Monday, October 11,
2004
MORAVIAN
GREYHOUNDS, 5-0 (5-0 MAC)
FDU-FLORHAM
DEVILS, 2-3
(2-3 MAC)
1:00
p.m.; Saturday, October 16, 2004
Steel Field (c. 2,500); Bethlehem, PA
THE GAME: Moravian
looks to equal the best start in school history with its sixth straight victory in a
Middle Atlantic Conference game versus FDU-Florham. The Greyhounds are 5-0 for the first
time since 1940. Kickoff for the annual homecoming game 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 108-70-1 (.606). 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.
FDU-Florham coach Rich Mosca (West Liberty ’70) is
in his third season at the school with a 5-20 record (.200).
THE SERIES: Saturday’s
meeting will be the tenth in the series with the Greyhounds owning an 8-1 lead. Moravian
won last season’s meeting, 16-8, and the Hounds earned a 21-14 win in 2002. The
Greyhounds won the first four meetings in the series while FDU-Florham’s only victory
was in 1999 with a 13-10 win.
LAST TIME THEY MET: In
Bethlehem last fall, tailback David Darmofal ran for 96 yards on 23
carries, and quarterback Will Seng completed ten of 17 pass attempts
for 114 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Jeff Lowry to lead Moravian to a 16-8
victory over FDU-Florham in MAC action. Moravian took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter
when kicker Josh Miller converted a 27-yard field goal attempt on Moravian’s
first drive of the year. The field goal was the first of Miller's career.
The Greyhounds extended their lead to 9-0 in the first half when Seng connected
with Lowry on a 20-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end
zone. Lowry finished the game with three receptions for 41 yards. Moravian’s
lead became 16-0 in the third quarter when Seng and Lowry connected
again, this time on a 16-yard scoring strike to the left corner of the end zone on a
third-and-11 play. Miller connected on the extra-point. The Greyhounds’ scoring
drive of 15 yards was set up by cornerback Nate Pogue’s second
interception of the game, which he returned 36 yards. Pogue’s other
interception return was for three yards, and he had a total of three pass break-ups in
the game. Fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) added
48 yards on ten carries and Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) had
36 yards on five attempts as the Greyhounds ran for 233 yards on 58 carries. The Moravian
defense allowed the Devils just 14 yards on 17 carries in the game. Linebackers Josh
DiGiacomo and Steve Maslanek each made seven tackles.
LAST WEEK: Sophomore
tailback Chris Jacoubs ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries
and junior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) completed
eight of 11 passes for 165 yards and two scores to lead Moravian to a 34-27 victory over
Wilkes University in MAC action. The Greyhounds improve to 5-0 overall and in the MAC
for the first time since 1940. Moravian opened the scoring by taking the opening kickoff
75 yards on nine plays to take a 7-0 lead with 10:32 remaining in the first quarter. Venturino capped
the drive with a 32-yard scoring strike to sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell
(Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS). Senior Ken Macaulay (Perkasie,
PA/Pennridge HS) added the extra-point. Venturino’s pass
was the only pass play on the drive. On Wilkes first possession, Moravian junior linebacker Chad
DeFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) intercepted a pass and the Greyhounds
took over on their own 26-yard line. Venturino would finish off the
74-yard, eight-play drive with his second pass of the game, a 24-yard touchdown strike
to sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) giving
Moravian a 13-0 lead with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter. The Colonels cut the score
to 13-7 Moravian lead with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Moravian scored
again when Jacoubs jumped over the pile for the touchdown, however, Jacoubs was
stopped on the two-point conversion attempt giving the Greyhounds a 19-7 lead. Wilkes
drove to Moravian’s 40-yard line, but the drive ended on an interception at the
Moravian 26-yard line by senior linebacker Bill Carasia (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair
Haven HS) with 5:15 left in the second quarter. On the following drive on second
and goal from the four-yard line, Jacoubs reached the one-yard line before fumbling into
the end zone. Moravian junior wide receiver Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon
Valley HS) fell on the ball for a touchdown. Macaulay converted
the extra-point for a 26-7 Moravian lead with 2:03 remaining in the first half. Wilkes
scored its second touchdown of the game and after a two-point conversion run failed,
Moravian had a 26-13 lead in the third quarter. The Colonels forced Moravian to punt
on the next possession after forcing a fumble while sacking Venturino. Wilkes scored
in the third quarter to cut Moravian’s lead to 26-20. Jacoubs an Venturino would
put together a 20-play, 78 yard drive that took 9:19 off the clock with Jacoubs capping
the drive with a four-yard touchdown run with 9:00 remaining in the game. Venturino ran
a quarterback draw out for the two-point conversion giving the Greyhounds a 34-20 lead. Carasia led
the Moravian defense with seven tackles while junior defensive back Gerald Weiss
(Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) added six tackles.
SCOUTING FDU-FLORHAM: The
Devils enter the game with a record of 2-3 overall and in the MAC. Sophomore quarterback Dan
Huff leads the FDU-Florham offense on the field having completed 58 of 153 passes
for 749 yards and four touchdowns. Huff has been intercepted 15 times and has gained
239 yards on 54 carries while scoring one rushing touchdown. Huff's top
targets have been freshman wide receiver Louis Cerrato, who has ten
catches for 186 yards and a score, sophomore wide out Mike Smeja, who
has ten receptions for 117 yards, and sophomore wide receiver Robert Felicetta,
who has nine catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Felicetta has also
completed two passes for 58 yards. Freshman running back Louis Smith leads
the Devils on the ground with 370 yards and three touchdowns on 73 carries. Senior defensive
back Noel Kavanagh is averaging 5.3 yards per punt return and 21.0 yards
per kickoff return while freshman defensive back Billy Williams is netting
22.2 yards per kickoff return. Sophomore kicker Michael Rabasca is one-for-two
on field goals with a long of 33 yards and he has converted four-of-six extra-point attempts.
Senior punter Anthony Blasi is averaging 35.2 yards per punt. Freshman
defensive back Jon Sacco leads the Devils with two interceptions while
senior linebacker Greg Martone leads the FDU defense with 45 tackles,
including two sacks and six tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Matt DeNardo has
contributed 43 stops with four for loss while senior linebacker Joe Sangiovanni has
41 tackles with nine for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.
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 FDU-Florham
was picked ninth 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 336.0
yards per game. The squad is third in passing defense at 188.4 yards per game, and
the defense is sixth in rushing yards allowed at 147.6. The Greyhounds are first in
points allowed at 15.6 per game, and the squad is fourth in points scored per game
at 29.6. Offensively, Moravian is fourth in the MAC at 415.2 yards per game. The Greyhounds
are ranked first in rushing offense at 286.2 yards per game and tenth in passing offense
at 129.0 yards per game. Moravian is first in turnover margin with a +1.60 per game
average as the Greyhounds have committed nine turnovers while forcing 17 turnovers.
The Greyhounds are also first in the MAC in net punting, 36.2 net yards per punt, and
time of possession, 35:05. Individually, sophomore running back Chris Jacoubs leads
the MAC in rushing yards per game at 172.0, and he is second in all-purpose yards at
179.6, and third in scoring and touchdown scoring at 13.2 points per game. Jacoubs is
also ninth in total offense at 172.0 yards per game. Junior quarterback Jerry
Venturino is third in the MAC with a 137.5 pass efficiency rating, and he
is ninth in passing yards per game at 122.4. Senior kicker John McLain (Belvidere,
NJ/Belvidere HS) leads the MAC in punting with an average of 38.9 yards per
punt, and he is tied for sixth in field goals per game at 0.20 and eighth in kick scoring
with an average of 1.8 points per contest. McLain is tied for first
in field goal percentage at 100 percent (one for one). Senior kicker Ken Macaulay is
tenth in kick scoring at 1.2 points per game and he is eighth in extra-point percentage
at 83.3 percent (five of six). Junior defensive back Tyler Chomik (Allentown,
PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) is second with 1.80 pass break-ups per game,
tied for third in interceptions at 0.60 per game, seventh in punt returns with an average
of 7.2 yards, tied for seventh in kickoff returns with an average of 20.1 yards per
return and tied for 29th in the MAC with 5.8 tackles per contest. Sophomore linebacker Cliff
Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) is tied for 26th in the MAC with 6.0 tackles
per game, and Garr is tied for sixth with 0.60 sacks per game. Senior
linebacker Bill Carasia leads the MAC in forced fumbles with 0.75
per contest, and he is 14th in the MAC in tackles with 7.2 per game while junior linebacker Chad
DeFelice is tied for 48th in the MAC with 5.0 tackles per game.
THE QUARTERBACKS: Junior Jerry
Venturino has completed 38 of 76 passes for 612 yards this season with seven
touchdowns and four interceptions. Venturino has been sacked seven
times while scoring two touchdowns and a two-point conversion and adding 62 yards on
35 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 860 yards and nine touchdowns on 162 carries. Jacoubs has 1,911
yards (eighth all-time) in just 15 career games with seven 100-plus yard games in 11
starts. Junior fullback Kevin Lukich has added 170 yards on 25 carries
while sophomore tailback Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) has
added 152 yards on 30 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
46 yards on nine carries while sophomore wide receiver Ben Hawkins has
contributed 47 yards on four carries.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS: The
Greyhounds have had eight different players catch passes this season led by sophomore
wideout Ben Hawkins, who has 11 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Martell has ten receptions for 164 yards
and two scores while senior wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) has
six catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman tight end Kris Bisci (Easton,
PA/Easton HS) has six receptions for 52 yards and a two-point conversion catch
while sophomore tailback Chris Jacoubs has grabbed three aerials for
38 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Russ Demko has one
catch for 19 yards, and he has receoved a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown while
sophomore running back Joe Costanzo has one reception for 16 yards.
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 286.2 yards per game on the ground while allowing just
seven sacks.
DEFENSIVE FRONT: Junior
defensive tackle Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) has 19 tackles
with two for loss and one sack while junior defensive tackle Bryan Kohlbecker
(Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) has added 11 tackles with four for loss.
Senior defensive end Shawn Nelson (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) has
ten tackles, three and a half for loss, one sack and two pass break-ups while senior
defensive end Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has nine tackles,
a pass break-up, a forced fumble and has caught a two-point conversion pass at Juniata
College. Senior defensive end Richie Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has
12 tackles with two 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 seven tackles with half a tackle for loss and half a sack. Sophomore
defensive end Matt Lieberwirth (Chester, NJ/Mendham HS) has added eight
tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery
and a pass break-up.
THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Sophomore Cliff
Garr has 30 tackles, four and a half tackle for loss, three sacks, an interception,
a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while senior Bill Carasia has
also added 30 tackles, three forced fumbles and one tackle for loss. Junior Chad
DeFelice has contributed 25 tackles with one and a half for loss, an interception
and two pass break-ups while sophomore Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood
HS) has 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.
Freshman linebacker Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Paramas Catholic HS) has
added six tackles.
THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Junior
cornerback Tyler Chomik leads the Greyhound defensive backs with 29
tackles, three interceptions and six pass break-ups while senior safety Bill
Skriletz (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) has added 19 stops, a half tackle
for loss and three pass-break-ups. Sophomore cornerback Israel Aguila (Bethlehem,
PA/Freedom HS) has 22 tackles, an interception and a pass break-up while junior
safety Gerald Weiss has contributed 12 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble
recovery and two pass break-ups. Senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton,
PA/West Scranton HS) has added 11 tackles, three 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 18 punts for an average
of 38.9 yards with a long of 63 yards and eight 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
five-for-six on extra-points while Liccketto has missed his only field
goal attempt this fall.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior Tyler
Chomik has nine punt returns for 65 yards with a long of 15 yards and ten
kickoff returns for 197 yards with a long of 32 yards. Senior Jed Warsager has
returned five kickoffs this season for a 156 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 College 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, sophomore running back Joe Costanzo was
selected as the player of the Week after contributing 35 yards on five carries and
catching one pass for 19 yards to help Moravian remain unbeaten at 5-0. Starters Restaurant,
a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics, is located on Route 378 South of Bethlehem.
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