Monday, October 31, 2005

MORAVIAN GREYHOUNDS, 4-4 (4-4 MAC)

LEBANON VALLEY FLYING DUTCHMEN, 2-6 (2-5 MAC)

1:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 5, 2005
Rocco Calvo Field at the Steel Field Complex (c. 2,000); Bethlehem, PA

THE GAME: Moravian looks to wins its fifth game of the season in its final Middle Atlantic Conference game of the 2005 season versus Lebanon Valley College. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Rocco Calvo Field.

THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester ’73) is in his 19th season at Moravian, with a career record of 114-78-1 (.593). He entered the season in the top 50th in winning percentage among NCAA Division III active coaches. Dapp, who is currently the president of the American Football Coaches Association, 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.

Lebanon Valley coach Jim Monos (Shippensburg ’72) returned to Lebanon Valley last season. He has a 48-77-2 (.386) record in 13 seasons in Annville with a 44-65-2 record in his first 11 seasons from 1986 to 1996.

THE SERIES: Saturday’s meeting will be the 60th in the series with Moravian holding a 30-28-1 lead. Moravian has won the last five meetings, 27-20, last fall in Annville, 42-7 in 2003 in the last contest played in Bethlehem, 41-21 in 2002 in Annville, 34-20 in 2001 and 19-6 in Annville in 2000 while the Flying Dutchmen's last win was a 24-13 decision in 1999.

LAST TIME THEY MET: In Annville last fall, junior tailback Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) 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 scored first on a 16-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jerry Venturino (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong HS) 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 sophomore 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. John McLain added the extra-point for a 21-7 Moravian lead with 14:54 in the second stanza. On Lebanon Valley’s next drive, senior defensive lineman Steve Cline (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport HS) forced another fumble for Moravian and junior 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 senior defensive back Tyler Chomik (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) intercepted a pass in the end zone as time expired. Chomik and sophomore 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 forced six turnovers in the game.

LAST WEEK: Moravian rallied to take a lead in the third quarter but eventually fell to Lycoming College, 17-13, in a penalty-filled Middle Atlantic Conference game at David Person Field. Combined, the teams were flagged for 24 penalties for 220 yards including three automatic first downs apiece. Lycoming took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards on 11 plays for a 7-0 lead with 8:43 to left in the first quarter. After being forced to punt three times, the Greyhounds finally got on the scoreboard with 13:17 remaining in the second quarter on a 26-yard field goal by freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS). The score was set up by a fumble recovery by senior defensive lineman Robert Stockley (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South HS) on a ball knocked loose by sophomore linebacker Arturo Duran at the Lycoming 11-yard line. Lycoming would connect on a 19-yard field goal with 1:47 left in the first half for 10-3 Lycoming lead. The field goal capped a 13-play, 47-yard drive in 7:25 for the Warriors. The Greyhounds would get another three points on a 23-yard field goal by Reckenbeil with just 29 seconds left before the intermission. Moravian moved the ball 69 yards on eight plays in just 1:11. The field goal was Reckenbeil’s seventh of the season. Moravian would take its first lead of the game on a three-yard run by junior running back Marc Panepinto (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown HS) to cap a ten-play, 69-yard drive on the first possession of the second half. Reckenbeil’s made the extra-point, his 20th consecutive point-after conversion for a 13-10 lead Moravian lead with 10:12 left in the third quarter. Panepinto ran for a career high 85 yards on 16 carries as starting running back junior Chris Jacoubs was limited to just five yards on six carries due to an injury. Moravian would get the ball back when Stockley intercepted a pass at the Moravian 35-yard line. After a seven-yard return by Stockley, the Greyhounds were forced to punt after three plays. Lycoming would retake the lead on a five-play, 81-yard drive. On the play before the touchdown, the Warriors had a 56-yard run after Moravian committed a personal foul on an incomplete third down pass. Lycoming led 17-13 lead with 12:54 remaining in the fourth quarter. On Moravian’s ensuing drive, the Greyhounds would drive down to the Lycoming 10-yard line. On second and eight from the ten, senior quarterback Jerry Venturino hit sophomore tight end Kris Bisci with a ten-yard touchdown pass, however, the play was called back on a Moravian ineligible receiver down field penalty. On a fourth and 26 play from the 28-yard line, Greyhound Venturino just missed a wide open senior wide receiver Cletus Kilker (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame HS) in the end zone after the Lycoming defensive back fell down. Venturino completed 11 of 28 passes for 85 yards; and he ran for 11 yards on three carries. Junior wide receiver Shawn Martell (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) was the Greyhounds leading receiver with four receptions for 44 yards as the Greyhounds’ leading receiver, senior Ben Hawkins (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan HS) sat out the game with an injury. Moravian would force Lycoming to punt on its next possession; however, Venturino was intercepted at the Lycoming three-yard line. The Greyhounds would force another Warrior punt that traveled just 29 yards, giving Moravian possession at the Lycoming 42-yard line with 2:19 left in the game. The Greyhounds would drive down to the 11-yard line after a 13-yard run by Panepinto. On the next play, Venturino was just long again to an open senior wideout Russ Demko (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) in the end zone. After incomplete passes on second and third down, Venturino did hit Bisci, however, Bisci was tackled after just a five-yard completion, turning the ball over to the Warriors at the six-yard line with 1:31 to play and both teams out of timeouts. Lycoming ran three plays to run out the clock. Freshman linebacker Andrew Morrissey (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus HS) led the Moravian defense with 12 tackles while senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua (Scranton, PA/West Scranton HS) added ten tackles. Stockley had a sack in addition to his fumble recovery and interception.

SCOUTING LEBANON VALLEY: The Flying Dutchmen enter the game with an overall record of 2-6 and a 2-5 mark in MAC action. Junior quarterback Dan Kelley leads Lebanon Valley on the field. Kelly has completed 119 of 208 passes for 1,588 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and he has added 284 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries. Kelly's top targets have been sophomore wide receiver Adam Brossman, who has 38 catches for 709 yards and nine touchdowns, senior wideout Luke Rendine, who has caught 36 passes for 420 yards, and freshman running back Andre Payton, who has grabbed 18 passes for 187 yards and one score. Sophomore running back Ryan Brennan leads the Flying Dutchmen ground attack with 383 yards and five touchdowns on 91 carries. Freshman running back Dave Holland has 324 yards and a score on 79 carries while Payton has 242 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries. Sophomore wide receiver Clint Vinju is averaging 20.3 yards a kickoff return on 28 returns and 9.7 yards on punt returns on 16 returns. Brossman is also the Flying Dutchmen's punter and is averaging 38.2 yards per punt with six touchbacks, six inside the 20-yard line and one blocked. Sophomore kicker Eldin Brodlic is ten of 18 on extra-points and two of three on field goal attempts with a long of 22 yards while Kelly has made three of four extra-points and a 22-yard field goal. Junior defensive back Dan Stauffer leads the Lebanon Valley defense with two interceptions while sophomore linebacker Terry Kaufman has a team high 63 tackles with six tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. Senior linebacker Chris Weaver has contributed 51 tackles with five for loss and an interception while freshman defensive lineman Brian Drew and senior defensive back James Holzman each have 46 tackles. Drew leads the Flying Dutchmen with two sacks, and he has added five and a half tackles for loss, a pass break-up and a blocked kick while Holzman has one tackle for loss and two passes defended this season.

BALANCED & EXPERIENCED ‘HOUNDS: Of the 98 players on the Moravian roster, 36 are freshmen, 20 are sophomores and 16 are juniors. There are 26 seniors on this season’s squad, and the Greyhounds return 56 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. Lebanon Valley was picked ninth in the preseason poll. 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 fourth in the MAC in total defense, allowing 335.5 yards per game. The squad is fourth in passing defense at 184.2 yards per game, and the defense is sixth in rushing yards allowed at 151.2. The Greyhounds are fifth in points allowed at 21.0 per game, and the squad is third in points scored per game at 27.1. Offensively, Moravian is sixth in the MAC at 357.5 yards per game. The Greyhounds are ranked second in rushing offense at 198.1 yards per game and eighth in passing offense at 159.4 yards per game. Moravian is tied for fourth in turnover margin with a +0.25 per game average as the Greyhounds have committed 12 turnovers while forcing 14 turnovers. The Greyhounds are first in the MAC passing yards per completion at 15.4, field goals attempted at 14, field goals made with eight, net yards per punt at 33.6 yards a punt, fumbles recovered with eight and interception returns for touchdowns with two. Individually, senior quarterback Jerry Venturino is ranked seventh in passing yards per game at 151.9 yards, second in passing yards per completion at 15.2, seventh in passing touchdowns with ten, seventh in pass efficiency with a 115.2 rating and eighth in total offense at 175.4 yards per game. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs is ranked third in rushing yards per game at 108.1 yards per game, fourth in rushing attempts with 166, second in rushing touchdowns with nine, tied for fifth in scoring at 6.8 points per game, second in rushing yards with 865 and sixth in all-purpose at 114.2 yards per game. Senior fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) is second in the MAC in yards per rush with an average of 6.5 yards per carry while Jacoubs is seventh at 5.2 and junior Marc Panepinto is tenth at 5.0. Lukich is also seventh in total offensive average per play at 6.5 yards per play while Venturino is fifth at 6.6 yards per play. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins ranks first in the MAC in yards per catch with an average of 19.7 yards, and he is tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns with six. Hawkins is tenth in reception yards with 454, and he is ninth in receiving yards per game at 64.9. Junior wide receiver Shawn Martell is eighth in the MAC in yards per catch at 16.2. Senior punter Corey Czerniak (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) is fifth in the MAC with an average of 35.5 yards per punt and ninth in number of punts with 30. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil is second in the MAC in kick scoring with 5.1 points per game. Reckenbeil is tied for first in PAT percentage at 100 percent (20 of 20), and he is fourth in PAT kicks made, fifth in PAT kicks attempted, tied for first in field goals per game (0.88), tied for second in field goals attempted with nine and tied for first in field goals made with seven. Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville HS) is tied for sixth in kickoff returns with 14 and seventh in kickoff return yards with 270. Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) is tied for sixth in tackles per game at 9.0, and he is tied for third in tackles for loss with 1.38 per contest. DiFelice is tied for second in sacks with 0.62 per game, and he leads the MAC with 0.62 forced fumbles per game. Junior linebacker Cliff Garr, who is tied for first in interception returns for touchdowns with one, is tied for 29th in tackles at 5.9 per game while senior defensive back Mario Bevilaqua is 23rd in tackles at 6.2 per game. Senior defensive back Tyler Chomik is tied for third in the MAC in passes defended at 1.38 per contest. Chomik is also tied for first in interception returns for touchdowns with one, and he ninth in punt return yards with a total of 53 yards on 11 returns, eighth in punt returns with 11 and tenth in kickoff return yards with 238. Freshman linebacker Andrew Morrissey is 11th in the conference in tackles with an average of 8.0 per contest. Morrissey is tied for seventh in forced fumbles with 0.25 per contest.

THE QUARTERBACKS: Senior quarterback Jerry Venturino has completed 80 of 171 passes for 1,215 yards, ten touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Venturino has also added 188 yards and three touchdowns on 43 carries while being sacked eight 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 five games this season. Sophomore quarterback Brad Swartz (Temple, PA/Muhlenberg HS) has played in four games, completing his only two pass attempts for 60 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown at FDU-Florham.

IN THE BACKFIELD: In the backfield, junior running back Chris Jacoubs leads Moravian with 865 yards and nine touchdowns on 166 carries. Jacoubs has 3,705 yards (first all-time at Moravian) in just 29 career games with 17 100-plus yard games in 24 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 is also first all-time with 210 points, 35 career touchdowns, and 724 career rushing attempts. Senior fullback Kevin Lukich has 209 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries while junior running back Marc Panepinto has 211 yards and two touchdowns on 42 attempts this season. Freshman running back Tyler McCambridge (Northampton, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) has contributed 64 yards on just 13 carries while junior fullback Joe Costanzo (Barnstead, NH/Bow HS & Tilton School) has added 25 yards on seven carries. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins has 30 yards on six attempts.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS: Moravian has had ten different players catch a pass this season. Senior wide receiver Ben Hawkins leads the Greyhounds with 23 receptions for 454 yards and six touchdowns. Hawkins has moved into sixth all-time at Moravian with 1,570 receiving yards on 79 receptions. He is also second all-time with 16 career touchdown catches. Junior wide receiver Shawn Martell has 16 catches for 259 yards and a score while sophomore tight end Kris Bisci has 12 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Cletus Kilker has seven catches for 140 yards and a touchdown while senior wide receiver Russ Demko has six catches for 84 yards. Junior running back Chris Jacoubs has added nine receptions for 49 yards while senior wideout Andrew Mazurek (West Orange, NJ/West Orange HS) has added four receptions for 57 yards. Freshman wideout Rob Shaffer has grabbed three passes for 85 yards and a touchdown while senior fullback Kevin Lukich has two catches for ten yards.

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) has started in place of an injured Kircher since the Juniata College game. 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 Steve Cline leads the Moravian defensive line with 29 tackles with eight for loss, three and a half sacks and one pass defended. Senior Bryan Kohlbecker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South HS) has added 28 tackles including seven tackles for loss, one and a half a sacks and a fumble recovery he returned four yards versus Juniata College. Senior Robert Stockley has contributed 16 tackles with two and a half a tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception returned seven yards at Lycoming College and a fumble recovery while junior Alex Smith-Constantine (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus HS) has 13 tackles with two and a half for loss and an interception he returned nine yards versus Susquehanna University. Junior defensive end Nick Feo (Hampton, NJ/Voorhees HS) has 18 tackles with four tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while senior defensive tackle Mike Hurden (Spring Lake, NJ/Wall HS) has contributed 15 tackles with half a tackle for loss and a pass break-up. Sophomore defensive tackle Tom Braxmeier (Center Valley, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS) has 11 tackles with two and a half for loss, one and a half sacks and a forced fumble while sophomore defensive tackle Matt Adams (Dover, NJ/Dover HS) has three tackles. Senior Corey Czerniak has four tackles this season with a tackle for loss, half a sack and a pass defended while senior Keith Jacobson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill HS) has three tackles including one for loss.

THE LINEBACKER CORPS: Senior linebacker Chad DiFelice leads the Moravian defense with 72 tackles including 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, three pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Freshman Andrew Morrissey has made 64 tackles with one and a half tackles for loss, half a sack, two forced fumbles, one of which he recovered, an interception he returned 18 yards at FDU-Florham and a pass break-up while junior Cliff Garr has added 47 tackles with one tackle for loss, one sack, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and an interception returned 32 yards for a touchdown versus Susquehanna University. Sophomore linebacker Mike Prata (Little Ferry, NJ/Paramas Catholic HS) has 15 tackles on the season with half a tackle for loss and a pass defended while sophomore Dan Edleman (Pottstown, PA/The Hill School) has seven tackles with half a tackle for loss. Sophomore Arturo Duran has added 11 tackles with one for loss and a forced fumble this season while junior Tony Gro (Schwenksville, PA/The Hill School) has contributed four tackles with half a tackle for loss.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: In the defensive backfield, senior safety Mario Bevilaqua has made 50 tackles with two and a half tackles for loss, three passes defended and a forced fumble. Senior safety GJ Weiss (Gilbertsville, PA/St. Pius X HS) has added 33 tackles with half a tackle for loss, an interception he has returned 16 yards and five pass break-ups. Senior cornerback Tyler Chomik has contributed 35 tackles with one for loss, an interception returned 42 yards for a touchdown against Juniata College and ten pass break-ups for a total of 11 passes defended while junior cornerback Israel Aguila (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) has 32 tackles with one and a half tackles for loss, eight pass break-ups and an interception for nine passes defended, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Sophomore defensive back Matt Sheridan (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling HS) has 19 tackles while junior defensive back Tom Carroll (Blackwood, NJ/Paul VI HS) has made 11 stops.

KICKING GAME: Senior Corey Czerniak is averaging 35.5 yards per punt on 30 attempts. He has a long punt of 51 yards with seven punts fair caught and 12 inside the 20-yard line. Freshman kicker Brian Reckenbeil is seven-for-nine on field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards versus Susquehanna University and 20-for-20 on extra-point attempts.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Freshman wide receiver Rob Shaffer has three punt returns for zero yards and 14 kickoff returns for 270 yards including a long kickoff return of 45 yards. Shaffer has also made six special teams tackles while junior wide receiver Shawn Martell has four tackles. Martell has also returned six kickoffs for 115 yards and a long of 23 yards. Senior defensive back Tyler Chomik has 11 punt returns for 53 yards with a long of 13 yards and eight kickoff returns for 238 yards with a long of 74 yards versus Juniata College. 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. Freshman offensive lineman Doug Bocchino (Madison, NJ/Madison HS) has four special teams tackles while junior fullback Joe Costanzo has added seven special teams tackles and one kickoff return for 13 yards. Junior running back Justin Klement (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall HS) also has six special teams tackles.

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. Moravian has played four overtime games with Juniata College, two with Widener University and one with Delaware Valley College.

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 ninth 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 while Mark Harding adds color commentary and technical assistance from John Elliott.

STARTERS PLAYER OF THE GAME: As part of Moravian's 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. In last week's game, senior defensive lineman Robert Stockley had a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception for the Greyhounds at Lycoming College. Starters Restaurant, a sponsor of Moravian College Athletics, is located on Route 378 South of Bethlehem.