Susquehanna Football

2008 Program Overview

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The Susquehanna University football team enters its second year of membership in the Liberty League in 2008, and although much is still new, SU football is anything but. The Crusaders will open their 110th season of competitive football at familiar foe Moravian College’s Rocco Calvo Field in Bethlehem, Pa., on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. Moravian edged SU last year, 34-27, in the 2007 NCAA Division III opener at Susquehanna’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium in Selinsgrove, Pa. SU first played Moravian in 1932.

In addition to the Greyhounds, old rivals Juniata College and Lycoming College make up SU’s 2008 nonconference schedule. The Crusaders have a chance to regain “the Goal Post” when they play Juniata in SU’s 2008 home opener on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. Susquehanna and Juniata have been playing each other since 1923, but they did not meet in 2007 — the first gap in the two teams’ encounters since 1962.

SU travels to David Person Field in Williamsport, Pa., to play Lycoming in the “Stagg Hat Game” on Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m. The Crusaders topped Lycoming at Stagg Field last year, 17-13, to claim “the Hat.” Lycoming and SU first met in 1949.

SU again plays all seven opponents from the Liberty League this year. The Crusaders travel to Hobart College to play the Statesmen in both teams’ 2008 league opener on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. SU lost at home to Hobart last year, 41-13.

SU hosts the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy during Homecoming festivities on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. The Crusaders lost a 37-32 nail-biter at home last year to the USMMA despite four touchdowns and 192 yards rushing from Dave Paveletz ’10 (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) (left).

The University of Rochester will come to Selinsgrove on Oct. 11 for a 1 p.m. game. SU lost, 38-20, last year at the Yellowjackets’ Edwin Fauver Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

After Rochester, the Orange and Maroon hit the road again to face the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at RPI’s ’86 Field in Troy, N.Y., on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. SU fell at home, 37-14, to the Engineers in 2007.

The Crusaders enjoy an open week before returning home to play St. Lawrence University on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. The Saints edged SU in overtime last year, 49-42, at St. Lawrence’s Weeks Field at Leckonby Stadium in Canton, N.Y. The Crusaders scored 28 unanswered fourth-quarter points to force the overtime. Paveletz again rushed for 192 yards, and Derek Pope ’09 (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) completed 25 of 42 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Jim Owen ’09 (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) caught seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and J.J. Moran ’10 (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) brought in nine passes for 100 yards.

Following St. Lawrence, SU will face another team of Engineers and make its second trip to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in as many years. The Crusaders and WPI square off at the Engineers’ Alumni Field on Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. SU fought through the remnants of Hurricane Noel in 2007 to earn a last-second, 8-7 victory at WPI. Pope hit Nick Macia ’08 with a two-yard touchdown pass as time expired and then hit Macia again for a two-point conversion to seal the dramatic win.

SU’s 2008 regular season finale marks Senior Day for the Crusaders. Susquehanna hosts Union College at home on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. Union downed SU last year, 34-7, at the Dutchmen’s Frank Bailey Field in Schenectady, N.Y.

Head coach Steve Briggs will rely on a squad that returns 19 starters and 35 letterwinners in 2008. Showing incredible discipline under Briggs, the Crusaders were the least-penalized team in the Liberty League in 2007 despite being the most-penalized against.

Nate Milne joins SU as the offensive coordinator in 2008. Along with Milne, Jack Lydic (quarterbacks), Shane Arce (split ends) and Scott Knapp (running backs) join SU as assistant football coaches this season.

OFFENSE: I

Junior tailback Paveletz and senior fullback Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) will lead the running attack for Susquehanna in 2008. Henry will clear a path for Paveletz — the Liberty League’s 2007 rushing yards leader and first-team all-league honoree. Henry was an all-league honorable mention last year. Paveletz posted the second-highest single-season rushing total in SU history in 2007 with 1,173 yards. His 15 TDs and 90 points last year led the Liberty League. His four touchdowns against the USMMA in 2007 tied SU’s single-game record. He also ranks sixth in school history coming into 2008 with 2,003 career rushing yards. Jason Eck ’05 rushed for 2,290 career yards — second-most in school history.

Pope (right) completed 150 passes for 1,772 yards last year and nine touchdowns. He comes into 2008 ranked 10th on the program’s career list with 2,183 passing yards.

Pope’s three primary receivers return this year. Junior split end Moran caught a team-high 39 passes last season for 495 yards and a touchdown. Fellow junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) led the Crusaders with 500 receiving yards on 38 catches. Senior split end Owen caught 33 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns.

Five returning offensive linemen started at least five games for SU in 2007, including second-team all–Liberty League and 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior Drew Champney (Victor, N.Y./Victor); 6-foot, 300-pound sophomore James Rogers (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights); 6-foot-2, 310-pound sophomore Will Tasker (Culpepper, Va./Culpepper County); 5-foot-11, 280-pound senior Brandt Waples (Media, Pa./Penncrest); and 5-foot-10, 270-pound senior Cody Loeffler [Lewes, Del./Avon Grove (Pa.)]. Senior Bill Moore (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area), who started all 10 games as a tight end last year, returns to SU in 2008 but will move to the defensive side of the ball as an end.

DEFENSE: 3-4

Six-foot-two, 315-pound senior and 2007 all–Liberty League honorable mention Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) returns to lead the defensive line in 2008. LeClere tallied 49 tackles last year.

Senior linebacker Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) will be back as well. Golias made 54 tackles last year, including a team-high 5.5 sacks. SU ranked second in the Liberty League in sacks last year with 25.

Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) (left) will be back for 2008. Simpson made 49 tackles last season and picked off three passes. Senior safety/punter John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) is back. Lunardi also made 49 tackles in 2007. Senior defensive back Jeff Anderson (Pittston Twp., Pa/Pittston Area) is yet another returner on an experienced SU defensive backfield. Anderson registered 41 tackles last season, broke up three passes and intercepted another.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Sophomore kicker/punter Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) (right) returns in 2008 tohandle place-kicking duties. Eppleman was an all–Liberty League honorable mention in 2007 after making good on three of five field goal tries and 15 of 21 extra-point attempts.

As he did in 2006, Lunardi will handle SU’s punting job in 2008. He punted on a part-time basis last year, averaging 39.3 yards on three punts, with a long of 51 yards.

Moran, Simpson and Lunardi each returned at least one punt last year. Simpson returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. Moran was SU’s primary kickoff returner in 2007 and averaged 21.1 yards on 25 returns. The 21.1-yard average was fifth-highest in the Liberty League in 2007, while his 528 kickoff return yards ranked second.