Double-Teamed
Brandywine's Wichlinski, Indian Hills' Kazmierczak on Initial MAC Honor Roll
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - Susquehanna University senior All-American fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) and fellow senior linebacker Matt Kazmierczak (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills H.S.) are both on the initial Middle Atlantic Conference Football Honor Roll for their play in the team's 55-14 season opening win at King's last Saturday.
Wichlinski became Susquehanna's career rushing leader with a game high 139 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown Saturday - giving him 2,219 yards to allow him to surpass Hank Belcolle, who rushed for 2,176 from 1980-83. Nicknamed "The Claymont (Del.) Cannonball," Wichlinski spearheaded a 34-point Crusader second quarter as he rushed for 101 yards on just 11 carries by halftime while his team took a 41-14 lead. He also had two catches for a team high 87 yards receiving on the day, including a 43-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager. Wichlinski also earned the team's Gus Weber/Golden Corral Crusader Player of the Week Award for his efforts and will have $100 donated to an area charity in his name, courtesy of the Golden Corral Family Restaurant of Shamokin Dam.
His 15-yard scoring run at 10:23 of the second gave Susquehanna a 21-7 lead, and tied him for the career rushing record in the process. His five-yard run on his next carry broke the record and also put him over 100 yards for the day. Wichlinski also moved up four spots on Susquehanna's career scoring list with the two scores, now tying for fourth with 156 points and needing 25 more to break that record (Record: 180, Joe Witt, 1985-88).
A public relations major, Wichlinski is the son of Sheila Wichlinski, now of West Chester, Pa.
Making his first collegiate start, Kazmierczak made 11 tackles (eight solo), including two for five yards in losses, and had an interception and forced fumble which led to Susquehanna scores in Saturday's win. He was the leading player in a defense which gave up just four first downs and held King's -- the second-leading rushing offense in the MAC a year ago -- to just three yards rushing. Kazmierczak's 18-yard interception to the King's 15 produced an offensive touchdown on the next play for a 21-7 second quarter lead. Later in that quarter, he hit King's tailback Jim DeMaise to force a fumble, and fellow linebacker Harold Fairclough returned it 28 yards for another touchdown.
Kazmierczak is a political science major and the son of Lawrence and Sally Kazmierczak of Oakland.
Susquehanna will return to Wilkes-Barre this Saturday for a game at Wilkes University as Wichlinski will square off with Wilkes junior tailback Mike Hankins. Ironically, Wichlinski broke the Susquehanna single-season rushing record last season with 1,322 yards and would have broken the Middle Atlantic Conference record if it weren't for Hankins, who rushed for 1,390.
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