The Friday Tailgate

Welcome back to another season of Centennial Conference football! It's year #27 (1983-2009) and it promises to be a great one. The Friday Tailgate is a weekly feature here on Centennial Conference Today and looks to be your one-stop shop for all the information you'll need to enjoy Saturday's game.

* Centennial Conference football home page
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* Weekly Press Conference
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Dickinson at Grove City
Video: No. Audio: WDCV, WSAJ. Live Stats: Yes.

The Red Devils open their season on the road at Grove City. The Wolverines were 6-4 last season and are picked second in the preseason Presidents Athletic Conference poll. Dickinson leads the series, 6-1-1, with Grove City's lone win coming in 1949 (25-6). Devil QB Ian Mitchell led the team in rushing and passing for the second consecutive season and has totaled over 5,000 yards of total offense and 40 TDs. WR Pat O'Connor was selected as a preseason first-team All-American by The Sporting News after grabbing 81 passes for 1,324 yards a year ago. Wolverine QB Andrew DiDonato is the school's career leader in pass completions (510) and yardage (5,043).

Franklin & Marshall at Washington & Lee
Video: Yes. Audio: WLUR. Live Stats: Yes.

The unofficial "Battle of the Ampersand" is renewed in Lexington as the Diplomats and Generals meet for the 10th time. F&M's lone win at W&L came in 1958 (14-13). The Dips are 66-52-3 in season openers. The F&M skill positions are set with the return of QB John Harrison, RB John Kaschak and Ryan Murray, and WRs George Eager, John Ridinger, and Jarrell Diggs. QB Charlie Westfal and DE Matt Cassilly lead the Generals, who hold a 5-4 series lead.

Lebanon Valley at Gettysburg
Video: Yes. Audio: WMSS. Live Stats: Yes.

The Bullets and the Flying Dutchmen meet for the 37th time with Gettysburg holding a 30-5-1 series lead. The Orange and Blue has not won a season-opening road game since 2002. QB Matt Flynn leads a high-powered Bullet attack. He holds the school career marks for passing yards (5,207), touchdowns (37) and total offense (5,978). LVC is loaded offensively as well behind QB Caleb Fick and RB Charlie Parker.

Johns Hopkins at Delaware Valley
Video: No. Audio: athletics.delval.edu. Live Stats: Yes.

This is the first meeting between the Blue Jays and the Aggies, two teams that are favorites to win their respective conferences. Delaware Valley was ranked highly in two preseason magazines, placing fourth and fifth. Hopkins came in at 18th and 24th. JHU RB Andrew Kase needs 46 rushing yards to reach 3,000 for his career. DVC trigger-man Mike Isgro threw for 21 TDs last season.

Juniata at Allegheny
Video: No. Audio: WMGW. Live Stats: No.

The Eagles and the Gators meet for the seventh time with the series deadlocked at 2-2-2. It is the first game for new Juniata head coach Carmen Felus, who looks to buck the trend in openers. The last seven JC football coaches have lost their opening game, dating to 1969. WR Matt Dunker is the lone skill position player back from last season. He snared 29 balls for 400 yards. LB Tyler Hall had 96 tackles a year ago. Allegheny QB T.J. Salopek threw for over 1,600 yards last season.

Saint Vincent at McDaniel
Video: No. Audio: WTTR, WCNS. Live Stats: Yes.

This is the third meeting between the two schools with the Terror holding a 1-0-1 series advantage. McDaniel is 60-48-6 all-time in season openers. QB Tom Massucci, RB TJ Develin and WR Matt Cahill lead the offense, while LB Mike Weick is the defensive headliner. RB Jairus Marlow averaged nearly 8 yards per carry last season for the Bearcats.

Moravian at Susquehanna
Video: No. Audio: WSAN, WQSU. Live Stats: Yes.

The Greyhounds and the Crusaders meet for the 36th time with Moravian holding a 20-14-1 series lead. Susquehanna joins the Centennial as an associate member in 2010. RB Ryan Rempe rushed for 647 yards in the final four games of 2008. DB Daniel Burley leads the defense after recording 60 stops and four picks last fall. Crusader RB Dave Paveletz rushed for 1,314 yards a year ago.

Muhlenberg at Wilkes
Video: No. Audio: No. Live Stats: Yes.

The Mules hold a 2-1 series lead on the Colonels. A pair of freshmen take over at QB and RB for the Mules - Justin Kreamer and Terrence Dandridge. WR Phil Cresta grabbed 56 passes for 981 yards a year ago. Frank Emmett and Cam Ahouse are the defensive leader. Rob Johnson threw for 1,747 yards and 19 TDs last season for Wilkes.

Albright at Ursinus
Video: No. Audio: allinbroadcasting.com. Live Stats: Yes.

The Bears and the Lions meet for the 21st time with UC holding a slim 10-9-1 lead. The defense will shoulder the load for Ursinus in the early part of the season, led by LBs Joe Galie and Nate Mast. WR Al Desiderio may be the CC's top deep threat. The Lions are loaded offensively with QB Tanner Kelly, RB Josan Holmes and WR Nate Romig.