Tuesday, September 2, 2003

MORAVIAN COLLEGE GREYHOUNDS

FDU-FLORHAM DEVILS, 0-0 (0-0 MAC)

1:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 6, 2003
Steel Field (c. 2,500); Bethlehem, PA

THE GAME: Moravian opens the 2003 season looking to snap a two-game losing streak dating back to last season, hosting FDU-Florham in a Middle Atlantic Conference home game. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Steel Field. The contest was originally slated for Friday, September 5th in Madison, New Jersey, however, construction delays on FDU's new field forced a change in venue.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 17th season at Moravian, with a career record of 100-63-1 (.613). 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

FDU-Florham coach Rich Mosca (West Liberty ’70) is in his second season at the school with a 2-8 record (.200).

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the ninth in the series with the Greyhounds owning a 7-1 lead. Moravian won last season’s meeting, 21-14, and the Greyhounds won the first four meetings in the series. FDU-Florham’s only victory came in 1999 with a 13-10 win.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Bethlehem last fall, tailback David Darmofal (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights HS) rushed for 100 yards, the first 100-yard rushing game of his career, and the game winning touchdown on 16 carries to lead the Moravian College football team to a season opening, 21-14 victory over FDU-Florham in Middle Atlantic Conference action. The Greyhounds overcame five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) and a 14-point rally by the Devils, which tied the score at 14-14 just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter, for the victory. Moravian took a 7-0 lead with 13:38 to play in the second quarter as quarterback Charlie Bowden found wideout Ben Hawkins in the back corner of the end zone on a 23-yard fade route. Nate Strohl (Coplay, PA/Whitehall HS) added the extra-point. The Greyhounds extended their first half lead to 14-0 with 8:58 to play in the quarter when Bowden found tight end Rick Kulp open across the middle for a ten-yard scoring pass before Strohl added the kick. Bowden completed 13 of 25 passes for 136 yards. The Greyhounds responded to FDU-Florham tying the game by taking the ball 70 yards on 11 plays for the game winning touchdown with 9:11 to play. Darmofal finished off the drive with a five-yard scamper off the left side. On the drive, Darmofal had seven carries for 53 yards. Defensively for the Greyhounds, defensive lineman Tom Blackledge had six tackles with one sack and three and a half tackles for loss. Moravian allowed FDU just 150 yards total, 158 yards in the air and minus-eight yards on the ground. Linebacker John Cupples added eight tackles with one for loss.

SEASON OPENING GAMES: The Greyhounds will be looking for their third season opening victory in the last four years. The Greyhounds defeated Delaware Valley College, 19-10, in Doylestown to open the 2000 season and FDU-Florham, 21-14, last fall.

SCOUTING FDU-FLORHAM: As the Devils open their 30th season, major emphasis will be placed on improving overall defensive and special teams play. Last year, the Devils ranked ninth out of 11 teams in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 33.4 points per game. The Devils also allowed 219 first downs, most in the conference. But the Devils expect to improve in all those categories. Eight defensive starters return from last year's. The Devils' offense took more steps in the right direction last year. Last year's team scored 200 points on the season, as compared to 108 in 2001. In 2001, the Devils completed 32.5 percent of their passes (74-for-228) and gained a total of 950 passing yards for the year. They scored four passing touchdowns. Last year's passing games contrasts drastically. The 2002 Devils completed 47.2 percent of their passes (133-for-282), amassing 2,058 yards, the most since the 1999 season. At quarterback, senior Patrick O¹Neill returns as the leading contender. He completed 31-of-59 passes for 261 yards in six games. At wide receiver, senior Mike Daly returns as a leading contender to start after making seven catches for 54 yards. Senior Chris Trolan, who made 53 tackles last season as a linebacker, will switch to running back. The strength of the offense will be in the experience of the line. The Devils return seven starters from last year's defense. In the secondary, senior Eric Eickhorst, also the team’s kicker, junior Noel Kavanagh, and junior Scott Bohonyi all return. Eickhorst ranked second on the team in tackles with 75. He tied for the team lead in interceptions with four and also broke up four passes. Kavanagh made 25 tackles, picked off two passes and broke up five others. Bohonyi made 18 tackles and broke up two passes. Four linebackers with starting experience return in junior Matt DeNardo, senior Joe Sangiovanni, senior Rich Armitt, and senior Michael Biancella. DeNardo led the Devils in tackles last season with 91. He had six tackles-for-loss including two sacks. Sangiovanni had 71 tackles and posted seven tackles-for-loss totaling 28 yards including two sacks for a total of 10 yards. He broke up five passes and recovered a fumble. Armitt had his season cut short last year due to a broken leg, but had 21 tackles in four games. Biancella added 30 tackles, three behind the line of scrimmage, while recovering two fumbles. On the defensive line, three experienced players return, junior Larry Kelliher, junior Andrew Gaspar, and junior Chris Watson. Kelliher chipped in eight stops, three of which were tackles-for-loss. Gaspar added 33 tackles. He had six tackles-for-loss totaling 26 yards, two of which were sacks for 13 yards. Watson made 35 tackles, five of which for behind the line of scrimmage for a total of eight yards. He also made two sacks and recovered a fumble. The main special teams contributors returning from last year's team are Eickhorst, junior punter Anthony Blasi and sophomore kicker Mike Rabasca.

YOUNG, BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 85 players on the Moravian roster, 33 are freshmen, 29 are sophomores and 12 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 FDU-Florham was picked ninth in the MAC poll. Lycoming College was selected as the top team in the MAC.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Moravian’s biggest question on either side of the ball will come down to the player who will control the offense from the quarterback position. The Greyhounds do have two reserves from last year and several freshmen that will battle for the starting job. Senior Will Seng (Allentown, PA/William Allen HS) completed three of seven passes for 25 yards with an interception last season, and he was 21 of 35 on pass attempts for 294 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions during his sophomore season. Sophomore Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) was one of three on pass attempts last year for 23 yards.

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, senior David Darmofal (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights HS) returns to the starting tailback position. Last season, Darmofal led the Greyhounds with 586 yards on 152 carries, and he added six touchdowns. Other running backs returning for Moravian include sophomore Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS), who contributed 50 yards on 16 attempts, junior Cody Hendershot (Bangor, PA/Bangor HS), who contributed 20 yards on five carries, and senior Ray Burgan (Egg Harbor, NJ/Oakcrest HS), who had five yards on one attempt.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Seniors Kevin Miltenberger (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle HS) and Jeff Lowry (Catawissa, PA/Southern Columbia HS) return to lead Moravian’s wide receivers. Miltenberger saw action as a starter last year for the Greyhounds, and he made 14 receptions for 175 yards with two touchdowns. Lowry contributed seven catches for 99 yards. Moravian also returns junior tight end Chad Opdyke (Bath, PA/Northampton HS), who had one reception for ten yards in limited action last fall.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Greyhounds return two of their starting offensive linemen from a year ago with junior Andrew Leska (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) and sophomore Brenten Runne (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS) back this season. The pair are both over six feet tall and average 300 pounds to give coach Dapp and the rest of his offensive staff s strong pair to build the rest of the line around. Sophomores Salvatore DeWalt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and Justin Runne (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township HS) all saw limited action on the offensive front last fall.

DEFENSIVE FRONT: Junior Shawn Nelson (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) will anchor Moravian’s defensive front three this fall after making 42 tackles with nine for loss and two sacks last season. Senior Justin Moyer (Allentown, PA/Salisbury HS), junior Kevin McLaughlin (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic HS) and sophomores Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) and Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) will join Nelson on the defensive front. McLaughlin contributed seven tackles as a reserve nose guard.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Senior Steve Maslanek (Stockholm, NJ/Vernon Township HS) and sophomore Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) will anchor Moravian’s linebackers this season. Maslanek had 56 tackles, including eight for loss last year while Cline added 33 tackles, eight for loss and one and a half sacks in his first collegiate season. Senior Josh DiGiacomo (Zionsville, PA/Emmaus HS) also returns to the middle of the defense after making 20 tackles last season as a reserve. Junior John Murgitroyde (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan HS) and sophomore Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) will also see time at the linebacker positions. Junior Bill Carasia (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS), who had 146 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries last fall as a running back, will be making the switch to a linebacker position and sophomore Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has moved up from the defensive backfield into a starting role in the linebacker unit.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Leading the defense will be senior defensive backs Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) and John Panikiewsky (Carteret, NJ/Carteret HS). Pogue was an All-MAC Second Team selection last season, and he finished the year tied for 11th in the country in passes defended with 2.0 per game. Pogue was also tied for 25th in interceptions per game at 0.6, and he made a total of 51 tackles to go along with 23 passes defended, seven interception and two forced fumbles. Panikiewsky was an All-MAC Honorable Mention honoree last fall, and he was tied for 48th in the country with 1.5 passes defended per game. Panikiewsky is Moravian’s leading returning tackler this year with 59 stops in 2002, despite missing with ECAC playoff game with an injury. He also added 15 passes defended, four interceptions, eight tackles for loss and two sacks. Also returning to the defensive backfield will be junior Bill Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS), who made 25 tackles, 11 passes defended and an interception in just seven games last year. Sophomore Gerald Weiss (Gilbertsville, PA/St. Pius X HS) will also see action in the defensive backfield after making two tackles a year ago in limited time. Junior Jim D’Agostino (Oakland, NJ/Ramsey HS) will also see action as a defensive back this year.

KICKING GAME: Moravian’s specialists feature the Greyhounds other two returning All-MAC player in junior punter John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) and sophomore place-kicker Nate Strohl (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall HS). McLain, who was an All-MAC Second Team honoree last season, finished the year tied for 14th in the nation at 38.8 yards per punt on 54 attempts. McLain, who has been named to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette Preseason All-American Second Team, had 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line last fall. Strohl was on the All-Conference Second Team last year after converting 23 of 27 extra-point attempts and eight of 11 field goal attempts in his debut season. Strohl also finished the campaign ranked 42nd in the nation in field goals per contest at 0.6. Senior Josh Miller (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) will also get a chance at the place kicking duties this season. Miller is six-for-eight on extra-point attempts in his three years at Moravian.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Moravian will look to senior Kevin Miltenberger to be the punt returner after averaging 8.6 yards per return last fall while junior Cody Hendershot is expected to handle kickoff returns after averaging 19.5 yards a return a year ago. Sophomore John Miles (Warriors Mark, PA/Council Rock HS) will also return kicks this season for the Greyhounds. Sophomore Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS), who played at FDU-Florham last fall, will also return kicks for Moravian

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 second 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 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 calls the play-by-play call with color commentary from Jim Wills.