2008 Game Summaries

Nov. 15 (Senior Day): Susquehanna 45, Union 51
Nov. 8: Susquehanna 51, WPI 21
Nov. 1 (Family Weekend): Susquehanna 42, St. Lawrence 49
Oct. 18: Susquehanna 14, Rensselaer 35
Oct. 11 (Community Day): Susquehanna 28, Rochester 13
Oct. 4 (Homecoming): Susquehanna 37, USMMA 35
Sept. 27: Susquehanna 14, Hobart 27
Sept. 20 (Stagg Hat Game): Susquehanna 16, Lycoming 28
Sept. 13 (Goal Post Game): Susquehanna 10, Juniata 3
Sept. 6: Susquehanna 14, Moravian 27

Nov. 15 (Senior Day): Susquehanna 45, Union 51 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rushed 37 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns to become the all-time leading rusher in Susquehanna University (4–6, 3–4 Liberty) history, but visiting Union College (5–4, 4–3 Liberty) took a 51–45 Liberty League win on Senior Day at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on Nov. 15.

Paveletz came into the game needing just 73 yards to reach the career rushing mark of 3,243 yards, set by Matt Wichlinski '99, and 155 yards to catch Wichlinski's single-season rushing record of 1,322, set in 1997. Paveletz finished this season with 1,314 yards to surpass his own 2007 total for second-place all-time. He now has 3,317 career rushing yards.

Sophomore running back Chris Coney, who came into the game trailing only Paveletz for the Liberty lead in total rushing yards and total touchdowns and points, ran for a game-high 244 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. Coney has 1,283 rushing yards this season, just 31 yards behind Paveletz. Both players now have 18 touchdowns and 108 points this year. Union's season may not be over, as the Dutchmen are awaiting a possible invitation to the 2008 ECAC Division III championships.

Susquehanna's senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) tied his own career-high with a game-high 28 completions on 41 attempts, including three touchdown passes. Pope threw for a game- and career-high 372 yards in his final collegiate game and rushed for a touchdown. He came into the game ranked fifth in school history in career passing yards and ended up third behind David Battisti '91 and record-holder Mike Bowman '03. Bowman and Battisti threw for 8,160 and 4,087 career yards, respectively. Pope finishes his career with 4,051 passing yards.

Union's freshman quarterback Andrew Connolly completed nine of 18 passes for 247 yards and a game-high four touchdowns. Connolly was intercepted twice. His favorite target was freshman wide receiver Justin Gallo, who caught a game-high six passes for a game-high 176 yards, including two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Jared Gourrier caught two passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Gourrier also ran the ball twice for 36 yards. Junior fullback Dave Carson caught a four-yard touchdown pass.

Susquehanna's senior split end Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), junior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) and Paveletz each caught five passes. Owen and Paveletz both gained 55 yards. Owen caught two touchdowns. Moran gained 45 yards. Senior split end Matt Koziol (Shamokin, Pa./Southern Columbia Area) gained a team-high 56 yards on three catches. Junior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) also made three catches. Howell gained 37 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and senior fullback Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) both caught two passes for 53 and 33 yards, respectively. Senior split end Blake Petrill (Neshanic Station, N.J./Somerville) added a 23-yard reception. For the second week in a row, 10 different Crusaders made at least one catch.

Senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) made a team-high nine tackles for Susquehanna. Senior safety/punter John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson), who came into the game ranked second in NCAA Division III in passes defended, made seven tackles and broke up two passes. Junior linebacker Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley ) also made seven tackles. Johnsen picked up a team-high 1.5 tackles for a game-high loss of seven yards. Senior outside linebacker/placekicker Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) made six tackles. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) picked up a team-high four solo tackles and returned an interception 48 yards. Freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) made two tackles and returned an interception seven yards.

Union's senior defensive back Kevin Rautenstrauch made a game-high 12 tackles, including a game-high eight solo stops, and broke up a pass. Senior linebacker Joe Catalano made 10 tackles (seven solo), including 1.5 for a loss, and broke up a pass. Junior linebacker John DeLuca posted eight tackles (seven solo), including a forced fumble that he recovered and returned 32 yards. Fellow junior linebacker John Peters made seven stops (all solo). Junior safety Eric Baxter also made seven tackles (six solo), forced a fumble and broke up a pair of passes. Junior defensive end Charles Hovsepian made six tackles (five solo), including a game-high two for a loss. Senior defensive end Tim Romano tallied three stops and recovered a fumble. Senior utilityman Ryan Kraynak picked up two tackles and broke up two passes.

The Dutchmen drew first blood with a four-yard touchdown rush by Coney with 8 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter to end a seven-play, 68-yard drive on his team's first possession of the game. Junior placekicker Zach Epley converted the extra-point attempt for the 7–0 lead.

In what would be the theme of the game, play swung right back to the other side with Susquehanna conducting an impressive 18-play, 79-yard drive that ate up 8:53 of clock and ended with Paveletz's one-yard touchdown run 47 seconds into the second quarter. Paveletz grinded on the Union defense with 10 carries on that drive for 37 yards and a reception for six yards. Golias, who finished the season perfect in extra-point kicks (11-for-11) filling in for the team's starting placekicker, who was ill, booted the PAT to tie the game at 7–7.

The SU defense turned a quick three-and-out on the ensuing possession, and the Union punt from its own 42-yard line was blocked by Howell. Amazingly, the blocked ball caromed all the way back through the Union end zone for a safety and a 9–7 Crusaders lead with 12:48 left in the second quarter. The block was Howell's third blocked punt of the season.

Following the kick after the safety, Pope made short work of the Union defense, hitting Henry on the first play of the drive for a 30-yard catch down the sideline before finding Howell for a 15-yard touchdown. The drive took just 40 seconds to unfold, and Golias' PAT pushed the lead out to 16–7 with 11:59 to play in the first half.

Union came right back to score on its following possession. Connolly hit Gourrier from 24 yards out, and Epley hit the PAT to cut the lead to 16–14 with 10:06 left in the half. Earlier in the drive, Connolly hit Gallo for a 30-yard gain on second-and-long.

Susquehanna looked to be in business at the Union 26 on its next drive, but Baxter's forced fumble of a Pope carry and Romano's recovery gave the Dutchmen the ball at their own 28. On the very next play, Connolly hit Gallo for a dramatic 72-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 7:28 to play in the half. Epley's extra-point gave Union the lead that they would not relinquish, 21–16.

SU punted on its next drive, and Union responded with a seven-play, 35-yard drive that lasted 2:28 and culminated with Connolly's four-yard touchdown pass to Carson. The Dutchmen elected to try a two-point conversion, and Connolly found junior tight end Josh McKelligan in the end zone for a 29–16 lead with 2:36 to play in half.

Finishing a wild second quarter in which the teams combined for 45 points, Pope plunged in from the Union 1 with just 15 seconds left in the half to finish a nine-play, 52-yard drive. The PAT put the score at 29–23 entering halftime. Pope completed six of seven passes on that drive for 51 yards.

Momentum was about to swing Susquehanna's way when Simpson intercepted a Connolly pass on Union's first possession of the second half and returned it 48 yards deep into Dutchmen territory, but Union swelled up at the goal line to force an incompletion by Pope on fourth-and-goal from the 5.

Union then put together a backbreaking four-play, 95-yard drive that ended with a Connolly-to-Gallo 25-yard touchdown pass and Epley PAT for a 36–23 lead with 11:21 left in the third quarter. Coney rushed three times for 55 yards during the drive.

The Crusaders didn't go away, and Pope led them down the field with a 14-play, 65-yard drive that chewed up 5:34 and resulted in his seven-yard touchdown strike to Owen. The extra point narrowed the gap to 36–30. The big play of the drive was Paveletz's 17-yard reception on third-and-15.

Union punted on its next drive, but SU handed the ball right back when DeLuca forced a Moran fumble at the 50-yard line and returned it all the way to the Crusaders 18. Two Coney rushes later and the score was suddenly 42–30. Coney tried for two points after the touchdown but was stopped short.

Union got an important stop on the next Susquehanna drive and followed the punt with another Coney touchdown rush. Coney's jaunt from the SU 5 capped a five-play, 82-yard drive that ended 1:35 into the fourth quarter. Epley's PAT try was partially blocked and wobbled wide of the goal posts, which put the score at 48–30.

SU engineered a five-play, 68-yard drive on its next possession, finished by a bulldozing 11-yard touchdown run by Paveletz. Golias hit another PAT to slice the lead to 48–37.

Two plays later, momentum fully came back to the SU side when Phillips stepped in front of Connolly's pass at the Union 30 and returned the interception to the 23. The very next play, Pope completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Owen, then found Owen in the end zone again for a two-point conversion that made the score 48–45.

Connolly marched Union down the field after the kickoff and earned a first-and-goal from the SU 6, thanks in large part to his 43-yard pass to Gourrier on the third play of the drive. The Crusaders defense stood up when it mattered the most and held Union out of the end zone to keep the game to a one-possession difference. Epley and the Dutchmen settled for a 24-yard field goal that put them ahead, 51–45, with 6:22 left in the fourth.

Susquehanna looked as if it would at least force overtime if not win the game when it travelled deep into Union territory on the next drive. On fourth-and-two from the Union 25, the game was seemingly over when Pope's pass to Howell was broken up by Rautenstrauch, but a pass interference call kept the home crowd's hopes alive. The ball was spotted at the 10 for a first-and-goal.

Paveletz rushed for no gain, Pope hit Howell for four yards and Koziol hauled in a four-yarder from Pope before he was stopped at the 2 by Rautenstrauch and Baxter, setting up fourth down. On fourth-and-two, Pope was pressured into throwing the ball away, giving Union the ball in the shadow of its own end zone.

With the game still in doubt on third-and seven from the Union 5, Coney burst through for a 50-yard run that put Union into victory formation. The Dutchmen took two knees to end the game.

Susquehanna held a 27–20 advantage in first downs. Time of possession was handedly in SU's favor, 36:46–23:04.

Union held a slim 529–523 edge in total yards, as the two teams combined for 1,052 yards and 139 total offensive plays.

Nov. 8: Susquehanna 51, WPI 21 Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. — Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rushed 30 times for a game-high 160 yards and two touchdowns, and visiting Susquehanna University ran over Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 51–21, in a Liberty League game at Alumni Field on Nov. 8.

The Susquehanna (4–5, 3–3 Liberty) offense kept the ball for over two-thirds of the game, holding a remarkable advantage in time of possession, 40 minutes, 45 seconds to 19:15. WPI (6–3, 3–3 Liberty) earned only 12 first downs to SU's 31 while losing its first home game this year. The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense with Susquehanna enjoying a 560–453 advantage.

Susquehanna's senior split end Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) caught four passes for 107 yards, all from senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area), who completed a game-high 17 of 27 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown.

SU held a decided advantage in rushing yards, 315–180, behind a starting offensive line of junior left tackle Drew Champney (Victor, N.Y./Victor), senior left guard Brandt Waples (Media, Pa./Penncrest), senior center Cody Loeffler [Lewes, Del./Avon Grove (Pa.)], sophomore right guard Paul Russick (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) and sophomore right tackle James Rogers (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights).

Following Paveletz's lead were junior running back Tony McIntosh (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove), freshman running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) and senior fullback Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North). McIntosh ran the ball 11 times for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Tellish picked up 61 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries. Henry ran for 17 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

Paveletz is now 73 yards away from tying Matt Wichlinski '99 for Susquehanna's career rushing yards record. Paveletz has ran for 3,170 career yards. Wichlinski ran for 3,243.

Paveletz also caught two passes for nine yards and a touchdown. He was one of 10 different Crusaders that made at least one catch. Junior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills), sophomore tight end Max Piorkowski (Nazareth, Pa. /Northampton), junior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) and freshman tight end Matt Knouse (Elliotsburg, Pa./West Perry) all caught two passes. Howell, Piorkowski and Moran gained 49, 28 and 25 yards, respectively. Knouse gained eight.

Howell also completed one pass for 50 yards and blocked his second punt of the season, both of which were returned for touchdowns. This was one was returned 20 yards by senior safety/punter John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson).

WPI's senior quarterback Justin Wells completed nine of 19 passes for a game-high 230 yards, thanks in large part to a 93-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cody McGregor. McGregor made a game-high seven catches for the one touchdown and a game-high 207 yards. Junior wide receiver R.C. Grady caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Engineers' junior quarterback Mike Swanton completed five of six passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in relief of Wells.

Wells led WPI with 78 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries. Freshman running back Ernie Mello rushed just one time for 66 yards. Sophomore running back Manny Cambra gained 24 yards on three carries.

SU's senior defensive lineman Jarrid Myers (Easton, Pa./Easton) made a solo tackle in the end zone for a safety. Fellow senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) led the Crusaders with five tackles (all solo), including one tackle for a game-high loss of 13 yards. Junior defensive back Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) made four tackles (all solo).

Seven Crusaders made three tackles apiece. Sophomore defensive back James Conway (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area), junior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban), freshman linebacker Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll), senior linebacker Gary Gall (Pittston Twp., Pa./Pittston Area) and Moran all registered three solo stops. Moran's tackles all came on special teams. Senior outside linebacker/placekicker Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and Lunardi put together two solo tackles and one assist each.

McDonough forced two fumbles, Conway forced one and Golias recovered his own forced fumble. Lunardi, who came into the game ranked second in NCAA Division III in passes defended, broke up two WPI passes. Sophomore defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) returned an interception 16 yards and broke up a pass. Senior defensive back Sean Feiring (Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair Haven) recovered a fumble.

The Engineers' senior defensive back Andrew Sides led all players with 12 tackles, including a game-high 11 solo stops. Sides also intercepted a pass and broke up another. Sophomore defensive back Adam Power made nine tackles (seven solo) and broke up a pass. Sophomore linebacker Michael Oliveri had seven tackles (five solo), and both senior linebacker Stefan Nicotra and senior defensive back Jonathan Shoemaker posted six tackles (five solo) and broke up a pass.

The game began ominously when Susquehanna's drive to the WPI 22-yard line was halted by Sides' interception. Four plays later, the Engineers struck with a dramatic 93-yard touchdown catch-and-run from Wells to McGregor and an extra point by freshman placekicker Cody Beckel for a 7–0 lead with 8:33 to play in the first quarter.

It was all Susquehanna from there. Paveletz finished the ensuing 10-play, 59-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown rush, and Golias, filling in at placekicker for a sick player, made the PAT for a tied ballgame with 3:45 left in the first.

Next, a good kick return and a facemask penalty gave WPI great field position at the 50-yard line, but the Engineers came up empty on the drive when Beckel's field-goal try from 37 yards out sailed wide right.

The Crusaders came up empty on their next drive as well, but Lunardi, filling in for the same player as Golias, pinned WPI at its own 2 with a 45-yard punt. Myers tackled Wells in the end zone on the next play for a safety and a 9–7 lead with 12:17 to go in the second quarter.

Following the safety, SU took the ball 61 yards on 10 plays for a two-yard touchdown run by McIntosh. Golias, who was 7-for-7 on extra points, hit this PAT for a 16–7 lead.

Susquehanna scored again on its next possession. Pope's seven-yard touchdown pass to Paveletz capped a six-play, 70-yard drive, and Golias hit the point-after for a 23–7 lead with 1:08 still to play in the first half.

With just 20 seconds left in the half, Howell's blocked punt sprung Lunardi for the backbreaking 20-yard touchdown return that put the Crusaders ahead, 30–7, at the half.

WPI scored on its first possession of the second half when Wells plunged across the goal line from one yard out to finish a seven-play, 64-yard drive with 10:02 left in the third quarter. Beckel's PAT cut the SU lead to 30–14.

The Crusaders answered with a long drive on the following possession. Paveletz completed a nine-play, 82-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown rush. Golias' PAT pushed the lead back out to 37–14.

Klingler intercepted Wells' pass on the first play of the ensuing Engineers drive, and his 16-yard return moved the ball into WPI territory, where Susquehanna took advantage of the short field with a 6-play, 49-yard touchdown hike. Henry's two-yard scoring run and Golias' extra point bloated the lead to 44–14 with 3:27 yet to play in the third.

WPI lost any chance to get back in the game when Conway forced a Mello fumble at the SU 5 for a touchback after Mello's 61-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Susquehanna converted the turnover into another touchdown drive, this one for 15 plays and 80 yards that ate up 7:54 of clock. Tellish completed the long drive with a 21-yard touchdown run, and Golias booted another PAT for a 51–14 lead with just 2:06 to play.

WPI provided the final scoring margin with a five-yard touchdown pass from Swanton to Grady and a Beckel PAT with 35 seconds remaining.

SU head coach Steve Briggs improved to 19–0 all-time when the Crusaders rush for 300 or more yards in a game.

Nov. 1 (Family Weekend): Susquehanna 42, St. Lawrence 49 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ran for a game-high 153 yards on just 22 carries, including two touchdown runs, to give him 1,007 rushing yards this season, but Susquehanna University dropped a 49–42 Liberty League game to visiting St. Lawrence University at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on Nov. 1.

Senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) completed a game-high 27 passes for Susquehanna (3–5, 2–3 Liberty) on 39 attempts. Pope threw for 282 yards and a game- and career-high four touchdown passes to one interception.

Sophomore quarterback J.P. Kearney completed 19 of 30 passes for a game-high 319 yards for St. Lawrence (1–7, 1–4 Liberty). Kearney threw one touchdown pass to two interceptions and ran for a touchdown. Junior fullback Eric Jones was one of two St. Lawrence players with over 100 rushing yards. Jones led the Saints with 140 yards on 23 carries. Junior tailback Connor Hackett picked up 104 yards on just 18 carries. Jones ran for a game-high three touchdowns, while Hackett ran for two.

Junior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) made a game-high eight catches for the Crusaders. Moran accumulated 104 yards and two touchdowns.

SLU's senior wide receiver Ryan Cooney led all players with 182 yards on six receptions, including a touchdown.

Susquehanna's junior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) gained 67 yards on six catches. Paveletz gained 19 yards on six receptions. Senior split end Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Fellow senior split end Matt Koziol (Shamokin, Pa./Southern Columbia Area) and junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) caught one pass apiece for 29 and 24 yards, respectively. Young had a touchdown catch.

St. Lawrence's senior wide receiver Hakiem Greenhut caught three passes for 41 yards. Hackett caught three passes for 18 yards. Junior wide receiver Anthony Patterson and senior fullback Carl Festa both had two receptions. Patterson gained 29 yards, while Festa gained 17.

SU's sophomore defensive back James Conway (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area) made a game-high 13 tackles, including a game-high nine solo stops. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made nine tackles (eight solo). Sophomore defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) made eight tackles (seven solo), including a game-high 1.5 for a loss, broke up two passes and intercepted another in the end zone. Senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) posted almost identical numbers as Klingler by making eight tackles (six solo), breaking up two passes and intercepting another.

Freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) made six tackles for SU. Both junior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) and senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) made five tackles. All five of McDonough's were of the solo variety, including a sack. He also broke up a pass.

SLU's senior safety Josh Miller made nine tackles. Junior inside linebacker Gabe McBride made seven stops (five solo). Senior free safety Michael Bruno also made seven tackles and returned an interception 23 yards. Junior defensive tackle Gerard Bryant forced a fumble as part of five tackles.

Hackett scored the game's first points by ending an impressive nine-play, 86-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run on St. Lawrence's first possession of the game. Senior placekicker/punter Matt Popov converted the extra-point attempt to put the Saints up, 7–0, with 3 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first quarter.

Kearney and Popov quickly made it 14–0 with 4:08 left in the first when Kearney dropped back, saw an opening and scampered for a six-yard touchdown rush that ended a nine-play, 61-yard drive. Popov made the PAT.

Young answered for Susquehanna when he got behind the Saints secondary and hauled in a perfect 24-yard touchdown pass from Pope on the ensuing possession to end a brisk, four-play, 60-yard drive. Sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) hit the PAT to halve the lead at 14–7.

In what would turn out to be the story of the game, SLU answered right back. On its next possession, Kearney hit Cooney with a dramatic 87-yard touchdown pass. The Crusaders had a chance to intercept the ball, but it fell right into the hands of Cooney, who ran into the end zone as time expired in the first. Popov made the PAT for a 21–7 lead.

The Saints started the second quarter by scoring on their fourth straight possession. The long drive took 14 plays and ate up 91 yards and 6:35 of clock. Hackett ended the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, and Popov's PAT made it 28–7.

The Saints' junior wide receiver Rick Stepien forced a fumble on the following kickoff return, which was recovered by teammate and sophomore defensive end Chris Palmer at the SLU 43. The Crusaders defense came up big though with a three-and-out on the ensuing drive that kept Susquehanna in the game.

Following the punt, Paveletz ended a five-play, 80-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run. Eppleman's PAT put the score at 28–14 heading into halftime.

St. Lawrence entered the Susquehanna red zone on its first two possessions of the second half, but SU interceptions ended both of those drives. Klingler picked off a pass in the end zone on the first drive, and Lunardi nabbed a pick at the SU nine-yard line on the next.

Following the Lunardi interception though, Bruno intercepted a pass for St. Lawrence and returned it to the SU 19. Jones then ran the ball four straight times and into the end zone, and Popov made the PAT for a 35–14 lead with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Paveletz put Susquehanna on his back on the ensuing drive, as he ran the ball seven times for 39 yards and caught a pass for six yards before Pope hit Moran for a seven-yard touchdown reception with just 15 seconds left in the third. Eppleman's PAT cut the score to 35–21.

The game seesawed again from there. St. Lawrence scored on the next drive. Jones' 19-yard touchdown rush ended a seven-play, 68-yard possession, and Popov's PAT pushed the score to 42–21.

SU came right back with a four-yard touchdown rush by Paveletz that capped a seven-play, 57-yard drive. Eppleman's PAT put the score at 42–28.

Just the other way, Jones ran the ball three straight times for 61 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 55-yard rush, that put the score at 49–28 with Popov's PAT.

The Crusaders answered again when Pope hit Moran for a 32-yard touchdown pass that ended a four-play, 70-yard drive. Eppleman kicked the PAT to cut the score to 49–35 with exactly 7:00 to play.

The Susquehanna defense got a three-and-out on St. Lawrence's next possession, and Pope engineered the SU offense to an eight-play, 65-yard touchdown drive following that. Pope completed five of seven passes for 32 yards, including a 13-yard scoring strike to Owen with 3:10 left. Eppleman's extra point made the score 49–42.

McDonough batted a ball down on third-and-seven on St. Lawrence's following drive to force another punt, and Susquehanna looked to be in business after a first-down, Pope-to-Moran pass put the ball into Saints territory at the 45. Two incompletions and a completed pass for no gain though put the Crusaders in fourth down with the game on the line.

Pope's pass to Howell fell incomplete to effectively end the game. St. Lawrence took two knees as time expired.

The Saints outgained Susquehanna, 556 yards to the Crusaders' 430, and held a 34:46–25:14 advantage in time of possession. The teams combined for 144 total offensive plays.

Susquehanna lost for the first time at home this year.

St. Lawrence also won last year's game between the two schools by a 49–42 score, though that game was decided in overtime.

Oct. 18: Susquehanna 14, Rensselaer 35 Box Score

TROY, N.Y. — Susquehanna University’s freshman linebacker Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) made a game-high 13 tackles, including one for a loss, but visiting Susquehanna lost to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 35–14, in a Liberty League game at ’86 Field on Oct. 18.

Rensselaer (5–0, 3–0 Liberty) never trailed in this game and used a host of crucial third-down conversions to beat Susquehanna (3–4, 2–2 Liberty). RPI got first-down yardage on nine of 17 third-down opportunities and outgained SU, 513 yards to the Crusaders’ 301.

RPI’s senior quarterback Jimmy Robertson completed 22 of 35 passes for a game-high 354 yards, including two touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Eren Savasli. Robertson also ran the ball nine times for 52 yards.

Savasli and sophomore wide receiver Patrick McCarthy both caught a game-high eight passes for the Engineers. Savasli accumulated a game-high 161 yards, while McCarthy gained 140. McCarthy also ran the ball twice for 17 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Ray Davis made a 31-yard catch.

Rensselaer’s sophomore running back Nick Costa ran the ball 14 times for 68 yards and a game-high two touchdowns before leaving the game with a leg injury in the third quarter. Sophomore running back Bob Munier rushed for RPI’s other touchdown as part of a 12-carry, 27-yard afternoon. Munier also caught two passes for 18 yards.

Susquehanna’s junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rushed 24 times for a game-high 76 yards and scored a touchdown, and freshman running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) added seven carries for 48 yards. Paveletz also caught three passes for 16 yards.

The Crusaders’ senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) completed 15 of 33 passes for 171 yards. Pope’s favorite target was junior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville). Moran made four catches for 51 yards.

Senior split end Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) and junior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) both made three catches for 57 and 12 yards, respectively. Junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) made a 28-yard catch.

Owen’s three catches give him 102 for his career and move him into fifth place on Susquehanna’s career receptions list. He passed Jeff Steltz ’76, who made an even 100 catches during his career. In fourth place is the 121-catch total of Al Bucci ’88. Mark Bartosic ’04 stands in first place by a wide margin with 275 career receptions.

SU’s junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) and senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) both broke up two passes and were two of three Crusaders in double-digits for tackles. Simpson made 11 tackles, while Lunardi made 10. Freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) made nine tackles, including a game-high five of the solo variety and a game-high three tackles for a loss of nine yards. Freshman linebacker Jim Cavanaugh (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) forced a fumble as part of two special teams tackles.

Junior defensive back Bobby Stutz and junior linebacker Stefan Schulz led RPI with eight tackles apiece. Stutz also broke up a pass. Junior defensive backs Justin Foglia and Jason Neville both forced a fumble, and Neville recovered his forced fumble. Foglia also broke up a pass.

Rensselaer scored on its first possession of the game when Savasli caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Robertson on third-and-12 with 8 minutes, 41 seconds left in the first quarter to complete a 7-play, 89-yard drive. Junior placekicker Peter Nilson converted the extra-point attempt for an early 7–0 lead.

Howell fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return to give RPI the ball back at the SU 15-yard line. Robertson completed a pass to Savasli on fourth-and-five from the 10 for an Engineers’ first down. That same duo hooked up again on the next play for a five-yard touchdown catch. Nilson’s PAT made the score 14–0 with 7:14 left in the first.

The Crusaders put together an impressive drive late in the first. Paveletz finished the eight-play, 92-yard drive with a 12-yard, textbook-power-run touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Owen and Young caught 40- and 28-yard passes, respectively, on consecutive plays earlier in the drive. The PAT by sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) cut the score in half, 14–7, just nine seconds into the second quarter.

Momentum began to swing Susquehanna’s way as RPI lost a combined five yards on its next two plays from scrimmage, but on a pivotal third-and-15 from the Rensselaer 36, Susquehanna was hit with a pass interference penalty that kept the RPI drive alive.

On another crucial third-down situation of the same drive, Robertson completed a 41-yard pass to McCarthy to set up first-and-goal at the SU 5. Following a Susquehanna timeout, Costa found the end zone with a five-yard touchdown run that ended the six-play, 59-yard drive. Nilson hit the PAT for a 21–7 lead with 11:47 remaining in the first half.

The Crusaders tried a fake punt on the ensuing drive, but Eppleman was brought down at the RPI 42 three yards shy of a first down. The Engineers came right back down the field, but Nilson’s 23-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and then the crossbar before ultimately falling short.

Eppleman blasted a 61-yard punt on the following possession that pinned Rensselaer at its own 7, but the Engineers converted two more third downs on its way to a game-changing 12-play, 93-yard touchdown drive. Costa’s one-yard touchdown plunge and Nilson’s PAT put RPI ahead, 28–7, with just 22 seconds left in the half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. RPI punted at the end of its first possession of the fourth, but Moran muffed the return, which was recovered by the Engineers at the Crusaders 29. Munier found the end zone three plays later on a seven-yard run, and Nilson made the PAT for a 35–7 lead.

Susquehanna got the game’s final points when Howell blocked a punt that was returned one yard and into the end zone by Simpson. Eppleman’s PAT provided the final margin, 35–14, but his onside kick went through the legs of an RPI player and untouched out-of-bounds to effectively end the game.

Rensselaer was celebrating its Homecoming and its final season at ’86 Field.

Oct. 11 (Community Day): Susquehanna 28, Rochester 13 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ran for a school-record 288 yards on a school-record 47 carries to lead host Susquehanna University to a 28–13 win over the University of Rochester in a Liberty League game at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on Oct. 11.

Paveletz also tied his own Susquehanna (3–3, 2–1 Liberty) record by rushing for four touchdowns. Freshman running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) added 21 yards on three carries.

Rochester (1–4, 1–2 Liberty) was led by 135 yards on 19 carries from sophomore running back Clarence Onyiriuka. Senior fullback/punter Patrick Till ran for a one-yard touchdown on his only carry.

SU's senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) completed 11 of 16 passes for 99 yards. Freshman quarterback Braezen Subick completed 21 of 35 for 182 yards for Rochester. Subick also threw one touchdown pass and was intercepted twice.

Seven different players caught passes for each team. Paveletz led the Crusaders with three receptions and 37 yards. Junior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) and senior fullback Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) both made two catches for 16 and six yards, respectively.

Onyiriuka led the Yellowjackets with a game-high five catches for 24 yards. Junior tight end Pedro Sosa caught three passes for a game-high 49 yards. Junior wide receiver Zach Ingoldsby was close behind with four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Fellow junior wide receivers Mike Coolbaugh and Elvis Njoku both caught three passes for 35 and nine yards, respectively. Sophomore wide receiver Tony Messana added two catches for nine yards.

Senior linebacker/defensive back Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) led the Crusaders with nine tackles (six solo) and forced a fumble. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills), junior linebacker Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa/Great Valley) and sophomore defensive back James Conway (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area) each made seven tackles. Six of Simpson's tackles were solo. He also recovered the fumble forced by Golias. Johnsen and Conway each had four solo stops. Johnsen had 1.5 tackles for a loss, while Conway had one. Freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) and senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) both made six tackles. All of Phillips' were solo. Lunardi intercepted a pass and broke up three others. Five of his tackles were solo.

Sophomore defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) and senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) both made three tackles. Klinger intercepted the ball in the Susquehanna end zone to end the game and broke up a pass. LeClere posted two tackles for a loss, including one sack. Freshman linebacker Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) made five tackles (four solo) and broke up a pass.

Rochester's freshman linebacker Chris Bickford led all players with 15 tackles and 13 solo stops and forced a fumble. Senior free safety Sean Simpson made 10 tackles (seven solo), including two for a loss, one of which was a sack. Senior defensive back Matt Stack collected eight tackles (seven solo), and freshman nose guard Bill Campi made seven stops (all solo), including two for a loss. Sophomore defensive back Matt Francis and sophomore linebacker Ed Dauphin both made six tackles (four solo). Both of the tackles by sophomore defensive lineman Brad Mills were solo and for a loss, including one sack.

Paveletz and the SU offensive line were the story of the game. The five staring linemen, comprised of junior left tackle Drew Champney (Victor, N.Y./Victor), senior left guard Brandt Waples (Media, Pa./Penncrest), senior center Cody Loeffler [Lewes, Del./Avon Grove (Pa.)], sophomore right guard Paul Russick (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) and sophomore right tackle James Rogers (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights), opened huge holes for Paveletz, who topped the old school single-game records of Rashonn Drayton '00 and Chris Ross '05.

Drayton held the old carries record with 39 in a 35–21 win over Wilkes University on Sept. 30, 2000. Ross held the old rushing yards record with 227 in a 45–14 win over Juniata College on Oct. 4, 2003. Paveletz ran for four touchdowns one other time in a 37-32 loss to the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Nov. 10 of last year. He has now run for 29 career touchdowns, which stands in third place in program history. Paveletz passed Larry Kerstetter '64 with his four scores against Rochester. Kerstetter ran for 27 touchdowns in his career. Jason Eck '05 and Matt Wichlinski '99 sit in first and second place all-time with 45 and 37 touchdowns, respectively.

Neither team scored in the first quarter. Susquehanna came the closest with a 14-play, 87-yard opening drive that ate up 7 minutes, 53 seconds of clock, but Paveletz's fumble at the Rochester one-yard line went through the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback.

The Crusaders broke through with a 12-play, 71-yard drive with just 1:49 remaining in the second quarter. Paveletz plowed in a one-yard touchdown run, and sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) converted the extra-point attempt for the game's first seven points. The drive took 5:59 of game clock.

Lunardi intercepted a Subick pass in the end zone late in the first half to keep the Yellowjackets scoreless entering halftime.

SU scored the first points of the second half as well. Paveletz's seven-yard touchdown rush and Eppleman's PAT capped a four-play, 43-yard drive with 11:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Rochester responded with a 10-play, 66-yard drive ended by Till's quick-hit one-yard touchdown plunge. The drive lasted 5:22. Zachary White–Stellato made good on the PAT to cut the score to 14–7 with 6:04 left in the third.

Paveletz took the game over in the fourth quarter. His 18-yard touchdown run and Eppleman's PAT with 13:41 left in the fourth finished a 7-play, 42-yard drive and pushed SU to a 21–7 lead.

The Yellowjackets hung around with a Subick-to-Ingoldsby four-yard touchdown pass with exactly 12:00 left in the fourth. Onyiriuka highlighted the six-play, 72-yard drive with a 63-yard rush on the first play. A bad snap on the ensuing PAT put the score at 21–13.

Eppleman missed his second field goal of the game on the following drive when a Rochester player got enough of his hand on the ball to force the kick wide left.

The Crusaders defense allowed no more points though, and Paveletz effectively ended the game with a dazzling 20-yard touchdown run with 59 seconds to play. Paveletz scampered down the right sidelines and hurdled a would-be tackler before outrunning the rest of the Yellowjackets into the end zone. Eppleman's PAT closed out the scoring.

Susquehanna outgained Rochester, 412–321, and earned 23 first downs to the Yellowjackets' 14. SU held a 33:35–26:25 advantage in time of possession.

SU head coach Steve Briggs improves to 18–0 all-time when the Crusaders rush for 300 or more yards in a game. This game, Susquehanna ran for 313.

Susquehanna is 3–0 at home this season.

Oct. 4 (Homecoming): Susquehanna 37, USMMA 35 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) kicked a 19-yard field goal as time expired, and Susquehanna University took a 37–35 Liberty League win from the visiting United States Merchant Marine Academy on Homecoming night in one of the most dramatic college football games of recent memory at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on Oct. 4.

Susquehanna (2–3, 1–1 Liberty) thought that it had tied the game with just 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter after senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) hit junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) with a touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal from the USMMA three-yard line. Eppleman's extra-point attempt was anything but a formality though, as USMMA (2–3, 1–1 Liberty) freshman utilityman Jake Harrison blocked his second kick of the game on that PAT try to preserve a 35–34 Mariners lead.

A shocked SU crowd turned jubilant when the right-footed Eppleman pooched the ensuing kickoff with his left foot over the heads of Mariners players awaiting an onside kick. The deepest-positioned USMMA player raced against several Crusaders for the loose ball and couldn't hang on to it under the pressure of the coverage team. SU's freshman split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) dove on the ball to regain possession at the Mariners 10 with 22 seconds left.

The Crusaders took a shot at the end zone before Eppleman's kick and almost ran out of time. Pope spiked the ball with the clock showing all zeroes, but one second was rightfully put back on the clock.

Eppleman, who earlier had a 27-yard field goal blocked by Harrison, got this kick off on time to send the Susquehanna sidelines onto the field for a raucous celebration of head coach Steve Briggs' 100th career victory and the 150th anniversary of Susquehanna University.

A post-game fireworks show followed for the crowd of over 4,500 people.

Pope completed a game- and career-high 28 passes (on a game- and career-high 46 attempts) for a game- and career-high 349 yards. He also threw a game- and career- high three touchdown passes to two interceptions.

SU's junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ran the ball 29 times for a game-high 122 yards and caught seven passes for 70 yards. He ran for two touchdowns. Fellow junior running back Tony McIntosh (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove) added five carries for 14 yards.

Young caught seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, and fellow junior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) caught three for 86. Another junior split end, Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills), made four catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns. Senior split end Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) caught five passes for 38 yards, and freshman tight end Matt Knouse (Elliotsburg, Pa./West Perry) added two receptions for 18 yards.

The USMMA's sophomore quarterback Derrick Ventre completed 15 of 27 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Senior running back J.J. Watson ran the ball 22 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 14 yards. Fellow senior running back Davey May ran four times for six yards and caught seven passes for 61.

Senior wide receiver Chris Rye posted a game-high 140 yards on six catches and two touchdowns.

Sophomore defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) led the Crusaders with nine tackles (seven solo), including one for a loss of 10 yards, and broke up a pass. Senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) made seven tackles (five solo), including two for a loss. Junior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) made six tackles (four solo), two of which also were for a loss, including one sack. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) and freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) both collected five tackles. Simpson also broke up a pass. Senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) made two tackles (both solo) and broke up a pass.

Eppleman was back to his old form. The Liberty League's leading punter punted three times for an average of 49.3 yards, including a long of 52.

For the Mariners, junior linebacker Calder Kaatz made a game-high 12 tackles (10 solo), including one for a loss, forced and recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. Sophomore defensive back Marcus Broeder made 10 tackles (five solo), broke up a pass and intercepted another that he ran back 45 yards for a touchdown. Fellow sophomore defensive back Karl Heimbrock made nine tackles (seven solo), and senior defensive back Robert Jameson made six (five solo). Jameson also intercepted a pass. Both freshman linebacker Kevin Stapf and junior defensive lineman Thomas Othmer made five tackles (four solo), including two for a loss. Othmer's two tackles for a loss were both sacks totaling negative-12 yards. Along with two blocked kicks, Harrison made four tackles and broke up a pass. Freshman defensive lineman Michael Hagan made two tackles (both solo) and broke up a pass.

The USMMA took a commanding early lead with the help of Susquehanna turnovers. Watson ran for a one-yard touchdown with 8 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter to complete a 10-play, 61-yard drive on the Mariners' first possession of the game. The extra point by senior placekicker/punter Geoff Troy made the score 7–0. Broeder returned Pope's interception with 1:30 left in the first, and with Troy's PAT, the score moved to 14–0.

Kaatz's forced fumble gave the USMMA the ball at the Susquehanna 36, and Watson again found the end zone to make the score 21–0 with 11:18 to play in the first half.

The Crusaders got their first points of the game when Paveletz capped a 10-play, 64-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Eppleman's PAT cut the score to 21–7 with 3:21 left before halftime.

Rye caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ventre with 9:59 left in the third quarter to end a quick, three-play, 75-yard drive. The Troy PAT extended the lead to 28–7.

SU responded on the ensuing possession though when Paveletz plunged for a one-yard touchdown rush with 5:38 left in the third. Eppleman's PAT drew the score to 28–14.

The Crusaders got even closer with an eight-yard Pope-to-Howell touchdown pass for the first points of the fourth quarter. Eppleman booted the extra point, and it was 28–21 with 9:02 to play in the game.

On the next possession, SU was close to getting a three-and-out, but Ventre found Rye downfield for a backbreaking 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown on third-and-long. Troy kicked the PAT for a 35–21 lead with 7:29 left.

Susquehanna came right back with a 10-play, 60-yard drive, culminated by a Pope-to-Howell 16-yard touchdown pass and an Eppleman PAT that narrowed the gap to 35–28 with 4:50 remaining.

The Crusaders got a huge play from senior linebacker/defensive back Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) on the following USMMA possession. On third-and-10 from the USMMA 47, Ventre hit Rye for an apparent first-down pass in SU territory, but Golias laid a big hit on Rye to knock the ball loose and give Susquehanna a chance.

Troy punted deep in the SU end after the Mariners took a delay of game penalty, but Moran returned the punt 15 yards to give the Crusaders decent field position at their own 27. That started the nine-play, 73-yard drive that led to Eppleman's blocked PAT and subsequent SU redemption.

Sept. 27: Susquehanna 14, Hobart 27 Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y. — Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ran for a game-high 107 yards on 29 carries, but visiting Susquehanna University lost to Hobart College, 27–14, in both teams’ 2008 Liberty League openers at Boswell Field on Sept. 27.

One of Paveletz’s carries went for a touchdown. The 107 yards give him 2,371 for his career, which moves him into second place on the career rushing list at Susquehanna (1–3, 0–1 Liberty). Jason Eck ’05 is now third in program history with 2,290 yards. Matt Wichlinski ’99 is in first place with 3,243 yards. Paveletz also caught two passes for nine yards against Hobart (3–0, 1–0 Liberty).

Susquehanna’s junior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) caught a game-high five passes for a game-high 56 yards. One of those catches was a touchdown. Fellow junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) caught three passes for 26 yards. Senior split end Jim Owen (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) caught one pass for 20 yards.

Senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) came off the bench for the Crusaders to start the second half and completed 11 of 20 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Pope threw one interception after replacing freshman quarterback Rich Palazzi (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack), who completed two of 10 passes for three yards. Palazzi’s statistics were hurt by a number of dropped balls by Susquehanna receivers.

Hobart’s sophomore running back Andrew Marlier carried the ball 21 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Anthony Hobaica ran 15 times for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Hobaica and Marlier were one of five Statesmen who caught two passes. Hobaica had 24 yards receiving and one touchdown. Marlier had three yards receiving. Junior wide receiver Zach Schulz caught two passes for 42 yards. Senior tight end Matt Duliba caught two for 28, and freshman wide receiver Garth Muratori caught two for 12 yards and a touchdown. Nine different players caught passes for Hobart.

Senior quarterback Rich Doyle was on the other end of all of them as he completed 14 of 31 passes for 149 yards and the two touchdowns. Doyle was intercepted twice, but he also ran six times for 37 yards.

Crusaders freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) tied for the game high with 10 tackles, five of which were solo. Phillips also forced a fumble and broke up a pass. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made seven tackles — all of which were of a game-high solo variety —and broke up a pass. Senior linebacker/defensive back Dan Golias (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop), junior defensive back Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) and freshman linebacker Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) each made seven tackles (five solo). Golias forced a fumble. Junior linebacker Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) made three tackles (all solo) and recovered two fumbles, and senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) intercepted two passes — his second and third picks in the last two games — and broke up another.

SU's junior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) led all players with 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Senior linebacker Justin Hager made 10 tackles for Hobart, including a sack and a forced fumble. Hager also recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. Senior defensive tackle Ryan Aruck made nine tackles. Junior linebacker Ryan Robinson posted seven tackles (five solo), including a forced fumble, intercepted a pass and broke up another. Senior linebacker Jeff Sanders also made seven tackles and broke up a pass. Junior defensive end Tony Guidetti picked up Hobart’s other sack. Guidetti made five tackles and recovered a fumble.

The Statesmen got on the board first when Hobaica scampered for a 35-yard touchdown run with 4 minutes, 4 seconds to play in the opening quarter two plays after Robinson’s forced fumble of a Paveletz carry gave Hobart the ball at the Susquehanna 31-yard line. Paveletz was hit by Robinson just as soon as he got the handoff from Palazzi. The extra point by freshman placekicker Conor Callahan made the score 7–0.

Susquehanna fumbled again on its ensuing possession when Palazzi was blindsided for a sack by Hager. The Statesmen took over with another short field, this time at the Crusaders 35. Three plays later, Marlier ran three yards across the goal line for a 13–0 lead with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter. Callahan’s PAT attempt was wide left.

Neither team could do much offensively for the rest of the first half until Hobart orchestrated a four-play, 64-yard drive that led to a 31-yard Doyle-to-Hobaica touchdown pass with just 2:07 left in the second quarter. Callahan’s PAT made the score 20–0, which is how it remained through halftime. The drive was highlighted by a 33-yard scramble by Doyle.

SU scored some points off a turnover itself to open the scoring in the second half. Lunardi’s first interception halted a long, time-consuming drive by Hobart in the third quarter that saw the Statesmen gain 56 yards on 16 plays and eat up 7:18 of clock. The Crusaders took over on their own 17 following the interception though and put together a 10-play, 83-yard drive capped off by Paveletz’s seven-yard touchdown run. Sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) made good on the PAT to cut the score to 20–7 with 3:12 left in third quarter.

Hobart orchestrated another long drive in the fourth quarter that went 49 yards over 11 plays. This time, the Statesmen finished the drive with a 10-yard, Doyle-to-Muratori touchdown. Callahan made the PAT to push the score to 27–7 with 7:47 left in the game.

The Crusaders brought the score closer with a 10-play, 60-yard drive in which Moran caught three passes for 36 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown reception with 1:38 to play. Eppleman’s PAT made it 27–14, but his onside kick that followed went out-of-bounds to effectively end the game.

Hobart ran out the clock the rest of the way.

The Statesmen controlled the game’s pace by gaining 221 of their 370 total offensive yards on the ground to 227 total yards for the Crusaders (109 rushing). Time of possession was dramatically in Hobart’s favor, 36:50 to 23:10.

Crusaders head coach Steve Briggs stands at 99 career victories.

Sept. 20 (Stagg Hat Game): Susquehanna 16, Lycoming 28 Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Junior Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made a game-high eight catches for 80 yards to go with a game-high 13 tackles from freshman Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg), but visiting Susquehanna University dropped the 2008 edition of the “Stagg Hat Game” to Lycoming College, 28–16, at David Person Field on Sept. 20.

Lycoming (1–1 overall) got things going quickly when junior quarterback Colin Dywer hit junior wide receiver Brad Shellenberger with a 60-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage. Shellenberger caught two passes during the afternoon for game-high 110 yards. Dwyer completed five of nine passes for 129 yards and was intercepted twice before leaving the game early in the second quarter with an injury.

The real story for the Warriors offense — and the game — was sophomore running back Josh Kleinfelter. Kleinfelter ran the ball 42 times for a game-high 229 yards.

Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) led the Crusaders (1–2 overall) with 13 rushes for 56 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Rich Palazzi (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack) made his collegiate debut at quarterback in place of senior Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area). Palazzi completed 14 of 24 passes for 103 yards. He was replaced by Pope in the fourth quarter when the game got away from SU. Pope was very efficient in completing eight of 11 throws for 80 yards and a touchdown despite one interception.

Paveletz added five catches for 29 yards, and senior fullback Charlie Henry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) caught three passes for 11 yards. Junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) contributed two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Junior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) made 11 tackles, including a sack. Sophomore defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) made nine tackles and intercepted a pass in a replacement start for injured sophomore defensive back James Conway (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area).

Senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) made eight stops, returned an interception 41 yards and broke up two other passes. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made Susquehanna's other interception and added six tackles.

Sophomore defensive back Chuck Bellito led Lycoming with 11 tackles, including a game-high seven solo stops, and returned an interception 32 yards. Sophomore linebacker Ben Rosa made six tackles, including a forced fumble. That fumble was recovered by senior defensive back Nick Reese, who also made eight tackles. Junior defensive lineman Ted Geurds, who sat out the first half serving a suspension after being ejected in the Warriors' season-opener, made four stops in the second half (all solo), including a game-high two sacks for a loss of 14 yards.

An extra point by senior placekicker Scott Erikson following the opening touchdown made the score 7–0 just nine seconds into the game.

Lycoming scored on the first play from scrimmage in the second quarter as well when Kleinfelter finished an eight-play, 86-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run. Erikson's kick made the score 14–0.

Paveletz fumbled on the first play from scrimmage of the ensuing possession, but Lunardi's 41-yard interception return on the very next play gave the Crusaders the ball at the Warriors one-yard line. Paveletz got redemption by punching the ball across the goal line on the next play to put Susquehanna on the board. A PAT by sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) halved the score at 14–7.

Eppleman's impressive 2008 season continued. He punted the ball six times for an average of 45.5 yards per punt, including a long of 59 yards, and made good on his lone PAT and one of two field-goal tries.

Eppleman's successful field goal was a 22-yarder that finished a 10-play, 61-yard drive with 7 minutes, 5 seconds left in the second quarter.

Kleinfelter broke loose from behind a big offensive line for a 44-yard touchdown run just 56 seconds later. That play came on the heels of a 51-yard kickoff return by freshman wide receiver Ray Bierbach.

Susquehanna had a chance to score again before halftime, but Eppleman's field-goal try from 37 yards out was wide left.

The Warriors outgained SU in the first half, 287 yards to the Crusaders' 116, and held a 12–10 advantage in first downs.

Play evened out a bit in the second half, but the Crusaders wouldn't score again until late in the fourth quarter. Lycoming got the only points of the third when Kleinfelter finished an eight-play, 71-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run.

Pope entered the game in the fourth quarter and had has first pass intercepted and returned to the Susquehanna 17. Klingler's interception in the end zone on Lycoming's following possession bailed out the Crusaders offense.

Pope stayed in the game and settled in by leading the Crusaders on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Young with 1:08 remaining in the game.

Susquehanna's two-point conversion attempt failed, as did Eppleman's ensuing onside kick, which allowed the Warriors to finish the game in victory formation.

For the game, Lycoming outgained Susquehanna, 432–226, and had a 20–16 edge in first downs.

With the victory, the Warriors regained possession of “the Stagg Hat” from Susquehanna. The “hat” is an actual fedora worn by Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr., who co-head coached the Crusaders with his son, Amos Jr., from 1947 to 1952. The two teams have battled for the rivalry trophy since 1993. SU had been holding the trophy since defeating Lycoming, 17–13, on Sept. 15, 2007.

Crusaders head coach Steve Briggs stands at 99 career victories.

Sept. 13 (Goal Post Game): Susquehanna 10, Juniata 3 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Junior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) stopped Juniata College on fourth-and-goal from the Susquehanna University one-yard line with under three minutes left in the game to preserve a 10–3 Crusaders win over the visiting Eagles at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium in the 2008 edition of the “Goal Post Game” on Sept. 13.

McDonough's dramatic stop gave the ball back to Susquehanna (1–1 overall), which used junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) to get the ball out of the shadow of its own end zone and run out the rest of the clock. Paveletz's five straight rushes for 26 yards an d two first downs on the Crusaders' last drive, coupled with only one timeout remaining for Juniata (0–2 overall), allowed senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) to take a knee to end the game.

Juniata actually outgained Susquehanna, 295 yards to the Crusaders' 192, and held a 15–12 edge in first downs, but a hard-hitting SU defense forced four fumbles, three of which went as turnovers.

McDonough made four tackles in the game (three solo) and recovered two of those fumbles. Senior safety John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) and freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) both made a game-high 10 tackles. Lunardi's eight solo stops were a game-high. He also broke up a pass. Seven of Phillips' tackles were solo. Phillips also made a game-high three tackles for a loss and forced a fumble. Senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) made five tackles (all solo), including two for a loss, and forced and recovered a fumble. Sophomore defensive back James Conway (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area) made nine tackles (six solo), while senior defensive lineman Jarrid Myers (Easton, Pa./Easton) made three tackles (all solo), including a sack for a loss of 17 yards, and forced two fumbles. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made three tackles (all solo) and broke up a pass.

Sophomore punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) played a huge role in the Crusaders win by controlling field position. Eppleman punted the ball four times for an average of 52.0 yards, including a school-record 73-yard punt in the second quarter, and pinned the Eagles to inside their own 10-yard line twice. (Ryan Hollis '01 punted a 70-yarder at Lycoming College in 1998.) Eppleman is averaging an astounding 48.6 yards per punt this season. Eppleman also made good on his lone extra-point attempt in the game and made one of two field goal tries. His lone miss was blocked.

Juniata's senior quarterback Jay Leonard completed 19 of 35 passes for 214 yards. Leonard's favorite target was junior wide receiver Matt Dunker, who caught a game-high five passes for 54 yards. Senior wide receiver Chad Steiner caught two passes for 82 yards, the bulk of which came on a 61-yard completion from Leonard late in the fourth quarter before the Eagles' attempt to tie the game was thwarted by McDonough. Tremendous speed by Simpson allowed him to run down Steiner from behind to prevent a touchdown on that play.

Pope completed 8 of 23 passes for 59 yards and was intercepted once, though he did throw a long pass to junior split end Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) for the game's only touchdown. Young freed himself from the Juniata secondary and caught Pope's pass with 10 minutes, 49 seconds to play in the first quarter to cap a five-play, 48-yard drive.

Paveletz rushed for a game-high 88 yards on 23 carries. Juniata's freshman running back/placekicker Dan Zentz rushed for 55 yards on 17 carries. He shared the load with sophomore running back Kyle McKechnie, who rushed 13 times for only 17 yards. The Crusaders' freshman running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) ran for the first six times of his collegiate career and gained 26 yards.

Ten different players caught passes for Juniata, which outgained Susquehanna through the air, 214–59, but the Crusaders ran the ball for 133 yards to the Eagles' 81.

Susquehanna built its lead to 10–0 on Eppleman's 23-yard field goal with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter. The three points finished a quirky 13-play drive that chewed up only 38 yards.

Junior defensive back Brandon Spayd ran the ensuing kickoff back 62 yards to set up Juniata's only score. Eppleman's tackle during the return saved a touchdown, but Zentz's 24-yard field goal with 11:15 left in the first half ended an 11-play, 29-yard drive that narrowed the score to 10–3.

Neither team could score in the second half. Eppleman's 22-yard field goal try in the third quarter was blocked by Juniata's sophomore defensive back Quron Lewis to keep the game to a one-possession difference.

That set the stage for Simpson's and McDonough's heroics late in the fourth.

Freshman defensive lineman Jason Marquis led Juniata with seven tackles (all solo). Freshman defensive back Jordan Baird made six tackles (five solo), intercepted a pass and broke up another.

With the victory, Susquehanna regained possession of “the Goal Post” from Juniata. The “post” is an actual piece of the goal post taken by Juniata fans from SU's old University Field following their team's upset of the Crusaders on Nov. 1, 1952. The two teams have battled for the rivalry trophy since 1953, with Susquehanna holding the all-time edge in “Goal Post” games, 25–23–1. The two teams did not play last year. SU lost at Juniata, 34–9, on Oct. 7, 2006.

Due to a clock malfunction in the second half, time of possession — as well as drive-length time — was estimated by the scorekeepers. The official game time was kept on the field of play by the on-field officials.

Crusaders head coach Steve Briggs stands at 99 career victories.

Sept. 6: Susquehanna 14, Moravian 27 Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Junior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns, but his three lost fumbles handcuffed visiting Susquehanna University in a 27-14 loss to Moravian College at Rocco Calvo Field on Sept. 6.

Senior running back Tyler deRouen ran for a game-high 131 yards for Moravian (1-0 overall), and senior quarterback Marc Braxmeier completed 12 of 19 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown and ran for 22 yards and a touchdown as the Greyhounds gained 370 total yards to 257 for Susquehanna (0-1 overall).

Senior running back Tyler McCambridge ran for 64 yards and a touchdown to help the ground game for Moravian. Sophomore wide receiver Alex Hersch caught a game-high four passes for a game-high 58 yards, and senior fullback Morgan deRouen contributed two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown.

The Crusaders' senior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) completed 13 of 30 passes for 146 yards, but his two interceptions and one lost fumble contributed to six total turnovers by the Crusaders. Pope's favorite targets were junior split ends Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville). Young and Moran caught three passes each for 50 and 40 yards, respectively.

Junior linebacker Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) had an outstanding defensive game for the Crusaders. Johnsen made a game-high 14 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and a sack. Senior defensive lineman Andy LeClere (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills) had Susquehanna's other sack. LeClere made six tackles, including two for a loss, and recovered a fumble. Freshman linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) forced a fumble as part of 12 tackles. Junior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made 13 tackles. Freshman linebacker Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) and junior defensive back Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) both made 10 stops. Terpening's four tackles for a loss were a game-high.

Senior linebacker Andrew Morrissey led the Greyhounds with 11 tackles.

Moravian scored early and often in the first half. Senior kicker Brian Reckenbeil capped a 10-play, 43-yard opening drive for the Greyhounds with a 47-yard field goal to stake a 3-0 lead.

Susquehanna tried to answer on the ensuing drive, but a 27-yard field goal attempt by sophomore kicker/punter Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) was blocked.

Moravian took over and scored again on its next possession. This time, McCambridge scampered 22 yards across the Susquehanna goal line to finish an eight-play, 84-yard drive. Reckenbeil's extra point made the score 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

A Paveletz fumble on the following Susquehanna possession gave the ball back to Moravian in great field position at the Crusaders' 36-yard line. The Susquehanna defense swelled up to prevent six more points, but Reckenbeil made good on a 35-yard field goal try to put the Greyhounds ahead, 13-0.

Another fumble by Susquehanna on the following drive -- this time by Pope -- gave Moravian the ball at the Crusaders' 11. The Greyhounds capitalized on the short field when Braxmeier hit Morgan deRouen for a nine-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Another Reckenbeil PAT made the score 20-0.

The teams traded possessions back-and-forth following that -- highlighted by a 61-yard punt by Eppleman -- but Moravian staged a 10-play, 89-yard drive late in the first half that led to Braxmeier's one-yard touchdown plunge. Reckenbeil's PAT put the Greyhounds ahead, 27-0, heading into the locker room.

Neither team mustered much on offense to start the second half, but a lost Moravian fumble on a bad snap at their own 29 gave Susquehanna a short field. Pope completed a 24-yard pass to senior split end Matt Koziol (Shamokin, Pa./Southern Columbia) to start the drive, and Paveletz ran five total yards on the next two carries -- including a one-yard touchdown run -- to put the Crusaders on the board. Eppleman's PAT made the score 24-7.

Moravian was held off of the board for the rest of the game by a stingy Susquehanna defense that gave the Crusaders a chance. SU outgained Moravian, 158-65, in the second half.

Paveletz took the game over for Susquehanna in the third quarter. His one-yard touchdown dive and Eppleman's PAT with 2 minutes, 53 seconds left to play in the third capped a six-play, 66-yard drive in which Paveletz carried the ball six times for 51 yards. A Moravian personal foul made up the 15-yard difference, and the score was suddenly 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Susquehanna defense forced Moravian to turn the ball over on downs with 12:32 left in the fourth quarter, but another Paveletz fumble at the Crusaders' 41 gave the ball right back. The SU defense got another stop on a fourth down on the ensuing drive, but Pope's interception gave Moravian the ball right back again.

Moravian was forced to punt from their own 32 on the following possession, and Susquehanna put together an impressive 12-play drive following that. The drive ended with the game on the line on fourth-and-goal from the Moravian 6. Pope scrambled to his right and threw up a prayer in the end zone that was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Daniel Burley to effectively end the game.

Moravian had 22 first downs to Susquehanna's 15 and held the ball for 36:16 to the Crusaders' 23:44.

Paveletz moved past Larry Kerstetter ’64 for fifth in Susquehanna history in career rushing yards with 2,120.