Monday, October 25, 2004

MORAVIAN GREYHOUNDS, 7-0 (7-0 MAC)

WIDENER PIONEERS, 4-3 (3-3 MAC)

1:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 30, 2004
Leslie C. Quick Stadium (c. 4.000); Chester, PA

THE GAME: Moravian looks tie the school record winning streak of eight games in a Middle Atlantic Conference game at Widener University. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium in Chester.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 18th season at Moravian, with a career record of 110-70-1 (.611). 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.

Widener coach David Wood (Widener ’91) is in his second season at the school with an overall mark of 9-8 (.529).

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 57th in the series with Widener owning a 36-21 lead. Moravian's last win in the series was in 1997 with a 27-24 overtime win in Chester. The Pioneers have won the last six games in the series including last year's 22-12 win in Bethlehem and a 27-20 overtime victory in 2002 at Steel Field.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Bethlehem last fall, Moravian jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t hold on as the Greyhounds dropped a MAC game to Widener University, 22-12. Moravian took a 3-0 lead when kicker Josh Miller connected on a 27-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 70-yard drive that took the first 6:34 of the game. Widener responded right away with a touchdown on a ten-play, 72-yard drive. Moravian junior linebacker Bill Carasia (Fair Have, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) nearly intercepted the scoring pass in the end zone. Greyhound wide receiver Josh Kline (Reading, PA/Exeter HS) blocked the extra-point attempt, limiting Widener to a 6-3 lead. The Greyhounds tied the game on a 19-yard field goal by Miller to cap a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) was 9-for-16 in the contest for 103 yards and an interception before being knocked out in the third quarter with an injury. Tailback Chris Jacoubs (Fair-Haven, NJ/Rumson Fair Haven HS) finished the game with 81 yards on 27 carries. Widener took the lead for good with late in the third quarter when the snap on a Greyhound fourth-and-ten play from their own 20-yard line when a snap sailed over punter John McLain’s (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) head and out of the back of the end zone for a safety, giving the Pioneers and 8-6 lead. Defensive end Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) forced a fumble and defensive back Gerald Weiss (Gilbertsville, PA/St. Pius X HS) grabbed the ball at the 42-yard line and raced to the end zone for Moravian’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Jeff Lowry caught a career high nine passes for 104 yards. Linebacker Josh DiGiacomo led the Moravian defense with eight tackles while Weiss, Carasia, senior cornerback Nate Pogue, senior safety John Panikiewsky and linebacker Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) each made six tackles.

LAST WEEK: Sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries and junior quarterback Jerry Venturino completed six of 18 passes for 144 yards and two more scores to lead Moravian to a 35-14 victory over Lycoming College in MAC action. The win improved the Greyhounds to 7-0 overall and in the MAC for the first time in school history. The Greyhounds would get possession for the first time in the game after an interception by junior cornerback Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) at the Lycoming 34-yard line, which Chomik returned to the 27-yard line. The interception was Chomik’s fourth of the season. After Jacoubs was stopped for a two-yard loss and no gain, Venturino hit sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) with a 27-yard touchdown pass. Senior kicker Ken Macaulay (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge HS) added the extra-point for a 7-0 just 2:18 into the game. Martell had four receptions for 87 yards. Lycoming would answer on the ensuing drive to tie the contest at 7-7 with 7:35 remaining in the first quarter. Lycoming had to punt on the first play of the second quarter, and Chomik set the Greyhounds up at the Lycoming 35-yard line with a 29-yard punt return. On fourth-and-five from the 30-yard line, Venturino ran a quarterback draw to the nine-yard line for a first-and-goal. Venturino finished off the drive with a nine-yard scamper off the left side. Macaulay was wide left with the extra-point, giving Moravian a 13-7 lead with 11:49 remaining in the second quarter. Lycoming would gain possession in good field position on an interception however, Chomik would come up with his second interception of the game and fifth of the season at the Moravian four-yard line. Moravian would be forced to punt after three plays. The Greyhounds would extend their lead to 21-7 with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. Moravian started the drive on the Lycoming 28-yard line after senior linebacker Bill Carasia recovered a fumble. Jacoubs finished off the drive with a ten-yard run. Venturino hit freshman tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) with the two-point conversion pass. The touchdown was Jacoubs’ 12th rushing score of the season and 14th overall touchdown of the year to break the Moravian single season record for points with 84. Moravian would score again with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter when Venturino found junior wide receiver Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) with a 41-yard touchdown strike, three plays after the Greyhound defense had forced Lycoming to turn the ball over on downs. Macaulay added the extra-point for a 28-7 lead. Demko caught two passes for 57 yards, and the touchdown reception was the first of his collegiate career. Lycoming would come back on the first play of the ensuing drive on a 65-yard touchdown pass and run to pull the Warriors within 28-14 with 8:35 remaining in the game. Greyhound senior wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) had a 55-yard kickoff return on the ensuing kickoff to the Lycoming 33-yard line and a 15-yard penalty on the Warriors gave Moravian the ball at the Lycoming 18-yard line. Jacoubs scored from 16 yards out off the left side on the second play, and the carry pushed Jacoubs over 100 yards for the ninth time in his Moravian career in 13 career starts. Macaulay added the extra-point for a 35-14 lead with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter. Moravian held the ball for 33:38 in the game and ran 71 plays for 362 yards in the game. Venturino also had 52 yards on five carries to go with his touchdown while sophomore fullback Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School HS) had 32 yards on five carries. Sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) led the Greyhound defense with eight tackles and a sack while Carasia had six tackles, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery.

SCOUTING WIDENER: The Pioneers enter the game with an overall record of 4-3 and a 3-3 slate in the MAC after a 24-10 victory at FDU-Florham last week. Senior quarterback Mike Lomas leads the Widener offense on the field. Lomas has completed 160 of 284 passes for 1,933 yards with 13 touchdowns and ten interceptions this season. His top targets have been senior wide receiver Tyreak Saviour, who has 48 catches for 6-6 yards and five scores, junior wide out Jeff Chick, who has 44 receptions for 577 yards and three touchdowns, senior wide receiver Jon Steever, who has caught 22 passes for 256 yards, and freshman wide out Mike Schmidt, who has 14 receptions for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman running back Dominic Rock leads the Pioneer ground game with 371 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries after running for 168 yards at FDU-Florham last week. Senior Bob Warden, who has missed the last two games with an injury, has 265 yards and three scores on 74 carries while sophomore Ray Keshel has added 110 yards on 26 attempts. Chick has returned 11 punts for 56 yards while freshman Elliott White has eight punt returns for 50 yards and 12 kickoff returns for 263 yards. Schmidt has added seven kickoff returns for 198 yards with a 90-yard return for a touchdown. Senior kicker Frank Vinci has made six-of-eight field goal attempts this season with a long of 34 yards, and he has connected on 22 of 24 extra-point attempts. Junior punter Doug Schlack has an average of 33.9 yards per punt with 11 placed inside the 20-yard line. Senior defensive back B.J. Hogan leads the Pioneers with five interceptions and he has added 45 tackles and seven pass break-ups. Senior safety Fran Golden leads the Widener defense with 52 tackles including one for loss and three pass break-ups while senior linebacker Nick Rubino has added 51 tackles, four for loss, two and a half sacks, two interceptions, two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery this season. Senior defensive end David Barger has a team high ten tackles for loss and six sacks to go along with 44 tackles, and Barger also has two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore linebacker Matt Yost has contributed 38 tackles with five for loss and two and a half sacks.

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 Widener University was picked to finish fourth. 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 second in the MAC in total defense, allowing 349.3 yards per game. The squad is second in passing defense at 196.1 yards per game, and the defense is seventh in rushing yards allowed at 153.1. The Greyhounds are first in points allowed at 17.0 per game, and the squad is fifth in points scored per game at 31.1. Offensively, Moravian is fifth in the MAC at 394.3 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked second in rushing offense at 259.1 yards per game and 11th in passing offense at 135.1 yards per game. Moravian is first in turnover margin with a +1.43 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed ten turnovers while forcing 20 turnovers. The Greyhounds are also first in the MAC in kickoff returns, averaging 25.9 yards per return, net punting, 36.5 net yards per punt, and time of possession, 33:12. Individually, sophomore running back Chris Jacoubs is second in the MAC in rushing yards per game at 160.1, and he is second in all-purpose yards at 165.6, and second in scoring and touchdown scoring at 12.9 points per game. Jacoubs is also ninth in total offense at 160.1 yards per game. Junior quarterback Jerry Venturino is second in the MAC with a 139.2 pass efficiency rating, and he is eighth in passing yards per game at 130.4. Senior wide receiver Jed Warsager leads the MAC in kickoff returns with an average of 34.2 yards per return. Senior punter/kicker John McLain is second the MAC in punting with an average of 38.7 yards per punt, and he is tied for seventh in field goals per game at 0.14. McLain is first in field goal percentage at 100 percent (one for one), and he is tenth in kick scoring with an average of 1.3 points per contest. Senior kicker Ken Macaulay is ninth in kick scoring at 1.8 points per game and he is eighth in extra-point percentage at 78.6 percent (11 of 14). Junior defensive back Tyler Chomik leads the MAC with 1.71 pass break-ups per game and he is also tied for first in the conference in interceptions at 0.71 per game. Chomik is fourth in punt returns with an average of 8.2 yards, tenth in kickoff returns with an average of 20.1 yards per return, tied for seventh in forced fumbles at 0.29 per game and tied for 38th in the MAC with 5.3 tackles per contest. Sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr is tied for 23rd in the MAC with 6.4 tackles per game. Senior linebacker Bill Carasia is tied for the lead in the MAC in forced fumbles with 0.50 per contest, and he is ninth in the MAC in tackles with 8.2 per game while junior linebacker Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) is tied for 38th in the MAC with 5.3 tackles per game and tied for third in fumble recoveries with 0.29 per game. Junior defensive back Gerald Weiss is tied for fifth in the MAC in forced fumbles with 0.33 per game while junior defensive lineman Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) is also tied for third in fumble recoveries at 0.29 per game.

MAC WEEKLY HONORS: Junior defensive back Tyler Chomik of the Moravian College football team has been named the Middle Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performances on Saturday. Chomik helped lead the Greyhounds to their school record seventh straight win to open the 2004 season in a 35-14 victory at Lycoming College. Chomik had a pair of interceptions and three passes defended to go along with two tackles. Chomik also added three punt returns for 29 yards with a long of 29 yards that set up Moravian’s second touchdown of the game and the go ahead score.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Junior Jerry Venturino has completed 52 of 109 passes for 913 yards this season with ten touchdowns and five interceptions. Venturino has been sacked nine times while scoring three touchdowns and a two-point conversion and adding 117 yards on 47 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. Sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) has completed one pass for 33 yards and a touchdown.

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs leads the Greyhounds with 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns on 222 carries. Jacoubs has 2,172 yards (sixth all-time) in just 17 career games with nine100-plus yard games in 13 starts. Jacoubs, who became the eighth player in school history to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a career and the only player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons against FDU-Florham, has broken the Moravian single season school record with 90 points this fall. He is third all-time with 132 points. Junior fullback Kevin Lukich (Odgesnburg, MD/Wallkill Valley HS), who is out for the season with an injury, has added 170 yards on 25 carries while sophomore tailback Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) has added 170 yards on 32 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 has 76 yards on 15 carries while sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins has contributed 42 yards on six carries.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: The Greyhounds have had eight different players catch passes this season led by sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell has 16 receptions for 272 yards and three scores. Sophomore wideout Ben Hawkins has 15 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns while senior wide receiver Jed Warsager has seven catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman tight end Kris Bisci has seven receptions for 71 yards and a pair of two-point conversion catches while sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs has grabbed three aerials for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Russ Demko has three catch for 73 yards and a touchdown while sophomore running back Joe Costanzo has one reception for 16 yards. Senior tight end Chad Opdyke (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) also has one catch and has also grabbed a two-point conversion versus FDU-Florham.

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 259.1 yards per game on the ground while allowing just nine sacks.

DEFENSIVE FRONT: Junior defensive tackle Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) has 27 tackles with three and a half for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble while senior defensive end Shawn Nelson (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) has 19 tackles, five tackles for loss, one and a half sacks and three pass break-ups. Junior defensive tackle Bryan Kohlbecker has added 15 tackles with four for loss while senior defensive end Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a pass break-up, a forced fumble and has caught a two-point conversion pass at Juniata College. Senior defensive end Richie Cline has added 18 tackles with three 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 ten tackles with half a tackle for loss, a half a sack and a pass break-up. Sophomore defensive end Matt Lieberwirth (Chester, NJ/Mendham HS) has added ten tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. Junior defensive end Robert Stockley has eight tackles with one and a half for loss and two fumble recoveries.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Senior Bill Carasia leads the Greyhound defense with 50 tackles to go along with three and a half tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and one interception while sophomore Cliff Garr has 45 tackles, six tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Junior Chad DiFelice has contributed 37 tackles with four and a half for loss, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries including one returned 40 yards for a touchdown versus FDU-Florham, an interception and two pass break-ups while sophomore Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood HS) has 13 tackles, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. Freshman linebacker Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Paramas Catholic HS) has added 16 tackles with two for loss.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Junior cornerback Tyler Chomik leads the Greyhound defensive backs with 37 tackles, five interceptions, seven pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while sophomore cornerback Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) has 33 tackles, an interception and two pass break-ups. Junior safety Gerald Weiss has contributed 26 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups while senior safety Bill Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) has added 20 stops, a half tackle for loss and three pass-break-ups. Senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) has added 18 tackles, a half tackle for loss, four 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 28 punts for an average of 38.7 yards with a long of 64 yards and 12 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 11-for-14 on extra-points and has missed a 40-yard field goal attempt while Liccketto has missed his only field goal attempt this fall.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior Tyler Chomik has 13 punt returns for 107 yards with a long of 29 yards and ten kickoff returns for 197 yards with a long of 32 yards. Senior Jed Warsager has returned 12 kickoffs this season for a 410 yards including touchdowns of 85 yards and 79 yards. Warsager also has the longest kickoff return for a touchdown in school history with a 98-yard return at Lebanon Valley College in 2002. Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell has contributed ten tackles and a forced fumble on special teams this season

WINNING STREAKS: Moravian has won seven straight games in the same season for the first time in school history. Prior to this fall, the Greyhounds had won six straight contests in a season five times with the last time being in 2002 (10/5 to 11/9). Other six game season winning streaks have occurred in 1940 (9/27 to 11/1), 1955 (10/15 to 11/19), 1988 (10/15 to 11/19) and 1993 (10/9 to 11/13). The longest winning streak in school history spanning more than one season was in 1939 and 1940 when Moravian won eight consecutive games (11/11/1939 to 11/1/1940) and put together a ten game unbeaten streak that included four games in 1939 (10/28 to 11/25) and six wins in the first six contests of 1940 (9/27 to 11/1). The Greyhounds have had three other seven-game winning streaks that span several seasons (10/20/1900 to 10/19/1901; 11/15/1955 to 9/29/1956; & 11/1/1975 to 10/6/1976). The longest unbeaten streak in school history is from the final game of the 1899 season until October 19th, 1901, a span of 13 games without a loss.

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 now had 14 winning seasons in Dapp’s 18 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, Tyler Chomik was selected as the Player of the Game after his two interception, three passes defended and two tackle performance in the Greyhounds' 35-14 victory at Lycoming. Starters is a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics and is located on Route 378 south of Bethlehem.