The Friday Tailgate

Well, well, well. Three weeks remaining in the Conference football season and we have a four-team race. Four teams - Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins and Ursinus - all with 4-1 Centennial records. Raise your hand if you had the Diplomats and Bears in the mix at the start of the season! The quartet could be considered the favorites in their games on Saturday, but better not be caught looking ahead.

Dickinson at Muhlenberg
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3, WMUH-FM 91.7. TV: Service Electric 2. Video: Mule TV. Live Stats: Yes.
It is the 65th meeting between the Red Devils (4-1, 6-1) and the Mules (1-4, 2-5). 'Berg has won nine of the last 10 meetings to take a commanding 38-24-2 lead in the series. Dickinson has not won in Allentown since 1997. The Red Devils are 18th in the NCAA in rushing offense and have scored on 28-of-29 trips inside the red zone, scoring 22 touchdowns. DB Michael Maxwell is tied for the Centennial lead and is 13th nationally with five interceptions. The Red and White is 10th in the country in turnover margin (+11). The Mules lead the CC in rushing and scoring defense. QB Dan Deighan makes his second collegiate start, while fellow freshman RB Terrence Dandridge is fifth in the Centennial averaging 77.5 yards per game.

Franklin & Marshall at McDaniel
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 43rd time that the Diplomats (4-1, 6-1) and the Green Terror (2-3, 4-3) will meet on the gridiron since 1904. F&M has won five in a row to take a 24-16-2 series lead. McDaniel's last win at Bair Stadium came in 2003 (21-7). Strange fact for Halloween -- F&M and McDaniel have played twice before on Oct. 31 (1942, 1959) and both games ended in 14-14 draws. The Diplomat defense has been stingy on third-downs this season, stopping its opposition 69.6 percent of the time. DB Barry Lovett's 69-yard fumble return for a touchdown last week was the team's first fumble return for a score in 17 years. QB John Harrison has 21 TD passes and is one away from establishing a school single-season record. With 1,973 passing yards, he is 27 away from becoming the fifth F&M passer to throw for 2,000 in a season. McDaniel can secure its first .500 season since 2005 with a victory in one of its final three games. QB Tom Massucci needs 98 passing yards to become just the fifth Terror passer to reach 1,500 yards in a season. The Green and Gold defensive line ranks sixth in D-III, averaging 3.71 sacks per game. DL Mike Ford ranks 14th in the country with 1.04 per outing.

Johns Hopkins at Juniata
Audio: No. Video: No. Live Stats: No. Twitter Updates: @hopkinssports
This is just the fourth time that the Blue Jays (4-1, 5-2) and the Eagles (1-5, 1-7) have played football against each other with Hopkins holding a 2-1 lead. This is the third straight Hopkins road game in which the Jays are the Homecoming opponent. A JHU win would be the 125th career victory for coach Jim Margraff and also the 100th all-time victory for Hopkins in Centennial play. The 69 wins this decade are the most in school history, surpassing the old mark of 55 set in the 1990s. RB Andrew Kase has run for over 100 yards in three straight games. Hopkins has scored on 25-of-29 trips to the red zone, scoring 18 touchdowns. Juniata broke a 23-game road losing streak with a 10-3 win at Moravian last week. The Eagles protect the ball, turning it over one time or less in six of their eight games. QB Alex Snyder has only been picked off three times this season- the fewest of any passer in the Conference (150 attempt minimum).

Moravian at Ursinus
Audio: WSAN-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 12th game in the Greyhound-Bear series with Moravian holding a 7-3-1 lead. 'Hound RB Ryan Rempe has 1,390 career rushing yards needs 410 in his final two games to break into the school career top 10. DL Allen Petros, who missed the Johns Hopkins and Dickinson contests, still leads the line with 34 tackles and three sacks. LB Evan Bauer leads the team with 59 stops. Ursinus had a pair of RBs go over 100 yards last week vs. McDaniel, as Teddy Conrad and Travis Evans each ran for 133 yards and combined for five TDs. KR Al Desiderio was named the Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week, after returning a kickoff 77 yards for a score. DB Chris Rountree shares the Centennial lead with five interceptions.

It All Comes Down to This

It's the final weekend of regular-season action in the Conference for field hockey, soccer and volleyball, while cross country kicks off the Centennial championship season with its run on Saturday at Gettysburg. We'll take a look at the most important games ... and give you a little playoff primer to help you sort through the possibilities for who is in ... and who is out.

Cross Country
Can they do it again? That's the question for the Dickinson College men and the Johns Hopkins University women, who pulled off surprising victories at last season's Centennial Conference Championships at Gettysburg. Dickinson became the first team other than Haverford College to win the men's title since the inception of the conference in 1993 while Johns Hopkins snapped Dickinson's eight-year run as women's champions."

Field Hockey
Gettysburg at Muhlenberg; Haverford at McDaniel; Dickinson at Washington; Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore.
What We Know: Ursinus is the top seed, Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins are in the field and the Blue Jays have a first-round bye. The winner of the Haverford-McDaniel game is in. Haverford must win to get in ... a loss and the Fords are out.
What We Don't Know: The identity of the fifth team. The Mules end the suspense with a win vs. Gettysburg tonight. A McDaniel loss leaves the Terror in the hunt along with Muhlenberg, Franklin & Marshall and Dickinson. Of the six scenarios involving teams with 5-5 records, F&M gets the berth in three, while Dickinson, McDaniel and Muhlenberg get in on one each.

Soccer (W)
Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore; Washington at Dickinson; Johns Hopkins at Ursinus; Gettysburg at Muhlenberg.
What We Know: The five teams in the tournament - Johns Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Haverford, Swarthmore and Dickinson. The Jays, Mules and Fords have first-round byes. The Red Devils and Garnet meet in the first-round game.
What We Don't Know: Where are the games? Who is the top seed? A Muhlenberg victory gives the Mules the top seed and home field for the final four. A 'Berg loss and a Hopkins' win gives JHU the top seed. A three-way tie at 8-2 goes in favor of the Mules. If Dickinson and Swarthmore tie at 7-3 or 6-4, the Garnet is the 4th seed and hosts Wednesday's first-round match.

Soccer (M)
Ursinus at Muhlenberg; Johns Hopkins at Washington; Swarthmore at Haverford; Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson.
What We Know: The five teams in the tournament - Muhlenberg, Dickinson, Swarthmore, Johns Hopkins and Franklin & Marshall. Diplomats cannot be top seed. Yep, that's it.
What We Don't Know: What the seeds are ... who plays who ... and where? Five teams separated by three points (3 for a win, 1 for a tie), so let's see the possibilities -- Muhlenberg wins and is the #1 seed. Mules lose and Dickinson wins ... Devils are top seed. 'Berg and Dickinson lose, Swarthmore wins. Garnet takes #1 spot and gets home field for the final four. Mules, Devils, Garnet lose, Hopkins wins. Blue Jays are top seed. Many more scenarios ... not enough space.

Volleyball
Haverford at McDaniel; Gettysburg at Muhlenberg; Johns Hopkins at Ursinus
What We Know: Haverford is the top seed and will host the final four. Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg have first-round byes and will meet in one semifinal. Swarthmore is the #4 seed and will host a first-round match on Wednesday.
What We Don't Know: Who plays Swarthmore as the #5 seed? McDaniel can secure the final spot with a win. Muhlenberg gets the slot with a win and a Green Terror loss. Johns Hopkins slides in with a win and losses by both 'Berg and McDaniel.

Five-Star Matchups

It's the penultimate game of the regular season in field hockey, men's soccer and volleyball. Playoff spots are on the line ... home field is up for grabs ... it doesn't get much better than this. Enjoy the games!

McDaniel at Johns Hopkins (Field Hockey)
The Green Terror (5-3, 7-8) and the Blue Jays (6-2, 11-4) meet in a game that has implications that will ripple throughout the Conference. McDaniel sits in fourth place, a game behind second-place Hopkins and Gettysburg. A Terror win puts the Green and Gold in position to lock up a first-round bye, while a loss throws the race for the final two playoff spots into a five-team chase. This is the 35th time that the two schools have met with JHU holding a 22-10-2 edge, including wins in the last four outings. McDaniel is 0-8 against Hopkins at Homewood since the inception of the Conference.

Muhlenberg at Swarthmore (Men's Soccer)
With all due respect to their season-ending opponents, this match could decide the top seed and home field advantage for next week's Centennial championship tournament. The Mules (6-1, 10-3-1) hold a two-point edge on the Garnet (5-1-1, 13-1-1) and Johns Hopkins and can lock up the #1 seed with wins tonight and Saturday against Ursinus. Swarthmore, who holds a tie-breaker advantage on the Blue Jays, could become the top seed with a victory tonight and a win against Haverford on Saturday. This is the 55th meeting on the pitch against the two teams with 'Berg holding a slim 28-24-2 lead. Each of the last two matches have ended 1-0 with the visiting team ending up on top.

McDaniel at Dickinson (Men's Soccer)
The Green Terror (3-3-1, 7-7-1) is in a must-win situation to keep its playoff hopes alive, while a Red Devil (5-2, 11-3-1) victory clinches a playoff berth. It promises to be a tight match, as the teams are tied at 8-8 since the inception of the Conference in 1993. Dickinson head coach Brian Redding has a 2-3 coaching record against his alma mater.

Swarthmore at Haverford (Volleyball)
This traditional rivalry reaches new heights tonight with playoff positioning on the line for both teams. The 25th ranked Fords (8-0, 26-3) need a victory to secure the #1 seed and home court for next week's Conference championship tournament. The Garnet (6-2, 18-7) looks to break a five-match losing streak to their arch-rivals and keep their hopes alive for a first-round bye. Swarthmore has not won at Haverford since 1993 - a streak of seven trips to the Main Line.

Five-Star Matchups

It's the last week of regular season play in the Conference and playoff positions are up for grabs.

Swarthmore at Haverford
Ursinus at Muhlenberg
Dickinson at Gettysburg
(Women's Soccer)
These three matches will go a long way to clearing up the playoff picture for next week's Conference championship tournament ... or maybe not? The Mules (7-1, 10-5) are two wins away from securing the top seed and home field for the tournament, but the Bears (4-3-1, 8-5-1) find themselves in a must-win situation. 'Berg leads the all-time series, 11-4, but Ursinus won the last meeting in Allentown in 2007. The Garnet (6-2, 12-3) and the Fords (6-2, 11-2-2) square off for the 26th time in their rivalry with a lot on the line. Both teams are tied for third place in the Conference and are still alive for the top seed ... or a bye in the first round. The last two games between the schools have ended in draws. The Red Devils (5-3, 12-3) find themselves alone in fifth place in the Conference but take on a Bullet squad (4-3-1, 9-5-1) that is a half-game back. Dickinson has not won at the Battlefield since 1988.

Dickinson at Gettysburg (Field Hockey)
This is the 41st time that the Red Devils (4-4 CC, 6-9) and the Bullets (5-2, 11-4) have played hockey since 1954 with Gettysburg winning four straight for a 28-10-2 lead. Dickinson is in a three-way tie for the fifth and final playoff spot with Haverford and Muhlenberg, while Franklin & Marshall is just a half-game back. The Bullets are still looking to secure a top-three spot to avoid the first-round game.

Football Press Conference

There are just three weeks remaining in the Conference football regular season and we have a four-way tie at the top between Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins and Ursinus. What do the head coaches think of the race? Who is the favorite down the stretch? Who will be the spoiler? Ask your question of the nine head coaches on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. right here on our weekly press conference. Can't get away from a meeting to join us live? Leave your question in the comment box by 9:45 a.m. and we'll try to get it "on the air."

Sunday Morning QB

Dave Byrne of the Lancaster Sunday News writes that Franklin & Marshall has secured its first winning season since 2004 with its 20-7 win over Muhlenberg.

Tom Hinkel of The Express-Times writes that the offensive woes for Moravian are reaching epic proportions after a 10-3 loss to Juniata.

Jeff Schuler of the Morning Call adds that, as too often has been the case this season, the Greyhounds found a way to turn elation into frustration, giving Juniata its first win of the year.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times notes that the McDaniel football team did not have as much fun as the student body in the Green Terror's 48-13 loss to Ursinus. He also provides a post-game notebook.

Travis Johnson of the Hanover Evening Sun notes that Dickinson kept the Little Brown Bucket safe from the elements and from Gettysburg in the Devils' 38-28 victory.

Staff reports are provided by the Carlisle Sentinel, the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Pottstown Mercury, Gettysburg Times and Altoona Mirror.

Area roundups are provided by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Baltimore Sun.

Vinny Tennis of the Lancaster Sunday News took these photos from the F&M-Muhlenberg contest.

Douglas Kilpatrick of the Morning Call has photos from the Juniata-Moravian game.

Five-Star Matchups

This is the next-to-last weekend of the regular season for field hockey, soccer and volleyball, while cross country prepares for next Saturday's Conference championship meet at Gettysburg. Games with playoff implications abound ... enjoy your Saturday ... and stay dry!

Dickinson at Haverford (Field Hockey)
McDaniel at Washington (Field Hockey)
It's a pair of contests that could be termed "elimination games." The Red Devils (3-4 CC, 5-9) and the Shorewomen (3-4, 6-8) might find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time with a defeat. The Fords (4-3, 6-8) and the Green Terror (4-3, 6-8) realistically need two wins in their final three games to secure a spot in the five-team playoff field. Dickinson has won nine in a row vs. Haverford since a 1-0 win by the Fords in 1999. Washington has taken two straight from the Green Terror but trails in the all-time series, 9-7.

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Soccer)
The Blue Jays (5-1, 12-2-1) travel to Lancaster to take on the Diplomats (4-2, 8-5-1) in a match that both teams need to solidify their playoff spots. Hopkins is in a three-way tie for first place and needs a victory to keep its top-seed and homefield advantage hopes alive. F&M is tied for fourth place and just a game in front of two teams for the final playoff slots. Three of the last four games between the teams have gone to OT, including last season's scoreless draw.

Dickinson at Haverford (Women's Soccer)
Swarthmore at Gettysburg (Women's Soccer)
There are six teams in the Conference with two or fewer Centennial losses and four of them square off Saturday. Only five make the tournament ... so this is a key weekend. The Red Devils (5-2, 12-2) and the Fords (5-2, 10-2-2) are tied for third place in the CC with the Garnet (5-2, 11-3). The Bullets (4-2-1, 9-4-1) are two points behind that trio in sixth position. This is the 25th meeting between Dickinson and Haverford and all but one match this decade has been decided by a goal or less. Swarthmore has not won at the Battlefield since 2002.

Swarthmore at Gettysburg (Volleyball)
It's time for the high-flying Garnet (6-1, 18-6) to measure itself against one of the perennial Centennial powers. Swarthmore has more wins than any season since the Centennial was formed in 1992, but has never beaten the 11-time CC champion Bullets (5-2, 16-7) in 27 tries. In fact, Swat has only won one set from Gettysburg since 1993. A win secures a playoff spot for the Garnet.

For key football matchups ... see The Friday Tailgate.

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.

Five-Star Matchups

Just a week and a half remain in the Conference regular season in field hockey, soccer and volleyball ... so the chase for a playoff berth is on.

Gettysburg at McDaniel (Volleyball)
This is the 66th time that the Bullets (4-2, 15-7) and Green Terror (4-2, 15-9) have stood on opposite sides of the net with McDaniel holding a 41-24 series lead. The Green and Gold has won the last two meetings at the Gill Center in five-set thrillers. McDaniel looks to Taylor Herrgott (pictured), who is second in the Centennial in hitting percentage (.328) and third in kills (3.18). Gettysburg's Kristin Kotewicz is second in the CC in digs (4.89).

Gettysburg at McDaniel (Field Hockey)
The Bullets (4-2 CC, 10-3) and the Green Terror (4-2, 6-7) meet in their annual Route 97 battle. This is the 40th meeting between the long-time rival with Gettysburg holding a 28-6-5 advantage, including three straight wins in Westminster. McDaniel's last home win in the series came in 2002 (1-0). Along with Hopkins, these two teams have just two CC losses, while three others have three defeats. As just four playoff spots hang in the balance (conceding a berth to Ursinus), neither team can afford a loss today. Keep an eye on McDaniel's Mandy Pickard, who has eight goals on the season, and Gettysburg GK Christina Anderson, who leads the Centennial with six shutouts.

Ursinus at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
After one-loss Johns Hopkins and Muhlenberg, there are five teams in the Conference with two CC losses, including the Bears (4-2-1, 8-4-1) and the Garnet (4-2, 10-3). With only five playoff spots available, a loss today could damage a team's tournament hopes. This is the 14th time that the schools have met on the pitch with UC holding a 9-4-1 advantage. Swarthmore has to mark Megan Ascanio (8) and Jess Porcelan (6) who have combined for 14 goals and turn to Marie Mutryn in net (0.69 GAA, 86.8 save pct).

Football Press Conference

Welcome to the weekly Centennial Conference football press conference. Send us your questions in the comment box below (please include your name) or join us at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Sunday Morning QB

Dave Byrne of the Lancaster Sunday News writes about the comforts of "home cooking" on a miserable fall day for a pair of Manheim Township HS grads as Franklin & Marshall defeated Moravian, 29-13.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times notes that McDaniel lineman Sam Cox was livin' the dream on the play that secured the Terror's 16-9 win at Muhlenberg. He also adds a post-game notebook.

John Toscano of the Harrisburg Patriot-News provides a wrap of action around the Conference.

The Allentown Morning Call and The Express-Times provides staff reports of the losses by Muhlenberg and Moravian.

The Baltimore Sun provides the state roundup, covering McDaniel's win and Johns Hopkins' loss, while the Philadelphia Inquirer does a capsule on area games, including Ursinus' victory.

Five-Star Matchups

McDaniel at Ursinus (Field Hockey)
The fourth-ranked Bears (6-0 CC, 12-2) head into the Maryland portion of their Conference schedule, taking on the third-place Green Terror (4-1, 6-6). Ursinus is 6-0 all-time against McDaniel and have won each of the last three contests by at least six goals. The Terror gave the Bears fits from 2003-05, dropping a pair of overtime contests and another game by a single goal. Ursinus has three players in double figures in goals - Alyssa Thren (19), Megan Yoder (14) and Jen Hooven (14). McDaniel's offense runs through Mandy Pickard (8) and Lindsay Riordan (7). Alyssa Thren, pictured

Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore (Men's Soccer)
Two of the four teams tied for first place in the Conference square off under the lights at Clothier Field on Saturday night as the Diplomats (4-1, 8-4-1) visit the Garnet (4-1, 12-1). It is the 63rd meeting between the schools in a series that dates to 1926. Swarthmore has won two straight to take a 34-24-4 series lead. The sixth-ranked Garnet is led by F Morgan Langley who has a CC-best 12 goals and GK David D'Annunzio who has posted an 0.66 goals-against average. F&M looks to Matt Melino who has a team-high 4-5-13.

McDaniel at Muhlenberg (Men's Soccer) - postponed to Wednesday
It's time to find out what the Green Terror is made of, as McDaniel (3-2, 7-6) starts a difficult stretch at Muhlenberg (4-1, 8-3-1) and continues over the next two weeks against Swarthmore and Dickinson. Tim Wineke leads the Green and Gold with eight goals. Cody Antonini leads the Mules with 10 tallies. This is the 37th meeting on the pitch between the schools. Muhlenberg is 6-0-1 over the last seven matches and is 28-7-1 overall against the Terror.

Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins (Women's Soccer)
It's a showdown between the top two teams in the Conference as the second-place Mules (4-1, 7-5) travel to the Charm City to take on the seventh-ranked Blue Jays (6-0, 11-2). It is the 21st meeting between the teams with Hopkins holding a 13-6-1 advantage, including seven straight victories. 'Berg's last triumph was in 2003 and the Mules have never defeated Hopkins in Baltimore (0-10). Erica Suter leads JHU with seven goals, while Meghan O'Grady tops Muhlenberg with six scores.

The Friday Tailgate

Football Press Conference / Football Gameday

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins
Audio: Ursinus Sports Network. Video: hopkinssports.com. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 52nd time that the Bears (2-1 CC, 2-3) and the Blue Jays (4-0, 5-1) have met on the gridiron. Ursinus has won three of the last four games to close the series deficit to 29-18-4. Hopkins has won nine consecutive Conference games. The Bears did not turn the ball overall last week vs. F&M, marking the first time since Oct. 25, 2008, that UC did not commit a turnover. There are only four seniors on the 22-man Ursinus two-deep, while Hopkins has eight. JHU head coach Jim Margraff goes for the 125th win of his career and a win vs. Ursinus would give Hopkins 100 Centennial victories since 1983. RB Andrew Kase is the sixth player in Centennial history to rush for over 100 yards 20 times. Ursinus QB Justin Decristofaro has thrown for 1,305 yards through five games - just 271 shy of the team's 2008 total for 10 contests.

Moravian at Franklin & Marshall
Audio: WSAN-AM 1470. Video: godiplomats.com. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 22nd renewal of the series that began in 1932 with the Diplomats holding a 16-5 advantage, Moravian (1-3, 1-5) has won four of five games since 1991. An F&M victory would be the 100th CC win for the Diplomats (2-1, 4-1) since 1983 and the 750th win in program history. F&M sophomore John Harrison needs 10 yards to become the fastest quarterback in Centennial history to reach 3,000 passing yards. The eight sacks recorded by the Diplomat defense was the most in a game since 2001. F&M has only won the coin toss once this season. Moravian RB Ryan Rempe, who came to Bethlehem as a QB, needs 53 rushing yards (1,241) to move into 15th place in school history. Freshman DB Travis King needs 183 yards and five kickoff returns to set Moravian single-season records in both categories.

Juniata at Gettysburg
Audio: No. Video: gettysburgsports.com. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 24th meeting between the teams since 1923. The Bullets have captured the last three contests to take a 15-8 advantage. Juniata's last win was a 28-14 triumph in Huntingdon in 1979. Gettysburg (2-2, 2-4) leads Division III in total offense (519.5), rank 13th in passing offense (321.7), 33rd in scoring offense (35.3) and 37th in rushing offense (197.8). QB Matt Flynn is second all-time in total offense in Centennial history (8,032) and third in passing yards (7,120) and TDs (54). The Bullet defense limited Moravian to just three points last week - the second time in three weeks that Gettysburg has held its opposition to a field goal. Juniata (0-4, 0-6) is averaging just 3.8 points per game. WRs Matt Dunker and Abe Mellinger have combined for 35 receptions and 375 yards. The Eagle defense is allowing 148.3 rushing and 224.8 passing yards per game.

McDaniel at Muhlenberg
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: muhlenberg.edu/sports. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 40th time that the Green Terror (1-2, 3-2) and the Mules (1-2, 2-3) have met on the gridiron with McDaniel holding a 21-15-3 advantage. The Green and Gold is over .500 after its bye week for the first time in four seasons and is 12-3 after the off-week under coach Tim Keating. The offensive line has allowed just six sacks this season. McDaniel has lost 13 straight Centennial road games. QB Tom Massucci has thrown for 1,018 yards through five games and is on a pace to become the Terror's first 2,000-yard passer since 1999. Muhlenberg RB Joe Montemurro ran for a career-high 75 yards on 12 carries, while WR Phil Cresta caught seven passes for 86 yards and a score vs. Juniata. The Mule defense is surrendering a league-low 95.8 rushing yards per game.

Five-Star Matchups

Swarthmore at Muhlenberg (Women's Soccer)
The nationally-ranked Garnet (4-1 CC, 10-2) travel to Allentown to take on the Mules (3-1, 6-5) in a game between the two teams closest to front-running Johns Hopkins in the standings. Swarthmore, ranked 17th by the NSCAA and 20th by D3soccer.com, has won three straight games since a 1-0 loss to the Blue Jays on Sept. 26. The Mules broke a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at Washington last Saturday. This is the 17th time that the two schools have met on the pitch with Muhlenberg holding an 11-3-2 advantage, although Swarthmore is 2-0-1 over the last three matches.

Football Press Conference 10/13

Welcome to the Centennial Conference football press conference for Tuesday, October 13. The press conference begins at 10 a.m. EDT with Ursinus head coach Peter Gallager and concludes after 11 a.m. with Muhlenberg head coach Mike Donnelly. Have a question for the coach? Leave it in the comment box below (before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday) or join in the conference. It is a moderated press conference and we'll try to get to all of the questions as time permits.

Four games are on tap this weekend: Moravian at Franklin & Marshall; Juniata at Gettysburg; Ursinus at Johns Hopkins; and McDaniel at Muhlenberg.

Sunday Morning QB

Jeffrey Kauffman of the Carlisle Sentinel writes that field goals were not enough for Dickinson in its 23-12 loss to Johns Hopkins.

John Toscano of the Harrisburg Patriot-News notes that when it mattered, Johns Hopkins bottled up the high-powered Dickinson offense on the way to a 23-12 victory. Also, the Patriot-News provides a photo gallery from the game.

Steven Moore of the Pottstown Mercury writes that penalties and sacks hurt Ursinus in its 21-14 loss to Franklin & Marshall.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times pens that McDaniel can't let up as it enters the second half of the Centennial season.

The following newspapers have staff reports from the local games - The Express-Times, Allentown Morning Call (Muhlenberg), Allentown Morning Call (Moravian), and Lancaster Sunday News.

The following papers provide roundups - Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Friday Tailgate

Centennial Football Gameday:
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Johns Hopkins at Dickinson
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Video: No. Live Stats: No. Twitter: Yes.
It's the game of the day in the Conference ... and could be the game of the season. The undefeated Red Devils (3-0 CC, 5-0), ranked 25th in DIII by the AFCA, welcome the Blue Jays (3-0, 4-1) to Carlisle as their Homecoming opponent. This is the 63rd time that the two schools have met on the gridiron with Hopkins holding a 31-27-4 edge, including three straight wins at Biddle Field. Dickinson's last win over Hopkins at home came in 2001 (17-14, OT). The Blue Jays are 3-5 against teams ranked in the AFCA top 25 (poll debuted in 1999). Turnovers always play a difference in a football game and Saturday should be no different. Hopkins is +10 in turnover margin this season, while Dickinson is +9. Dickinson's Ian Mitchell set a Conference record for rushing TDs by a quarterback with 11. Johns Hopkins RB Andrew Kase leads the Conference in rushing (596 yds) and has 19 100-yard games in his career.

Franklin & Marshall at Ursinus
Audio: Ursinus Sports Network. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
The other big game of the day sends the one-loss Diplomats (1-1, 3-1) to Collegeville to face the third CC unbeaten Bears (2-0, 2-2). It promises to be a day filled with footballs, as F&M's John Harrison and Ursinus' Justin Decristofaro have combined to throw for 2,469 yards and 23 touchdowns in just four games. Diplomat WR George Eager leads the Conference with 32 receptions for 421 yards and eight TDs. Bear WR Nick Giarratano caught 11 passes for 218 yards last week vs. Gettysburg. It is the 91st renewal of one of the Centennial's longest-running series. F&M holds a 61-25-4 advantage in a series that began in 1894.

Gettysburg at Moravian
Audio: WSAN-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
This is just the eighth time that the Bullets (1-2, 1-4) and the Greyhounds (1-2, 1-4) have met on the gridiron since 1978. Gettysburg holds a 6-1 advantage and has won both games since Moravian's entrance into the Conference. The Orange and Blue set seven Conference records in last weekend's loss at Ursinus, including combined total offense (1,317) and points (105), most points by a losing team (50), most passing yards (Matt Flynn, 519) and total offense (Flynn, 522), most TD passes (Flynn, 7) and most TD responsible for (tie, 7, Flynn). Gettysburg leads Division III in total offense (534.6) and has scored 20 or more points in each of its five games, averaging 35.6 ppg. Moravian, on the other hand, has been shut out twice, held to a field goal in two other games and is averaging just 5.4 ppg. RB Ryan Rempe was back at full strength last week and ran for 169 yards.

Muhlenberg at Juniata
Audio: No. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes. Live Blog: Yes.
The Mules (0-2, 1-3) and the Eagles (0-3, 0-5) square off in Huntingdon for the fifth time in a series that began in 1929. 'Berg has won the previous four games, including a 38-7 decision last fall. Muhlenberg RB Terrence Dandridge leads all freshman in the Centennial with 396 yards rushing. QB Justin Myers came off the bench last week vs. Hopkins to throw three TD passes and earned the start vs. Juniata. The Eagles' offense has struggled this season, producing just 23 points in five games. P Owen Phillips has become a weapon, averaging 38.1 yards per punt with five kicks longer than 50 yards and 10 downed inside the 20 yard-line.

Five-Star Matchups

Here is our look at the big games for the weekend.

Johns Hopkins at Washington (Field Hockey)
The lone tilt on Friday night pits the Blue Jays (3-1 CC, 8-2) and the Shorewomen (3-1, 6-5) in a match that will have playoff implications. Hopkins leads the all-time series, 16-9, and has won three straight. Washington's last win in Chestertown was in 2004 (3-1). This one features two of the top 'keepers in the Conference in JHU's Sophia Tieu (1.25 GAA, 80.3 save pct) and Washington's Elena Nicholoff (1.70, 79.3).

Dickinson at Johns Hopkins (Men's Soccer)
Another battle of top 25 teams in the Conference as the Red Devils (3-1, 8-2-1) travel to Baltimore to take on the Blue Jays (3-1, 10-2). Dickinson is ranked 15th by D3soccer.com and 18th in the latest NSCAA poll, while Hopkins comes in at No. 12 according to D3soccer.com. It is the 45th meeting on the pitch between the two schools with JHU holding a 29-12-3 advantage. Dickinson broke a 13-match losing streak with a 2-1 win at Homewood Field in 2007, but JHU made it 14 out of 15 with a 4-2 triumph last season in Carlisle. Keep an eye on the strikers - Dickinson's Thomas Parkinson (9-1-19) and JHU's Scott Bukoski (10-0-20).

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins (Women's Soccer)
It's a big day at Homewood Field for soccer fans as the Bullets (2-1-1, 6-3-1) and the Blue Jays (4-0, 9-2) kick things off. The two teams have met 22 previous times with Gettysburg holding the slightest of leads, 11-10-1. Eighth-ranked Hopkins has won four straight since the Orange and Blue captured a 2-0 decision in Baltimore in 2005. These have been the two most successful programs in the Conference, combining to win 12 of the 16 Centennial titles. Erin Stafford leads the Jays in scoring (3-6-12). Bullet 'keeper Allie Rivera has an 0.69 goals-against average and has not surrendered a goal in over 300 minutes.

Dickinson at Swarthmore (Volleyball)
The Red Devils (2-1, 5-10) and the Garnet (3-1, 13-6) meet in a match that will have playoff implications when the five-team field is officially determined at the end of the month. It is the 19th meeting in the series with Dickinson winning three straight to take a 10-8 lead. Swarthmore's last win over the Devils at Tarble Pavilion came in 2002 (3-1). Elly Gosheva leads Dickinson with 1.94 kills per set, while Genny Pezzola tops the Garnet at 3.76 KPG.

Five-Star Matchups

Haverford at Franklin & Marshall (Volleyball)
It figures to be the biggest match of the Conference volleyball season as a pair of CC unbeatens square off in Lancaster. Haverford (4-0 CC, 18-2), three-time Centennial champion, is ranked 20th in the country. Franklin & Marshall (5-0, 18-3), winner of four Conference titles, has won 12 of its last 13 matches - all by 3-0 sweeps. The two teams are 1-2 in the CC in hitting percentage, while the Diplomats lead the Centennial in team blocks. The Salvo sisters - Rebecca (3.51) and Rachel (3.15) - have combined for 6.66 kills per set for Haverford, while F&M's Nicole Morano (2.70) and Kerry Rom (2.64) have combined for 5.34. It is the 27th meeting between the two schools with the Diplomats holding a 19-7 series lead. Can't make the trip to Mayser Center? Watch the match on your computer!

Ursinus at Muhlenberg (Field Hockey)
The fourth-ranked Bears (3-0 CC, 9-2) travel to Allentown to take on the Mules (2-1, 6-3). Ursinus is 7-0 all-time against 'Berg, including three straight shutout wins. Muhlenberg is one of four one-loss teams in Centennial play and can send a statement to the Conference with a victory.

Football Press Conference

Week #6 of the Conference football season has the best matchups of the year, as Johns Hopkins (3-0, 4-1) visits Dickinson (3-0, 4-0) and Franklin & Marshall (1-1, 3-1) travels to Ursinus (2-0, 2-2). We'll have questions for the nine head coaches on Tuesday morning, but you can also get your questions in as well. Leave them in the comment box below ... or better yet ... join in at 10 a.m. and ask your question LIVE! One change in format -- Ursinus head coach Peter Gallagher will go first, as he participates in an NCAA regional call later this morning.

Sunday Morning QB

Darryl Grumling of the Pottstown Mercury writes that Ursinus is 2-0 in the Conference, thanks to Justin Decristofaro, after the Bears' 55-50 shootout victory over Gettysburg.

Jeff Schuler of the Allentown Morning Call writes that Muhlenberg's strong second-half was unable to overcome its first in the Mules' 40-27 loss to Johns Hopkins.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that McDaniel didn't waste a well-timed visit by winless Juniata in its 30-3 victory over the Eagles. He also notes that although C.J. Billera is small in stature, he is coming up big when called upon.

Tom Hinkel of The Express-Times pens that missed opportunities and turnovers best describe Moravian's 21-3 loss to undefeated Dickinson.

Mike Gross of the Lancaster Sunday News talked with Franklin & Marshall's George Eager during the Diplomats' bye week and found that he had the ability to take it to the next level even before stepping on the field.

The Carlisle Sentinel provides a staff report on Dickinson's win at Moravian. The Philadelphia Inquirer, York Sunday News and Baltimore Sun provide roundup summaries of Conference games.

The Friday Tailgate

Dickinson at Moravian
Radio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
This is the 13th meeting between the Red Devils (2-0 CC, 4-0) and the Greyhounds (0-2, 1-3) in a series that began in 1933. Dickinson has won both games since Moravian joined the Conference in 2007. The 'Hounds last win was a 33-12 triumph in Bethlehem in 1980. Dickinson's Ian Mitchell is the first Centennial QB to rush for 2,000 yards and throw for 4,000 yards. WR Patrick O'Connor holds the school record for receptions (149) and yards (2,308). Moravian has not scored a touchdown in the last 10 quarters. The three losses have come at the hands of teams with a combined 9-1 record this season. The starting QB - Steve Panasuk or Patrick Weiss - is a gametime decision.

Gettysburg at Ursinus
Audio: Ursinus Sports Network. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 53rd time that the Bullets (1-1, 1-3) and the Bears (1-0, 1-2) have met in a series that dates to 1903. Gettysburg holds a 31-17-4 advantage and has won the last three matchups. The Bullets are 14th in the nation, averaging 494.8 yards per game. QB Matt Flynn is 12th in DIII in total offense (332.8). P Brian Betley leads the Conference with a 39.1 yard average. Bear QB Justin Decristofaro has thrown for 752 yards in three games. WR Al Desiderio is averaging 25.5 yards on 12 receptions.

Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg
Audio: WMUH-FM 91.7. Video: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
One of the most competitive series in the Centennial Conference renews itself for the 42nd time as the Blue Jays (2-0, 3-1) travel to take on the Mules (0-1, 1-2). Muhlenberg leads the all-time series 22-18-1 and has won six of the last eight matchups. Since the inception of the Centennial Conference in 1983 the Mules hold a slender 14-12 lead. How close has the series been since 1983? Muhlenberg has outscored JHU 440-424 in the 26 games for an average score of 16.9-16.3. Five of the last 12 games have been three-point affairs and eight of the 12 have been decided by eight points or less. This is the first of three straight road games in which Hopkins will be a Homecoming opponent. Muhlenberg leads the CC in scoring (13.) and rushing (106.0) defense. Hopkins RB Andrew Kase is averaging 111.8 rushing yards per game by himself.

Juniata at McDaniel
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 22nd time that the Green Terror (0-2, 2-2) and the Eagles (0-2, 0-4) have met on the gridiron since 1923. Juniata took a 12-10 decision last year to bolster its series lead to 11-9-1. It's Families Weekend in Westminster ... that usually means a McDaniel win. The Terror has a 15-year win streak on this weekend, and that's only because the school isn't sure when the game was played prior to 1994. Juniata has not won on the road since 2004, a streak of 21 games. Saturday is a homecoming for Eagle head coach Carmen Felus, who played for Tim Keating and the Green Terror in 1993 and 1994.

Five-Star Matchups

Swarthmore at McDaniel (Volleyball)
It is a matchup between two teams looking to contend for a playoff berth when the Garnet (2-0, 12-5) travels to Maryland to take on the Green Terror (2-1, 11-6). McDaniel leads the all-time series, 17-3, and Swarthmore is winless in Westminster. Taylor Herrgott leads the Terror offense, averaging 3.07 kills per set and hitting .344. Genny Pezzola heads the Garnet attack, leading the CC in kills (3.71).

Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg (Men's Soccer)
It's the annual renewal of one of the Centennial's top soccer rivalries as the Blue Jays (2-1, 9-2) travel to Allentown to take on the Mules (3-0, 6-2). The two programs have combined to win 12 of the 16 Conference championships and have a combined Centennial record of 226-52-16. Hopkins holds a 13-10-2 series advantage. Two of the CC's top goal scorers square off under the lights at Varsity Field - Hopkins' Scott Bukoski (9) and 'Berg's Cody Antonini (9).

Dickinson at Muhlenberg (Women's Soccer)
The Red Devils (1-2, 7-2) come to the Lehigh Valley to take on the Mules (2-0, 5-3) on Homecoming in Allentown. Dickinson has dropped two of its last three games - both coming at the hands of nationally-ranked CC foes. Muhlenberg is fresh off a victory against Haverford, snapping the Fords' 10-game regular-season unbeaten streak. The Mules lead the all-time series, 13-3-2, but the Devils are 1-0-1 in their last two trips to Varsity Field.

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Field Hockey)
The Bullets (2-1 CC, 7-2) travel to Collegeville to take on the fourth-ranked Bears (2-0, 8-2) in a match that usually has an impact on playoff seeding. Gettysburg has been living on the edge recently, winning its last two games despite being outshot significantly in both. Ursinus, on the other hand, has been taking no prisoners, winning its last five matches by at least four goals. The Bears are 9-0 all-time against the Bullets.