Jesse Ruisch will leave Susquehanna University having never lost a conference football game.
He would like to make one more extended postseason run before he’s finished playing for the River Hawks.
Ruisch, a Parkland High School graduate, is part of a Susquehanna senior class making a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs after winning a conference championship.
The River Hawks captured the Centennial Conference title without losing a conference game in 2022 before jumping to the Landmark Conference in 2023. They’ve won three straight Landmark Conference titles without dropping a league game.
Susquehanna will host its NCAA first-round game this season, facing Washington & Jefferson (8-2 overall) at noon on Saturday.
“It’s just been a great four years here, and for this senior class to be able to go to the playoffs four times throughout our career is just super special,” Ruisch said by phone Monday. “It’s super exciting, and I hope we carry this thing out as long as we can.”
Ruisch was part of perhaps the best season in Susquehanna history last year. The River Hawks won 12 games and reached the NCAA Division III semifinals.
This season’s team held a preseason top 5 national ranking but ended September 2-2. The River Hawks needed time to jell after graduating 15 starters and suffering several September injuries.
They have since rounded into form, carrying a six-game winning streak into the postseason.
Ruisch, a team captain and linebacker, has played a leading role in their success.
He finished the regular season with a team-best 50 tackles (31 solo). He also has 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. His play and leadership helped Susquehanna top the Landmark Conference in scoring defense (14.9 points per game) and total defense (264 yards per game).
“He’s just a steady rock for us,” Susquehanna coach Tom Perkovich said. “We’ve been able to move him around to different positions. He comes to work every day. He’s really a guy that our younger players look up to with how he does things. We don’t have our all-conference voting done yet, but I hope he gets first team all-league again.”
Another Morning Call-area player, Palisades graduate Galen Limantour, has added to Susquehanna’s defensive strength. A role player in his first two seasons, Limantour has become a game-wrecking defensive lineman as a junior. He has six sacks and 14 tackles for loss, both of which rank tied for second in the Landmark Conference.
Limantour also has 41 tackles (21 solo) and seven quarterback hurries.
“He was a guy we recruited that needed development,” Perkovich said. “We saw something in him. We saw his athleticism, his length, his size. He’s a physical guy, even though he wasn’t the thickest or heaviest guy at times.
“He really did a great job the last couple years and especially the offseason here of getting himself ready to play. When you do that and you have that potential, it gives you the best chance to succeed. He’s done a phenomenal job. We nominated him for the player of the year in our conference defensively.”
A third local player, Nazareth grad Frankie Mroz, has also contributed to Susquehanna’s success. The sophomore slot receiver has four touchdowns and 157 receiving yards on only eight catches.
Ruisch and the older River Hawks know they need contributions from up and down the roster to advance in the playoffs. They lost one-score games in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament in 2022 and 2023. All three of their playoff wins last season came by one score.
“We’re going to prepare for this game like any other game,” Ruisch said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re playing one of the Landmark teams or a top-rated team like Washington & Jefferson.
“We’re going to come into the game expecting a battle.
“It’s going to be a war, just like all these playoff games are. It’s win or go home, so everyone’s going to give you their best.”
Looking ahead: Here’s a look at this week’s games.
NCAA Division II first round
Bentley (7-3 overall) at Kutztown (11-0)
When: Noon, Saturday
Taking note: Kutztown earned the top seed in Super Region One after winning its third straightPSAC championship. … Bentley earned a postseason berth by winning the Northeast 10 Conference. It has won seven straight games since an 0-3 start. … Kutztown enters the postseason ranked No. 4 in the country in total defense, allowing 251.5 yards per game. … Bentley has a plus-nine turnover margin.
NCAA Division III first round
Union (8-2) at Muhlenberg (8-2)
When: Noon, Saturday
Taking note: Muhlenberg finished the regular season with a plus-10 turnover margin. The Mules haven’t lost a fumble all season. … Union has won eight straight games since starting the season with losses to Susquehanna and SUNY Cortland, who also qualified for the D-III playoffs. … Union quarterback Patch Flanagan has accounted for 2,718 yards and 25 touchdowns. … The winner will face unbeaten Mount Union (10-0) in the second round.
Stephen Miller is a freelance writer.
