Susquehanna Football

Susquehanna drops season finale to Merchant Marine Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – Despite a record-setting showing from sophomore running back, Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area), the United States Merchant Marine Academy earned their first win of the season with a 37-32 Susquehanna defeat on Saturday afternoon.

Paveletz rushed 29 times for a net gain of 192 yards while scoring four of Susquehanna’s five touchdowns. With his 192-yard game, Paveletz became the seventh ranked Crusader in school history for yards rushed in a single contest. With this contest ending the 2007 Susquehanna football season, Paveletz also found himself a spot in the record books for total season rushing yards. He sits second to Matt Wichlinski (1977/1,322 yards) with 1,225 yards.

The senior-day game, in which 12 Crusaders ended their college playing careers, began when USMMA got on the scoreboard amidst its opening drive. The Mariners were originally forced to punt on fourth down with four yards to go at midfield, but an illegal substitution by the Crusaders kept the drive alive.

The Mariners drove the ball down the field and into the red zone and capped it off when Derrick Ventre completed a pass to Chris Rye on the left corner for the touchdown. Geoff Troy’s extra point attempt was good to give the Mariners a 7-0 advantage with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.

Susquehanna responded when Paveletz (left) fled down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown run. Bobby Eppleman’s (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) extra point was no good, as the Mariners held on to the lead at 7-6 at 3:40 which they would carry in to the second quarter.

Midway through the second frame, the Mariner defense forced the Crusaders to punt. This time, it was USMMA that got penalized for roughing the kicker and the drive was kept alive. On the ensuing play, Paveletz ran 42 yards for his second of the day. Eppleman’s extra point attempt was good giving the Crusaders a 13-7 lead with 6:36 remaining in the half.

Susquehanna's only lead of the game would be short lived. USMMA responded merely three minutes later when Ventre threw his second touchdown pass of the afternoon to Michael Stewart at 3:38. Troy’s kick was good and the Mariners regained the lead at 14-13.

Susquehanna had one more chance to score before the clock expired, but Kaatz intercepted a pass at the Mariner 21 and brought it back 16 yards to the 37-yard line. The Mariners drove all the way down to the Crusader nine which set up Geoff Troy for a field goal attempt. The kick hit the left upright and bounced back as time expired, but the Mariners took a 14-13 lead to the locker room.

USMMA added to its lead in the second half when Troy kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 17-13 game at 10:10 in the third quarter. The Mariners would again add to their lead at 5:32 when Watson ran from two yards out with 5:32 on the clock. Troy’s kick missed, but the Mariners still held a 23-13 advantage.

On the first play of the final quarter, Susquehanna quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) ran the ball in from a yard out to make it 23-19. Eppleman’s kick was good, changing the scoreboard to read USMMA 23-20 with 14:58 left to play in the game.

After an impressive kick return by Preston Morgan and a Watson run to the Susquehanna five-yard line, Ventre ran the ball to the end zone. With the help of a successful extra point, USMMA took ten point lead with 13:55 remaining in the game.

Paveletz soon answered with his third touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard run to make it a one possession game once again at 30-26 with 9:55 left in the game. Eppleman’s kick was blocked by Michael Gallucci and the Mariners would get the ball back with a four-point lead.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Watson rushed to the end zone from a yard out for his second touchdown of the game to all but seal it with 4:34 left. Troy’s kick was good and the Mariners had a 37-26 lead.

Paveletz had one more answer with his fourth rushing touchdown of the afternoon at 3:09 to make it 37-32. The Crusaders went for two, but Pope’s rush fell a few yards short of the goal line.

Susquehanna tried an onside kick which was grabbed Stewart at the Crusader 41. After Ventre and Watson each rushed for first downs, Ventre took a knee three consecutive times to run out the clock. The Mariners held on for the 37-32 victory.

On the day Pope completed 16 of 26 passes for 212 yards with one interception and a touchdown of his own. Leading the Crusader defense, sophomore Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) made 11 total tackles (10 solo, 1 assisted). Nate Moore (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) and Jon Baker (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) also added seven tackles apiece.

Susquehanna finishes its season 2-8 overall, 1-6 in Liberty League play. USMMA concludes its season 1-9 overall, 1-6 in Liberty League play.