On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Blue Jays dominated the Juniata Eagles 58-7. Hopkins controlled every aspect of the game, while setting several school records in the game, a week after losing to Ursinus.
Hopkins senior running back Andrew Kase led the team to victory by rushing for 146 and four touchdowns in the first half. Kase tied the school record for rushing TDs with four, even though he only played for a half of the game. He tied his own previous mark of four touchdowns. Kase kicked the extra point after quarterback Tyler Porco's five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The extra point gave him 25 points on the day.
"I had four TDs one other time in my career, but this time was pretty cool considering it was in the first quarter and a half of the game," Kase said. "Plus I got to kick an extra point in the second half. That was pretty rare and fun."
The senior running back also passed the school record for overall career touchdowns at Hopkins. His four-touchdown day gives him a school-record 43 career overall touchdowns. Kase entered the game tied with Bill Stromberg, who scored 39 touchdowns from '78-'81.
"Breaking the career TD record is even more special considering who held the record previously," Kase said. "Bill Stromberg is one of the greatest Hopkins football players ever, and it means a lot to even be considered in the same company as someone of his caliber."Kase scored on rushes of five, seven, 25 and 26 yards in the first 23 minutes of the game against the Eagles. Those touchdowns erased an early 7-0 Juniata lead after the Eagles scored off a 71-yard touchdown pass from Eagles' quarterback Alex Snyder on the first play from scrimmage. Hopkins' freshman Adam Schwever returned a 13-yard blocked punt for a touchdown in the second quarter for another Hopkins touchdown on the day. Hewitt Tomlin also threw to D.J. Hartigan for a 17-yard score late in the first half to give Hopkins a 44-7 halftime lead. Tyler Porco and Nick Fazio added fourth-quarter touchdown runs to finish off the scoring.
Kase's touchdowns led Hopkins to its third straight victory over the Eagles. The win puts Hopkins at 6-2 on the year with two games remaining on the schedule against Franklin and Marshall and McDaniel.
"Our goal for the rest of the season is to win our next two games and make the NCAA playoffs," Kase said. "After that we're looking to advance as far as we can, but we're taking it one game at a time. F&M is a solid team, and we have to be completely focused this week before we even think about anything else."
Kase and the team believe they are on pace to accomplish their goal of being conference champions. He believes the team has yet to play their best football of the year.
"Our only let up has been against Ursinus, but we still haven't played our best football game from start to finish," he said. "We're looking to do that this week."
The Jays will retake the field this Saturday against the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats at home. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
