THE GAME:Susquehanna and Lycoming will renew America’s best small college rivalry for the 38th time Saturday, with the lead in Middle Atlantic Conference, possession of Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr.’s Old Hat Trophy, and the overall series lead hanging on the outcome. Billed “The Halloween Bowl” by t-shirts sold in the Susquehanna Book Store, both teams are nationally ranked — with Lycoming first in two Division III national polls and the official South Region rankings, while Susquehanna is 23rd nationally by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette — and the only undefeated teams left in the MAC. That’s not unusual since this is the ninth time in the last 10 late-season meetings that first-place in the conference will be on the line. Susquehanna secured its 13th-straight non-losing season last Saturday, but is the underdog and needs to be successful in two critical areas for the upset. Ranked first in the MAC and eighth nationally in rushing offense (302.8 yards per game) while scoring 28 TDs, the Crusaders will need to be able to run the ball against a Warrior defense which is second in the MAC and 10th in the nation against the run (66.7 yards per game) — giving up just one rushing TD. The Susquehanna pass defense is also last in the conference (247.3 yards per game) and will need to find a way to at least contain a Warrior passing attack which is second in the MAC and 20th nationally (271.7 yards per game). Lycoming has 24-straight winning seasons and has won 26-straight regular season games, including the last two meetings in this series. Including pre-1947 games when Lycoming was Dickinson Seminary, Susquehanna has a 23-19-1 lead. The Crusaders are 6-2 vs. Lycoming in Stagg Hat Trophy Games.
THE COACHES: Ninth-year Susquehanna head coach Steve Briggs is the winningest football coach in school history at 60-29 (.674), and is 4-5 vs. Lyco. Also a Crusader assistant for two seasons, he began the season ranked 32nd among active D-III coaches in winning percentage. Lycoming head coach Frank Girardi is in his 27th season and is a D-III legend, now with a 198-64-5 record (.751) which ranked fourth in wins and 11th in pecentage at the start of the season. That record includes eight trips to the national playoffs, two berths in the national title game, 10 MAC crowns, and 10 times being MAC Coach of the Year. He is 16-10-1 lifetime (.611) vs. Susquehanna.
THE CRUSADER OFFENSE (DELAWARE WING-T): Senior fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) earned MAC honors for the fourth time in six games this season as he was on the Honor Roll this week. The 5-6, 200-pound “Claymont Cannonball” tied three MAC records with five TDs and 30 points in the 62-61 win over Juniata, also tying the MAC mark for rushing TDs with four. He also broke the MAC career rushing touchdown mark in the process – now with 36. He did all this while rushing for a game-high 175 yards and catching two passes for 31 yards. He holds school records for career rushing yardage and scoring with 2,937 yards and 240 points respectively. For the season he leads the MAC in scoring with 96 points on 16 TDs (16.0 ppg), and is second in rushing with 907 yards (MAC-best 6.5 avg./151.2 yards per game). Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) also is the team’s Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral, as he hit 11 of 16 passes for 175 yards and a TD, also rushing for 45 yards and two scores. He is sixth in the MAC in passing efficiency, completing 45 of 89 passes (50.6%) for 680 yards with six scores and just three INTs (128.8 rating) and is 10th in MAC total offense (136.2 yards per game). Senior split end T.J. Lane (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Jesuit H.S.) had five catches for 85 yards Saturday, giving him a team best 17 for 235 yards (13.8 avg.). He is sixth in MAC punt return average (9.8 avg.) and still 18 yards shy of school’s career punt return yardage record, now with 655 (Record: 672, Tyrone Croom, 1993-96). Also lending a big rushing hand last week was 6-2, 235-pound sophomore halfback Rashonn Drayton (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.), who had a season high 70 yards and two TDs. Drayton is ninth in MAC rushing with 304 yards (4.4 avg./50.7 per game) and six TDs. Senior center Adam Horst (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is a returning All-Star on an O-line which averages 6-2, 251 pounds per man.
THE WARRIOR OFFENSE (SLOT-I): Senior quarterback Jason Marraccini is a returning first-team Freedom League All-Star who dramatically snatched victory last Saturday, throwing a TD pass and then running for one in a span of :24 over the final minute in the 15-13 win at Widener. Marraccini hit 18 of 37 passes for 266 yards with two picks in addition to the one score, and leads the MAC in both pass efficiency (156 rating) and total offense (260.5 yards per game) – completing 94 of 157 (59.9%) for 1,491 yards with 12 TDs and seven INTs. Junior wideout Tim Dumas had a game high seven catches for 146 yards vs. Widener and is second in the MAC with 37 for 716 yards (19.4 avg.) and five scores. Preseason All-American senior tailback Brian Thompson is fifth in MAC rushing with 497 yards on 109 carries (4.6 avg./82.8 per game) and four scores. He was the star of last year’s win at Susquehanna, outrushing Wichlinski 143 to 108 while averaging 8.9 yards per carry and scoring on a 61-yard run. Junior guard Mike Kemmerer is the lone returning starter on a massive line which averages 6-4, 268 pounds per man.
THE CRUSADER DEFENSE (4-3): Senior tackle Marty Pinter (Hackettstown, N.J./Warren Hills H.S.) had seven tackles (six solo), including three behind the line for six yards in losses. He tops the line in tackles with 31 (17 solo), including 10 for losses of 24 yards. Fellow senior tackle Jimmy Morgans (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) also had two key sacks last week and had four tackles behind the line for 17 yards lost – giving him five sacks and 12 tackles for losses of 40 yards this season. Junior defensive end Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) is the team leader in both sacks (7) and tackles for loss (15 for 73 yards). Senior linebacker Harold Fairclough (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is the tackle leader with 52 (27 solo). Junior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.) was used only sparingly in last Saturday’s win after having minor surgury earlier in the week. He’ll be at full strength Saturday and has 44 tackles (24 solo), three INTs, and two PBUs. THE WARRIOR DEFENSE (4-3): Sophomore strong safety John Scanlan is this week’s MAC Defensive Player of the Week after posting a game-high 11 tackles (eight solo) with two interceptions and a pass break-up in the Widener win. He leads the team with 35 tackles (27 solo) and is tied for second in the MAC in picks with four (0.7 per game), returning them 73 yards (18.3 avg.) with a touchdown. Junior defensive end Cameron Coleman is a Preseason All-American who has six-and-a-half sacks and 10 tackles for 62 yards in losses among his 30 total stops (21 solo). Senior Keith Jenkins is at the other end spot and is a returning All-American and first-team league All-Star who also has six-and-a-half sacks and 10 tackles for losses of 45 yards. Five-foot-seven, 170-pound junior Jesse Gambone leads the Lyco linebackers with 30 stops (26 solo). THE CRUSADER KICK SPECIALISTS: Senior Scott Miles (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) has made all three of FGs and is second in MAC kick scoring at 36 points. Freshman Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) averaged 46.4 yards last week and is third in MAC punting (39.1 avg.) THE WARRIOR KICK SPECIALISTS: Sophomore kicker John Shaffer is fourth in MAC kick scoring with 21 points on 2 of 3 FGs and 15 of 21 PATs. Starting senior fullback Steve Hill returns as the punter and has 38.1-yard average for sixth in the conference. #msf/710# 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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