Monday, September 27, 2004

MORAVIAN GREYHOUNDS, 3-0 (3-0 MAC)

KING'S MONARCHS , 1-3 (1-2 MAC)

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

THE GAME: Moravian looks to improve to 4-0 for the first time since the 1988 season in a Middle Atlantic Conference home game versus King's College. Kickoff 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 106-70-1 (.602). 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.
     King's coach Rich Manello (Springfield ’83) is in his 12th season at the school and he has an overall record of 49-68-1 (.420).

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 10th in the series with King's owning a 6-3 lead. Moravian's last win in the series was in 1996 with a 14-12 win in Wilkes-Barre. Last fall, King's defeated the Greyhounds, 27-19 in Wilkes-Barre.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Wilkes-Barre last fall, Moravian jumped out to a 19-0 lead in the first 9:36 of the game but the Greyhounds were unable to hold the lead in a 27-19 loss at King’s College in MAC action. The Greyhounds started the scoring with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter when tailback Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) bounced a second-and-ten play to the right side and raced down the Moravian sideline for a 65-yard scoring run. Kicker Josh Miller added the extra-point to give the Greyhounds a 7-0 lead. On the next possession, King’s punter had his knee hit the ground at the King’s 12-yard line while fielding a low snap to give Moravian possession. Jacoubs, who was making his first career start, scored from six yards out on the third play of the drive. Miller’s extra-point attempt was blocked by the Monarchs to give Moravian a 13-0 lead with 7:44 to play in the first stanza. Jacoubs finished the game with a career high 126 yards on 26 carries. The Greyhounds final score came with 5:24 remaining in the first quarter when defensive lineman Justin Moyer intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. Moravian tried for a two-point conversion but Jacoubs was stopped to give Moravian a 19-0 lead. The Monarchs scored the game’s final 27 points. King’s controlled the ball for 31:28, and the Monarchs out-gained Moravian 436-164. Moravian quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) completed four of 12 passes on the game for 37 yards, and he was intercepted three times. Wideout Jeff Lowry had three receptions for 28 yards. Linebacker Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) had nine stops and a forced fumble. Linebacker Steve Maslanek and defensive lineman Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) each had eight tackles.

LAST WEEK: Sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs had his second straight 200-plus yard game, running for 257 yards on 36 carries with three touchdowns and another score by pass reception to lead Moravian to a 27-20 victory over Lebanon Valley College in an MAC game. The Greyhounds first scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jerry Venturino to Jacoubs on a fourth-and-15 play from the 16-yard line. The Greyhounds had a 6-0 lead with 11:28 to play in the first quarter after the extra-point was blocked. Venturino completed eight of 18 passes for 89 yards with the score and an interception in the game. The Flying Dutchmen responded in just three plays to take a 7-6 lead. Jacoubs gave the Greyhounds the lead right back with 8:27 left in the first quarter when he bounced a run to the left sideline and scored from 53 yards out. Venturino hit freshman tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) with the two-point conversion pass for a 14-7 Moravian lead. Moravian started its next scoring drive on the Lebanon Valley 30-yard line after a fumble recovery. Jacoubs scored his third touchdown, second rushing, on a four-yard run off the left side on the first play of the second quarter. Senior John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) added the extra-point for a 21-7 Moravian lead with 14:54 in the second stanza. On Lebanon Valley’s next drive, junior defensive lineman Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) forced another fumble for Moravian and sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) fell on the ball at the Lebanon Valley 46-yard line. Jacoubs would finish off drive with an eight-yard touchdown run with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter to give Moravian a 27-7 lead. The Flying Dutchmen scored the first points of the second half to pull within 27-14 with 1:55 to play in the third quarter. Lebanon Valley moved within 27-20 with 3:02 remaining in the game. Lebanon Valley forced Moravian to punt to take over at its own 20-yard line. The Flying Dutchmen drove down to the Moravian 23-yard line before Moravian junior defensive back Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) intercepted a pass in the end zone as time expired. Chomik and freshman linebacker Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood HS) led the Moravian defense with eight tackles while Garr contributed seven tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The Moravian defense forces six turnovers in the game.

SCOUTING KING'S: The Monarchs enter the game with a record of 1-3 and a 1-2 slate in the MAC after a 34-31 loss to Widener University last Saturday. Junior quarterback Chris Barnic leads King's offense having completed 50 of 118 passes for 672 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. His top targets have been junior wide receiver Julian Walker, who has 18 receptions for 257 yards and two scores, junior wideout Blake Letchford, who has 13 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown, and junior tight end Matt Nicodemus, who has ten receptions for 141 yards. Senior tailback Richard Jackson has 573 yards on 138 carries with seven touchdowns. Jackson has 4,388 yards in his career and needs 12 yards to move into second in MAC history. Senior kicker Bobby Nawrocki has made all eight extra-point attempts this season, and he is five-for-six on field goals with a long of 42 yards. Freshman punter Kevin Searfass is averaging 29.6 yards per punt on 24 kicks. Senior linebacker Casey Meehan is averaging 22.1 yards per kickoff return while sophomore defensive back Craig Haywood is averaging 17.6 yards per kickoff return, and Haywood leads the Monarchs with three interceptions and has added 24 tackles with one sack. Senior defensive back Derek Zambino is averaging 11.3 yards per punt return and has added an interception and 23 tackles. Junior linebacker Tore Alaimo leads the King's defense with 33 tackles including two for loss and a fumble recovery. Junior defensive back Antonio Robinson has added 19 tackles and an interception while junior defensive end Michael Richardson has two sacks for the Monarchs.

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 King's was picked fifth 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 279.3 yards per game. The squad is seventh in passing defense at 200.3 yards per game and the defense is second in rushing yards allowed at 79.0. The Greyhounds are first in points allowed at 11.0 per game, and the squad is tied for fourth in points scored per game at 31.0. Offensively, Moravian is second in the MAC at 452.3 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked first in rushing offense at 357.0 yards per game and 11th in passing offense at 95.3 yards per game. Moravian is first in turnover margin with a +2.33 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed four turnovers while forcing seven turnovers. The Greyhounds are also first in the MAC in net punting, 38.6 net yards per punt, kickoff returns with an average of 29.4 yards per return, time of possession, 37:08, and kickoff coverage, allowing just 14.4 yards per return. Moravian is also tied for the conference lead in opponent first downs, 46. Individually, sophomore running back Chris Jacoubs leads the MAC in rushing yards per game at 204.0, all-purpose yards at 217.0, and in scoring and touchdown scoring at 18.0 points per game. Jacoubs is also fourth in total offense at 204.0 yards per game. Junior quarterback Jerry Venturino is sixth in the MAC with a 117.1 pass efficiency rating. Senior kicker John McLain is tied for third in field goals per game at 0.33 and fifth in kick scoring with an average of 3.0 points per contest. McLain is seventh in extra-point percentage at 60 percent (six of ten). Senior wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) leads the MAC in kickoff return average with an average of 43.0 yards per return. Junior defensive back Tyler Chomik is second in kickoff returns with an average of 27.3 yards, seventh in punt returns with an average of 8.0 yards per return, tied for 21st in tackles with 6.3 per game and third with six pass break-ups. Freshman linebacker Arturo Duran is tied for fourth in interceptions per game at 0.67. Sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr is tied for 36th in the MAC with 5.3 tackles per game, and Garr is tied for fifth with 0.67 sacks per game.

MAC WEEKLY HONORS: Sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs and sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr were named the Middle Atlantic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week after their performances last week in Moravian's 27-20 victory at Lebanon Valley. Jacoubs had his second-straight 200-plus yard game with 257 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries, and he had one reception for 16 yards and another score. Garr helped the Moravian defense force six turnovers, and Garr contributed seven tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Junior Jerry Venturino has completed 17 of 36 passes for 253 yards this season with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Venturino has been sacked five times and scored a touchdown and added 45 yards on 20 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 612 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 carries. Jacoubs has 1,663 yards (ninth all-time) in just 13 career games with six 100-plus yard games in nine starts. Junior fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) has added 146 yards on 21 carries while sophomore tailback Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) has added 115 yards on 24 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 11 yards on four carries while sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) has contributed 47 yards on four carries.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: The Greyhounds have had six different players catch passes this season led by freshman tight end Kris Bisci, who has six receptions for 52 yards and a two-point conversion catch. Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) has four receptions for 37 yards while senior wide receiver Jed Warsager has two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore wideout Ben Hawkins has three catches for 94 yards and a score while sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs has grabbed two aerials for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

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 357.0 yards per game on the ground while allowing just five sacks.

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

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Sophomore Cliff Garr has 16 tackles, two and a half tackle for loss two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to lead the linebackers while senior Bill Carasaia (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) has 11 tackles, a forced fumble and half a tackle for loss. Junior Chad DeFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) has contributed nine tackles with one for loss and two pass break-ups while freshman Arturo Duran has 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Junior cornerback Tyler Chomik leads the Greyhound defensive backs with 19 tackles, two interceptions and four pass break-ups while senior safety Bill Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) has added 13 stops, a half tackle for loss and three pass-break-ups. Junior safety Gerald Weiss (Gilbertsville, PA/St. Pius X HS) has contributed six tackles a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up while sophomore cornerback Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) has ten tackles and an interception. Senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) has added four tackles, two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery while sophomore cornerback Tom Carroll (Blackwood, NJ/Paul VI HS) has three tackles.

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 seven punts for an average of 43.6 yards with a long of 63 yards and two 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 (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge HS) have been kicking off for the Greyhounds, and Liccketto has missed his only field goal attempt this fall.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior Tyler Chomik has four punt returns for 32 yards with a long of 15 yards and four kickoff returns for 98 yards with a long of 32 yards. Senior Jed Warsager has returned three kickoffs this season for a 129 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 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, Chris Jacoubs was selected as the Starters Player of the Game for the second consecutive week after running for 257 yards and three touchdowns on 36 attempts and one touchdown catch for 16 yards. Starters Restaurant, a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics, is located on Route 378 South of Bethlehem.