailed through the uprights  as Wilkes trailed 7-3.
 
From there the hosts rattled off 34 straight points over the final six minutes of the first quarter and first three minutes of the second quarter to jump out to a 41-3. Da'Avian Ellington notched the first of his record-setting six touchdowns on the day running in from two yards out to begin the scoring tear for Susquehanna. One possession later Tabora fumbled after trying to scramble for yards and a Susquehanna defender picked up the loose ball returning it for the touchdown from 22 yards away. A long touchdown pass (79 yards) followed by two more Ellington rushing scores capped the River Hawks scoring run as the hosts led by 38 points with 12:21 left in the half.
 
The Colonels offense stopped the run when Tabora hit receiver Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) where the rookie took the ball to pay dirt for the 47-yard touchdown cutting the lead to 41-10 with 7:15 left in the second quarter.
 
After another Ellington rushing touchdown, Tabora connected with Nelson for a 21 yard touchdown pitch-and-catch as the Colonels continued to trail 48-17 with :38 until the break. Susquehanna added one more before the half ended to keep the hosts ahead 55-17 at the half.
 
Tabora and Whitaker connected for a second time on the afternoon to start the third quarter as Whitaker took a short pass and beat the River Hawks defensive back taking the ball 79 yards for the score. Pollack's extra point made the score 55-24 Susquehanna with 8:08 left in the third frame.
 
Susquehanna continued to use a balanced attack on offense to finish the third quarter adding another Ellington rushing touchdown and Ruisch passing score to extend the lead to 69-24 at the end of the third.
 
Susquehanna added three more touchdowns over the final 15 minutes including the sixth rushing score by Ellington.
 
Tabora finished 22-for-43 for 333 yards and three touchdowns (two interceptions). Whitaker was Tabora's top target on the day posting five receptions for 142 yards and two scores. Nelson finished with six catches for 66 yards and one touchdown.
 
Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) finished out his exceptional career with nine tackles. Zachary Weber (Douglassville, PA/Twin Valley) posted two interceptions in the Wilkes secondary.
 
Ellington led Susquehanna's offense with 20 carries for 175 yards and six touchdowns, a single-game record for the River Hawks. Ruisch finished 7-for-15 for 219 yards and four touchdowns (two interceptions).