Very Deserving Honors -- Again!!

SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) – Susquehanna University senior fullback Matt Wichlinski (Claymont, Del./Brandywine H.S.) has earned honors from the Middle Atlantic Conference for the fourth time in six games this season as he is on the Honor Roll this week for his performance in Saturday's record-setting 62-61 double overtime win rival Juniata.

Sophomore quarterback Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) also is the team's Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral Family Restaurant in Shamokin Dam, for the best all-around performance of his collegiate career in Saturday's win.

Nicknamed "The Claymont Cannonball," the 5-6, 200-pound Wichlinski tied three MAC records with five total touchdowns and 30 points (MAC Records: 5 TDs, 30 points, Jim Joseph, Moravian, vs. Lebanon Valley, 9-28-85), also tying the MAC mark for rushing touchdowns with four (Record: 4, Chad Eisenhower, Albright, at Delaware Valley, 11-5-94). He also broke the Susquehanna single-game scoring record (Old Record: 26, Al Bucci – also of Claymont, Del., vs. Muhlenberg, 9-12-87; and Don Green, vs. Union, 1963) and tied the school rushing TD mark (Record: 4, Joe Palchak, vs. Georgetown, 1970). Wichlinski also broke the MAC record for career rushing touchdowns, now with 36 (Old Record: 32, Joseph, Moravian, 1982-85; Leon Payne, Widener, 1996-present).

He scored Saturday on runs of 2, 11, 6 and 5 yards as he rushed a game-high 175 yards on 34 carries. The five-yard scoring jaunt eventually tied the game at 55 as it capped Susquehanna's first possession of overtime. Wichlinski gained all 25 yards in that drive on three carries, including a 17-yard run on the first play which is probably the best in his career. It appeared as if Juniata had him strung out for no gain on the left side, but Wichlinski turned it up and broke eight tackles on his way to a 17-yard gain. He also caught two passes for 31 yards, including a 21-yard TD pass from Berwager.

The performance Saturday upped Wichlinski's school records for career rushing yardage and scoring to 2,937 yards and 240 points respectively – both among the MAC's top five in modern history (since 1983). For the season he leads the MAC in scoring with 96 points on 16 touchdowns (16.0 ppg), and is second in rushing with 907 yards (151.2 yards per game) on 140 attempts (MAC-best 6.5 avg.) with 13 scores on the ground..

A public relations major, he is the son of Sheila Wichlinski of West Chester.

The 6-0, 175-pound Berwager completed 11 of 16 passes for 175 yards and the TD to Wichlinski, also rushing for 45 yards on nine carries and two scores. Berwager's five-yard scoring run gave his team a 35-21 third quarter lead, while his three-yard run with 1:54 left in regulation appeared to give his team the cushion it would need at 48-41.

For the season, Berwager is sixth in the MAC in passing efficiency, completing 45 of 89 passes (50.6%) for 680 yards with six touchdowns and just three interceptions (128.8 rating). He is also 10th in MAC total offense with 817 yards on 138 plays (136.2 yards per game), including being fourth on the team in rushing with 137 yards on 48 carries (2.9 avg.) and five TDs.

Last Saturday's dramatic win improved Susquehanna to 5-1 overall, 5-0 in the MAC. The Crusaders will have a showdown for first-place in the conference and also play for possession of Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr.'s Old Hat Trophy this Saturday with their 1 p.m. game at arch-rival Lycoming College. The Warriors are ranked number-one in Division III according to at least one poll and are 6-0 overall and in the conference