Monday, September 15, 2003
MORAVIAN
COLLEGE GREYHOUNDS, 1-1 (1-1 MAC)
SUSQUEHANNA
UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS, 1-1
(1-0 MAC)
1:00
p.m.; Saturday, September 20, 2003
Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium (c. 3,500); Selinsgrove, PA
THE GAME: Moravian looks to win its second game of the 2003 season in
a Middle Atlantic Conference in the squad's first road contest of the year. Kickoff is
slated for 1:30 p.m. at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium in Selinsgrove, PA.
THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 17th season
at Moravian, with a career record of 101-64-1 (.612). 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.
Susquehanna
coach Steve Briggs (Springfield ’84) is in
his 14th season at the school with an overall mark of 85-49 (.634).
THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 30th in the series with
Moravian holding a 15-13-1 advantage. Moravian captured a 23-6 victory last fall in Selinsgrove.
That victory was the 100th win in coach Scot Dapp's career.
LAST TIME THEY MET: In Selinsgrove last fall, quarterback Charlie
Bowden completed eight of 14 passes for 152 yards and a score and tailback David
Darmofal (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights HS) ran for 80 yards on 20 carries
and one touchdown to lead Moravian to its sixth straight victory, a 23-6 decision over
Susquehanna University in MAC action. Moravian took a 7-0 lead with 12:04 left in the
first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Bill Carasia (Fair Haven,
NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS). Freshman Nate Strohl (Coplay, PA/ Whitehall
HS) added the extra-point. The Greyhounds scored again on a 32-yard field goal
by Strohl with 10:52 remaining in the second quarter, giving Moravian a 10-0 lead. After
forcing Susquehanna to turn the ball over on downs, Bowden capped a
seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to tailback Josh Fick. Strohl added
the extra-point to give the Greyhounds a 17-0 lead with 3:52 to play in the second quarter.
Susquehanna scored its only points of the game on a three-yard run with 9:44 remaining
in the third quarter but defensive back Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport
HS) blocked the extra-point attempt to set the score at 17-6. Moravian would
score again with Darmofal diving in from two yards out with just 47
seconds left. The Greyhound defense, which allowed under seven points for the third straight
game, was led by John Cupples and cornerback Jarrod Pence,
who both had nine tackles. Junior linebacker Steve Maslanek (Stockholm, NJ/Vernon
Township HS) added eight tackles while cornerback Nate Pogue (Bethlehem,
PA/Liberty HS), senior defensive lineman Tom Blackledge and Andy
Fick each had six tackles. Blackledge had three tackles for
loss including one of Moravian’s four sacks.
LAST WEEK: Moravian lost its first game of the year, falling to Juniata
, 21-14, in a MAC game. Juniata jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with the
second score coming after a Moravian turnover. Moravian would need just one play on its
second drive of the half to score its first points of the game when senior quarterback Will
Seng (Allentown, PA/William Allen HS) connected on a 47-yard scoring strike with
senior wide receiver Kevin Miltenberger (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle HS). Senior Josh
Miller (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) added the kick to cut the Eagles lead to 14-7
with 12:36 left in the third quarter. The Greyhounds other touchdown came when Seng hit
junior tight end Chad Opdyke (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) with an 18-yard
scoring strike with 6:38 to play in the third stanza. Miller added the
kick to get the score to 21-14. Seng completed 14 or 31 passes for 204
yards, and he was intercepted once. On the drive, freshman tailback Chris Jacoubs
(Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS) ran for 17 of his team high 95
yards. Jacoubs had 19 carries in the game. For Moravian, senior tailback David
Darmofal had 32 yards on 13 carries, and he was the team’s leading receiver
with four receptions for 32 yards. Sophomore fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg,
NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) added three catches for 25 yards and three carries for
12 yards while Opdyke had two receptions for 29 yards. Seng carried the
ball nine times for 26 yards. The Moravian defense was led by junior defensive tackle Shawn
Nelson (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS), who had nine tackles and half a
sack. Senior linebacker Josh DiGiacomo (Zionsville, PA/Emmaus HS) added
six tackles and a half a sack while senior safety John Panikiewsky (Carteret, NJ/Carteret
HS) had six tackles and four pass break-ups including two possible interceptions
that he was unable to control the ball on. Senior cornerback Nate Pogue also
had six tackles and he added two pass break-ups and one and a half tackles for loss while
junior linebacker Bill Carasia had six tackles and an interception.
SCOUTING SUSQUEHANNA: The Crusaders enter the game with an overall record
of 1-1 after a 27-6 victory at Widener University last weekend. Senior quarterback Craig
Ulrich leads the Susquehanna offense on the field. Ulrich has
completed 28 of 55 pass attempts for 408 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Senior wide receiver Mark Bartosic leads the Crusaders with 13 receptions
for 214 yards and two touchdowns while junior wideout Josh Kleha has five
catches for 62 yards. Junior split end Duane Park has caught four passes
for 31 yards. Junior running back Chris Ross leads Susquehanna on the
ground with 144 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries. Ross also has four
receptions for 41 yards. Junior fullback Jason Eck has added 86 yards
and two scores on 26 carries. Junior kicker Chris Pride is five-for-six
on extra-points this season and one-for-two on field goal attempts with a long of 21 yards.
Senior Dennis Kodack is averaging 37.6 yards per punt on eight attempts.
He has a long of 47 yards this season, and he has put five punts inside the 20-yard line. Bartosic is
averaging 30.5 yards per kickoff return and 17.0 yards per punt return while Kleha has
an average of 15.7 yards per punt return. The Crusaders defense has made four interceptions
this season, two by sophomore free safety Ben Gibboney and one each by Kodack,
who is also a linebacker for Susquehanna, and senior linebacker Mark Costello. Gibboney leads
Susquehanna with 13 tackles, and he has added a forced fumble and a tackle for loss. Junior
cornerback Kyle Sanders has added ten tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble
recovery and three pass break-ups. Senior defensive end Adam Summers leads
the Crusaders with five tackles for loss and four sacks. Summers also has nine tackles
and a forced fumble. Costello, sophomore defensive end Kyle Jury and
senior strong safety Andrew Pratt have each made nine tackles this season. Jury has
three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble while Costello has
a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Pratt has a tackle for loss and
a pass break-up while Kodack has made eight tackles, including one for
loss.
YOUNG, BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 86 players on
the Moravian roster, 33 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
Susquehanna was picked to tie for fifth in the MAC poll. Lycoming College was selected
as the top team in the MAC.
THE MAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS: The Greyhounds are ranked third in the
MAC in total defense, allowing 300.0 yards per game. The squad is sixth in passing defense
at 1722.0 yards per game and the defense is fifth in rushing yards allowed at 128.0. The
Greyhounds are second in points allowed at 14.5 per game but the squad is eighth in points
scored per game at 15.0. Offensively, Moravian is third in the MAC at 365.5 yards per game.
The Greyhounds are ranked second in rushing offense at 206.5 yards per game and seventh
in passing offense at 159.0 yards per game. Moravian is fifth in turnover margin with a
+0.5 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed four turnovers while forcing five
turnovers. Individually, senior quarterback Will Seng is third in pass
efficiency at 124.8, seventh in passing yards per game at 159.0, and ninth in total offense
at 180.0 yards per game. Freshman tailback Chris Jacoubs is ninth in rushing
yards per game at 65.5 yards a contest while senior tailback David Darmofal is
tenth at 64.0 yards per game. Sophomore defensive back Tyler Chomik (Allentown,
PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) is sixth in the MAC in punt return average at
10.0 yards per return, and he is averaging 27.5 yards per kickoff return, which is ranked
fifth in the MAC. Chomik is also tied for fifth with three pass break-ups.
Senior wide receiver Kevin Miltenberger is tenth in the MAC in punt return
average at 6.4 yards per return. Senior wide receiver Jeff Lowry (Catawissa, PA/Southern
Columbia HS) is tied for sixth in scoring at 6.0 points per game while senior Josh
Miller is tied for fifth in kick scoring at 3.0 points per contest. Junior punter John
McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) is second in the MAC in punting average at
40.0 yards per punt. Senior safety John Panikiewsky leads the MAC with
six pass break-ups while senior cornerback Nate Pogue is second with five
pass break-ups. Pogue is also tied four fourth in interceptions with 1.0 per game.
THE QUARTERBACKS: Senior Will Seng has completed 24
of 48 pass attempts for 318 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Seng has
been sacked four times this season, and he was run for 42 yards on 16 carries. Sophomore Jerry
Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) saw action in the season opener versus
FDU-Florham but did not attempt a pass.
IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, freshman tailback Chris Jacoubs leads
the Greyhounds with 131 yards on 24 carries. Senior tailback David Darmofal has
added 128 yards on 36 attempts. Darmofal went over 1,000 yards in his
career versus FDU-Florham, and he now has 1,103 yards as a Greyhound. Sophomore fullback Kevin
Lukich has 60 yards on 13 carries. Junior tailback Cody Hendershot (Bangor,
PA/Bangor HS) has added 26 yards on eight carries while senior fullback Ray
Burgan (Egg Harbor, NJ/Oakcrest HS) had 15 yards on seven attempts.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Senior tailback David Darmofal leads
Moravian in receptions with five catches for 48 yards. Senior wide receiver Kevin
Miltenberger has caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown while senior
wideout Jeff Lowry has four receptions for 81 yards and two scores. Junior
tight end Chad Opdyke has grabbed two aerials for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore wide receiver Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) has
two receptions for 17 yards while sophomore fullback Kevin Lukich has
four receptions for 29 yards.
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. Sophomores Salvatore DeWalt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic
HS), Shaun MacDonald (Spring City, PA/Owen J. Roberts HS) and Justin
Runne (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township HS) have earned the other three staring positions
to give the Greyhounds a line that averages six feet, one inch and 275 pounds.
DEFENSIVE FRONT: Junior defensive end Shawn Nelson leads
the Greyhounds up front defensively with 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and half a sack.
Sophomore defensive end Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) has
added eight tackles while junior nose tackle Kevin McLaughlin (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast
Catholic HS) sophomore defensive end Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown
South HS) each have five tackles. Stockley has added a sack and
a pass break-up this season. Senior defensive end Justin Moyer (Allentown, PA/Salisbury
HS) has made two stops.
THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Senior linebacker Josh DiGiacomo leads
the Moravian defense with 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, half a sack and one pass break-up.
Senior linebacker Steve Maslanek has 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and
an interception. Sophomore linebacker Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has
added eight stops while sophomore backer Steve Cline has four tackles.
Junior linebacker Bill Carasia has made eight tackles and an interception
while sophomores Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) and Eric
Williams (Jermyn, PA/Lakeland HS) have two and one tackles respectively.
THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Senior cornerback Nate Pogue has
made seven tackles, two interceptions, two tackles for loss and three pass break-ups this
season while sophomore Tyler Chomik added eight tackles and three pass
break-ups. Senior free safety John Panikiewsky has added seven tackles,
an interception and five pass break-ups. Junior Jim D’Agostino (Oakland,
NJ/Ramsey HS) has seven tackles while sophomore Gerald Weiss (Gilbertsville,
PA/St. Pius X HS) made three stops before leaving the FDU-Florham game with an
injury. Junior Bill Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) has
six tackles while freshman defensive back Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom
HS) made four tackles in a reserve roll.
KICKING GAME: Junior punter John McLain is averaging
40.0 yards on nine attempts. Three of his punts have ended up as touchbacks and two others
have been inside the 20-yard line. McLain had a long kick 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 three extra-points on four tries in the game. Sophomore
place-kicker Nate Strohl (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall HS) has missed both
games with an injury.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Kevin Miltenberger returned seven
punts for a total of 45 yards with a long return of 11 yards. Sophomore Tyler Chomik also
has two punt return for 20 yards with a long of 15 yards. Freshman Chris Jacoubs returned
one kickoff for 22 yards for the Greyhounds while freshman Chris Tomelden (Barnegat,
NJ/Southern Regional HS) recovered an FDU-Florham on-side kick attempt with just
over a minute and a half to play in the game, helping seal the Moravian victory. Chomik has
added two kickoff returns for 55 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. 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.
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