SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) -- What a difference the final 14 minutes of last Saturday’s 35-30 loss to perennial NCAA Division III power Allegheny has meant to the Susquehanna football team and ninth-year head coach Steve Briggs.
After getting off to a 21-0 first quarter lead, it appeared as if the Crusaders were on their way to a 3-0 start and some additional notice among the NCAA Division III national scene during the program’s 100th season. They still led, 24-21, with 14:18 to play, but Allegheny scored the next 14 points and eventually sent the Crusaders to the tough loss.
Susquehanna will now have a week to shake the effects of that loss and get back some key injured players before resuming play with their Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League opener at Lebanon Valley on Saturday, October 10. While the Allegheny loss hurt their record, the Crusaders are still undefeated in MAC overall play at 2-0.
What amplified Saturday’s loss was the fact that Susquehanna has had its season reduced to a nine games after Alfred President Edward Coll canceled the scheduled September 5 season opener because of an off-the-field incident involving his team. That lost game may hurt the Crusaders if they have aspirations of getting in the NCAA Division III South Region rankings, which begin on Monday, October 12. At present, they were ranked 27th last week in the Division III rankings by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, and were others receiving votes in the Lambert-Meadowlands (Eastern) and USAIII Football (national) rankings.
Statistically, the Crusaders top the MAC in rushing (261.7 yards per game), total offense (415.3 yards per game) and scoring (42.3 points per game), ranking 12th, 21st and tied for sixth respectively in those categories nationally last week. While the defense is just fifth in the MAC overall (280.3 yards per game), it is still second against the run (72.3 yards per game) — tying for fifth in Division III as of last week.
The team is on pace to securing its 13th-straight season with a record of .500 or better.
THE HEAD COACH: Ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest football coach in school history with a 57-29 record (.662) 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 at the school.
The Crusader Offense: Delaware Wing-T
THE BACKFIELD: Senior All-American fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) displayed once again last week why he is legitimate candidate for both the Gagliardi and Melberger Awards as the top player in Division III. All he did was rushed for the eighth-most yards in a game at Susquehanna against one of the top programs in the nation, gaining 170 yards on 25 carries with two touchdown runs, also scoring on a 28-yard touchdown reception. The effort earned him both the team’s Gus Weber Golden Corral Crusader Player of the Week Award, as well as inclusion on the MAC Honor Roll for the second time this season. The three scores also made the 5-6, 200-pound “Claymont Cannonball” the school’s career scoring leader with 186 points, and he pushed his career rushing record to 2,486 yards on just 445 carries (5.6 avg.). He has the fourth-most carries (Record: 549, Hank Belcolle, 1980-83), while his per-carry average is fifth-best all-time (Record: 6.8, Larry Erdman, 1961-64). Wichlinski is second in the MAC in rushing this season with 406 yards on 70 carries (5.8 avg./135 yards per game), also tying for the conference lead in touchdown scoring with seven for 42 points (14.0 points per game). But the Crusader ground game is hardly just Wichlinski with the Allentown Central Catholic High halfback tandem of junior Jose Delgado and 6-3, 235-pound transfer sophomore Rashonn Drayton. Delgado has been a kickoff return standout thus far, presently leading the MAC with a 34.0-yard average after two 56-yarders last week. He is also second on the team in rushing with 141 yards in 26 carries (5.4 avg.), ranking 10th in the MAC (47.0 yards per game). Drayton, meanwhile, appears to be getting stronger with each game, now with 134 yards on 32 carries (4.2 avg.) and a pair of scores. Both halfbacks have four catches, with Drayton having 61 yards (15.3 avg.), and Delgado 43 (10.8 avg.).
THE QUARTERBACK: Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) is fourth in MAC passing efficiency at 122.9 while completing 26 of 57 passes (45.6%) for 439 yards and four touchdowns against three interceptions. He also efficiently runs the Crusader offense, rushing for 28 yards to rank eight in MAC total offense (155.7 yards per game).
THE RECEIVERS: Senior quad-captain and split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) had his best game in the receiving routes last week, catching four balls for 50 yards. He leads the team in receiving with eight catches for 103 yards (12.9 avg.). He also ranks sixth in the MAC in punt return average at 9.5 per return. Lane is third in career punt return yardage at Susquehanna with 592 yards (Record: 672, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96), and fourth in both punt returns (54) and average (11.0). Freshman Tim Boblick (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff H.S.) has caught two passes since converting from quarterback in preseason, with both being for TDs covering 60 yards. Senior Brian Papson (Chester Springs/Downingtown H.S.) has also taken over the starting tight end job and has three catches for 38 yards (12.7 avg.). Six-foot-four, 230-pound junior Chris Pollack (Mahonoy City/Mahonoy Area H.S.) began the season as the starting tight end and is expected back from a bad ankle sprain this week.
UP FRONT: The Crusader offensive line has been the engine which has driven the MAC’s top rushing offense. Senior center Adam Horst (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) and junior guards Todd Werley (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) and Anthony DeSantis (Old Forge/Bishop O’Hara H.S.) are all returning starters along a Crusader O-line which averages 6-2, 258 pounds per man.
The Crusader Defense: 4-3
UP FRONT: Junior defensive end Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) has led the Crusader defensive front, making nine tackles for losses of 42 yards with a team high four sacks from his defensive end position. he has 13 tackles total (nine solo). Senior tackle and quad-captain Marty Pinter (Hackettstown, N.J./Warren Hills H.S.) tops the D-line in tackles with 18 (nine solo) and has four behind the line for 14 yards in losses. Both senior tackle Jimmy Morgans (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) and end Lee Cohen (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin H.S.) have 12 stops (eight solo) — with Morgans posting six tacles for losses of 16 yards, and Cohen with four for 18. The squad will receive some much-needed depth again this week as junior Casey Goff (New Milford/Montrose H.S.) is expected back after sitting out the past two games with severe back spasms.
THE LINEBACKERS: Fellow senior linebacker, quad-captain and Preseason All-American Harold Fairclough (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) had nine tackles Saturday (four solo) and is second on the team with 29 (16 solo), including four for losses of eight yards. Senior Matt Kazmierczak (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills H.S.) is third with 24 stops (11 solo) and has and interception, two break-ups and a forced fumble. Junior Torrance Cleveland (St. Petersburg, Fla./Dixie Hollins H.S.) and freshman Mike Davis (Nesquehoning/Panther Valley H.S.) have been splitting time at the “Bill” backer position, with Cleveland getting in on nine tackles (two solo) with a pass break-up, and Davis making three stops.
THE D-BACKS: Junior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.) now leads the team in tackles with 32 (14 solo) after posting a career high 21 (nine solo) Saturday. Cromartie has and interception, pass break-up and two tackles for three yards in losses. Senior strong safety Nate Davidson (Orefield/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) also has been steady, with 13 stops (eight solo) with a break-up. The corners should improve with experience. Freshman Tom Kay (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee H.S.) made his first collegiate start vs. Wilkes, while sophomore Mike Graves (East Hartford, Conn./Loomis Chaffee H.S.) made his starting debut vs. Allegheny. The coaches have started three different sets of corners for the three games thus far.
THE KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Scott Miles (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) is a three-year starter who is off to his best start, making both of his field goal attempts this year from 36 and 40 yards respectively. He leads the MAC in kick scoring with 17 points, also converting 11 of 15 PATs. Freshman Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) is an athletic walk-on who has averaged 36.6 yards in 12 punts thus far.
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