The Friday Tailgate

Four weeks left in the regular season and four teams sit atop the standings, each with one loss while two other teams are right behind with two defeats. Makes for an interesting weekend, doesn't it?

Dickinson at Gettysburg
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Video: gettysburgsports.com. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 75th meeting between the Red Devils (3-1 CC, 5-1) and the Bullets (3-4, 3-2) in a series that began in 1892. Gettysburg holds a 40-32-2 advantage although Dickinson has won three in a row. The two teams play for the Little Brown Bucket, which was first presented in 1938 by the trustees of the two schools. The Bullets remain first in Division III in total offense (543.4 yds per game). RB Jamel Mutunga, the two-time Centennial Offensive Player of the Week, is 26th in the country in rushing (109.7). QB Matt Flynn (2,064 yards) is 63 yards shy of breaking his own single-season school passing record. Gettysburg's defense has allowed just 6.7 points per game over its last three outings. Dickinson QB Ian Mitchell leads the CC in rushing TDs (11) and is third overall with 109.2 yards per game on the ground. WR Pat O'Connor, who missed the Hopkins game with an injury, apparently is a game-time decision. DB Mike Maxwell has a Centennial-best five interceptions. Did you know that Dickinson head coach Darwin Breaux was the Gettysburg offensive backs coach from 1985-88?

Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall
Audio: WMUH-FM 91.7. Video: godiplomats.com. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 93rd time that the Diplomats (3-1, 5-1) and the Mules (1-3, 2-4) have met on the gridiron with F&M holding a 50-41-1 advantage. Did you know that Franklin & Marshall head coach John Troxell served as an assistant to Muhlenberg head coach Mike Donnelly in Allentown for four seasons? QB John Harrison became the 10th F&M passer to throw for 3,000 yards in his career and he is the fastest to that mark in Centennial history, reaching it in just 16 games. He is one TD pass away from tying the school record of 21 in a season. WR Jay Ridinger is three catches away from becoming the ninth F&M receiver to grab 100 aerials in a career, while WR George Eager needs a dozen yards to become the fourth at the school to reach 2,000 yards. The Muhlenberg defense limited McDaniel to just 44 yards and no points in the second half. The Mules are minus-10 in turnover margin. WR Phil Cresta leads the team with 39 receptions for 584 yards and three scores. 'Berg has not surpassed 300 total yards of offense since the opening weekend against Wilkes.

Ursinus at McDaniel
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 34th time that the Bears (3-1, 3-3) and the Green Terror (2-2, 4-2) have squared off with McDaniel holding a 24-8-1 advantage, including a 12-4-1 lead in Westminster. It's Homecoming on the Hill and the Terror has a 52-22-1 record in games in front of the alumni. McDaniel went 41 games without a defensive touchdown before DL Sam Cox's 36-yard fumble return for the game-clinching touchdown vs. Muhlenberg. The victory snapped a 13-game Conference road losing streak for the Terror. McDaniel is 4-1 when scoring first this season. Ursinus knocked Johns Hopkins from the CC unbeaten ranks last Saturday. WR Nick Giarratano leads the team with 30 catches for 524 yards and seven scores. LB Greg Martell leads the defense with 46 tackles. P Derek Giannetti has become quite a weapon, averaging 37.2 yards per kick and placing 13 of his 36 kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Juniata at Moravian
Audio: WSAN-AM 1470. TV: Service-Electric 2. Live Stats: No.
This is the 55th meeting in a series that began in 1932. Moravian (1-4, 1-6) holds a 27-25-2 lead after going 13-5-1 in the last 19 meetings. Juniata (0-5, 0-7) has not won in Bethlehem since 2003 (21-14). The teams had a streak of five straight years in which the game ended in a regulation tie (1995-99). Greyhound RB Ryan Rempe, who entered school as a quarterback, became the 20th player in school history to rush for over 1,000 career yards and now has 1,330. WR Shawn Sylvainus needs 43 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for his career. Juniata has not won on the road since 2004, defeating Lycoming, 14-7 - a stretch of 23 games. RB Derek Kramer set a career-high with 151 rushing yards and two TDs vs. Gettysburg. DB Beau Ryan has a team-high three interceptions. P Owen Phillips averages 37.5 yards per kick with 13 downed inside the 20.