THE GAME: Susquehanna should be healthy and well-rested when it opens Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League play Saturday at winless Lebanon Valley. The Crusaders had a week off to recover from a tough 35-30 Homecoming loss to Allegheny. While Susquehanna may still be smarting from that setback, Lebanon Valley is reeling from an 0-4 start which includes being outscored 87-0 in its last two games. Mike Silecchia is the third different head coach in three seasons at Lebanon Valley, which has lost 14-straight games and 23 of 24 over those three years. The Flying Dutchmen haven’t won a game since November 16, 1996, when they scored a 48-33 over Delaware Valley in the finale under coach Jim Monos. Expect Susquehanna to attack on the ground, with the Crusaders ranking 16th in Division III last week and currently number one in the MAC in rushing offense (261.7 yards per game), while Lebanon Valley has the conference’s worst rushing defense (276.0 yards per game). Susquehanna also leads the MAC and was 13th nationally in scoring (42.3 points per game), while the Flying Dutchmen have given up the second most points in the MAC (34.8 points per game). The Crusader defense is also third in the MAC against the run (72.3 yards per game) while Lebanon Valley rushes for less then 100 yards per game (89.5). Susquehanna has won its last 13 games against Lebanon Valley, including the last six at Arnold Field, and has an 18-13-2 series lead. Lebanon Valley’s last win in this series came on October 28, 1978, 37-12, in Annville. The Crusaders hope to record their 13th-straight non-losing season. Lebanon Valley hasn’t had a season of .500 or better since 1993.
THE COACHES: Ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest football coach in school history with a 57-29 record (.662), including an 8-0 mark vs. Lebanon Valley. 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. Silecchia is in his first season as a collegiate head coach, but was previously a head coach at both North Penns (1983-85) and Athens (1982-83) High Schools. He most recently was an offensive line coach at Lycoming (1995-97), and a defensive and recruiting coordinator at Division II Mansfield (1985-95).
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): Senior All-American fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) is a candidate for both the Gagliardi and Melberger Awards as the top player in Division III. He rushed for 170 yards with two touchdowns vs. Allegheny, also scoring on a 28-yard 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.). Wichlinski leads the MAC in scoring this season with 42 points (14.0 points per game) and is second in rushing with 406 yards on 70 carries (5.8 avg./135 yards per game). Junior halfback Jose Delgado (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is second in rushing with 141 yards in 26 carries (5.4 avg.) and tops the conference in kickoff returns (34.0 yard avg.) after two 56-yarders vs. Allegheny. Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) will try and beat his sophomore brother Shawn, a starting free safety at Lebanon Valley, this week. Susquehanna’s Berwager is fifth in MAC passing efficiency at 122.9, completing 26 of 57 passes (45.6%) for 439 yards and four touchdowns against three INTs. He also efficiently runs the Crusader offense, rushing for 28 yards to rank eight in MAC total offense (155.7 yards per game). Senior quad-captain and split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) had four catches for 50 yards vs. Allegheny and 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 81 yards shy of the Susquehanna career punt return yardage record, presently ranking third with 592 yards (Record: 672, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96). 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 guard Todd Werley (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) have been the leaders along a line which averages 6-2, 258 pounds per man.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): Senior All-American fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) is a candidate for both the Gagliardi and Melberger Awards as the top player in Division III. He rushed for 170 yards with two touchdowns vs. Allegheny, also scoring on a 28-yard 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.). Wichlinski leads the MAC in scoring this season with 42 points (14.0 points per game) and is second in rushing with 406 yards on 70 carries (5.8 avg./135 yards per game). Junior halfback Jose Delgado (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is second in rushing with 141 yards in 26 carries (5.4 avg.) and tops the conference in kickoff returns (34.0 yard avg.) after two 56-yarders vs. Allegheny. Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) will try and beat his sophomore brother Shawn, a starting free safety at Lebanon Valley, this week. Susquehanna’s Berwager is fifth in MAC passing efficiency at 122.9, completing 26 of 57 passes (45.6%) for 439 yards and four touchdowns against three INTs. He also efficiently runs the Crusader offense, rushing for 28 yards to rank eight in MAC total offense (155.7 yards per game). Senior quad-captain and split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) had four catches for 50 yards vs. Allegheny and 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 81 yards shy of the Susquehanna career punt return yardage record, presently ranking third with 592 yards (Record: 672, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96). 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 guard Todd Werley (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) have been the leaders along a line which averages 6-2, 258 pounds per man.
THE DUTCHMEN OFFENSE (MULTIPLE I): Lebanon Valley’s offensive woes have corresponded to its loss of sophomore quarterback Doug Henning to a separated shoulder in the first half at Widener. Henning, who missed last week’s game vs. Wilkes and is doubtful this week, is seventh in MAC total offense (164.0 yards per game) and ninth in rushing (52.3 yards per game). Freshman Dennis Yagmourian made his first collegiate start vs. Wilkes and hit 8 of 22 passes for 55 yards with an INT. Senior running back Randy Kostelac is a returning starter who rushed for 55 yards in eight carries vs. Wilkes, and has 105 yards on 22 carries (4.7 avg.) this year. He runs behind a veteran offensive line which is led by returning Commonwealth league All-Star and senior tackle Jason Hotchkiss. The Dutchmen average 6-3, 271 pounds per man up front, topped by 6-3, 332-pound freshman guard Andy Schaffer. Junior running back Tom Mealy is also a big play threat, ranking fourth in MAC punt returns (11.6 avg.) and seventh in kickoff returns (22.9 avg.).
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): 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. 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. Fellow senior linebacker and quad-captain Harold Fairclough (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) had nine tackles vs. Allegheny and is second on the team with 29 (16 solo), including four for losses of eight yards. 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) in the Allegheny game. Cromartie has an interception, pass break-up and two tackles for three yards in losses. .
THE DUTCHMEN DEFENSE (4-3): Sophomore linebacker and returning starter John Music already has 50 tackles (31 solo) and two forced fumbles this season to lead the defense. Junior end Jeff Eynon tops the pass rush with a pair of sacks and a team high three tackles for losses of 26 yards among his eight tackles. Leb Valley’s Berwager is the leader back deep, ranking third in stops with 37 (27 solo), including a pick and two fumble recoveries. He is one of three starters back deep for the Dutchmen, who are fourth in the MAC pass defense (155.8 yards per game).
THE CRUSADER KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Scott Miles (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) is a three-year starter who has made both of his field goal attempts from 36 and 40 yards respectively. He is second in the MAC in kick scoring with 17 points, converting 11 of 15 PATs. Freshman Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) averages 36.6 yards in 12 punts thus far.
THE DUTCHMEN KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Greg Steckbeck is a returning first-team league All-Star punter who is presently third in the MAC with a 39.9-yard average in 20 punts. Sophomore Eric Connelly is also the returning kicker and is has hit on 3 of 4 field goals thus far, including a 37-yarder. Unfortunately, he’s made just one of three extra points.
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