Monday, October 3, 2005

MORAVIAN GREYHOUNDS
3-2 (3-2 MAC)

BYE Week

THE GAME: Moravian has a scheduled bye week. The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, October 15th in a Middle Atlantic Conference game at FDU-Florham, kicking off at 1:00 p.m. in Madison, New Jersey.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 19th season at Moravian, with a career record of 113-76-1 (.597). He entered the season in the top 50th in winning percentage among NCAA Division III active coaches. Dapp, who is currently the president of the American Football Coaches Association, 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, the ECAC Southeast Championship game in 2002 and the ECAC Southwest Championship game last fall.

LAST WEEK: The Greyhounds dropped their second Middle Atlantic Conference game of the season, falling at Widener University, 34-24. The loss was Moravian’s eighth straight to the Pioneers. Widener scored on the first play of the game on a 65-yard screen pass. The extra-point gave the Pioneers a 7-0 lead just 13 seconds into the game. Moravian would answer right back on its first drive of the afternoon. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) finished off the seven-play, 68-yard drive with a ten-yard touchdown run off the left side. On the carry, Jacoubs set the Moravian all-time career records for rushing attempts with 649, points with 198 and touchdowns with 33, all records previously held by Jim Joseph. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS) added the extra-point to tie the game at 7-7 with 11:24 remaining in the first quarter. Widener scored again with 7:24 remaining in the first stanza but the point after attempt was wide left, leaving the score at 13-7 Widener. Each team was forced to punt on their next possession with Moravian running five plays and the Pioneers going three-and-out. Moravian would have the next chance to points on the board but Reckenbeil’s 41-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter. Widener scored on a touchdown pass and the extra-point gave the Pioneers a 20-7 lead with 12:19 left in the first half. Widener would get the ball back for with an interception of Moravian senior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) at the Widener 30-yard line. The Pioneers added another touchdown for a 27-7 lead with 5:27 remaining in the second quarter. Reckenbeil attempted his second field goal of the game with five seconds left in the first half, but his 35-yard attempt was wide left to let Widener head to halftime with a 27-7 lead. Moravian took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove down inside the Widener-ten yard line but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Reckenbeil, cutting the Widener lead to 27-10 with 10:13 remaining in the third quarter. Widener drove deep into Moravian before Greyhound freshman linebacker Andrew Morrissey (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus HS) ripped the ball away, giving Moravian the ball back. The Greyhounds drove down to the Widener seven-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Venturino would score his first rushing touchdown of the season with a one-yard touchdown dive with 13:12 remaining in the fourth quarter to cap a ten-play, 64-yard drive. Reckenbeil added the extra-point to cut Widener’s lead to 27-17. Venturino ran for 56 yards on seven carries and he completed 22 of 43 pass attempts for 329 yards, his second straight 300-plus yard game against Widener. The Pioneers scored their final touchdown with 11:12 remaining in the game. The extra-point extended Widener’s lead back to 17 points at 34-17. Moravian would drive into the red zone again but Widener intercepted Venturino at the one-yard line on a fourth down play. After forcing a punt, Jacoubs would score his second touchdown of the game from two-yards out to finish off a ten-play, 85-yard drive for the Greyhounds. Reckenbeil’s extra-point pulled the Greyhounds within 34-24 with 2:18 left to play. Jacoubs finished the game with 138 yards on 28 attempts to improve his school record total to 3,491 yards in 26 games. Jacoubs also has school records of 673 attempts, 204 points and 34 touchdowns. Moravian would attempt an onside kick that was recovered by sophomore tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS). However, the Pioneers would intercept another Venturino pass to seal the game for Widener. Bisci caught one pass in the game for ten yards. Greyhound junior wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) caught six passes for a career high 133 yards, the eight highest single game in Moravian history. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) caught four passes for 62 yards in the first half before being injured just before halftime while senior wideout Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) had three catches for 69 yards. The Greyhounds actually out-gained Widener in the game, 538 to 476, with Moravian running 82 plays in the game to the Pioneers 61 plays. Moravian also had the ball for over 32 minutes in the contest. Morrissey led the Moravian defense with nine tackles while senior defensive backs Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) each had five tackles.

BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 102 players on the Moravian roster, 39 are freshmen, 21 are sophomores and 16 are juniors. There are 26 seniors on this season’s squad, and the Greyhounds return 57 letterwinners and 15 starters.

GREYHOUNDS IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Beginning four seasons ago, the Middle Atlantic Conference became an 11-team conference instead of two separate leagues. Moravian, which received two first place votes, was selected to finish in a tie for second in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll this season with Widener University. Delaware Valley was selected as the top team in the MAC and received the other nine first place votes.

THE MAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS: The Greyhounds are fifth in the MAC in total defense, allowing 353.4 yards per game. The squad is fifth in passing defense at 186.6 yards per game, and the defense is seventh in rushing yards allowed at 166.8. The Greyhounds are fourth in points allowed at 21.4 per game, and the squad is second in points scored per game at 29.2. Offensively, Moravian is sixth in the MAC at 374.0 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked first in rushing offense at 216.2 yards per game and seventh in passing offense at 157.8 yards per game. Moravian is sixth in turnover margin with a -0.20 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed ten turnovers while forcing nine turnovers. The Greyhounds are first in the MAC in yards per rush at 5.3, rushing yards with 1,081 yards, passing yards per completion at 16.4, field goals attempted at nine, kickoff return average at 22.1 yards per return, interception returns for touchdowns with two and opponent third down conversions at 28.4 percent (21 of 74). Individually, senior quarterback Jerry Venturino is ranked seventh in passing yards per game at 157.8 yards, second in passing yards per completion at 16.8, tied for fifth in passing touchdowns with seven, seventh in pass efficiency with a 121.2 rating and eighth in total offense at 189.8 yards per game. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs is ranked third in rushing yards per game at 130.2 yards per game, third in rushing attempts with 115, second in rushing touchdowns with eight, third in scoring at 9.6 points per game, second in rushing yards with 651 and fourth in all-purpose at 135.4 yards per game. Senior fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) is fourth in the MAC in yards per rush with an average of 6.8 yards per carry while Venturino us seventh at 5.9 and Jacoubs is tenth at 5.7. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins ranks first in the MAC in yards per catch with an average of 21.8 yards, and he is tenth in reception yards with 284, tied for ninth in touchdown scoring at 4.8 points per game and tied for third in receiving touchdowns with four. Senior punter Corey Czerniak (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) is eighth in the MAC with an average of 34.3 yards per punt and eighth in number of punts with 18. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil is sixth in the MAC in kick scoring with 3.6 points per game. Reckenbeil is tied for first in PAT percentage at 100 percent (12 of 12), and he is fourth in PAT kicks made, tied for fourth in PAT kicks attempted, tied for fifth in field goals per game (0.40), fifth in field goals attempted with four and tied for fourth in field goals made with two. Freshman kicker Brian Maida (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro HS) is fourth in field goals attempted with five and tenth in PAT attempts with six. Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville HS) is sixth in kickoff returns with nine and sixth in kickoff return yards with 169. Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) is sixth in tackles per game at 8.8, and he leads the conference in tackles for loss with 1.80 per contest. DeFelice is tied for second in sacks with 0.80 per game. Junior linebacker Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS), who is tied for first in interception returns for touchdowns with one, is tied for 40th in tackles at 5.0 per game while senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua is tied for 38th in tackles at 5.2 per game. Senior defensive back Tyler Chomik is tied for third in the MAC in passes defended at 1.60 per contest with junior defensive back Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS). Chomik is also tied for first in interception returns for touchdowns with one, and he is tied for seventh in punt return yards with a total of 36 yards on five returns and eighth in kickoff return yards with 145. Senior defensive back GJ Weiss (Gilbertsville, PA/St. Pius X HS) is tied for 40th in tackles at 5.0 per game while freshman linebacker Andrew Morrissey is 11th in the conference in tackles with an average of 7.8 per contest.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Senior quarterback Jerry Venturino has completed 47 of 101 passes for 789 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. Venturino has also added 160 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries while being sacked five times. Sophomore quarterback Sean Hill (West Reading, PA/Wyomissing HS) has completed his only pass attempt for no yards and has been sacked four times while seeing action in three games this season. Sophomore quarterback Brad Swartz (Temple, PA/Muhlenberg HS) saw his first action of the season against Juniata but did not attempt a pass.

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, junior running back Chris Jacoubs leads Moravian with 651 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries. Jacoubs has 3,491 yards (first all-time at Moravian) in just 26 career games with 16 100-plus yard games in 22 starts, including four games over 200 yards. Jacoubs became the first player in school history to reach 3,000 rushing yards in a career against Susquehanna University and the only player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004. He is also first all-time with 204 points, 34 career touchdowns, and 673 career rushing attempts. Senior fullback Kevin Lukich has 123 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while junior fullback Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School) has added 22 yards on five carries. Freshman running back Tyler McCambridge (has contributed 49 yards on just eight carries while junior running back Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) has 55 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts this season. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins has 25 yards on four attempts.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Moravian has had nine different players catch a pass this season. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins leads the Greyhounds with 13 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Shawn Martell has nine catches for 182 yards and a score while sophomore tight end Kris Bisci has five receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Cletus Kilker (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame HS) has four catches for 75 yards while senior wide receiver Russ Demko has four catches for 71 yards. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs has added seven receptions for 26 yards while senior wideout Andrew Mazurek (West Orange, NJ/West Orange HS) has added three receptions for 45 yards. Freshman wideout Rob Shaffer has grabbed two passes for 40 yards while senior fullback Kevin Lukich has one catch for zero yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Greyhounds’ front line includes seniors Scott Burke (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel HS), Salvatore DeWalt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and Brenten Runne (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS) and juniors Andrew Remsing (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) and Dave Kircher (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan HS). Freshman Timothy McBride (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township HS) made a start in place of an injured Kircher against Juniata College and Widener University. DeWalt was selected to the 2005 Lindy’s Preseason All-American First Team center. Last season, the Greyhounds set single season records for rushing yards 2,541 and total offense 4,479 yards a year ago and the line has an average size of six feet, two inches and 280 pounds.

DEFENSIVE FRONT: Senior Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) leads the Moravian defensive line with 19 tackles including four tackles for loss, one and a half a sacks and a fumble recovery he returned four yards versus Juniata College. Senior Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has added 17 tackles with four for loss, one sack and one pass defended. Senior Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) has contributed 13 tackles with one and a half a tackles for loss and one sack while junior Alex Smith-Constantine (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus HS) has ten tackles with two and a half for loss and an interception he returned nine yards versus Susquehanna University. Junior defensive end Nick Feo (Hampton, NJ/Voorhees HS) has 11 tackles with three tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while senior defensive tackle Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) has contributed seven tackles with half a tackle for loss. Sophomore defensive tackle Tom Braxmeier (Center Valley, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) has five tackles with one for loss while sophomore defensive tackle Matt Adams (Dover, NJ/Dover HS) has three tackles. Senior Corey Czerniak also has three tackles this season with half a tackle for loss while senior Keith Jacobson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill HS) has three tackles including one for loss.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice leads the Moravian defense with 44 tackles including nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Freshman Andrew Morrissey has made 39 tackles with one tackle for loss, half a sack, two forced fumbles, one of which he recovered, and a pass break-up while junior Cliff Garr has added 25 tackles with one tackle for loss, one sack and an interception returned 32 yards for a touchdown versus Susquehanna University. Sophomore linebacker Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Paramas Catholic HS) has 12 tackles on the season with half a tackle for loss and a pass defended. Sophomore Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood HS) has added seven tackles this season while junior Tony Gro (Schwenksville, PA/The Hill School) has contributed four tackles with half a tackle for loss. Sophomore Dan Edleman (Pottstown, PA/The Hill School) has six tackles with half a tackle for loss while freshman linebacker Kevin McGorry (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) has one tackle.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: In the defensive backfield, senior safety Mario Bevilaqua has made 26 tackles with one and a half tackles for loss, three passes defended and a forced fumble. Senior safety GJ Weiss has added 25 tackles with half a tackle for loss, an interception he has returned 16 yards and two pass break-ups. Senior cornerback Tyler Chomik has added 22 tackles with one for loss, an interception returned 42 yards for a touchdown against Juniata College and seven pass break-ups for a total of eight passes defended while junior cornerback Israel Aguila has 20 tackles with one for loss, eight passes defended, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Sophomore defensive back Matt Sheridan (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling HS) has 12 tackles while junior defensive back Tom Carroll (Blackwood, NJ/Paul VI HS) has made 11 stops.

KICKING GAME: Senior Corey Czerniak is averaging 34.3 yards per punt on 18 attempts. He has a long punt of 51 yards with six punts fair caught and seven inside the 20-yard line. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil is two-for-four on field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards versus Susquehanna University and 12-for-12 on extra-point attempts. Freshman Brian Maida has connected on one of five field goal attempts with a long of 25 yards versus Delaware Valley College, and he is three for six on extra-point attempts.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer has three punt returns for zero yards and nine kickoff returns for 169 yards including a long kickoff return of 45 yards. Shaffer has also made three special teams tackles while junior wide receiver Shawn Martell has three tackles. Martell has also returned three kickoffs for 49 yards and a long of 22 yards. Senior defensive back Tyler Chomik has five punt returns for 36 yards with a long of 13 yards and four kickoff returns for 145 yards with a long of 74 yards versus Juniata College. Sophomore defensive back Matt Sheridan has two punt returns for nine yards after blocking three punts at King's College, which tied an NCAA Division III record. Freshman tight end Doug Bocchino (Madison, NJ/Madison HS) has four special teams tackles while junior fullback Joe Costanzo has added six special teams tackles and one kickoff return for 13 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. Last year was the fourth 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 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 9th straight year, the Greyhounds' games will be on the radio. Moravian's games will be aired on WKAP Oldies 1470 AM for the second straight year. Phil May calls the play-by-play call with technical assistance from John Elliott.

STARTERS PLAYER OF THE GAME: As part of Moravian's 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, junior wide receiver Shawn Martell caught six passes for a career high 133 yards, the eighth highest single game total in Moravian history in the Greyhounds' 34-24 loss at Widener University. Starters Restaurant, a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics, is located on Route 378 South of Bethlehem.