THE GAME: Susquehanna and Widener shared the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League title last season and the two have league first-place, conference title hopes, and possibly a future NCAA Division III playoff bid hanging in the balance of this Saturday’s Community Day game at Stagg Field. Susquehanna pulled the dramatic 28-24 upset at Widener in last season’s regular season finale – rallying from a 14-0 deficit in the game’s first 1:46 to end a four-game losing streak to Widener. This has become one of America’s most exciting games as the last four have all come down to fourth quarter heroics, with Widener averaging 29.5 points per game and Susquehanna 27.0. Widener won a 35-28, double overtime classic the last time they played at Susquehanna on Nov. 15, 1998, and has a 23-10-1 series lead. The Pioneers presently are the MAC’s passing (312.8 yards per game) and total offense (420.0 yards per game) leaders, while the Susquehanna defense is third in the MAC (279.0 yards per game) and dropped the Juniata passing offense from the MAC lead last Saturday while allowing the Eagles to complete just 18 of 40 passes for 268 yards with an interception and four sacks. Ranked 23rd in Division III according to Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, Widener was 12th in D-III passing offense as of last week. By contrast, Susquehanna’s vaunted Delaware Wing-T attack rolled up a season high 285 yards rushing at Juniata and is now third in the MAC (180.0 yards per game), while Widener’s defense is third against the run (82.2 yards per game) and was 29th in Division III a week ago. The Crusaders are fifth in MAC total offense (354.6 yards per game), while Widener is sixth in defense (329.6 yards per game). Susquehanna can secure its 14th-straight non-losing season with a win in Saturday’s game, which will feature free admission to all community groups wearing identifiable clothing, and a dollar off admission price for all others.
THE COACHES: Tenth-year head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest coach in Susque-hanna grid history at 65-32 (.670), and 4-5 (444) vs. Widener. He began the year 36th among active D-III coaches in winning percentage. Also an assistant for two years, he has never suffered a losing season at Susquehanna. Widener head coach Bill Zwaan is 19-7 (.731) in his third year and became the first Pioneer grid coach in more than 60 years to post winning records in his first two seasons. He was Widener’s defensive coordinator from 1992-96.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): The starting Crusader offensive line is the team’s Gus Weber Crusader Players of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral Family Restaurant. The group consists of senior guards Anthony DeSantis (Old Forge/Bishop O’Hara H.S.) and Todd Werley (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.); juniors Randy Hayes (Fogelsville/Parkland H.S.) and Randy Zook (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) at tackles, and Dave Wonderlick (Shenandoah/Shenandoah Valley H.S.) at center; and freshman John Smith (Orland Park/Providence Catholic H.S.) at tight end. That group led an attack which rolled up 285 yards rushing, 28 first downs and didn’t allow a sack, while keeping the ball for 37:28 against a nationally-ranked Juniata defense. The pass protection allowed freshman quarterback Mike Bowman (Northumberland/Shikellamy H.S.) to complete 9 of 19 passes for 80 yards and a TD in his first start. He is now 37 of 87 (42.5%) for 445 yards with three TDs and five INTs. He is one of four freshmen offensive skill position starters. Freshmen split end Tim Ronchi (Factoryville/Lackawanna Trail H.S.) caught four passes for 45 yards last Saturday and leads the team with 17 catches for 199 yards (11.7 avg.). Junior halfback Rashonn Drayton (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) recorded his second 100-yard rushing game at Susquehanna with 109 on 23 carries and a touchdown last Saturday. He is fourth in MAC rushing with 417 yards on 100 carries (4.2 avg./83.4 yards per game) and four scores. Former Allentown Central Catholic All-State teammate and senior tri-captain Jose Delgado rushed for 66 yards and a TD Saturday. He now has 244 yards on 48 carries (5.1 avg.) and three scores, and is seventh in MAC kickoff return average (18.8).
THE PIONEER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): Junior quarterback Mike Granato is the MAC Offensive Player of the Week as he hit 15 of 34 passes for 312 yards and a school record tying five touchdowns Saturday at Albright. One of the scores was a 67-yard strike on the last play of the first half, giving Widener the lead for good. He threw a school record 58 passes last year vs. Susquehanna, completing 27 with two TDs and four INTs for 395 yards – second best in school history. Granato leads the MAC in both pass efficiency and total offense, completing 69 of 149 passes for 1,518 yards with 15 touchdowns and six picks (157.1 rating/288.2 yards per game). Senior flanker Matt Giello is his top target with 22 catches for 497 yards. He has the MAC’s highest per-catch average (22.6) and is tied for sixth in receptions per game (4.4). Senior running back Jerome Robinson is ninth in MAC rushing with 253 yards on 58 carries (4.4 avg./50.6 per game) and a score. Junior Randy Wilson could be the largest fullback in D-III at 6-0, 250, and had 83 yards Saturday – giving him 240 yards on 70 rushes (3.4 avg.) with four TDs this year. The massive line averages 6-1, 278 pounds per man and has a pair of 310-pound seniors on the left side in guard Chris Egarian and tackle Don Souder.
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): Senior defensive end Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) is the MAC Defensive Player of the Week as he led a Crusader defense which held conference offensive leader Juniata to just seven yards rushing and seven points. Bowers had just four tackles (three solo), but three of them were for losses of 16 yards — including two sacks. He leads the team in tackles for loss (10-55), quarterback sacks (5) and blocked kicks (2) – tallying 18 stops (13 solo) this season. Senior tackle Casey Goff (New Milford/Montrose H.S.) also had two tackles for losses of 11 yards with a sack Saturday. He is second in tackles for loss (6-40) and has a sack-and-a-half among his 14 stops. Linebackers Troy Sosnovik (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere H.S.) and Torrance Cleveland (St. Petersburg, Fla./Dixie Hollins H.S.), a sophomore and senior respectively, lead the team in tackles with 41 and 32 respectively. 1998 MAC interception leader and sophomore cornerback Tom Kay (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee H.S.) took a pick 21 yards for a second quarter touchdown and a 14-7 lead Saturday. Kay has two INTs this season and 10 tackles (four solo). Freshman corner Antonio Nash (Washington, D.C./Spring Brook, Md. H.S.) leads the team and is second in the MAC in both interceptions (4/0.8 per game) and punt return average (13.2).
THE PIONEER DEFENSE (50): The Widener defense revolves around senior inside linebackers Tom Eisenhower and Bill Collins. Eisenhower has a team high 61 tackles (18 solo), including 10 for losses of 46 yards with five sacks and three interceptions. A returning first-team league All-Star, Collins is right behind at 60 stops (15 solo), including 10 for losses of 45 yards with three-and-a-half sacks and two forced fumbles. He had 12 tackles (four solo) Saturday. Senior defensive end Dan McClain has 31 tackles (four solo) and three sacks and is the smallest man on a defensive line averaging 6-1, 277 pounds per man. In the secondary, senior corner Da’Sean Walker was a part-time starter last season and has a team high five break-ups with an interception and 22 tackles (15 solo).
THE CRUSADER KICKERS: Senior Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) punted for ailing sophomore Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) Saturday and had a 34.7-yard average. Hollis had a hamstring pull and is third in the MAC (37.5 avg.). Frosh Andy Nadler (Westport, Conn./Staples H.S.) is sixth in MAC kick scoring with 20 points (13-15 PATs, 2-6 FGs).
THE PIONEER KICKERS: .Senior punter Kevin Wyszynski is a returnee and second in the MAC (38.6 avg.). Sophomore kicker Mike Gavaghan is 10 of 13 in PATs and missed his only FG attempt.
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