Thursday, September 1, 2005

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

DELAWARE VALLEY AGGIES, 0-0 (0-0 MAC)

1:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 3, 2005
Rocco Calvo Field at the Steel Field Complex (c. 2,000); Bethlehem, PA

THE GAME: Moravian opens its 2005 season with a Middle Atlantic Conference game versus nationally ranked Delaware Valley College. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. on the new Rocco Calvo Field, a Sportexe synthetic surface installed this past summer, at the Steel Field Complex in Bethlehem, PA.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 19th season at Moravian, with a career record of 110-74-1 (.597). He entered the season in the top 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, the ECAC Southeast Championship game in 2002 and the ECAC Southwest Championship game last fall.

Delaware Valley coach G.A. Mangus (Florida ’92) is in his fourth season at the school with an overall mark of 23-11 (.676).

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 40th in the series with Moravian owning a 27-10-2 lead. The Greyhounds have won the last three games in the series including the most recent meeting in 2002, a 33-13 win in Doylestown. Moravian won the last game here in Bethlehem, 41-0 in 2001 while Delaware Valley's last win in the series was a 26-20 overtime victory in Bethlehem in 1999.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Doylestown back in 2002, Moravian quarterback Charlie Bowden completed nine of 11 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns and he ran for 47 yards on three carries and another score as Moravian defeated Delaware Valley College, 33-13, in MAC action. The Greyhounds took a 7-0 lead with 7:25 to play in the first quarter on a ten-yard scoring strike from Bowden to wide receiver Kevin Miltenberger. Nate Strohl added the extra-point, his 13th of the season. Bowden and Miltenberger hooked up for a 33-yard pass play on Moravian’s first play from scrimmage to start the drive. Moravian extended its lead to 13-0 with 1:55 left in the first half on a two-yard touchdown run by junior tailback David Darmofal to cap a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Strohl had the extra-point blocked, just his second miss of the year. The Greyhounds added another touchdown with 49 seconds remaining in the second quarter on a 15-yard pass from Bowden to tight end Rick Kulp. Moravian went for two but Bowden’s pass attempt to Miltenberger was incomplete to set the halftime score at 19-0. The scoring drive was setup by a 32-yard interception return by cornerback Nate Pogue. Moravian scored on its first possession of the second half on a 20-yard pass from Bowden to Miltenberger and Strohl’s extra-point made the score 25-0 with 11:35 remaining in the third quarter. Bowden finished off Moravian’s next drive with a one-yard touchdown dive with 5:03 left in the third quarter. Strohl added the extra-point for a 33-0 lead. The Greyhounds racked up 232 yards on the ground on the afternoon with tailback Josh Fick gaining 45 yards on 11 carries and senior fullback Eric Gustafson adding 40 yards on six carries. Linebacker Vince Cowlishaw led the Moravian defense with ten tackles including two for loss while defensive lineman Tom Blackledge had seven tackles with four for loss and half a sack. Linebacker John Cupples also added seven tackles.

SEASON OPENING GAMES: The Greyhounds will be looking for their fifth season opening victory in the last six years, including their third straight. The Greyhounds defeated Delaware Valley College, 19-10, in Doylestown to open the 2000 season, FDU-Florham, 21-14, in 2002 and 16-8, and 2003 and Juniata College, 34-0, last fall.

SCOUTING DELAWARE VALLEY: The Aggies enter the game having been ranked in the top 25 in all the preseason publications after Delaware Valley reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Playoffs last season before being knocked out by Rowan University. Senior quarterback Adam Knoblauch completed 242 of 449 passes for 3,235 yards with 26 touchdowns, and he had 420 yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 carries last season. Senior tailback Steve Cook carried the ball 295 times for 1,470 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 126 yards and one trip to the end zone. Sophomore Jake Sheffield netted 241 yards and one score on 56 carries. Junior wide receivers David Carmon and Don Marshall are back after combining for 128 receptions, 2,189 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2004. Junior John Kiphorn had 38 receptions for 424 yards and two touchdowns. Placekicker Bill Miller was just 29-for-39 on extra points and missed all five of his field goals attempts. Miller also shared the punting duties in 2004 and averaged 29.4 yards per kick. Kiphorn averaged of 5.3 yards per punt return. He also averaged a team-best 18.4 yards on 15 kickoff returns. Murphy also averaged 7.7 yards per return. Junior defensive end Anthony Silver will anchor the defense. He had 63 tackles (27 solo) while leading the team in both tackles for losses (19) and sacks (9.5) last year. Senior end Matt Wallick recorded 32 tackles (10 behind the line of scrimmage), 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Junior linebacker A.J. Neal finished second on the team (first among returnees) with 76 tackles, including nine for losses of 20 yards. He also added two interceptions and one sack. Junior linebackers Joe Whitesell and Sean Raftery are also back. Whitesell recorded 60 tackles (31 solo), two sacks and one interception while playing in all 13 games. Raftery added 49 tackles (15 solo), two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 contests. Senior cornerback Kevin Bliss and junior cornerback Matt Murphy are back as well. Bliss had 32 tackles (26 solo) and was second on the team in interceptions with four, and he added seven pass breakups, one sack and one forced fumble. Murphy saw action in just nine contests last season had 16 tackles (11 solo), four pass breakups and two interceptions.

BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 104 players on the Moravian roster, 40 are freshmen, 22 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 while Delaware Valley was selected as the top team in the MAC and received the other nine first place votes.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Senior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) also returns for Moravian after starting all 11 games a year ago. Venturino completed 107 of 222 pass attempts for 1,774 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 129.20 pass efficiency rating. He also ran for 119 yards on 62 carries with five touchdowns

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, by junior running back Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS). Last fall, Jacoubs ran for a school record 1,789 yards and 16 touchdowns on 342 carries, and he also caught eight passes for 152 yards and three more scores. In just two seasons at Moravian, Jacoubs has run for a Greyhound career record total of 2,840 yards. Also returning to the backfield will be senior fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS). Lukich started the first half of last season and gained 170 yards on just 25 carries before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Junior running back Marc Panepinto (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS), who had 186 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries, junior fullback Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School), who added 108 yards on 24 carries while filling in for Lukich, and senior fullback Kyle Hefferon (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS), who contributed 51 yards on just nine attempts in 2004, also return to the Moravian backfield.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Senior quarterback Jerry Venturino has a talented corps of receivers to throw to with senior Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) and junior Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) returning to their starting wide receiver positions. Hawkins caught 38 passes for 705 yards and six touchdowns a year ago while Martell grabbed 25 receptions for 427 yards and four scores. Senior Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) caught 13 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. On special teams, Martell contributed 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while returning three punts. The only position Moravian does not return a starter at is tight end, however, sophomore Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) did start the first three games of the 2004 season at the position before an injury limited his playing time. Bisci caught seven passes for 71 yards in nine games.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Leading the way for the backfield will be a solid offensive line that returns four starters from last season. The Greyhounds’ front of seniors Scott Burke (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel HS), Salvatore DeWalt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and Brenten Runne (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS) and junior Andrew Remsing (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) helped the Greyhounds average 231.0 yards per game on the ground last season while allowing just 15 sacks and a total of 407.2 yards of total offense per contest. DeWalt was selected to the 2005 Lindy’s Preseason All-American First Team center. The quartet, which helped the Greyhounds set single season records for rushing yards 2,541 and total offense 4,479 yards a year ago, reports to camp with an average size of six feet, two inches and 292 pounds.

DEFENSIVE FRONT: Senior Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) is the only starter returning on the defensive front line for Moravian. Hurden had 42 tackles with two sacks, five tackles for loss, a pass break-up and a forced fumble last season. In Moravian’s rotating defensive scheme, seniors Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS), Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) and Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) all have valuable game experience and should be able to step into the starting line-up. Cline had 21 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up last season while Kohlbecker contributed 19 tackles with four for loss. Stockley had 11 tackles with one and a half for loss and two fumble recoveries. Junior Alex Smith-Constantine (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus HS) will be starting at one defensive end position after making one tackle in five games a year ago.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: The Greyhounds return their two starting outside linebackers in the 4-3 set with senior Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) and junior Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) returning this fall. DiFelice had 57 tackles with one sack, eight and a half tackles for loss, five passes defended, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble a year ago, while Garr led the Greyhounds in tackles with 97 stops. Garr also contributed three and a half sacks, eight and a half tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, an interception and a forced fumble. Sophomore Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Paramas Catholic HS), who made 23 tackles a year ago, returns to provide back-up at the outside position. Freshman Andrew Morrissey (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus HS) has earned the starting position at the middle linebacker position. Sophomore Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood HS) will be the back-up at the middle linebacker starting roll. Last year, Duran made 28 tackles with one and a half for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions while starting several games due to injuries in the middle of the season.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: In the defensive backfield, the Greyhounds are slated to return three of four starters with senior Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and junior Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) back at the cornerback positions and senior GJ Weiss (Gilbertsville, PA/St. Pius X HS) back at one of the two safety positions. Chomik made 55 tackles with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 14 passes defended including a team high six interceptions. Aguila added 47 tackles with six passes defended and two interceptions while Weiss contributed 56 tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Senior Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) made 20 tackles to go along with four passes defended and a fumble recovery last season, and he will be one of the players challenging to fill the open safety position.

KICKING GAME: The biggest question for the Greyhounds will be on special teams in 2005. Moravian needs to fill both kicking positions. Senior Corey Czerniak (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS), who will also see action on the defensive line, punted twice in 2004 for an average of 39.5 yards per punt. Freshman Brian Maida (Freehold, NJ/Freehold HS) is slated to be the staring place kicker with freshman Brian Reckenbeil (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS) as the back-up.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Tyler Chomik will be back to return punts after averaging 6.7 yards per return on 19 returns in 2004 and Chomik returned ten kickoffs for 197 yards. Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville HS) is slated to return punts and kickoffs for the Greyhounds while junior Shawn Martell will also return kickoffs.

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 color commentary from Jim Wills and technical assistance from John Elliott.