Monday, October 11, 2004

MORAVIAN GREYHOUNDS, 5-0 (5-0 MAC)

FDU-FLORHAM DEVILS, 2-3 (2-3 MAC)

1:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 16, 2004
Steel Field (c. 2,500); Bethlehem, PA

THE GAME: Moravian looks to equal the best start in school history with its sixth straight victory in a Middle Atlantic Conference game versus FDU-Florham. The Greyhounds are 5-0 for the first time since 1940. Kickoff for the annual homecoming game is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Steel Field.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 18th season at Moravian, with a career record of 108-70-1 (.606). He entered the season 50th 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.

FDU-Florham coach Rich Mosca (West Liberty ’70) is in his third season at the school with a 5-20 record (.200).

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the tenth in the series with the Greyhounds owning an 8-1 lead. Moravian won last season’s meeting, 16-8, and the Hounds earned a 21-14 win in 2002. The Greyhounds won the first four meetings in the series while FDU-Florham’s only victory was in 1999 with a 13-10 win.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Bethlehem last fall, tailback David Darmofal ran for 96 yards on 23 carries, and quarterback Will Seng completed ten of 17 pass attempts for 114 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Jeff Lowry to lead Moravian to a 16-8 victory over FDU-Florham in MAC action. Moravian took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when kicker Josh Miller converted a 27-yard field goal attempt on Moravian’s first drive of the year. The field goal was the first of Miller's career. The Greyhounds extended their lead to 9-0 in the first half when Seng connected with Lowry on a 20-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone. Lowry finished the game with three receptions for 41 yards. Moravian’s lead became 16-0 in the third quarter when Seng and Lowry connected again, this time on a 16-yard scoring strike to the left corner of the end zone on a third-and-11 play. Miller connected on the extra-point. The Greyhounds’ scoring drive of 15 yards was set up by cornerback Nate Pogue’s second interception of the game, which he returned 36 yards. Pogue’s other interception return was for three yards, and he had a total of three pass break-ups in the game. Fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) added 48 yards on ten carries and Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) had 36 yards on five attempts as the Greyhounds ran for 233 yards on 58 carries. The Moravian defense allowed the Devils just 14 yards on 17 carries in the game. Linebackers Josh DiGiacomo and Steve Maslanek each made seven tackles.

LAST WEEK: Sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries and junior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) completed eight of 11 passes for 165 yards and two scores to lead Moravian to a 34-27 victory over Wilkes University in MAC action. The Greyhounds improve to 5-0 overall and in the MAC for the first time since 1940. Moravian opened the scoring by taking the opening kickoff 75 yards on nine plays to take a 7-0 lead with 10:32 remaining in the first quarter. Venturino capped the drive with a 32-yard scoring strike to sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS). Senior Ken Macaulay (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge HS) added the extra-point. Venturino’s pass was the only pass play on the drive. On Wilkes first possession, Moravian junior linebacker Chad DeFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) intercepted a pass and the Greyhounds took over on their own 26-yard line. Venturino would finish off the 74-yard, eight-play drive with his second pass of the game, a 24-yard touchdown strike to sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) giving Moravian a 13-0 lead with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter. The Colonels cut the score to 13-7 Moravian lead with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Moravian scored again when Jacoubs jumped over the pile for the touchdown, however, Jacoubs was stopped on the two-point conversion attempt giving the Greyhounds a 19-7 lead. Wilkes drove to Moravian’s 40-yard line, but the drive ended on an interception at the Moravian 26-yard line by senior linebacker Bill Carasia (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) with 5:15 left in the second quarter. On the following drive on second and goal from the four-yard line, Jacoubs reached the one-yard line before fumbling into the end zone. Moravian junior wide receiver Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) fell on the ball for a touchdown. Macaulay converted the extra-point for a 26-7 Moravian lead with 2:03 remaining in the first half. Wilkes scored its second touchdown of the game and after a two-point conversion run failed, Moravian had a 26-13 lead in the third quarter. The Colonels forced Moravian to punt on the next possession after forcing a fumble while sacking Venturino. Wilkes scored in the third quarter to cut Moravian’s lead to 26-20. Jacoubs an Venturino would put together a 20-play, 78 yard drive that took 9:19 off the clock with Jacoubs capping the drive with a four-yard touchdown run with 9:00 remaining in the game. Venturino ran a quarterback draw out for the two-point conversion giving the Greyhounds a 34-20 lead. Carasia led the Moravian defense with seven tackles while junior defensive back Gerald Weiss (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) added six tackles.

SCOUTING FDU-FLORHAM: The Devils enter the game with a record of 2-3 overall and in the MAC. Sophomore quarterback Dan Huff leads the FDU-Florham offense on the field having completed 58 of 153 passes for 749 yards and four touchdowns. Huff has been intercepted 15 times and has gained 239 yards on 54 carries while scoring one rushing touchdown. Huff's top targets have been freshman wide receiver Louis Cerrato, who has ten catches for 186 yards and a score, sophomore wide out Mike Smeja, who has ten receptions for 117 yards, and sophomore wide receiver Robert Felicetta, who has nine catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Felicetta has also completed two passes for 58 yards. Freshman running back Louis Smith leads the Devils on the ground with 370 yards and three touchdowns on 73 carries. Senior defensive back Noel Kavanagh is averaging 5.3 yards per punt return and 21.0 yards per kickoff return while freshman defensive back Billy Williams is netting 22.2 yards per kickoff return. Sophomore kicker Michael Rabasca is one-for-two on field goals with a long of 33 yards and he has converted four-of-six extra-point attempts. Senior punter Anthony Blasi is averaging 35.2 yards per punt. Freshman defensive back Jon Sacco leads the Devils with two interceptions while senior linebacker Greg Martone leads the FDU defense with 45 tackles, including two sacks and six tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Matt DeNardo has contributed 43 stops with four for loss while senior linebacker Joe Sangiovanni has 41 tackles with nine for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.

YOUNG, BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 84 players on the Moravian roster, 25 are freshmen, 25 are sophomores and 21 are juniors. There are 13 seniors on this season’s squad, and the Greyhounds return 58 letterwinners and 17 starters.

GREYHOUNDS IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Beginning three 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 FDU-Florham was picked ninth in the MAC poll. Lycoming College was selected as the top team in the MAC just one point ahead of Wilkes University.

THE MAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS: The Greyhounds are third in the MAC in total defense, allowing 336.0 yards per game. The squad is third in passing defense at 188.4 yards per game, and the defense is sixth in rushing yards allowed at 147.6. The Greyhounds are first in points allowed at 15.6 per game, and the squad is fourth in points scored per game at 29.6. Offensively, Moravian is fourth in the MAC at 415.2 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked first in rushing offense at 286.2 yards per game and tenth in passing offense at 129.0 yards per game. Moravian is first in turnover margin with a +1.60 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed nine turnovers while forcing 17 turnovers. The Greyhounds are also first in the MAC in net punting, 36.2 net yards per punt, and time of possession, 35:05. Individually, sophomore running back Chris Jacoubs leads the MAC in rushing yards per game at 172.0, and he is second in all-purpose yards at 179.6, and third in scoring and touchdown scoring at 13.2 points per game. Jacoubs is also ninth in total offense at 172.0 yards per game. Junior quarterback Jerry Venturino is third in the MAC with a 137.5 pass efficiency rating, and he is ninth in passing yards per game at 122.4. Senior kicker John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) leads the MAC in punting with an average of 38.9 yards per punt, and he is tied for sixth in field goals per game at 0.20 and eighth in kick scoring with an average of 1.8 points per contest. McLain is tied for first in field goal percentage at 100 percent (one for one). Senior kicker Ken Macaulay is tenth in kick scoring at 1.2 points per game and he is eighth in extra-point percentage at 83.3 percent (five of six). Junior defensive back Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) is second with 1.80 pass break-ups per game, tied for third in interceptions at 0.60 per game, seventh in punt returns with an average of 7.2 yards, tied for seventh in kickoff returns with an average of 20.1 yards per return and tied for 29th in the MAC with 5.8 tackles per contest. Sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) is tied for 26th in the MAC with 6.0 tackles per game, and Garr is tied for sixth with 0.60 sacks per game. Senior linebacker Bill Carasia leads the MAC in forced fumbles with 0.75 per contest, and he is 14th in the MAC in tackles with 7.2 per game while junior linebacker Chad DeFelice is tied for 48th in the MAC with 5.0 tackles per game.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Junior Jerry Venturino has completed 38 of 76 passes for 612 yards this season with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Venturino has been sacked seven times while scoring two touchdowns and a two-point conversion and adding 62 yards on 35 carries. Senior quarterback Rick Muschlitz (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) has attempted two passes with one interception while gaining five yards on two carries. Freshman signal caller Sean Hill (West Reading, PA/Wyomissing HS) did not attempt a pass, and he carried the ball once for no gain in the season opener at Juniata College.

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs leads the Greyhounds with 860 yards and nine touchdowns on 162 carries. Jacoubs has 1,911 yards (eighth all-time) in just 15 career games with seven 100-plus yard games in 11 starts. Junior fullback Kevin Lukich has added 170 yards on 25 carries while sophomore tailback Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) has added 152 yards on 30 carries. Freshman running back Kyle Heffron (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS) has run for 51 yards on nine carries. Senior tailback Cody Hendershot (Bangor, PA/Bangor HS) has added 34 yards on eight carries. Sophomore running back Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School) has 46 yards on nine carries while sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins has contributed 47 yards on four carries.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: The Greyhounds have had eight different players catch passes this season led by sophomore wideout Ben Hawkins, who has 11 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell has ten receptions for 164 yards and two scores while senior wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) has six catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) has six receptions for 52 yards and a two-point conversion catch while sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs has grabbed three aerials for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Russ Demko has one catch for 19 yards, and he has receoved a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown while sophomore running back Joe Costanzo has one reception for 16 yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Greyhounds front five of juniors Scott Burke (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel HS), Brenten Runne (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS) and Salvatore DeWalt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and sophomores Michael Abruzzo (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny Regional HS) and Andrew Remsing (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) have helped the Greyhounds average 286.2 yards per game on the ground while allowing just seven sacks.

DEFENSIVE FRONT: Junior defensive tackle Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) has 19 tackles with two for loss and one sack while junior defensive tackle Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) has added 11 tackles with four for loss. Senior defensive end Shawn Nelson (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) has ten tackles, three and a half for loss, one sack and two pass break-ups while senior defensive end Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has nine tackles, a pass break-up, a forced fumble and has caught a two-point conversion pass at Juniata College. Senior defensive end Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has 12 tackles with two and a half for loss, one and a half sacks and a pass break-up while senior defensive tackle Kevin McLaughlin (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic HS) has seven tackles with half a tackle for loss and half a sack. Sophomore defensive end Matt Lieberwirth (Chester, NJ/Mendham HS) has added eight tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Sophomore Cliff Garr has 30 tackles, four and a half tackle for loss, three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while senior Bill Carasia has also added 30 tackles, three forced fumbles and one tackle for loss. Junior Chad DeFelice has contributed 25 tackles with one and a half for loss, an interception and two pass break-ups while sophomore Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood HS) has 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. Freshman linebacker Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Paramas Catholic HS) has added six tackles.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Junior cornerback Tyler Chomik leads the Greyhound defensive backs with 29 tackles, three interceptions and six pass break-ups while senior safety Bill Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) has added 19 stops, a half tackle for loss and three pass-break-ups. Sophomore cornerback Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) has 22 tackles, an interception and a pass break-up while junior safety Gerald Weiss has contributed 12 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups. Senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) has added 11 tackles, three pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.

KICKING GAME: Senior John McLain is six-for-ten on extra-point attempts and has made his only field goal attempt of 26 yards. McLain also has 18 punts for an average of 38.9 yards with a long of 63 yards and eight that have landed inside the 20-yard line. Junior punter Corey Czerniak (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) has averaged 39.5 yards on two punts with a long of 43 yards and one inside the 20 yard line. Sophomore Michael Liccketto (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights HS) and senior Ken Macaulay also have been kicking for the Greyhounds. Macaulay is five-for-six on extra-points while Liccketto has missed his only field goal attempt this fall.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior Tyler Chomik has nine punt returns for 65 yards with a long of 15 yards and ten kickoff returns for 197 yards with a long of 32 yards. Senior Jed Warsager has returned five kickoffs this season for a 156 yards including a 79-yard touchdown. Warsager also has the longest kickoff return for a touchdown in school history with a 98-yard return at Lebanon Valley College in 2002.

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. Last year was the third time since 1996 that the Greyhounds did not play at least one overtime game.

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 17 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 eighth straight year, the Greyhounds football game will be on the radio. However, this fall Moravian's games will be aired on WKAP Oldies 1470 AM. Phil May calls the play-by-play call with color commentary from Jim Wills and technical assistance from John Elliott.

STARTERS PLAYER OF THE GAME: As part of Moravian's new radio contract with Oldies 1470 WKAP, the announcers will select the Starters Player of the Game for Moravian during the St. Luke's Hospital Post-Game Show. Last week, sophomore running back Joe Costanzo was selected as the player of the Week after contributing 35 yards on five carries and catching one pass for 19 yards to help Moravian remain unbeaten at 5-0. Starters Restaurant, a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics, is located on Route 378 South of Bethlehem.