The Friday Tailgate

Four games are on tap in the Conference this weekend, including one that could shake up the standings if history holds form.

McDaniel at Muhlenberg
The first-place Mules welcome their tormentors to Allentown for the 36th meeting in their rivalry ... the Green Terror has won 11 straight games from Muhlenberg and are 15-1-1 against 'Berg since 1990 ... McDaniel was idle last week after defeating Juniata for its first win of the season ... RB Eric Zwilsky (pictured) has burst onto the Centennial scene and is second in the Conference with nine TDs ... Muhlenberg is 5-0 for the first time since 1983 and only the third time in school history ... the Mules have scored in 99 consecutive games since a 21-0 shutout by Hartwick on Sept. 5, 1998.

Juniata at Gettysburg
Can you say "trap game"? The Bullets have to be wary of looking ahead to next week's Little Brown Bucket game against Dickinson when they host the winless Eagles ... It is teacher vs. pupil as Juniata head man Darrell Alt was an assistant on Barry Streeter's staff at Gettysburg in 2000 and 2001 ... JC has won three straight games at the Battlefield (1973-77-79) as the team renew acquaintances for the first time since 1980 ... Gettysburg has won three straight road games for the first time since 2001-02 ... RB Tom Sturges is 135 yards away from becoming just the fifth back in Centennial history to rush for 1,000 yards three times.

Moravian at Franklin & Marshall
Both the Greyhounds and the Diplomats enter the contest riding two-game losing streaks ... the 'Hounds are 1-11 all-time in Lancaster with the lone victory coming in 1991 (7-6) ... the number to watch Saturday is 20 - Moravian is 4-0 when amassing 20 or more first downs and 0-2 when moving the chains fewer times ... the #2 and #3 passing offenses in the CC will be on display, as F&M's Kyle Turner is averaging 221.0 yards passing per game, while Moravian's Marc Braxmeier leads the CC in TD passes (13).

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins
The Bears and the Blue Jays for the 50th consecutive year in a series that dates to 1958 ... the game features two of the top young RBs in the Conference in Ursinus' Aaron Harper and Hopkins' Andrew Kase ... Harper averages 106.8 yards per game, while Kase has rushed for 100 yards in each of the last three games ... Blue Jay QB Michael Murray has thrown for over 200 yards in three straight games but will be challenged by the Bear defense which is ranked second in the CC against the pass.

NCAA Statistical Leaders (Top 20)
Total Defense: 3. Muhlenberg, 177.0
Rushing Defense: 8. Muhlenberg, 58.6
Pass Efficiency Defense: 2. Muhlenberg, 75.4
Scoring Defense: 3. Muhlenberg, 7.4
Turnover Margin: 19. Muhlenberg, 1.8
Team Pass Sacks: 19. Muhlenberg, 3.6
Pass Sacks Allowed: 13. Gettysburg, 1.0
Turnovers Gained: 10. Moravian, 18.0

Rushing Yards per Game: 6. Tom Sturges, Gettysburg, 144.2
Passing Efficiency: 14. Marc Braxmeier, Moravian, 159.9
Receptions per Game: 14. George Eager, Franklin & Marshall, 8.0
Scoring: 14. Eric Zwilsky, McDaniel, 10.8
Kickoff Returns: 5. Ryan Van Wright, Ursinus, 34.2
Field Goals per Game: 3. Brian Reckenbeil, Moravian, 1.7; 10. Alex Lachman, Johns Hopkins, 1.3
Total Tackles: 8. Eric Dube, Dickinson, 13.8
Forced Fumbles: 2. Andrew Morrissey, Moravian, 0.67; 12. Kevin McGorry, Moravian, 0.5