THE GAME
The Crusaders kick off the 2000 season and pursuit of a third straight Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League championship with a MAC interleague game against FDU-Madison, which is coming off its second postseason appearance in the 26-year history of the program and first since 1993.
THE COACHES
Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs (Springfield, 1984) begins his 11th season as the winningest football coach in school history at 68-34 (.667), and is 10-0 in season openers. Also a Crusader assistant for two seasons, he began the season ranked in the top 40 among active Division III coaches in winning percentage.
FDU-Madison head coach Bill Klika (Colgate, 1967) returns to the sidelines after a three-year absence to begin his 24th campaign as coach of the Devils. He founded the program in 1974 and led the team to a 67-136-1 record over 23 years before stepping aside to concentrate on his duties as director of athletics. Klika came back to the bench after Larry Arico departed after three seasons to become head coach at William Paterson.
THE LAST MEETING
Susquehanna 20, FDU-Madison 3 (September 4, 1999 at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field)
The Crusaders won their 11th consecutive season opener as the defense held the Devils to just 109 yards through the air while freshman cornerback Antonio Nash picked off a pair of passes. Senior quarterback Andy Berwager completed 7-of-11 passes for 114 yards – including a 76-yard touchdown pass to junior halfback Rashonn Drayton. Drayton led all receivers in the game with three catches for 123 yards. Freshman Mike Bowman took over late in the first half and completed 8-of-22 passes for 114 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown with :18 left on a nine-yarder to senior halfback Jose Delgado.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): While the running attack still plays a major part of the Crusader offense, the passing game has come into prominence with the reunion of a pair of former Shikellamy High School standouts in sophomore quarterback Mike Bowman and freshman split end Mark Bartosic. After starting the final six games of 1999 and posting a 4-2 record, Bowman (111 for 224, 1,394 yards, 11 TDs) could be the key to the offensive success. Bartosic, who caught a pair of touchdown passes in a preseason scrimmage at Ursinus, is a transfer from Division I-AA Bucknell and retains freshman eligibility after sitting out last season as a redshirt. He joins a deep and talented receiver corps that includes senior Josh Kitchin (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh H.S.) and sophomore Tim Ronchi (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail H.S.), each of whom tied for the team lead in receptions last season with 37, and sophomore tight end John Smith (Orland Park, Ill./Providence Catholic H.S.). In the backfield, the Crusaders are paced by junior halfback Isaac Hernandez (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove H.S.), an explosive runner who emerged as one of the top return men in the MAC last season. Sophomore Jon Dvorshock (Picture Rocks, Pa./Hughesville H.S.) will also see time in the backfield with blocking provided by senior Ryan Cidzik (Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy). Senior Rashonn Drayton (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic H.S.), who led the Crusaders with 606 yards rushing and five touchdowns last season, is not eligible to play against FDU-Madison but should be back in the lineup against King's on September 16. Keying the whole attack will be a veteran line led by a pair of preseason All-American candidates in senior left tackle Randy Zook (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley H.S.) and senior center Dave Wonderlick (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley H.S.) . Senior Randy Hayes (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland H.S.) will start at right guard while junior Jason Tomko (Emmaus, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) returns to the lineup at left guard after missing the 1999 season due to a knee injury.
THE DEVIL OFFENSE (MULTIPLE): The Devils offense has struggled to put points on the board on a consistent basis over the last couple seasons, but senior wide receiver Mike Quigley will try to duplicate his 1999 performance when he was named a Freedom League first-team All-Star on the strength of 53 receptions for 838 yards and one touchdown. Quigley accounted for 32 percent of the team's receptions and just over 40 percent of the receiving yards last season. Senior quarterback Mark Pollifrone made just one start last season but saw significant action in nearly every game, and finished the year with 64 completions in 149 attempts (43 percent), but just an 82.45 efficiency rating. Junior Aaron Manus was the bright spot of the running attack last fall, as he bulled his way to six touchdowns and 290 yards rushing. Sophomore Ed Cracchiolo led all backs with 379 yards rushing while reaching the end zone twice. The offensive line was hit by graduation but Freedom League second-team All-Star tackle Jamie Strauss is back for his senior year.
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): Sophomore All-American cornerback Antonio Nash (Washington, D.C./Spring Brook, Md., H.S.) tied a school record and led the MAC in interceptions last season with 10 en route to earning MAC Commonwealth League Rookie of the Year honors. He is one of four returning starters in a secondary that allowed over 60 fewer passing yards per game last season than in 1998. Junior cornerback Tom Kay (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee H.S.), junior strong safety Dave Howard (Frackville, Pa./North Schuylkill H.S.) and senior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.) comprise the unit, with support coming from sophomore Nick Chesney (Kulpmont, Pa./Mt. Carmel H.S.), a transfer from Dickinson. The linebacking corps returns starting Sam backer Troy Sosnovik (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere H.S.) while senior Mike DiNorscia (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown H.S.) will patrol the middle. On the line, senior Commonwealth League second-team All-Star Frank Hanlon (Mahanoy City, Pa./Mahanoy Area H.S.) is the lone returning starter at left end, but 285-pound sophomore J.P. Fonollosa (Staten Island, N.Y./Xavier H.S.) and highly-touted freshman Matt Ellis (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area H.S.) should anchor the interior while junior John Hoffman (Parkland, Pa./Parkland H.S.) mans the right end spot.
THE DEVIL DEFENSE (MULTIPLE): Senior middle linebacker Tom Pouliot, who suffered a shoulder injury and played just one game last season, received a medical redshirt and will be back in the heart of the Devil defense. A two-time Freedom League first-team All-Star and a 1998 Don Hansen's Football Gazette South Region All-American, Pouliot is the career leader in tackles at FDU-Madison with 316. Sophomore strong safety Justin Zaleski was the team's defensive rookie of the year last season after posting 42 tackles, three sacks, two pass breakups and an interception while playing linebacker. On the defensive line, senior Eugene Kline and junior Ken Freeman should be the top contributors along with senior Doug McNicholas.
THE CRUSADER KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior punter Ryan Hollis (Mifflin, Pa./Juniata H.S.) is back for his third season while sophomore Andy Nadler (Westport, Conn./Staples H.S.) will handle the kicking chores for the second straight season.
THE DEVIL KICK SPECIALISTS: FDU-Madison will be looking for a kicker and punter to replace Rich Dwyer, who was named first-team ECAC after hitting 11 field goals in 13 attempts and averaging 30.5 yards per punt in 1999.
#jem/177#
