2008 Record 4-6 .400 Overall 3-4 .429 Conference Location: Selinsgrove, PA Head Coach: Steve Briggs (Springfield '84) Stadium (cap.): Nicolas A. Lopardo (4500) Conference: LL Region: East 2009 Schedule

2009 Susquehanna University Football Program Overview

The Susquehanna University football team enters its third and final year of membership in the Liberty League in 2009, as the Crusaders join the Centennial Conference starting in 2010.

Susquehanna will face the same schedule it had during the 2008 season when the team posted a record of 4–6, including a 3–4 mark in the Liberty. But SU hopes to continue its climb up the league standings this season in the hope of leaving the Liberty with a championship.

The 111th season of Susquehanna football starts at home at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium in Selinsgrove, Pa., with a tilt against Centennial team Moravian College on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. Moravian topped the Crusaders, 27–14, last year despite 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Dave Paveletz ’10 (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) and a game-high 14 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, from Pete Johnsen ’10 (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley).

In addition to the Greyhounds, Juniata College and Lycoming College will once again make up SU’s nonconference schedule. The Crusaders will try to retain “the Goal Post” when they play Juniata in Huntingdon, Pa., on Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. Other than 2007, Susquehanna and Juniata have met every year since 1962. Last year, Marc McDonough ’10 (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) stopped the Eagles on fourth-and-goal from the SU one-yard line to preserve a 10–3 Crusaders win.

SU hosts Lycoming with a chance to reclaim “the Stagg Hat” this year on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. SU fell to the Warriors on the road last year, 28–16. Still, Keith Howell ’10 (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made a game-high eight catches for 80 yards to go with a game-high 13 tackles from Mitch Phillips ’12 (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg).

The Crusaders again play all seven opponents from the Liberty this year. SU will host defending league champion Hobart College in both teams’ 2009 league openers on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Hobart beat Susquehanna last season, 27–14, despite a game-high 107 rushing yards from Paveletz.

SU then takes on the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., on Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Last year, the Crusaders shocked the Mariners, 37–35, with a last-second 19-yard field goal from Bobby Eppleman ’11 (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley). Eppleman’s unorthodox onside kick with 23 seconds left in the game gave SU its final chance.

The Crusaders travel to the University of Rochester next for an Oct. 10 contest at 1 p.m. Paveletz ran for a school-record 288 yards on a school-record 47 carries to lead Susquehanna to a 28–13 win over Rochester at home last year.

The Orange and Maroon return home to face Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Oct. 17 this year at 1 p.m. Though Trevor Terpening ’12 (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) would make a game-high 13 tackles at Rensselaer last year, the Engineers still prevailed, 35–14.

The Crusaders enjoy an open week next before making the long trip to face St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., on Halloween at 1 p.m. SU suffered a tough, 49–42 loss to St. Lawrence at Lopardo Stadium in 2008 despite Paveletz’s game-high 153 rushing yards, including two TD.

Following the Saints, SU takes on Worcester Polytechnic Institute at home on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. amidst Homecoming and Senior Day festivities. Last year, Susquehanna responded to its St. Lawrence loss by playing perhaps its best game of the season in a 51–21 romp at WPI. In that game, Paveletz ran for a game-high 160 yards and two TD.

The 2009 season wraps up at Union College on Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. Derek Pope ’09 threw a game-high 28 completions against Union last year for a game-high 372 yards but couldn’t prevent a 51–45 Dutchmen win.

Head Coach Steve Briggs returns 16 starters and 27 letterwinners in 2009. Kyle Ream (split ends), Rob Campbell ’09 (tight ends) and Satyen Bhakta (defensive line) join SU as assistant football coaches this season.

OFFENSE: PRO

All-America candidate and SU’s all-time leading rusher Paveletz will once again lead the Crusaders offense in 2009. A captain, Paveletz has been an all-Liberty teamer the past two years while leading the league in rushing yards both times. In 2008, his 131.4 rushing yards per game ranked 15th in Division III.

The bullish Paveletz will have to run without two-time all-league fullback Charlie Henry ’09 this year. Mike Buonocore ’10 or transfer Connor McGrath ’12 will be relied on to fill Henry’s shoes. (McGrath practiced with the team this spring.) Greg Tellish ’12 (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) and Josh Gordon ’12 (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS) should get some carries in 2009 as well. Tellish ran 27 times for 166 yards (6.2 average) and a TD last year.

Two starting offensive linemen are gone—center Cody Loeffler ’09 and all-league left guard Brandt Waples ’09—but the team welcomes back 6-foot-3, 280-pound left tackle and All-America candidate Drew Champney ’10 (Victory, N.Y./Victor); 6-foot, 305-pound right tackle James Rogers ’11 (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights); and 6-foot-3, 280-pound right guard Paul Russick ’11 (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area). (Champney has made two all-league teams.)

A host of linemen will be after the two OL openings, including 6-foot-1, 275-pound Ryan Schumann ’11 (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson–Fair Haven Regional), who gained a lot of experience in 2008, including one start. Experienced tight ends Matt Knouse ’12 (Elliotsburg, Pa./West Perry) and Max Piorkowski ’11 (Nazareth, Pa./Northampton) both return in 2009.

All-Liberty quarterback Pope is gone, leaving a starting QB battle between Rich Palazzi ’12 (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack), who started two games in 2008, and newcomer Skyler Hunt ’12 (York Haven, Pa./Red Land). Palazzi completed 16 of 34 passes last year for 106 yards. Hunt, who has freshman eligibility, practiced with the team this spring.

The Crusaders’ three leading receivers are back this year, led by Paveletz, who caught 36 passes in 2008 for 263 yards and a TD. J.J. Moran ’10 (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) caught 32 passes in 2008 for 417 yards and three TD, and Howell collected 29 passes for 321 yards and three scores. Justin Young ’10 (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) led the team with four TD catches in 2008 among his 24 receptions for 337 yards.

DEFENSE: MULTIPLE

Young starting linebacker Phillips and young starting defensive end Terpening return this year in support of a strong senior class on defense. The all-league Phillips led SU with 75 tackles in 2008, while Terpening made 58 stops. Also returning is starting defensive back Josh Simpson ’10 (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills). Simpson led the Susquehanna gridders with 44 solo tackles last year (67 total) to go with two interceptions. Another veteran, starting defensive lineman McDonough, made 45 stops last year, including a team-high three sacks.

LB Erich Majors ’10 (Harrisburg, Pa/Harrisburg), who also had 45 stops last year, returns, as does Johnsen, who had 42. Phillips and McDonough forced three and two fumbles last year, respectively, but Majors, a captain, may be the hardest hitter on the team.

SU will need to address two key losses on defense in all-Liberty defensive tackle Andy LeClere ’09 and all-Liberty and All-America DB John Lunardi ’09. DL Seth Ray ’10 (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) and Greg Hunter ’11 (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton Area) and DB Braden Klingler ’11 (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area), James Conway ’11 (Rockton, Pa./Dubois Area), Jesse Eggerton ’12 (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) and offensive convert Tony McIntosh ’10 (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove) could be some players to help offset those losses. Klingler made 45 tackles last year and intercepted four passes.

Ryan Eck ’10 (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.), Tim Pierce ’12 (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) and Andy White ’12 (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) will support the LB corps.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter/placekicker Eppleman returns in 2009. A two-time all-league kicker and one of the best punters in the nation, Eppleman earned all-Liberty and All-America honors at punter last year when his 42.74 yards per punt ranked third in Division III and set new SU single-season and career records.

Moran should handle the majority of kick and punt returns again this year. Last year, he averaged 16.2 yards and 9.2 yards per kick and punt return, respectively. Simpson has returned a blocked punt for a TD each of the last two seasons.