Sports News: Fall 2005

Monday, September 26, 2005

MORAVIAN GREYHOUNDS, 3-1 (3-1 MAC)  

WIDENER UNIVERSITY PIONEERS, 2-1 (2-1 MAC)

1:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 1, 2005
Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium (c. 4,000); Chester, PA

THE GAME: Moravian looks to win its fourth straight game in a Middle Atlantic Conference road contest at Widener University. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium in Chester, PA.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 19th season at Moravian, with a career record of 113-75-1 (.601). 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.

Widener coach David Wood (Widener ’91) is in his third season at the school with an overall mark of 13-10 (.565).

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 58th in the series with Widener owning a 37-21 lead. Moravian's last win in the series was in 1997 with a 27-24 overtime win in Chester. The Pioneers have won the last seven games in the series including last year's 35-31 victory in Chester.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Chester last fall, Moravian suffered its first loss of the season in MAC action, falling to Widener University 35-31. The loss snapped Moravian’s seven-game winning streak. Greyhound junior tailback Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) scored on a 39-yard run off the right side on the fifth play of the game to give Moravian a 6-0 lead. Kicker Ken Macaulay was wide right on the extra-point attempt. Jacoubs finished the game with 166 yards on 33 carries. On Widener’s first play from scrimmage, Greyhound senior linebacker Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) intercepted a pass at midfield. However, the Greyhounds were forced to punt. Senior cornerback Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) would get the ball right back for the Greyhounds with an interception at the Widener 30-yard line that he returned to the 11-yard line. The Greyhounds were stopped on three plays, and Macaulay attempted a 28-yard field goal but it was wide right. Widener would score its first points and take a 7-6 lead with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Moravian would retake the lead with 5:59 remaining in the second quarter on a four-yard run by senior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS). Venturino’s two-point conversion attempt to senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) failed, leaving the score at 12-7. Hawkins did catch eight passes for 127 yards. Venturino completed 18 of 31 passes for a career high 340 yards and two touchdowns. The Pioneers would cut Moravian’s lead to 12-10 on the final play of the first half on a 42-yard field goal that bounced off the cross bar. After forcing Widener to punt on the first possession of the second half, the Greyhounds drove 74 yards in nine plays, capped off by a six-yard touchdown pass from Venturino to junior wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS). Macaulay’s extra-point was blocked, leaving the score at 18-10 Moravian with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter. On Widener’s next drive, Moravian's Matt Lieberwirth forced a fumble on a sack at the Widener 43-yard line that was recovered by defensive end Richie Cline. Six plays later, junior running back Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) scored from 13 yards. Macaulay added the extra-point for a 25-10 lead with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Pioneers would come right back on an 89-yard return for a touchdown to cut Moravian’s lead to 25-17 with 5:18 left in the third stanza. Widener would score again on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 37-yard pass and a two-point conversion pass to pull the Pioneers even at 25-25 with 14:53 remaining. Widener would retake the lead at 28-25 with 7:28 remaining on a 22-yard field. The Pioneers would score again on a 47-yard touchdown pass with 3:20 remaining to take a 35-25 lead. Moravian would answer right back with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Venturino to Jacoubs with 2:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Macaulay’s extra-point hit the left upright to pull the Greyhounds within 35-31. Widener was forced to punt with 29 seconds remaining in the game. However, Venturino’s final pass of the game was intercepted at the Widener 25-yard line. Junior linebacker Cliff Garr (Easton, PA/Notre Dame HS) led the Moravian defense with ten tackles including one for loss. Linebacker Bill Carasia added six tackles with three for loss while senior safety GJ Weiss (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) had five tackles.

LAST WEEK: Moravian jumped to a 28-0 first quarter lead using big in the passing game, the rushing game, defense and special teams and carried the momentum throughout the game to post a 49-14 victory over visiting Juniata College in MAC action at Rocco Calvo Field. Moravian had two touchdown runs, one scoring pass, an interception return for a touchdown and a kick return all for more than 40 yards to put points on the board quickly. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs finished with 164 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns for the Greyhounds, setting a school record with 14.9 yards per carry, and senior quarterback Jerry Venturino was five for nine for 143 yards and three scores, a career high. The Greyhounds wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Juniata fumbled on its third play from scrimmage, turning the ball over deep in its own territory. Three plays later, Venturino found sophomore tight end Kris Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. Freshman Brian Reckenbeil (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS) added the point after to put Moravian in front 7-0 with 12:54 to play in the first quarter. The Greyhounds added to their lead on Juniata’s next series as senior cornerback Tyler Chomik picked off a pass and returned it 42-yards for a touchdown. Another successful point by Reckenbeil after made the score 14-0 in favor of the Greyhounds with 11:25 still left on the first quarter clock. The first quarter troubles continued for the Eagles as Moravian took possession and marched downfield for its third score. A long third-down pass from Venturino to Bisci for 27 yards moved the ball into the Juniata half of the field. Then on a fourth-and-four play, Venturino found junior wide receiver Shawn Martell down the left sideline for a 31-yard scoring hookup. The point by Reckenbeil after put Moravian on top 21-0 with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter. The Eagles got its first sustained drive on the ensuing possession, but Juniata was unable to come away with points as a 38-yard field goal attempt missed wide right. Moravian was not done its first-quarter scoring as two plays after the miss. Jacoubs broke free for a 69-yard scoring rush with just 23 seconds remaining in the quarter. Reckenbeil nailed his fourth point-after of the period to push the lead to 28-0 in favor of the Greyhounds. After being forced to punt on their first possession of the second quarter, the Greyhounds faced a third-and-ten. On the play senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins caught a jump ball downfield from Venturino and continued to the end zone to complete a 66-yard scoring pass. The point after by Reckenbeil with 6:43 remaining in the half made the score 35-0 Moravian. On the play, Venturino became the sixth quarterback in Moravian history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a career while Hawkins moved into ninth all-time with 1,321 receiving yards. The two teams exchanged defensive stops and punts the rest of the quarter, and the Greyhounds went into halftime leading 35-0. The big plays continued for the Moravian offense in the second half as Jacoubs took the first carry off the half and broke it 65 yards for his second touchdown of the game. The touchdown tied Jacoubs with Jim Joseph for the Moravian records in career touchdowns and career points with 32 touchdowns and 192 points. The scoring run was also Jacoubs’ fourth career touchdown run of more than 65 yards. The point after by Reckenbeil put the Greyhounds in front 42-0 with 14:49 to play in the third quarter. Juniata’s offense followed the score by putting together its first scoring drive of the game to make the score 42-7. The ensuing kick-off return proved to be another big play for Moravian as Chomik broke a 74-yard return to the Juniata three yard line. Junior running back Marc Panepinto followed with a two-yard scoring run two plays later to push the lead to 48-7 with the successful kick by Reckenbeil making it 49-7 for the home squad. The seventh extra-point of the game by Reckenbeil broke the previous Moravian record of six set by Chad Kurtz in 1993 and tied by Josh Miller in 2003. Juniata would score the final points of the game with a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Moravian’s offense was on the field for just 21:48 in the game but gained 385 yards on just 43 plays, an average of 9.0 yards per play. The Greyhounds were limited to just 12 first downs while the Eagles had 19 first downs. Both teams ran for 242 yards in the contest, however, the Greyhounds needed just 34 attempts while Juniata had 61 rushing attempts. Sophomore linebacker Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Pramas Catholic HS) led the Moravian defense with nine tackles. Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice and freshman linebacker Andrew Morrissey (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus HS) each had seven tackles with DiFelice adding a sack and a pass break-up and Morrissey contributing a forced fumble.

SCOUTING WIDENER: The Pioneers enter the game with an overall and MAC record of 2-1. Widener is led on the field by senior quarterback Mike Lomas, who has completed 72 of 129 pass attempts for 837 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. His top targets have been senior wide receiver Jeff Chick, who has 26 catches for 325 yards and a touchdown, and senior wideout Jon Steever, who has caught ten passes for 105 yards. Sophomore running back Dominic Rock has 109 yards on 35 carries this season while senior running back Bob Warden has added 108 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Warden has also caught nine passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Khalee Prothro has contributed 93 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts to go with nine receptions for 46 yards and a score. Chick has also returned nine punts for 63 yards and the Pioneers have had eight different players return a kickoff this season. Senior kicker Frank Vinci is six for seven on extra-points this season and two of three on field goal attempts with a long of 29 yards. Senior punter Doug Schlack is averaging 37.9 yards per punt with ten placed inside the 20-yard line. Sophomore defensive back Zach Santiago leads Widener in tackles with 30 stops and he has two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Senior defensive back Todd Fairlie has added 28 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four passes defended while junior linebacker Carroll Dicon has 18 tackles and one and a half sacks. Sophomore linebacker Matt Yost leads Widener with four sacks this season while Fairlie, sophomore defensive back John Martorell, sophomore linebacker Matt McFadden and freshman defensive back Anthony Huggins each have an interception.

BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 102 players on the Moravian roster, 39 are freshmen, 21 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. Delaware Valley was selected as the top team in the MAC and received the other nine first place votes.

THE MAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS: The Greyhounds are third in the MAC in total defense, allowing 322.8 yards per game. The squad is second in passing defense at 161.0 yards per game, and the defense is seventh in rushing yards allowed at 161.8. The Greyhounds are fourth in points allowed at 18.2 per game, and the squad is second in points scored per game at 30.5. Offensively, Moravian is seventh in the MAC at 333.0 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked first in rushing offense at 218.0 yards per game and ninth in passing offense at 115.0 yards per game. Moravian is fourth in turnover margin with a +0.25 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed seven turnovers while forcing eight turnovers. The Greyhounds are first in the MAC in yards per rush at 5.3, rushing yards with 872 yards, passing yards per completion at 17.7, kickoff return average at 25.1 yards per return, interception return yards with 99, interception returns for touchdowns with two and opponent third down conversions at 25.4 percent (16 of 63). Individually, senior quarterback Jerry Venturino is ranked eighth in passing yards per game at 115.0 yards, second in passing yards per completion at 18.4, fourth in passing touchdowns with seven, fourth in pass efficiency with a 135.8 rating and tenth in total offense at 141.0 yards per game. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs is ranked third in rushing yards per game at 128.2 yards per game, third in rushing attempts with 87, first in rushing touchdowns with six, seconds in scoring at 9.0 points per game, second in rushing yards with 513 and fourth in all-purpose at 132.8 yards per game. Senior fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) is first in the MAC in yards per rush with an average of 7.1 yards per carry while freshman Tyler McCambridge (Northampton, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) is fourth at 6.1 yards per carry and Jacoubs is fourth at 5.9. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins ranks first in the MAC in yards per catch with an average of 24.7 yards, and he is tenth in reception yards with 222, tenth in receiving yards per game at 55.5 yards per game, tied for sixth in scoring at 6.0 points per game and tied for second in receiving touchdowns with four. Sophomore tight end Kris Bisci is tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns with two. Senior punter Corey Czerniak (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) is eighth in the MAC with an average of 34.3 yards per punt and tied for seventh in number of punts with 16. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil is fifth in the MAC in kick scoring with 3.0 points per game while freshman Brian Maida (Freehold, NJ/Freehold HS) is tied for eighth at 2.0 points per game. Reckenbeil is tied for first in PAT percentage at 100 percent (nine of nine), and he is second in PAT kicks made and third in PAT kicks attempted. Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville HS) is tied for seventh in kickoff returns with five and eighth in kickoff return yards with 118. Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice is fourth in tackles per game at 10.0, and he leads the conference in tackles for loss with 2.25 per contest. DeFelice is second in sacks with 4.0. Junior linebacker Cliff Garr, who is tied for first in interception returns for touchdowns with one, is tied for 27th in tackles at 5.8 per game while senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) is tied for 43rd in tackles at 5.2 per game. Senior defensive back Tyler Chomik is tied for the lead the MAC in passes defended at 2.00 per contest with junior defensive back Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS). Chomik is also tied for first in interception returns for touchdowns with one, and he is sixth in punt return yards with a total of 31 yards on four returns. Senior defensive back GJ Weiss is tied for 43rd in tackles at 5.2 per game while freshman linebacker Andrew Morrissey is tied for 14th in the conference in tackles with an average of 7.5 per contest.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Senior quarterback Jerry Venturino has completed 25 of 58 passes for 460 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions this season. Venturino has also added 104 yards on 20 carries while being sacked three times. Sophomore quarterback Sean Hill (West Reading, PA/Wyomissing HS) has completed his only pass attempt for no yards and has been sacked four times while seeing action in three games this season. Sophomore quarterback Brad Swartz (Temple, PA/Muhlenberg HS) saw his first action of the season against Juniata but did not attempt a pass.

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, junior running back Chris Jacoubs leads Moravian with 513 yards and six touchdowns on 87 carries. Jacoubs has 3,353 yards (first all-time at Moravian) in just 25 career games with 15 100-plus yard games in 21 starts, including four games over 200 yards. Jacoubs became the first player in school history to reach 3,000 rushing yards in a career against Susquehanna University and the only player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004. He tied for first all-time with 192 points and 32 career touchdowns, and Jacoubs is second in career rushing attempts with 645, just three attempts shy of Jim Joseph's career mark of 648. Senior fullback Kevin Lukich has 114 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries while junior fullback Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School) has added 22 yards on five carries. Freshman running back Tyler McCambridge has contributed 49 yards on just eight carries while junior running back Marc Panepinto has 55 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts this season.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins leads the Greyhounds with nine receptions for 222 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore tight end Kris Bisci has four receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns while junior wide receiver Shawn Martell has three catches for 49 yards and a score. Moravian has had nine different players catch a pass this season. Senior wide receiver Cletus Kilker (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame HS) has two catches for 58 yards while freshman wideout Rob Shaffer has grabbed two passes for 40 yards. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs has added three receptions for 18 yards while senior wide receivers Andrew Mazurek (West Orange, NJ/West Orange HS) and Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) and senior fullback Kevin Lukich each have one catch.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Greyhounds’ front line includes seniors Scott Burke (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel HS), Salvatore DeWalt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) and Brenten Runne (Stanhope, NJ/Hopatcong HS) and juniors Andrew Remsing (Bath, PA/Northampton HS) and Dave Kircher (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan HS). Freshman Timothy McBride (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township HS) made a start in place of an injured Kircher against Juniata. DeWalt was selected to the 2005 Lindy’s Preseason All-American First Team center. Last season, the Greyhounds set single season records for rushing yards 2,541 and total offense 4,479 yards a year ago and the line has an average size of six feet, two inches and 280 pounds.

DEFENSIVE FRONT: Senior Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) leads the Moravian defensive line with 17 tackles including four tackles for loss, one and a half a sacks and a fumble recovery. Senior Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) has added 16 tackles with four for loss, one sack and one pass defended. Senior Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) has contributed 11 tackles with one and a half a tackles for loss and one sack while junior Alex Smith-Constantine (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus HS) has nine tackles with two and a half for loss and an interception. Junior defensive end Nick Feo (Hampton, NJ/Voorhees HS) has seven tackles with two tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while sophomore defensive tackle Tom Braxmeier (Center Valley, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) has five tackles with one for loss. Senior defensive tackle Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) has contributed six tackles with half a tackle for loss while sophomore defensive tackle Matt Adams (Dover, NJ/Dover HS) has three tackles.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice leads the Moravian defense with 40 tackles including nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Freshman Andrew Morrissey has made 30 tackles with one tackle for loss, half a sack, a forced fumble and a pass break-up while junior Cliff Garr has added 23 tackles with one tackle for loss, one sack and an interception returned 32 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Mike Prata has nine tackles on the season with half a tackle for loss. Sophomore Arturo Duran (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood HS) has added seven tackles this season while junior Tony Gro (Schwenksville, PA/The Hill School) has contributed four tackles with half a tackle for loss. Sophomore Dan Edleman (Pottstown, PA/The Hill School) has two tackles with half a tackle for loss while freshman linebacker Kevin McGorry (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) has one tackle.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: In the defensive backfield, senior safety Mario Bevilaqua has made 21 tackles with one and a half tackles for loss, three passes defended and a forced fumble. Senior safety GJ Weiss has also added 21 tackles with half a tackle for loss, and interception and two pass break-ups. Senior cornerback Tyler Chomik has added 17 tackles with one for loss, an interception returned 42 yards for a touchdown against Juniata and seven pass break-ups for a total of eight passes defended while junior cornerback Israel Aguila has 16 tackles with one for loss, eight passes defended, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Sophomore defensive back Matt Sheridan (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling HS) has 11 tackles while junior defensive back Tom Carroll (Blackwood, NJ/Paul VI HS) has made ten stops.

KICKING GAME: Senior Corey Czerniak is averaging 34.3 yards per punt on 16 attempts. He has a long punt of 51 yards with six punts fair caught and seven inside the 20-yard line. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil is one-for-one on field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards versus Susquehanna University and nine-for-nine on extra-point attempts. Freshman Brian Maida has connected on one of five field goal attempts with a long of 25 yards versus Delaware Valley College, and he is three for six on extra-point attempts.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer has three punt returns for zero yards and five kickoff returns for 118 yards including a long kickoff return of 45 yards. Shaffer has also made two special teams tackles while junior wide receiver Shawn Martell has three tackles. Martell has also returned three kickoffs for 49 yards and a long of 22 yards. Senior defensive back Tyler Chomik has three punt returns for 31 yards with a long of 13 yards and two kickoff return for 96 yards with a long of 74 yards versus Juniata. Sophomore defensive back Matt Sheridan has two punt returns for nine yards after blocking three punts at King's College, which tied an NCAA Division III record.

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 Karl Baker 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, junior running back Chris Jacoubs ran for 164 yards and touchdowns of 65 and 69 yards on just 11 carries, and he caught a pass for 13 yards in Moravian's 49-14 victory over Juniata. Starters Restaurant, a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics, is located on Route 378 South of Bethlehem.