Saturday’s Game: After opening the season with three straight losses for the first time since 1985, Susquehanna takes on an Albright team that has started with three straight wins for the first time since 1997. Susquehanna has not lost its first four games since the 1985 team opened 0-6 en route to a 3-7 finish — the last time the Crusaders finished below .500.

The Last Meeting: Susquehanna 24, Albright 16 (November 11, 2000 at Selinsgrove, PA)
Mike Bowman threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns, including two in a span of 44 seconds late in the first half, as the Crusaders closed the season with a win over Albright. Mark Bartosic caught five passes for 101 yards to become the first Crusader receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. Bowman connected with Josh Kitchin and Bartosic to give the Crusaders a 21-13 lead at the break.

Still Trying to Break Through: The Crusaders are 0-3 for the first time since 1985, and each of the last seven times (since 1965) that the Crusaders have opened 0-3, they have opened at least 0-5. Furthermore, Susquehanna has opened 0-3 a total of 21 times in the program’s 102-year history. The 1928 squad is the only team ever to rebound to finish with a winning record (4-3).

Point-Counterpoint: After three games, the Crusaders have allowed 147 points in losses to Western Maryland (63-27), Lycoming (45-20), and Delaware Valley (39-26). The 147 points are the most surrendered by a Susquehanna defense in the first two games of a season since the 1967 squad yielded 157 points in losses to Waynesburg (60-0), Wittenberg (63-0) and Bloomsburg (34-19).

Deja Vu All Over Again: One of the rarest plays in football — the defensive two-point conversion — happened against the Crusaders in each of their first two games. Western Maryland (blocked extra point) and Lycoming (intercepted pass) were almost joined by Delaware Valley in last week’s game, but the Aggies were tackled quickly after the defensive line blocked an extra-point try following Susquehanna’s first touchdown.

No Passing Fancy: Junior quarterback Mike Bowman (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) is well on his way to owning the Crusader record book. Last season, he set single-season records for completions (184), attempts (354), yards (2,563) and touchdowns (20) and career marks for completions (now at 328) and attempts (now at 654). This season, Bowman broke the Susquehanna record for career passing yards of 4,087 set from 1987-90 by David Battisti. Bowman, the first junior to serve as a team captain in the Briggs era, has thrown for 4,411 yards in just 23 career games.

Worth Watching: Sophomore split end Mark Bartosic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) made an immediate impact in his first season at Susquehanna in 2000 after transferring from Division I-AA Bucknell, setting a Crusader single-season record for receiving yards (1,028) and the NCAA Division III record for touchdown catches by a freshman (15). Bartosic, who has 66 career catches for 1,306 yards in 12 career games, has 2 1/2 seasons remaining to break Al Bucci’s career marks for receptions (121) and yards (1,944). Bartosic has caught at least one touchdown pass in 12 of his 13 career games. Incidentally, no Division III player has ever posted four straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards.

A “Golden” Performance: At press time, the Susquehanna coaching staff had not picked this week’s Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week Award, sponsored by the Golden Corral Family Steak House of Hummels Wharf. The selected player will be honored at Friday’s Quarterback Club luncheon at the Degenstein Campus Center as the Golden Corral will donate $100 to the charity of his choice. Since agreeing to sponsor the Player of the Week program, Golden Corral has donated $3,600 to charity. The Player of the Week Award is named after former University President Gustave Weber. Weber was president at Susquehanna for more than 18 years (1959-1977) and was a former standout player at Wagner College. He was an avid booster of Crusader athletics, particularly the football team — serving as head coach for the last two games of 1965.

Scouting Susquehanna

THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): The Crusaders used a limited offensive attack against Delaware Valley, as just seven players either ran or caught the ball. Junior QB Craig Ulrich (Milton, PA/Milton H.S.) made his first career start against Delaware Valley and completed 7-of-25 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. Junior QB Mike Bowman (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.), who suffered an ankle injury against Lycoming, came off the bench in the third quarter and hit 5-of-8 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. Showing little effects from his injury, Bowman scrambled for a career-long 20 yards in the fourth quarter. Freshman FB Jason Eck (Williamsport, PA/Loyalsock H.S.) was the Crusaders’ leading rusher for the second time in three weeks after carrying the ball 13 times for 53 yards and his first career touchdown, a three-yard run in the second quarter. Eck is sixth in the MAC with an average of 61.0 yards per game. Freshman Z back Josh Kleha (Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel H.S.) set career highs across the board with three receptions for 56 yards and his first career touchdown, an 11-yard catch from Ulrich to open the scoring in the first quarter. Earlier in the drive, Kleha caught a 30-yard pass. Sophomore SE Mark Bartosic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) led the Crusaders with five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown against Delaware Valley, and is third in the MAC in yards per game (92.7) and fourth in catches per game (5.0). Sophomore OL Joby Tuminelli made his first career start in the place of fellow Pittston Area grad Phil Falvo at center on Saturday, after Falvo suffered a lower leg injury against Lycoming.

THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): The Crusaders allowed over 500 yards of total offense for the second time in three games this season, including a season-worst 238 yards on the ground, to Delaware Valley. The defense was on the field for a total of 39:12 and allowed the Aggies to convert 7-of-16 third-down opportunities. Senior LB Troy Sosnovik (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere H.S.) led the Crusaders with 18 total tackles (15 solo), six stops for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. He leads the Crusaders with 30 tackles (26 solo) in three games. Junior SS Dennis Kodack (Paxinos, PA/Shamokin H.S.) added nine solo tackles while junior CB Antonio Nash (Washington, DC/Springbrook, MD H.S.) made seven solo stops and nine total tackles. Nash also defensed four Aggie passes. The Crusaders recorded three interceptions against Delaware Valley, with freshman CB Chris Reiner (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury H.S.) making his first career pick late in the second quarter. Senior FS Tom Kay (Tabernacle, NJ/Shawnee H.S.) and senior LB Dave Howard (Frackville, PA/North Schuylkill H.S.) helped set up Crusader touchdowns with interceptions in the first half. Kay finished with eight tackles (five solo) and two tackles for loss on the afternoon and is tied for third on the team with 15 tackles this season. Freshman DE Adam Laub (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo H.S.) continued his strong play at left end with five solo tackles, while senior DT John Hoffman (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland H.S.) added five solo stops of his own. Freshman DT J.J. Wivell (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area H.S.) recorded his first career sack against Delaware Valley, one of three recorded by the Crusaders on the day.

Scouting Albright

LAST WEEK: The Lions improved to 3-0 as senior RB Keith Johnson ran for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 27-12 non-conference win at Dickinson. Freshman TE Justin Holland added a pair of touchdown catches while the Lion defense held the Red Devils to minus-6 yards passing.

THE LION OFFENSE (MULTIPLE): Senior QB Mike Strack completed 16-of-27 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. His replacement, freshman John Port, stepped in and hit freshman TE Justin Holland with a 6-yard touchdown pass in the final minutes to provide insurance. Strack is sixth in the MAC in passing yards per game (199.7) and fourth in passing efficiency (135.9). On the ground, senior TB Keith Johnson ran for 139 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, and is the MAC’s fourth-leading rusher with an average of 92.7 yards per game. He led a Lion ground attack that rolled up 204 yards on 53 carries against Dickinson. Sophomore FL Jesse Dorais made just one catch for 15 yards at Dickinson, but ranks sixth in the MAC with an average of 72.0 yards per game. The offensive line is led by its massive guards — junior LG Jeff Benditt (6-2, 298) and senior RG Joe Noe (6-2, 294).

THE LION DEFENSE (4-3): Albright tied a 16-year-old Division III record by allowing minus-6 yards of passing against Dickinson. The Lions equaled the mark set by Central (Iowa) against Simpson on October 19, 1985. Senior LB Tom Fitti led the Lions with eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery against Dickinson, while senior LE Steve Panico added seven tackles (six solo). Fitti has led the Lions in tackles each of the last two seasons. The Lions have a veteran defensive unit, with eight seniors starters leading the way. Senior OLB Dave Barr is tied for third in the MAC with three sacks, while senior SS Steve Biddle has forced a pair of fumbles. Biddle and sophomore CB Jack Byers have each intercepted two passes as Albright leads the MAC with nine pickoffs. Seven different players have recorded at least one interception. Former Line Mountain standout Mikki Sprenkle has made seven tackles and recorded a fumble in a reserve role at free safety.