Worthy of the Celebration
(20) Allegheny College (1-1) at (27) Susquehanna University (2-0)
Homecoming/Bob Pittello Tribute
Sat., Sept. 26, 1:40 p.m. - Amos Alonzo Stagg Field (4,400), Selinsgrove, Pa.
THE GAME: Susquehanna and Allegheny will meet for the first time in 50 years, and just the fifth time ever, in a clash of nationally-ranked NCAA Division III programs Saturday in Susquehanna's home opener and annual Homecoming game. The day will be even more significant to Susquehanna football as current offensive line coach Bob Pittello will be honored for his 35 years of service during a pre-game ceremony featuring former and current players and coaches. A starting guard for co-coaches Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr. and Jr. at Susquehanna between 1948 and '50, Pittello has now served on the Crusader staff for 32 seasons under five different head coaches. His tribute will include an historic first for the program and is the biggest event in the school's celebration of its 100th football season. Following the ceremony, the two teams could hook-up in an offensive shootout, with each putting up big numbers through its first two games out of similar Delaware Wing-T attacks. Susquehanna leads the Middle Atlantic Conference in rushing (265.0 yards/game), total offense (437.5 yards/game) and scoring (48.5 points/ game), while the balanced Allegheny attack also averages over 400 yards per game (414.0) and nearly 30 points (29.0). The Gators are under new head coach Blair Hrovat. He inherits a program which qualified for the D-III playoffs six times this decade - winning the national championship in 1990 under former head coach Ken O'Keefe, who is now head coach at Fordham. Allegheny was ranked in every Division III preseason top 10 and is now 20th according to Don Hansen's Football Gazette, with Susquehanna 27th.
THE COACHES: Ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest football coach in school history with a 57-28 record (.672) and began the season ranked 32nd among active D-III head coaches in winning percentage. Also a Crusader assistant for two seasons, he has never suffered a losing season and is 6-2 in home openers. Hrovat is in first year as head coach on any level. A four-year starting quarterback at Edinboro where he was the 1982 Pennsylvania Small College Player of the Year, Hrovat came to Allegheny after being offensive coordinator for the University of South Dakota the past five seasons. He also coached at San Francisco State, Gannon and Edinboro.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): While he was contained for much of Saturday, senior All-American fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) still rushed for a game high 97 yards and had two fourth quarter touchdowns. The 5-6, 200-pound "Claymont Cannonball" is the school's career rushing leader with 2,316 yards, and is now tied for third in scoring with 168 points - leaving him two TDs shy of tying that record (Record: 180, Joe Witt, 1985-88). Wichlinski is tied for the MAC scoring lead with 24 points (12.0 ppg) and is third in rushing with 236 yards on 45 carries (118.0 per game). Complimenting Wichlinski last week was the Allentown Central Catholic High halfback tandem of 6-3, 235-pound transfer sophomore Rashonn Drayton and junior Jose Delgado. Playing in just his second game at Susquehanna, Drayton rushed for 65 yards with a score, and had two catches for 34 yards. Delgado, meanwhile, had 60 yards on eight carries with a 27-yard score. Drayton is seventh in the MAC in rushing with 102 yards on 22 carries (51.0 per game), with Delgado eighth at 93 yards on 16 carries (46.5 per game). Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) is the Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week, sponsored by The Golden Corral Family Restaurant, as he completed 11 of 22 passes for a career high 181 yards with two touchdowns against just one interception. He is fifth in MAC pass efficiency, hitting on 17 of 37 passes for 323 yards with three TDs and two INTs (135.2 rating). Freshman Tim Boblick (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff H.S.) caught both TDs, covering 60 yards. The catches were the first for Boblick, who came to camp as a quarterback and was converted to split end after sitting out the first two weeks with illness. Senior split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) has a team high four catches for 53 yards (13.3 avg.), and is sixth in the conference in punt return average at 11.3. He is third all-time at the school in punt returns and yardage with 57 for 590 yards (Records: 88 returns, Tom Lagerman, 1981-84; 672 yards, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96). Senior center Adam Horst (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) led a punishing performance up front Saturday, while sophomore Randy Hayes (Fogelsville/Parkland H.S.) also performed well in his first collegiate start. The Crusader O-line averages 6-2, 258 pounds per man.
THE GATOR OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T/MULTIPLE): Hrovat has brought a version of the Delaware Wing-T to Allegheny, which ran the I-formation before his arrival. The new look has worked for senior quarterback Chris Miller, who came to Meadville with Hrovat from South Dakota. Miller has completed 32 of 60 passes (53.5%) for 419 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions thus far, and is also second in rushing with 79 yards on 20 carries (4.0 avg.) and two TDs. Sophomore tailback Jeremy Snyder missed the opener vs. W&J because of a concussion, but rushed for career high 110 yards on 22 carries last week vs. Denison. Senior wideout Jason Francis is the leading receiver with 10 catches for 180 yards (18.0 avg.) and two scores, posting seven for 131 vs. W&J. Senior All-American guard Zach Kessler anchors an O-line which resembles Susquehanna's at 6-2, 253 per man.
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): Junior defensive end Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) has led a solid Crusader defensive front, making four tackles for losses of 19 yards last week and posting a team high eight for 37 yards among his 11 stops (seven solo). Bowers also has a team high three sacks among his totals. Senior tackle Marty Pinter (Hacketts-town, N.J./Warren Hills H.S.) tied for the team tackle lead last week with eight (four solo), with two behind the line for five yards and a forced fumble. He has 14 stops (seven solo) this season. Fellow senior linebacker and Preseason All-American Harold Fairclough (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) equaled Pinter's eight tackles (three solo) and leads the team with 20 (12 solo). Junior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.) led a maligned secondary last week with an interception and seven tackles (three solo). Freshman cornerback Tom Kay (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee H.S.) also had an interception in his first collegiate start.
THE GATOR DEFENSE (5-2): Returning All-North Coast Athletic Conference junior linebacker and co-captain Corey Belaney leads the team with 22 tackles (13 solo), including 10 (six solo) a week ago. Fellow junior backer P.J. McGowan is also active, returning two fumbles 29 yards with three quarterback hurries and 14 tackles (seven solo). Back deep, senior Tedd Gozur has moved to the corner after being an All-NCAC free safety last season, He has 14 tackles (11 solo) and a team high five pass break-ups on the season. Sophomore end Josh Six has applied the top pressure up front thus far, posting a pair of sacks and two pass break-ups.
THE CRUSADER KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Scott Miles (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) is a three-year starter who made a 36-yard FG last week. He leads MAC kickers with 13 points. Freshman Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) is sixth in punting with a 38.3-yard average.
THE GATOR KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Kevin Bowser returns as the kicker and has 16 points already, converting 3 of 4 field goals including a 40-yarder last week. He hit from 43 at Mt. Union last year. Sophomore Al Trezza is the punter and has a 35.6-yard average in nine kicks.
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