Brandywine's Wichlinski, Westminster's Bowers Cop MAC Players of the Week
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) -Susquehanna University senior fullback Matt Wichlinski of Claymont, Del. (Brandywine High School) and junior defensive end Denny Bowers of Westminster, Md. (Westminster H.S.) are this week's Middle Atlantic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week respectively for their play in last Saturday's 17-16 Commonwealth League win over Moravian.
Nicknamed "The Claymont Cannonball," the 5-6, 200-pound Wichlinski 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) and helped rally the team from three second half deficits for the win. The 6-2, 250-pound Bowers led a Susquehanna pass rush which sacked Moravian quarterback Rob Petrosky four times, also forcing him into two critical interceptions. Bowers had two of those sacks and three tackles behind the line for 15 yards lost among his eight total tackles (six solo).
Also the team's Gus Weber Player of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral Family Restaurant, for the third time this season, Wichlinski rushed for the eighth-most yards in a game in school history while carrying just 18 times (9.6 avg.), including 12 times in the second half (11.0 avg.). His six-yard scoring run tied the game at 7-7, while his 20-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter gave Susquehanna its first lead at 14-13. He also had a 16-yard run to the Moravian 31 on his team's eventual game-winning drive, setting up senior kicker Scott Miles for the 44-yard field goal which made it 17-16 Crusaders. Wichlinski's performance Saturday upped his school record for career rushing yardage and scoring to 2,812 yards and 210 points respectively -- both among the top five on the MAC's modern all-time list.
On the season, he leads the team and is second in the MAC in both rushing and scoring, rushing for 732 yards on 106 carries (6.9 per carry/146.4 per game) while scoring a total of 11 touchdowns for 66 points (13.2 points per game). He is also ninth in MAC total offense (146.4 yards per game), and is second on the team in receptions with six for 131 yards (21.8 avg.). -
"If he (Wichlinski) isn't the best player in the country in Division III, I don't know who is," said ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs. "He's unstoppable and picked up his yardage Saturday against the best defense we've faced this year."
Wichlinski is a public relations major the son of Sheila Wichlinski, now of West Chester.
Bowers had a key nine-yard sack of Petrosky on the Susquehanna nine-yard-line, eventually forcing Moravian into a field goal which was ultimately blocked. He also had a three-yard sack in Moravian's final possession.
For the season, he leads the team with seven quarterback sacks and 13 tackles for losses of 65 yards. He is fifth on the team and second among the defensive linemen in total tackles with 23 (17 solo) and also has a pass break-up.
"We only subbed one or two guys during the game for the defensive line. Those guys (the defensive line) played their guts out and Denny had the best game among them," said Briggs.
A first-team Commonwealth League All-Star as a designated hitter in baseball last spring, Bowers is a mathematics major and the son of Dennis and Pamela Bowers of Westminster.
Now 4-1 overall, 4-0 in the MAC and 2-0 in the Commonwealth League, Susquehanna will host Juniata, which is 3-3 overall, 3-2 in the MAC and 2-1 in the Commonwealth League, this Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. game. Bowers' parents will be torn Saturday as Denny may go head-up in some plays against his brother, Matt, who is freshman starting tight end at Juniata.
Susquehanna needs just one more win to secure the program's 13th-straight season
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