THE GAME:Susquehanna will enter the toughest stretch of its schedule this week with the first of back-to-back trophy games against rivals. Juniata and Susquehanna annually play for the Goal Post Trophy, while the next game at Lycoming will be for Amos Alonzo Stagg’s Old Hat Trophy. This week’s game is worthy of a trophy as Susquehanna is hoping to stay undefeated in both the Middle Atlantic Conference and Commonwealth League, while Juniata will bid to keep alive its hopes of tying for the league title. Another win will secure Susquehanna its 13th-straight non-losing season. Presently 3-3 — with all three of its losses to undefeated, nationally-ranked teams — Juniata is also hoping to post its first winning season since 1990. Expect Susquehanna to run the ball with an attack which leads the MAC (291.0 yards per game) and was seventh in D-III last week, while Juniata is next-to-last in the MAC at stopping the run (223.3 yards per game). By contrast, the Eagles have the MAC’s second-ranked passing offense (254.3 yards per game), and the Crusader D has been suspect against the pass — giving up 313 yards last week while falling to seventh in the MAC (201.6 yards per game). This will be the 60th meeting in the longest active series for both schools. While Juniata leads it 29-27-3, including 21-17-1 in Goal Post Trophy games, Susquehanna has won the last two, with a 45-14 rout in Huntingdon last season. The game is Youth Football Day with all youth football teams, high school aged and younger, being admitted for free. Susquehanna’s Circle K Club will also sponsor special “Make a Difference Day” volunteer activities.
THE COACHES: Ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest football coach in school history with a 59-29 record (.670), and is 6-2 vs. Juniata. He began the season 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. Kevin Burke became Juniata’s new head coach just weeks before camp this season and is in his first football head coaching job on any level. He’s no stranger to the Eagle program, serving as the team’s primary offensive assistant for three seasons from 1994 through 1996. He was the offensive coordinator at Norwich University in 1997.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): Senior fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) is the MAC Offensive Player of the Week, and the Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral, for the third time this season. The 5-6, 200-pound “Claymont Cannonball” rushed for 132 of his game high 173 yards in the second half, scoring both of the team’s touchdowns as he tied the MAC modern record for career rushing touchdowns with 32 (Co-Record Holders: Jim Joseph, Moravian, 1982-85; Leon Payne, Widener, 1996-present). His performance upped his school record for career rushing yardage and scoring to 2,812 yards and 210 points respectively — both among the MAC’s modern all-time top five. He leads the team and is second in the MAC in both rushing and scoring, gaining 732 yards (6.9 per carry/146.4 per game) while scoring 66 points (13.2 points per game). Junior tackle Randy Zook (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) has been the steadiest performer along an O-line which averages 6-2, 251 pounds per man. Both of the team’s Allentown Central Catholic halfbacks are also among the MAC leaders in rushing as sophomore Rashonn Drayton is eighth with 234 yards (46.8 per game), with junior Jose Delgado 10th with 204 yards (40.8 per game). Delgado also leads the MAC in kickoff return average at 32.0. Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) had just 22 yards passing last week, but is still fifth in MAC passing efficiency, hitting 34 of 73 passes for 505 yards and five TDs against just three INTs (119.1 rating). Senior quad-captain and split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) has a team high 12 catches for 150 yards (12.5 avg.). He is sixth in the MAC in punt return average (9.8 avg.) and just 18 yards shy of breaking Susquehanna’s career punt return yardage record, now with 655 yards (Record: 672, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96).
THE EAGLE OFFENSE (PRO-I): Junior quarterback Joe Montrella was on last week’s MAC Honor Roll as he tied a Juniata record with five TD passes in less than three quarters vs. Lebanon Valley. He hit 12 of 18 passes for 268 yards and is now third in MAC total offense (218.2 yards per game) and sixth in passing efficiency (118.9 rating), completing 93 of 189 (49.2%) for 1,365 yards and 10 touchdowns with eight INTs. Sophomore wideout Matt Eisenberg tied a school record with three TD catches Saturday among his four for 158 yards. He is fourth in the MAC with 29 catches for 525 yards (18.1 avg.) and five TDs, ranking second in punt returns (14.3 avg.) and fifth in kickoff returns (21.8 avg.). Freshman tight end Matt Bowers is the brother of Susquehanna D-end Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) and has 11 catches for 146 yards (13.3 avg.). He is also part of a monstrous O-line which averages 6-2, 266 pounds per man, led by junior tackle Randy Williams. Sophomore tailback Mike Sanders leads an anemic Eagle rushing attack, gaining 183 yards on 44 carries (4.2 avg.) with two TDs.
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): Bowers was the MAC Defensive Player of the Week as he had two key sacks and three tackles for losses of 15 yards among his eight tackles (six solo) vs. Moravian. He has a team high seven sacks and 13 tackles for losses of 65 yards among his 23 tackles (17 solo). Senior tackle Marty Pinter (Hackettstown, N.J./Warren Hills H.S.) leads the defensive line in tackles with 24 (11 solo), including seven for 18 yards in losses, and had three behind the line Saturday. Senior linebacker Harold Fairclough (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is the team tackle leader for a second straight season, now with 46 (26 solo) after bagging 12 vs. Moravian. Junior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.) is right behind Fairclough with 42 (22 solo) and is tied for second in the MAC in interceptions with three (0.6 per game), including a key one last week. He is questionable for Saturday after undergoing minor surgery Monday. Sophomore Mike Graves (East Hartford, Conn./Loomis Chaffee H.S.) also had a big coverage game Saturday with a pair of break-ups, a blocked kick, and five tackles (four solo). A starter since week three, he is tied for the team PBU lead with three.
THE EAGLE DEFENSE (4-3):Junior cornerback Brad Hahn and junior safety Jason Evans each had a pair of interceptions last Saturday for Juniata. Hahn is easily the MAC leader this season with seven (1.2 per game) and has an 82-yard touchdown. He also has two break-ups and 26 tackles (18 solo). The starting quarterback last year vs. Susquehanna, Evans has three PBUs and a team best three tackles for losses of 13 yards. Sophomore linebacker Ed Pfursich had a club best 14 tackles Saturday and leads the team with 65 (33 solo). Junior defensive end Dan Brady of nearby Danville High School leads the pass rush with three sacks among his 32 stops (18 solo).
THE CRUSADER KICK SPECIALISTS:Senior Scott Miles (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) is having his best season — making all three of his field goals, including a season-long 44-yarder for the game-winner last week. He is second in MAC kick scoring with 28 points. Freshman Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) is sixth in MAC punting with a 37.4-yard average.
THE EAGLE KICK SPECIALISTS: Sophomore Lucas Kelleher is third in MAC kick scoring, hitting all but one of 15 PATs while making 2 of 5 FGs with a long of 27 yards. Sophomore Brandon Bateman is just behind Hollis in punting, ranking seventh with a 37.2-yard average. #msf/687#
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