2007 Game Summaries

November 10: USMMA 37, Susquehanna 32
November 3: Susquehanna 8, WPI 7
October 27: Rochester 38, Susquehanna 20
October 13: Union 34, Susquehanna 7
October 6: Hobart 41, Susquehanna 13
September 29: RPI 37, Susquehanna 14
September 22 : St. Lawrence 49, Susquehanna 42 (OT)
September 15: Susquehanna 17, Lycoming 13
September 8: Lebanon Valley 27, Susquehanna 12
August 30 : Moravian 34, Susquehanna 27

Saturday, November 10: Susquehanna drops season finale to Merchant Marine Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – Despite a record-setting showing from sophomore running back, Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area), the United States Merchant Marine Academy earned their first win of the season with a 37-32 Susquehanna defeat on Saturday afternoon.

Paveletz rushed 29 times for a net gain of 192 yards while scoring four of Susquehanna’s five touchdowns. With his 192-yard game, Paveletz became the seventh ranked Crusader in school history for yards rushed in a single contest. With this contest ending the 2007 Susquehanna football season, Paveletz also found himself a spot in the record books for total season rushing yards. He sits second to Matt Wichlinski (1977/1,322 yards) with 1,225 yards.

The senior-day game, in which 12 crusaders ended their college playing careers, began when USMMA got on the scoreboard amidst its opening drive. The Mariners were originally forced to punt on fourth down with four yards to go at midfield, but an illegal substitution by the Crusaders kept the drive alive.

The Mariners drove the ball down the field and into the red zone and capped it off when Derrick Ventre completed a pass to Chris Rye on the left corner for the touchdown. Geoff Troy’s extra point attempt was good to give the Mariners a 7-0 advantage with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.

Susquehanna responded when Paveletz fled down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown run. Bobby Eppleman’s (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) extra point was no good, as the Mariners held on to the lead at 7-6 at 3:40 which they would carry in to the second quarter.

Midway through the second frame, the Mariner defense forced the Crusaders to punt. This time, it was USMMA that got penalized for roughing the kicker and the drive was kept alive. On the ensuing play, Paveletz ran 42 yards for his second of the day. Eppleman’s extra point attempt was good giving the Crusaders a 13-7 lead with 6:36 remaining in the half.

Susquehanna's only lead of the game would be short lived. USMMA responded merely three minutes later when Ventre threw his second touchdown pass of the afternoon to Michael Stewart at 3:38. Troy’s kick was good and the Mariners regained the lead at 14-13.

Susquehanna had one more chance to score before the clock expired, but Kaatz intercepted a pass at the Mariner 21 and brought it back 16 yards to the 37-yard line. The Mariners drove all the way down to the Crusader nine which set up Geoff Troy for a field goal attempt. The kick hit the left upright and bounced back as time expired, but the Mariners took a 14-13 lead to the locker room.

USMMA added to its lead in the second half when Troy kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 17-13 game at 10:10 in the third quarter. The Mariners would again add to their lead at 5:32 when Watson ran from two yards out with 5:32 on the clock. Troy’s kick missed, but the Mariners still held a 23-13 advantage.

On the first play of the final quarter, Susquehanna quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) ran the ball in from a yard out to make it 23-19. Eppleman’s kick was good, changing the scoreboard to read USMMA 23-20 with 14:58 left to play in the game.

After an impressive kick return by Preston Morgan and a Watson run to the Susquehanna five-yard line, Ventre ran the ball to the end zone. With the help of a successful extra point, USMMA took ten point lead with 13:55 remaining in the game.

Paveletz soon answered with his third touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard run to make it a one possession game once again at 30-26 with 9:55 left in the game. Eppleman’s kick was blocked by Michael Gallucci and the Mariners would get the ball back with a four-point lead.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Watson rushed to the end zone from a yard out for his second touchdown of the game to all but seal it with 4:34 left. Troy’s kick was good and the Mariners had a 37-26 lead.

Paveletz had one more answer with his fourth rushing touchdown of the afternoon at 3:09 to make it 37-32. The Crusaders went for two, but Pope’s rush fell a few yards short of the goal line.

Susquehanna tried an onside kick which was grabbed Stewart at the Crusader 41. After Ventre and Watson each rushed for first downs, Ventre took a knee three consecutive times to run out the clock. The Mariners held on for the 37-32 victory.

On the day Pope completed 16 of 26 passes for 212 yards with one interception and a touchdown of his own. Leading the Crusader defense, sophomore Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) made 11 total tackles (10 solo, 1 assisted). Nate Moore (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) and Jon Baker (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) also added seven tackles a piece.

Susquehanna finishes its season 2-8 overall, 1-6 in Liberty League play. USMMA concludes its season 1-9 overall, 1-6 in Liberty League play.

Saturday, November 3: Macia reels in game-winning catch, stuns WPI Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. —A gutsy play call at the end of regulation led the Crusaders to their first-ever Liberty League win in an 8-7 defensive thriller against WPI Saturday.

Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) and Nick Macia (Hampton, N.J./North Hunterdon) hooked up in the endzone with as the clock ran out to bring the score to 6-7. The coaching staff decided not to march the special teams unit out on the field for the extra-point attempt, and by doing so, the Crusader offense was faced with a game-ending play. WPI called a timeout to regroup to attempt to thwart the two-point conversion attempt.

Pope dropped back and fired a pass to Macia again on the conversion play, and Macia reeled in the game-winning catch.

While the offense stole the limelight by heroically winning the game at the end, the Susquehanna defense overpowered the WPI offense for the majority of the contest.

Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) recorded the first Crusader sack of the game as he took WPI quarterback Dan Pantalone down behind the line of scrimmage on the second-to-last drive of the first quarter.

Greg Maugeri (Broomall, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and Jeff Hauser (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) sifted through the WPI offensive linemen on the first WPI offensive drive of the second quarter as both of them pulled WPI's backup quarterback Justin Wells to the ground behind the line for a sack.

The Crusaders faced a fourth-and-one situation in the second quarter at the WPI 11-yard line after Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) strung together a 30-yard drive. Instead of kicking the field goal, Susquehanna tried to run the ball for a first down. Paveletz could not pass the first-down marker as he was dragged down by Michael Toto, and the Crusaders turned the ball over on downs.

Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) and Golias teamed up toward the end of the second quarter to force Wells to the ground for a sack that resulted in a nine-yard loss for the Engineers.

The fourth quarter of action provided the glitz and action that both defenses prevented for most of the game.

WPI ate up the clock for 9:24 in the fourth quarter after Mark Malacarne (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) booted a touchback punt. The WPI drive ended with Pantalone running the ball in from the Susquehanna one-yard line and Ben Carter kicking the extra point, forcing the Crusaders to respond with just 5:23 left in the game.

Following a Pope interception on the ensuing Susquehanna possession, Golias picked up a fumble by WPI's Aaron Champagne, giving the Crusaders' run to score life.

Susquehanna's offense stalled on the next drive as the Engineers forced them to turn the ball over on downs in just four plays.

The Engineers started their next drive on their own 41-yard line. In an attempt to drain the clock, WPI ran three running plays, and the Crusaders stopped the clock from running down by using all three of their timeouts.

With the clock at 2:08 and starting at their own 42-yard line, the Crusaders tried going to the air. Pope completed a 28-yard pass to J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) on second down, and after a two-yard run by Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) , Pope found Moran again for a 23-yard pass play.

The completion to Moran landed the Crusaders on the WPI one-yard line, and it took Susquehanna three downs and the pressure of the clock winding down for Pope to line up in the I-formation to find Macia for the infamous touchdown catch with the clock expired.

Pope had not completed a pass before the final offensive drive, as he finished the game 3-10 passing with 53 yards and three interceptions.

Paveletz ran for 107 yards on 35 carries while Moran led all receivers with 51 yards receiving.

Nate Moore (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) compiled 10 tackles on the afternoon while Golias, Jon Baker (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) and John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./West Chester Henderson) each forced a fumble.

The victory brings the Crusaders' overall record to 2-7 and their Liberty record to 1-5.

Saturday, October 27: Yellowjackets sting Crusaders, 38-20 Box score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Freshman Clarence Onyiriuka ran for a career-high 219 yards and three touchdowns to lead the University of Rochester (5-3, 4-1 LL) to a 38-20 victory over visiting Susquehanna University (1-7, 0-5 LL) at Edwin Fauver Stadium Saturday.

Susquehanna's Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, PA/Hanover Area) once again kicked off the scoring on the day, completing an 11-play, 92-yard first quarter drive with a mighty leap up and over the pile. After Bobby Eppleman's (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) PAT attempt was good, the Crusaders led 7-0 with 5:35 left in the first quarter.

Rochester would answer immediately, as quarterback Adam Barrett connected with Zach Ingoldsby on a wide receiver screen that Ingoldsby would take 54 yards for the Yellowjackets' first TD of the day. Onyiriuka would score his first of four touchdowns on Rochester's next possession, giving them a 14-7 lead they would not relinquish.

Barrett lobbed a 15-yard TD pass to Onyiriuka midway through the second quarter for a 20-7 lead. Crusader quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) completed passes to three different receivers before Paveletz scored from three yards out, pulling the Crusaders within 20-14 at the half.

Rochester scored on its first drive of the third quarter on Onyiriuka's four-yard run and ran in a two-point conversion to make it 28-14. A 24-yard punt return by Andy Rape set up a two-play, 35-yard TD drive that ended with Onyiriuka's 21-yard TD run.

Pope then threw a seven-yard TD pass to Nick Macia (Hampton, N.J./North Hunterdon) to complete the Susquehanna scoring on the day. Rochester would add a late field goal to make the final score 38-20.

Paveletz finished the day with 129 yards on 27 attempts. Pope completed 17 of 33 passes for 181 yards, was sacked once and intercepted once. Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) led the Crusader receivers with seven catches for 84 yards.

On the defensive side, Jeff Anderson (Pittston Twp., Pa./Pittston Area) had an interception and five tackles while Greg Maugeri (Broomall, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) added a sack and three tackles. Jon Baker (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) led the team in tackles with nine and freshman James Conway (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area) chipped in eight.

Saturday, October 13: Dutchmen defeat Crusaders 34-7 Box Score

SCHENECTADY , N.Y. — The Crusaders dropped a 34-7 decision on the road against the two-time defending Liberty League champion Union Dutchmen at Frank Bailey Field.

The loss drops the squad to 1-6 overall on the year and 0-4 in the Liberty League.

Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) started the game under center and completed 17 of 36 passes, despite throwing three interceptions. Pope netted 166 yards in total.

Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) finished the game with a team-high 66 yards rushing. Zach Tillo led all rushers with 67 yards on the ground.

Jim Owen (Harrisburg , Pa./Bishop McDevitt) led all Crusader receivers with six catches for 56 yards.

The Crusader defense came out early on the first drive as Jon Baker (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) batted down a Ted Civetti pass up the middle. Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) stopped Union short of the first down on a fourth and nine play by tackling Mike Concannon at the Susquehanna 18 yard line for a turnover on downs.

Golias compiled his fourth sack of the season after Chris Ushinski (Nanticoke, Pa./Nanticoke) chased down Jared Gourrier in the backfield. Offsetting holding and facemask calls averted a first-down run by Tillo on the next play. The drive ended when Gourrier scrambled right and snuck into the front right corner of the endzone for a Union touchdown.

The final drive of the quarter ended with a screen pass to Paveletz on third down when he was dragged out of bounds immediately by Joseph Catalano for loss of three yards.

Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) intercepted a pass on the first Dutchman offensive drive of the half off of a high pass deflected by a Union receiver. A holding penalty by Union on the interception return gave Susquehanna a few extra yards. Just five plays later, Catalano picked off a Pope pass on third and 13 and would run uncontested to the endzone for an 85-yard interception return touchdown.

Union extended the score to 21-0 when Andrew Reigel leaped for a Gourrier pass in the endzone, tumbled and came up showing the ball.

After a three-and-out Susquehanna offensive drive, Union strung together a six-play, 65-yard drive that ended when running back John Johnson cut through the Susquehanna defensive front for a 10-yard touchdown run.

Susquehanna turned the momentum in its favor when Paveletz moved the chains to the Union 46 with 1:42 left in half. Pope looked for J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) downfield, but the play was broken up by Union defensive back Mike Daley. On the next play, Pope passed across the line of scrimmage to Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy), gained nine on the play and stopped the clock.

Paveletz moved the chains again on the following play. Pope threw to Moran on third and five, but Daley came in again to break up the pass. A pass interference play saved the Crusader drive with 32 seconds left in the half. Pope threw a pass up the middle looking for Moran only to find Daley there for the interception. With 22 seconds left in the half, the Dutchmen ran out the clock.

Moran led off the second half by starting the Crusader offense at the Susquehanna 48 yard line after returning a Zach Epley kick for 27 yards.

Eddie Jones (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) broke up a long bomb to Reigel on third and eight of the first Dutchman offensive drive of the half, saving the Crusaders from surrendering a big play. That play would force the Union punter to come on the field for the first time in the ball game.

Jarrid Myers (Easton, Pa./Eastern) brought a scrambling Gourrier to his knees behind the line of scrimmage on a second and 17 play with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter for his fourth unassisted sack of the season.

With 3:33 to go in the third quarter, Pope floated a 33-yard pass to Moran that led to Susquehanna's first touchdown. Moran's touchdown reception was his first of the season while Pope's pass was his seventh touchdown pass of the season.

On the next drive, Ushinski battled a resistant Gourrier to the ground for his second sack of the game. On the next play, Gourrier uncorked a 45-yard pass to Reigel, bringing the Dutchmen to within the Susquehanna five yard line. Gourrier would dance around unscathed on a second and goal play, raising the football in the air after running in by foot for the touchdown. Epley failed to convert on the extra point kick attempt.

After a personal foul penalty against Union, Pope threw his third interception of the game up the middle of the field right at the conclusion of the third quarter.

Both defenses prevented scoring in the fourth quarter, as the third quarter score of 34-7 would prevail in the end.

The Crusaders failed to convert on their third trip to the red zone when Pope got drilled in the backfield on a fourth down play with five yards to go, turning the ball over to the Dutchmen for the fourth time.

On the drive after the turnover, Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) brought Gourrier down in the backfield for a loss. After Blaise Ancona punted the ball away two plays later, Jones bobbled the catch on the return that led to a turnover at midfield.

The Dutchmen stalled on the ensuing drive, gaining just five yards on three offensive plays.

Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) entered the game on the next drive as the quarterback, which would be the final offensive drive for the Crusaders. Howell experienced the stingy Union defense firsthand, as he ran twice with a net loss of two yards and fumbled the football on a third-down play. He attempted to tack a few more points on the board, going for a fourth-and-16 conversion. With his receivers smothered by the defensive coverage, he tossed the ball out of bounds.

After the turnover, with just under a minute left in the game, the Dutchmen ran out the clock.

Jones led the Crusaders with 12 tackles. Golias and Jeff Hauser (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) each compiled a plethora of tackles on the day as well with 10 apiece.

The Crusader offensive line held down the trenches, allowing just one sack by the Union defense.

Saturday, October 6: Susquehanna loses Homecoming battle 41-13 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – Hobart crashed Susquehanna's Homecoming party by taking a 41-13 win under the lights in Nicholas A. Lopardo stadium.

Susquehanna's red zone defense capitalized on a fourth-and-one situation on the opening Hobart drive, forcing the Statesman defense to turn the ball over. Nate Moore (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) stuffed quarterback Andrew Strom on the one yard line as he attemped a quarterback sneak into the endzone.

Hobart scored first just 7:38 into action with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Strom to Matt Duliba.

One of the game's most bizarre plays came with around five minutes left in the first quarter when Hobart pulled a fake punt pass on a fourth-and-six play. Punter Dominick Ancona dropped back to punt and proceeded to launch a 20 yard bomb to Andrew Marlier.

Starting with favorable field position at their own 45 yard line, the Statesmen whipped out a five-play, 55-yard drive which led to a rushing touchdown by Anthony Hobaica.

Chris Ushinski (Nanticoke, Pa./Nanticoke) brought Strom to the turf behind the line of scrimmage in the final minutes of the first half, which would be one of three total Crusader sacks.

The Crusaders stayed competitive going into halftime, keeping the score at a manageable 14-0.

Hobart went on cruise control the rest of the game, and the Crusader secondary couldn't stop Strom from peppering the field with completed passes.

Marlier broke open a 51-yard run in the first Statesman offensive drive of the second half, which led to a Strom passing touchdown from inside the five yard line.

J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) set the tone of the first touchdown drive for the Crusaders, returning a kickoff for 59 yards. On fourth down with 10 yards to go, Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) rolled the dice and completed a 37-yard pass to Nick Macia (Hampton, N.J./North Hunterdon), placing Susquehanna inside the Hobart five yard line. Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ran the ball in the endzone on the next play.

The next drive proved catastrophic for the momentum of the Crusaders. On a seemingly innocuous second and six play from the Hobart 41, Strom lateraled the ball to Ryan LiDrazzah, who lateraled the ball to Tyler Vincent, who then lateraled the ball back to Strom who connected with wide open James Wright downfield for a 59-yard touchdown. Susquehanna avenged the unorthodox flea-flicker play by blocking the extra point following the touchdown.

The third quarter ended on a positive note with Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) sacking Strom on a first-down play.

Strom responded in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with a 55-yard pass to Zach Schulz. Don Gilardi finished off the large gain by pounding the ball in on the ground from six yards out for a touchdown, making the score 34-7.

After Susquehanna punted the ball away on the next drive, Hobart connected on another long pass from Strom, this time to LiDrazzah for a 57-yard gain.

Pope marched down the field on the ensuing drive, throwing a pass on each play along the way to a 17-yard sling to Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) in the back of the endzone. Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) failed to convert the extra point attempt.

Hobart drained the clock for the final 7:25 of the game, running the ball on each of the 10 plays before the clock ran out.

Paveletz led all rushers with 73 yards on the ground. Pope compiled 173 passing yards and threw no interceptions to the Hobart defense.

Strom strung together a 387-yard passing game, and two of his receivers had over 100 yards. LiDrazzah finished the game with 122 yards while Schulz had 130. Three Hobart rushers gained over 40 yards rushing as well, with the team's top rusher gaining 72 net yards.

Both quarterbacks were sacked three times apiece. Ushinski, Golias and Eddie Jones (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) accounted for the three Crusader sacks. Moore led the Susquehanna defense with nine total tackles. Golias and Jones each notched eight total tackles apiece as well.

Saturday, September 29: Susquehanna falls to undefeated RPI Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – On a picture perfect fall football day, Susquehanna opened the game with an early touchdown with high hopes of bouncing back from a grueling overtime loss at St. Lawrence on Saturday. However, the Engineers of Rensselaer had something else in mind.

Merely 5:22 into action, Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) "did what he does best," and rushed for a Crusader touchdown, complete with the extra point.

The remainder of the first quarter lingered scoreless. The Engineers opened the second period with an intense drive down to the Susquehanna goal line where Bob Munier would rush for five yards to bring the score within one. RPI's kick attempt failed allowing the Crusaders a one-point advantage.

Munier's touchdown was the beginning of a 30-point scoring streak that doomed the Crusaders hopes of a victory. A field goal and a second RPI touchdown would lead to an Engineer halftime advantage of 16-7.

Jimmy Robertson, brother to former Susquehanna quarterback Dennis Robertson, opened the second half of play rushing for a cherry and white touchdown.

Susquehanna made a strong start to the last quarter of action as senior Eddie Jones (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) picked off a Robertson pass at the Susquehanna 19. The Crusaders were ailed by a strong RPI defensive effort, sacking Pope twice on the drive. Five plays after a Susquehanna punt; Nick Costa would add another six points to the visitor's score mid-way through the fourth.

Hosting its first Liberty League game at Lopardo Stadium, the orange and maroon would tally a second touchdown before the day was done. On 4th and 9, Pope found sophomore Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) deep in the endzone for another six points. Bobby Eppleman's (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) kick was good to end Susquehanna's scoring for the day.

The Engineers recorded the final points of the day off a 22 yard rush by Isaac Williams.

The Crusader loss dropped their record to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in league action, while the Engineers remain undefeated at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League.

Susquehanna managed just 226 yards of total offense; Paveletz was held to 34 yards on the day. Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) (above) led the Crusaders in catches with seven for 78 yards.

Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) was the top Crusader tackler with 12, while Jones added eight. Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and Sean Feiring (Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair Haven) each got a sack on Robertson. For the Engineers, Tim Acker had three sacks for a loss of 26 yards and two interceptions.

Saturday, September 22: Susquehanna drops overtime heartbreaker to St. Lawrence, 42-49 (OT) Box Score

CANTON, NY – The 2007 Liberty League regular season opened with a bang on Saturday afternoon, as the Susquehanna battled back from a 28 point deficit to force overtime against the St. Lawrence University Saints. With the score knotted at 42-42 in OT, sophomore tight end John Quartuccio caught a five yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Brad Heil to give the Saints a 49-42 lead after the extra point. Susquehanna quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove), needing a touchdown to tie, forced a throw to the middle of the field that was intercepted by junior linebacker Chris Finch, securing the Saints' 49-42 victory at Leckonby Stadium.

Susquehanna didn't waste much time scoring their first touchdown as a member of the conference, as Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area), the team's leading rusher, rumbled 49 yards a mere 3:32 into regulation to give the Crusaders a 6-0 lead. However, the extra point attempt failed, keeping Susquehanna ahead by only a touchdown.

On the first play of their third offensive series, St. Lawrence turned to trickery to create a scoring chance, as they used a flea-flicker to complete a 41 yard pass downfield to a wide open Carl Festa. The full back's big reception set up Heil, who scrambled out of the pocket on the following play for a touchdown from five yards out. Junior Matt Popov's extra point gave the Saints a 7-6 advantage.

Heil's effort would seemingly open the floodgates for St. Lawrence, as they scored three consecutive touchdowns to grab a 21-7 lead. After forcing a punt from the Crusaders, sophomore Connor Hackett scored his first touchdown of the season on the first play of the second quarter to give the Saints a 13-6 lead, with Popov again adding the extra point.

After senior Matt Sivright intercepted Pope to give St. Lawrence great field position at the Susquehanna 44 yard line on the following drive, the Saints marched 44 yards in six plays, capped off by a 23 yard touchdown pass from Heil to sophomore Anthony Patterson to stretch the cushion to 21-6.

The Crusaders cut into the deficit on the following drive, as they recovered an onsides kick attempt and started from the St. Lawrence 37 yard line. After Paveletz carried the football into striking distance, Pope found sophomore Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) for an 11 yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 21-12. The duo connected again on the two-point conversion, pulling Susquehanna back to within seven at 21-14.

However, the rest of the half belonged to the Scarlet and Brown, as they added 14 more points on to their halftime total to carry a 35-14 advantage into the locker room. Festa scored on back-to-back possessions to build St. Lawrence's lead. Festa carried the ball on a draw play on a 3 rd-and-4, and thanks to some solid blocks downfield, was able to stretch across the goal line for his first score of the afternoon.

Susquehanna's offense came back on to the field, but stayed for only two plays, as senior Ben Buskey delivered a monster hit to JJ Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville), which forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Andy Welkley. After a personal foul on the Crusaders, the Saints set up shop 1st-and-10 at the visitor's 12 yard line. Facing a 3rd-and-5, St. Lawrence again turned to Festa, who caught a pass out of the backfield and drove over defenders until he reached the end zone. Thanks to extra points from Popov, the Saints held a 35-14 lead heading to the second half.

The momentum stayed with the Saints early in the third quarter, as their defense continued to shut down Pope and the Susquehanna offense, allowing Heil and company to work against the Crusader defense. Facing a 3 rd-and-8, Heil turned to one of his most reliable weapons, senior Mike O'Donnell, and the pair connected for a 44 yard pass that set the Saints up on the Susquehanna 35 yard line. The following play, the ball was placed in Hackett's hands as he raced to the end zone untouched to put St. Lawrence ahead, with the extra point, 42-14 with 8:57 to play in the third quarter.

With neither team able to get much going in the later stages of the third quarter, it seemed as though St. Lawrence's 28 point lead heading to the fourth quarter was going to be plenty to help the home team secure the victory.

Susquehanna's sophomore Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) had other ideas.

With the Saints pinned back on their own 10 yard line, Popov set up to punt at his own goal line. Simpson broke loose past the offensive line, blocked Popov's kick and recovered the ball himself for a Susquehanna touchdown. The extra point was added by Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) as the Crusaders pulled back to within three scores at 42-21.

However, the blocked kick did more for the Crusaders than merely get them a touchdown: it swung the momentum clearly in their favor. The defense responded by holding the Saints to three consecutive three-and-out drives, allowing Pope a chance to get his team back in the game. He would do just that with 10:31 remaining in regulation, as he found Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) for a six yard touchdown catch that brought the score to 42-28. The Crusaders got to within one score only 2:23 later, when Pope again found Owen from 24 yards out for his third touchdown pass of the afternoon, bringing Susquehanna to within seven at 42-35.

St. Lawrence, who continued to battle into the breeze in the fourth quarter, needed a first down to get some confidence back and get out of its own territory. However, Susquehanna was having none of it, as Jeff Anderson (Pittston Twp., Pa./Pittston Area) tipped away a long pass intended for O'Donnell and Chris Ushinski (Nanticoke, Pa./Nanticoke) sacked Heil on 3rd down to force another punt from Popov. On the ensuing punt, the Saints were penalized for Illegal Procedure and a Delay of Game, which forced them all the way back to their own 2 yard line. Popov's punt, due to the wind, would only send Susquehanna back to the St. Lawrence 27 yard line.

With 6:20 remaining in the game, it took Susquehanna only five plays to complete their furious comeback and knot the score at 42-42. With the ball spotted at the St. Lawrence 12 yard line, Susquehanna's Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) caught the defense off guard on a draw play, and the full back took the hand-off and ran 12 yards untouched into the end zone. Eppleman's extra point sailed through the uprights, and the game was deadlocked at 42-42.

Though each team did have one possession before the overtime session, neither was able to put points on the board. Instead, the squads, meeting for the first time, went to overtime, where each team would start from the 25 yard line and try to score. The Saints were on the field offensively first, and Heil turned to his tight ends in the overtime session. First, the Fayetteville, NY native hit senior Brett Young for a 16 yard pick-up to move St. Lawrence to 1 st-and-goal at the Susquehanna nine yard line. Two players later, Heil found Quartuccio in the back of the end zone for the back-up tight end's second score of the season. Popov added his seventh extra point of the afternoon for the 49-42 lead.

Needing a touchdown to extend the game, Susquehanna tried to find room in the middle of the field for Paveletz, but Finch was there to make the stop and force a 2 nd-and-long. It was there that Fitch stepped in front of a Susquehanna receiver and picked off Pope to give the Saints an incredible 49-42 win.

The two teams combined for 883 yards of offense on the day, with Susquehanna holding the advantage 490-393. The Saints, however, were able to win the turnover battle, forcing four turnovers, and scored on all five of their red zone chances to earn their second win of the 2007 campaign.

Hackett and Paveletz both eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark, finishing with 103 and 192 yards on the ground each, respectively. Heil finished 19-of-31 with three touchdown passes and a touchdown run, while Pope was 25-of-42 with three touchdown passes and three interceptions.

With the win, St. Lawrence improved to 2-1 (1-0), while Susquehanna fell to 1-3 and 0-1 in Liberty League competition.

(Story - St. Lawrence University Sports Information)

Saturday, September 15: Susquehanna wins wild one over Lycoming, 17-13 Box score

SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna football team broke out of a "seven year itch" against Lycoming, beating the Warriors 17-13. It was the Crusaders' first win over their regional rival since 2000.

Sophomore tailback Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rumbled for a two-yard touchdown with 8:09 to go in the fourth quarter. Paveletz rushed 28 times for 116 yards on the day, and also scored Susquehanna's other touchdown at almost the identical time, 8:08, in the second quarter.

It was a typical Susquehanna-Lycoming clash: a back-and-forth battle that saw the lead change hands three times and featured six turnovers - two of them being interceptions off of tipped Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) passes that bounced into Warrior hands.

Lycoming would strike first when tight end Bill Margetich caught a 10-yard pass from Colin Dwyer just four minutes into the first quarter. Susquehanna would answer quickly on Paveletz's first touchdown run on the day three minutes later. The Crusaders added a Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) field goal right before halftime to go into the locker room up 10-7.

The Warriors used the Dwyer-to-Margetich combination again late in the third to retake the lead, 13-10. The Crusaders did their own repeat with Paveletz in the fourth quarter.

Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) picked off Dwyer at the 10-yard line with 23 seconds to go to secure Susquehanna's first win of the season.

Jon Baker (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) had 11 tackles for the Crusaders, 2.5 for loss, and added a sack.

Saturday, September 8: Crusaders take to air, but Flying Dutchmen prevail, 27-12 Box Score

ANNVILLE , PA – Susquehanna's offense took to the air on a humid, airless day but Lebanon Valley stifled the Crusaders, 27-12.

Junior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) completed 16-of-34 passes for 245 yards, but was sacked six times in the loss, including two by Dutchmen junior tackle Anthony Pezzella.

Susquehanna managed 371 yards of total offense but could only get it in the end zone twice. The Crusaders struck first when sophomore tailback Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) scampered for a 22-yard touchdown less than three minutes into the game. But Lebanon Valley answered just two minutes later as Charlie Parker capped off a 63-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Parker rushed for a career-high 196 yards and added another touchdown in the second quarter.

The Flying Dutchman defense would account for the other two touchdowns, first on Bill Dixon's 24-yard interception return and then with junior Andrew Shambach's 48-yard fumble return.

Paveletz, who rushed for 95 yards on the day, would add another touchdown in the waning minutes, but the two-point conversion failed and that would be all for Susquehanna.

Pope's two favorite targets for the day were junior z-back Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), who had five catches for 71 yards, and sophomore split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville), who added 77 yards on four catches.

On the defensive side, senior safety Eddie Jones (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) and sophomore defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa. /Woodland Hills) had an interception apiece for the Crusaders, while junior defensive lineman Jarrid Myers (Easton, Pa./Easton) added a sack.

Thursday, August 30: Susquehanna falls, 34-27, in delayed season opener Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA. -- After a delay of 1:40 due to lightning in the area, Susquehanna and Moravian staged a true classic in the season opener -- one that saw the Crusaders hold a 24-20 lead with 5:30 left in the third before falling, 34-27.           

Moravian quarterback Marc Braxmeier tied a school record with four touchdown passes as and threw for 215 yards and added the game winning touchdown run with 2:27 left to lead the Moravian comeback. Braxmeier's four TD tosses also equaled a Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium record.           

The loss overshadowed a career high rushing performance by Susquehanna sophomore tailback Dave Paveletz (left), who gained169 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns. His four-yard run opened the Crusader scoring at 8:22 in the first, while his 11-yard scoring jaunt gave Susquehanna a 21-20 lead with 12:35 left in the third -- capping a six-play, 64-yard drive to start of the second half.               

Freshman kicker Bobby Eppleman's 24-yard field goal with 5:30 left in the quarter extended the lead to 24-20 following a 10-play, 74-yard drive. He also connected on a 32-yard field goal with 9:49 left to tie the score at 27.

Susquehanna junior quarterback Derek Pope threw for 116 yards and a touchdown -- completing 12 of 25 passes. Junior defensive end Jarrid Myers also added two-and-a-half sacks for the Crusaders in the losing cause.

For the second straight season, the game between the Greyhounds and the Crusaders was delayed by weather. In 2006, the game was delayed for 45 minutes after just three plays.

Next Game: Sat., Sept. 8, at Lebanon Valley, 1 p.m.