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(20) Albright (3-4, 1-3 MAC CL) at Susquehanna (5-2,3-0MAC CL)
Family Weekend/Senior Recognition Day
THE GAME: Susquehanna will try and remain undefeated in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League and set up a league championship game next week at Widener (7-1, 4-0 MAC CL) as it hosts Albright in the home finale Saturday. Ranked 36th in the latest Division III rankings by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, the Crusaders will try and regroup after being routed 46-13 at rival Lycoming last Saturday in a MAC first-place showdown. Albright has won the last three games in this series by an average of 41 to 14, but has seen its two-year reign as Commonwealth League champs come to an end. With just seven returning starters, the Lions will try and end a three-game losing streak saturday. Susquehanna has already secured its 13th-straight non-losing campaign, while Albright needs to win its final two games to avoid its first losing season since 1994. Expect Susquehanna to once again try and establish the run with a Delaware Wing-T attack which ranks first in the MAC and seventh nationally in rushing offense (283.0 yards per game) while scoring 29 TDs. Albright's defense is ranked just eighth in the MAC against the run (147.4 yards per game). While the Lions are just sixth in passing offense (177.3 yards per game), look for them to air it out against a maligned Crusader pass defense which is last in the conference (267.0 yards per game). Albright's has a 20-14-1 series lead, although Susquehanna had won 13-straight games prior to 1995. Eighteen Crusader seniors will be honored prior to kickoff, while sophomore Janee Shaner (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.) will be recognized at halftime for being the first women's national champion in school history - winning the javelin last spring.
THE COACHES: Ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest football coach in school history at 60-30 (.667), and is 5-3 vs. Albright. Also a Crusader assistant for two seasons, he began the season ranked 32nd among active D-III coaches in winning percentage. E.J. Sandusky is 12-6 (.667) in his second season as head coach at Albright and is the son of Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. All he did in his rookie season was guide Albright to an undefeated Commonwealth League championship season, as well as a victory in the ECAC Southeast Championship Game. Sandusky shared league Coach of the Year honors last season for his efforts.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): Sophomore halfback Rashonn Drayton (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is this week's Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral, as he ran for a team high 65 yards on nine carries (7.2 avg.) with a score Saturday, also catching three passes for 41 yards. He is ninth in MAC rushing with 369 yards on 78 carries (52.7 per game/4.7 per carry) and moved him into a tie for sixth in MAC touchdown scoring with seven (6.3 points per game). Senior fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) was held scoreless while rushing for a season low 52 yards Saturday. The 5-6, 200-pound "Claymont Cannonball" is 11 yards shy of becoming Susquehanna's first 3,000-yard rusher - and just the fourth in MAC modern history. He holds school records for career rushing and scoring with 2,989 yards and 240 points respectively. Nationally-ranked in both rushing and receiving, Wichlinski leads the MAC in scoring with 96 points (13.7 ppg), and is second in rushing with 959 yards (MAC-best 6.3 avg./137.0 yards per game). Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) threw for a career high 199 yards in Saturday's loss, and moved up to fifth in the MAC passing efficiency - completing 56 of 118 passes (47.5%) for 879 yards with seven TDs and just four INTs (122.8 rating). He is 10th in MAC total offense (144.1 yards per game). Freshman split end Tim Boblick (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff H.S.) caught three passes for 81 yards and a TD Saturday, and has a team high four scoring catches among his six for 151 yards (25.2 avg.). Senior split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) leads the team with 18 for 245 yards (13.6 avg.). He is sixth in MAC punt return average (8.9 avg.) and 15 yards shy of school's punt return yardage record, now with 658 (Record: 672, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96). Center Adam Horst (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) and tight end Brian Papson (Downingtown/Downingtown H.S.) are the two seniors on the starting O-line, although Horst may be lost with a sprained ankle.
THE LION OFFENSE (MULTIPLE PRO): While the Lions lost league MVP and record-setting quarterback Bryan Snyder, they return plenty of weapons. Senior split end Eric Nemec is a returning All-American who set school and MAC season records for receptions (86/9.6 per game), also breaking the school mark for yardage (1,147/127.4 per game). Nemec piled up 15 catches for 223 yards and three TDs last season vs. the Crusaders and is second in conference receiving this year with 48 catches (6.0 per game) for 525 yards (10.9 avg.) and four TDs. Freshman Tom Moon made his first collegiate start at quarterback last Saturday and hit on 8 of 18 passes for 77 yards at Juniata. He is 17 of 38 for 140 yards with no TDs and three INTs this season. Sophomore Jeff Haberl was the starter and is still seventh in MAC passing efficiency (109.4 rating) and total offense (157.9 yards per game) hitting 119 of 208 passes (57.2%) for 1,288 yards and eight TDs with 13 picks. At 5-7, 190, junior Matt Santoro is a returning second-team league All-Star who is fifth in MAC rushing with 697 yards (4.5 avg./87.1 yards per game) and seven TDs. Up front, the Lions average 6-3, 274 per man and return a starter in senior tackle Matt Goleniecki.
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): Senior tackle Marty Pinter (Hackettstown, N.J./Warren Hills H.S.) led the rush last week with three tackles behind the line for 14 lost yards, and has 13 for 38 among his 39 stops (23 solo) this season. Junior defensive end Denny Bowers (West-minster, Md./Westminster H.S.) also had his team high eighth sack of the season and tops the squad in tackles for loss (17 for 79 yards). He has 31 total tackles (21 solo). Senior tackle Jimmy Morgans (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is second in both sacks (5) and tackles for loss (13 for 45). Senior linebacker Harold Fairclough (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is the tackle leader with 61 (35 solo), and had a team high nine last week. Junior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.) has been the most consistent player back deep and is second on the team in tackles with 52 (32 solo). He has three interceptions.
THE LION DEFENSE (MULTIPLE 50): Senior outside linebacker Nick Panico is a returning starter and had a team high 15 tackles (nine solo) in the loss at Juniata. He is tied with senior middle linebacker Anthony Della Ventura for the team tackle lead with 58, with Della Ventura having 41 solo and Panico 30. Senior cornerback Bob Maro is the biggest name back on defense for the Lions. He earned All-American honors last season as he had 11 pass break-ups and six interceptions. Maro has a team-leading five PBU's, but just two picks this season. Up front, senior end Jason Alexander is the leader with eight sacks for 47 yards lost, as well as five additional tackles behind the line. He has 29 total tackles (19 solo).
THE CRUSADER KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Scott Miles (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) has made all three of FGs and is second in MAC kick scoring at 37 points. Freshman Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) averaged 41.3 yards last week and is third in MAC punting (39.5 avg.).
THE LION KICK SPECIALISTS: Frosh punter Chris Morehouse leads the MAC and is ranked second in D-III in punting with a 43.2-yard average. Another freshman, George Merrill is the primary kicker and is 7 for 7 in PATs, but has missed his two FG attempts.
Sat., Nov. 7, 1:00 p.m. - Amos Alonzo Stagg Field (4,400), Selinsgrove, Pa.
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