The Friday Tailgate

A good first week for the Centennial Conference with McDaniel and Moravian jumping out to 1-0 CC starts and F&M, Gettysburg and Ursinus taking out non-conference opponents. Dickinson and Johns Hopkins, both idle last week, kick-off their seasons on Saturday, while three Centennial games take place, including a showdown in Lancaster.

Ursinus at Franklin & Marshall
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This is the 92nd renewal of a series that dates to 1894 with the Diplomats holding a 62-25-4 all-time advantage. F&M has won two straight matchups and six of the last eight. The Blue and White is 34-11-2 vs. the Bears in Lancaster. F&M and Ursinus were picked two and three, respectively, in the CC's preseason coaches poll, while both teams received votes in this week's D3football.com poll. Bear head coach Peter Gallagher tied Steve Gilbert for the school's career victory list (41) with last Saturday's win at Albright. F&M QB John Harrison was the Conference's co-Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 305 yards and three TDs vs. W&L. It was the sixth time he has thrown for over 300 yards. Ursinus QB Justin Decristofaro (pictured) threw for 248 yards and two scores vs. Albright. This is the only away game that the Bears will play on grass this season. Did you know that Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen '94 is a graduate of Ursinus? He was first-team All-Centennial as a tight end in 1993.

Moravian at McDaniel
Video: No. Audio: WTTR-AM 1470, WSAN-AM 1470. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 15th meeting between the Greyhounds and the Green Terror in a series that dates to 1972. Moravian holds a 10-4 advantage including three straight victories since joining the Conference in 2007. The last McDaniel triumph was a 21-7 victory in the 2002 ECAC Southeast Bowl. The Terror's 3-0 win at Juniata last week was its first shutout since Oct. 16, 2004 (Dickinson 20-0) and first 3-0 victory since an Oct. 17, 1942 contest against Mount St. Mary's. It is just the second time that a Conference game has been decided by a 3-0 score, joining the Sept. 24, 1983 game between Muhlenberg and F&M won by the Mules. PK Bill Castor was named the Centennial's co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-winning 27-yard field goal. The Greyhounds opened their CC slate with a 12-6 home win against Susquehanna. RB Rocco DelPriore ran for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Juniata at Susquehanna
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It is the 51st edition of the "Goal Post Trophy Game," with the Crusaders holding a 26-23-1 lead in the series. The Trophy is a piece of the Susquehanna goal post that was taken by enthusiastic Juniata fans after a 1952 victory. It is the first home Centennial game for the Crusaders, who joined the Conference this fall as an associate member for football. Juniata has not won in Selinsgrove since 1980 (27-10) - a stretch of 14 games. Both teams are in search of their first win of the season, as Juniata was blanked by McDaniel, 3-0, and Susquehanna was downed by Moravian, 12-6. Bobby Eppleman kicked a pair of field goals, covering 20 and 23 yards, for SU in its defeat.

Dickinson at Hobart
Video: Time Warner Cable Sports. Audio: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 20th time that the Red Devils and Statesmen have met on the gridiron since 1934 with Dickinson holding a slight 10-8-1 advantage. The Devils captured a 26-3 win last season in Carlisle but has not on in Geneva since a 15-9 win in 1998. It will be both teams' first appearance on the all-new Boswell Field which now sports FieldTurf, new stands and press box, and a video board. Dickinson was 8-2 a year ago but must find a replacement for All-Centennial QB Ian Mitchell who graduated as the only CC quarterback to ever rush for 2,000 and throw for 5,000 yards. PK Gordon Craig could be a difference-maker for the Devils, after booting 37-of-39 PATs and 9-of-10 FGs in 2009. Hobart finished 6-3 a year ago and returns 11 starters, including QB Doug Vella, who threw for 1,369 yards and seven TDs last season.

Johns Hopkins at Randolph-Macon
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This is the 34th time that the Blue Jays and the Yellow Jackets have met with Hopkins holding a slim 17-15-1 advantage. JHU has won the last two meetings, including a three-OT thriller in Ashland in 2008. Hopkins is 11-8-1 in season-openers under head coach Jim Margraff and 8-3 in its last 11 lidlifters. The Blue Jays are ranked 19th in the latest D3football.com poll. Hopkins is 36-13 away from Homewood since 2001 and 18-8 vs. the ODAC since 1996. Randolph-Macon opened its season with a 54-14 win at Methodist last weekend. QB Austin Faulkner threw for 220 yards and three scores in the victory.