Monday, October 6, 2003
MORAVIAN
COLLEGE GREYHOUNDS, 2-3 (2-3 MAC)
WILKES
UNIVERSITY COLONELS, 3-1
(2-1 MAC)
1:00
p.m.; Saturday, October 11, 2003
Steel Field (c. 1,700); Bethlehem, PA
THE GAME: Moravian looks to bounce back from a tough loss last week and
go into its bye week on a good note in a Middle Atlantic Conference contest versus Wilkes
University. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Steel Field.
THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 17th season
at Moravian, with a career record of 102-66-1 (.607). He entered the season 45th in winning
percentage among NCAA Division III active coaches. Dapp has earned Coach-of-the-Year
honors from the MAC three times including Co-Coach of the Year in 1997 and has led the ’Hounds
to two appearances in the NCAA playoffs and the ECAC Southeast Championship game in 2002
Wilkes
coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg ’89) is in his eighth
season at the school with an overall mark of 44-33 (.571).
THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 33rd in the series with
Moravian holding a 27-14-1 advantage. The Greyhounds have won the last four years, including
a 22-7 victory last fall in Wilkes-Barre, a 25-15 win in 2001, a 28-21 victory in 2000
and a 28-22 overtime win back in 1999.
LAST TIME THEY MET: In Wilkes-Barre last fall, tailback David
Darmofal (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights HS) ran for a career high 107 yards
and two touchdowns on 29 carries to lead Moravian to a 22-7 victory over Wilkes University
in MAC action. Moravian took a 7-0 with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter on a seven-yard
touchdown run by Darmofal and an extra-point kick by Nate Strohl
(Coplay, PA/Whitehall HS). The Colonels tied the score with 10:29 left in the
second quarter. Moravian would take the lead for good with 4:33 remaining in the third
quarter on a three-yard scamper by Darmofal. Strohl would
have the next three points in the game, connecting on a 35-yard field goal with 5:41
remaining in the contest. On the drive, Moravian moved the ball just 23 yards on eight
carries by Darmofal and one by quarterback Charlie Bowden.
The Greyhounds finished out the scoring on Wilkes next drive when cornerback Jarrod
Pence stepped in front of a pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. Strohl missed
the extra-point to set the final score at 22-7 with 4:24 remaining in the contest. Bowden completed
eight of 18 pass attempts for 90 yards but he was intercepted twice. Bowden also
added 11 yards on five carries. Wide receiver Jarod Rhinehart caught
two passes for 34 yards while tight end Rick Kulp grabbed two passes
for 19 yards. Linebacker John Cupples led the defense with 11 tackles,
including two for loss and one of four interceptions. Defensive lineman Pat Mancini had
nine tackles while defensive end Shawn Nelson (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic
HS) and linebacker Steve Maslanek (Stockholm, NJ/Vernon Township HS) both
had seven stops. Cornerback Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) and
linebacker Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) had interceptions.
LAST WEEK: Moravian jumped out to a 19-0 lead in the first 9:36 of the
game but the Greyhounds were unable to hold the lead in a 27-19 loss at King’s College
in Middle Atlantic Conference action. The Greyhounds started the scoring with 10:36 remaining
in the first quarter when freshman tailback Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair
Haven HS) bounced a second-and-ten play to the right side and raced down the Moravian
sideline for a 65-yard scoring run, the longest carry of his Moravian career. Senior kicker Josh
Miller (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) added the extra-point to give the Greyhounds
a 7-0 lead. On the next possession, King’s punter had his knee hit the ground at
the King’s 12-yard line while fielding a low snap to give Moravian possession. Jacoubs,
who was making his first career start, scored from six yards out on the third play of the
drive. Miller’s extra-point attempt was blocked by the Monarchs
to give Moravian a 13-0 lead with 7:44 to play in the first stanza. Jacoubs finished
the game with a career high 126 yards on 26 carries. The Greyhounds final score came with
5:24 remaining in the first quarter when senior defensive lineman Justin Moyer
(Allentown, PA/Salisbury HS) intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a
touchdown. Moravian tried for a two-point conversion on the play but Jacoubs was stopped
outside the end zone to give Moravian a 19-0 lead. The Monarchs scored the game’s
final 27 points. King’s controlled the ball for 31:28, and the Monarchs out-gained
Moravian 436-164. Moravian sophomore quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong
HS) completed just four of 12 passes on the game for 37 yards, and he was intercepted
three times. Senior wideout Jeff Lowry (Catawissa, PA/Southern Columbia HS) had
three receptions for 28 yards. Sophomore linebacker Richie Cline had nine
stops and a forced fumble. Senior linebacker Steve Maslanek and sophomore
defensive lineman Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) each
had eight tackles.
SCOUTING WILKES: The Colonels come to Bethlehem with a 3-1 overall mark
and a 2-1 slate in the MAC. Junior quarterback Matt Kaskie leads Wilkes
on the field. Kaskie has completed 25 of 52 passes for 275 yards with
two touchdowns and three interceptions. Sophomore quarterback Duran Porrino has
completed 13 of 21 passes for 164 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Their
top target has been freshman wide receiver Jim Jordan, who has caught
ten passes for 99 yards and a score. Senior wideout Mike Walk has eight
catches for 89 yards while senior tight end Brian Fritts has five receptions
for 52 yards. On the ground, junior Brett Trichilo leads the Colonels
with 671 yards and six touchdowns on 108 carries. Junior running back Kyle Gallagher has
added 138 yards and two scores on 32 attempts while Kaskie has gained
117 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries. Trichilo also has four receptions
for 100 yards. Freshman kicker Dan Nilon has made 13 of 17 extra-point
attempts this fall, and he is one-for-three on field goal attempts with a long of 25 yards.
Sophomore Kyle Delvin is the Colonels punter, and he is averaging 37.8
yards per punt on 17 kicks. Delvin has had three punts inside the 20-yard
line and another fair caught this season. Sophomore defensive back Will Wilson and
freshman defensive back John Darrah each have two interception for Wilkes
with Wilson returning one of his pick offs for a touchdown. Freshman linebacker Jason
Mitkowski leads the Colonel defense with 43 tackles, and he has added three tackles
for loss, a sack, two pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. Senior linebacker Steve
Rogers has added 35 tackles with six for loss and once sack. Rogers also
has an interception, three pass break-ups and a fumble recovery, which he returned 12 yards.
Senior linebacker Chris Caccavale has contributed 22 tackles while junior
defensive back Jon Jamison has 20 stops with an interception, three pass
break-ups and a fumble recovery.
YOUNG, BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 85 players on
the Moravian roster, 32 are freshmen, 29 are sophomores and 13 are juniors. There are 11
seniors on this season’s squad, and the Greyhounds return 46 letterwinners and 11
starters.
GREYHOUNDS IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Beginning two seasons ago,
the Middle Atlantic Conference became an 11-team conference instead of two separate leagues.
Moravian was selected to finish seventh in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll this season while
Wilkes was picked second and received four first-place votes in the MAC poll. Lycoming
College was selected as the top team in the MAC.
THE MAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS: The Greyhounds are ranked sixth in the
MAC in total defense, allowing 351.6 yards per game. The squad is tenth in passing defense
at 207.4 yards per game and the defense is seventh in rushing yards allowed at 144.2. The
Greyhounds tied with Wilkes University for the lead in the MAC in points allowed at 17.8
per game but the squad is eighth in points scored per game at 21.0. Offensively, Moravian
is eighth in the MAC at 324.2 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked fourth in rushing
offense at 181.0 yards per game and ninth in passing offense at 143.2 yards per game. Moravian
is tied for ninth in turnover margin with a -0.40 per game average as the Greyhounds have
committed 11 turnovers while forcing nine turnovers. Individually, junior quarterback Jerry
Venturino is fifth in the MAC in pass efficiency at 114.7 and he is tenth in passing
yards per game at 89.8 while senior quarterback Will Seng (Allentown, PA/William
Allen HS) is sixth in pass efficiency at 112.8. Freshman tailback Chris
Jacoubs is eighth in rushing yards per game at 73.4 yards a contest. Freshman
running back Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) is fourth
in the MAC in kickoff return average at 21.7 yards per kickoff return. Senior wide receiver Kevin
Miltenberger (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle HS) is seventh in punt return average at 8.0
yards per return. Senior Josh Miller is tied for eighth in kick scoring
at 3.0 points per contest, and he is tenth in field goals per game at 0.20 and fifth in
extra-point percentage at 85.7 percent (12 of 14). Junior punter John McLain (Belvidere,
NJ/Belvidere HS) is fourth in the MAC in punting average at 37.7 yards per punt.
Senior cornerback Nate Pogue and senior safety John Panikiewsky
(Carteret, NJ/Carteret HS) are tied for second in the MAC in pass break-ups with
eight.
THE QUARTERBACKS: Senior Will Seng has completed 28
of 56 pass attempts for 357 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. Seng has
been sacked six times this season, and he was run for 28 yards on 21 carries. Sophomore Jerry
Venturino has completed 22 of 50 passes for 359 yards, four touchdowns and four
interceptions. Venturino has been sacked four times this season and gained
23 yards on 19 carries.
IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, freshman tailback Chris Jacoubs leads
the Greyhounds with 367 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries. Senior tailback David
Darmofal has added 237 yards and two scores on 70 attempts. Darmofal went
over 1,000 yards in his career versus FDU-Florham, and he now has 1,212 yards as a Greyhound,
14th all-time. Sophomore fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley
HS) has 92 yards on 23 carries. Junior tailback Cody Hendershot (Bangor,
PA/Bangor HS) has added 70 yards on 16 carries while senior fullback Ray
Burgan (Egg Harbor, NJ/Oakcrest HS) has 41 yards on 13 attempts. Freshman Marc
Panepinto has added 33 yards on five rushes while freshman Earl Kunkel
(Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe HS) has 24 yards on five carries.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Senior wideout Jeff Lowry leads
the Greyhounds with 11 receptions for 157 yards and three scores. Senior wide receiver Kevin
Miltenberger has caught seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while freshman
wideout Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) has five receptions
for 149 yards and two scores. Senior tailback David Darmofal has added
five catches for 48 yards while sophomore fullback Kevin Lukich has five
receptions for 39 yards. Junior tight end Chad Opdyke (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) has
grabbed six aerials for 75 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Russ
Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) has three receptions for 52 yards. A total
of 12 different players have caught at least one pass for Moravian this season.
DEFENSIVE FRONT: Junior defensive end Shawn Nelson leads
the Greyhounds up front defensively with 23 tackles, four tackles for loss and one and
a half sacks. Sophomore defensive end Bryan Kohlbecker has added 19 tackles
with two for loss and half a sack while junior nose tackle Kevin McLaughlin (Philadelphia,
PA/Northeast Catholic HS) has 16 stops, four tackles for loss and one and a half
sacks. Sophomore defensive end Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) has
nine tackles, a sack and three pass break-ups while senior defensive end Justin
Moyer has made five stops with a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown
against King's College.
THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Sophomore linebacker Richie Cline leads
the Moravian defense with 34 tackles, a pass break-up, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Senior linebacker Josh DiGiacomo (Zionsville, PA/Emmaus HS) has added
31 tackles, two tackles for loss, half a sack and one pass break-up. Senior linebacker Steve
Maslanek has contributed 32 stops, five tackles for loss, a sack, an interception
and three pass break-ups while sophomore linebacker Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport
HS) has 13 tackles with one for loss. Junior linebacker Bill Carasia (Fair
Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) has made 17 tackles and an interception. Sophomore
linebacker Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) has contributed
six tackles while sophomore linebacker Eric Williams (Jermyn, PA/Lakeland HS) has
five tackles. Freshman Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) has added
four tackles.
THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Senior free safety John Panikiewsky leads
the defensive backs with 29 tackles, two interceptions, one tackle for loss and eight pass
break-ups. Senior cornerback Nate Pogue has made 22 tackles, two interceptions,
two tackles for loss and eight pass break-ups this season while sophomore Tyler
Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) added 11 tackles and four
pass break-ups. Junior Bill Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) has
16 tackles while freshman defensive back Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) made
12 tackles. Both Skriletz and Aguila each have one pass
break-up this season. Junior Jim D’Agostino (Oakland, NJ/Ramsey HS) has
12 tackles with one tackle for loss while sophomore Gerald Weiss (Gilbertsville,
PA/St. Pius X HS) made three stops before leaving the FDU-Florham game with an
injury.
KICKING GAME: Junior punter John McLain is averaging
37.7 yards on 24 attempts. Three of his punts have ended up as touchbacks, four others
have been inside the 20-yard line and one has been fair caught. McLain had
a long punt of 48 yards. Senior kicker Josh Miller made his first career
field goal attempt, a 27-yard field goal, to open the scoring for the Greyhounds this season,
and he is one-for-two on attempts this season. He added 12 extra-points on 14 tries on
the year. Sophomore place-kicker Nate Strohl has missed five games with
an injury.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Kevin Miltenberger returned 11
punts for a total of 88 yards with a long return of 21 yards. Sophomore Tyler Chomik also
has two punt return for 20 yards with a long of 15 yards while sophomore John Miles
(Warriors Mark, PA/Council Rock HS) has one punt return to 38 yards. Freshman Chris
Jacoubs returned two kickoffs for 47 yards for the Greyhounds while freshman Marc
Panepinto has six kickoff returns for 130 yards with a long of 27 yards. Chomik has
added six kickoff returns for 168 yards and a long of 47 yards while senior Ray
Burgan has one kickoff return for 21 yards.
OVERTIME ‘HOUNDS: Moravian has played a total of seven overtime
games since the NCAA instituted the rule for the 1996 season and is 5-2 all-time in the
extra-session. The Greyhounds were 0-1 in overtime last year.
WINNING WAYS: Moravian had 11 consecutive winning seasons—all under
Coach Scot Dapp, from 1987 to 1997 and has had 13 winning seasons in Dapp’s 16
years. The 11-straight winning seasons is the longest in school history. Dapp ranks
third among Greyhound coaches in winning percentage.
ON THE AIRWAVES: For the seventh straight year, the Greyhounds football
game will be aired on WGPA, Sunny 1100 AM. Phil May will be the play-by-play announcer
this week with color commentary from Jim Wills.
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