Sunday Morning Quarterback

Dennis Weller of the Pottstown Mercury writes that there cannot be too many disbelievers anymore after Ursinus' 26-17 win over defending Conference champ Johns Hopkins.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that nothing went right for McDaniel in its 29-0 home loss to Muhlenberg. Terror Notebook

Bob Blubaugh of the Carroll County Times writes that Saturday was a referendum on McDaniel football and a chance for the Green Terror to insert itself in the Conference race.

Tim Shoemaker of the Allentown Morning Call notes that although Matt Johnson played well, it was Joe Tegan that made the biggest play of all in Moravian's 24-17 upset of Franklin & Marshall.

Tom Hinkel of the Express-Times writes that the stage was set for a collapse for Moravian but the Greyhounds would have none of it in their 24-17 victory vs. the Diplomats.

Todd Hummel of the Danville Daily Item writes that words are hard to come by to describe the feelings in the Susquehanna locker room after the Crusaders fell to Dickinson, 28-24.

Jeff Gill of the Altoona Mirror writes that Juniata's return home after six weeks away was not what the Eagles hoped for in a 56-21 loss to Gettysburg.

Roundups: Philadelphia Inquirer, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Baltimore Sun, Lancaster Sunday News, Annapolis Capital

The Friday Tailgate

We are officially at the halfway mark of the Conference football season and the time to determine whether your team is a contender or pretender is here. Johns Hopkins (2-1 CC, 2-2) kicks off the weekend under the lights on Friday night against Dickinson (1-2, 1-3). The Jays are a game behind league-leading Ursinus (4-0, 5-0) and Muhlenberg (3-0, 3-1) and may not be able to afford another loss. The Red Devils' Conference title hopes rest in the balance each week with two CC defeats on their record. The Mules look to close that half-game gap with the Bears when it welcomes Juniata (0-4, 0-4) to the Lehigh Valley. McDaniel (2-1, 3-1) also cannot afford another CC defeat when it entertains Susquehanna (1-4, 1-4) on Saturday. Moravian (2-2, 2-3), fresh off last week's upset at Dickinson, takes on the top offense in the Conference in Gettysburg (0-3, 1-3) at the Battlefield. F&M (3-1, 4-1) and Ursinus are idle this Saturday.

Dickinson at Johns Hopkins
Video: Yes. Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Live Stats: Yes.
The Red Devils and the Blue Jays meet for the 64th time in a series that began in 1891 with Hopkins holding a 32-27-4 lead. JHU is 19-11-2 in games in the Charm City and has won three straight from Dickinson since a 21-13 loss at home in 2006. Hopkins is 27-13-1 (.671) in Friday night games at Homewood Field. Dickinson is 1-1 vs. the Jays in night games, winning in 2004 (17-7) and losing in 2008 (36-34). The winner of this game has claimed at least a share of six of the last eight Conference titles (2002-03-04-05-06-09). This is the first time in school history JHU has opened a season scoring 27 or more points in four straight games. Hopkins has intercepted at least one pass in 18 straight games dating back to the final game of the 2008 season vs. Catholic. Dickinson QB Ricky Martz is second in the CC in completion percentage (63.8) and efficiency (136.6) in his first season as a starter. WR Craig Helfer has 22 receptions for 342 yards with four of those catches going for scores.

Juniata at Muhlenberg
Video: Yes. Audio: WMUH-FM 91.7. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the sixth meeting between the Eagles and the Mules since 1929 with the previous five decisions going to 'Berg. Juniata has only scored 17 points in the five games and no more than seven in any contest. Muhlenberg RBs Terrence Dandridge and J.T. Merklinger are 3-5 in the Conference in rushing with 78.2 and 75.0 yards per game, respectively. KR Chase Nadell leads the Centennial in kickoff return average with eight returns for 32.89 yards per. LB Patrick McDonough shares the CC lead in tackles with 46. Juniata RB Derek Kramer is 10th in the Conference with 208 rushing yards. PK Scott Andrews has made 3-of-4 field goal attempts with a long of 35 yards. Freshman LB Kevin Gorman is eighth in the CC with 34 tackles with 6.5 leading to loss of yardage.

Susquehanna at McDaniel
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470, WQSU-FM 88.9. Live Stats: Yes.
The Crusaders and the Terror meet for the 11th time in a series that is deadlocked at five wins apiece. On closer inspection, the series is even closer, as both teams have won twice in Westminster and three times in Selinsgrove. McDaniel has won each of the last two meetings in 2001 (63-27) and 2002 (27-7). Susquehanna's last triumph was a 21-14 win at home in 1995 and has not won in Westminster in 1969 (28-8). The Terror can match its Centennial win total from last season with a victory. WR Matt Cahill is third on the all-time Terror reception list (130) and needs five more to tie Alan Pietkiewicz '95 for second place. QB Tom Massucci has thrown for over 200 yards in seven games in his career. McDaniel is 13-3 under coach Tim Keating in games after a bye. Susquehanna RB Greg Tellish is second in the CC in rushing (78.6 ypg). QB Rich Palazzi has thrown nine TD passes, including five to WR Mike Ritter. Ritter is second in the Conference in all-purpose yards (585). PK Bobby Eppleman has not missed a kick this season, converting all 11 PATs and five field goals. He is also averaging 38.3 yards per punt. Susquehanna is last in the Conference in time of possession (23:18).

Moravian at Gettysburg
Video: Yes. Audio: WSAN-AM 1470. Live Stats: Yes.
It is the ninth time that the Greyhounds and the Bullets have met on the gridiron with Gettysburg holding a 7-1 series advantage. The Orange and Blue has won the last seven meetings since a 17-7 win by Moravian in Bethlehem in the teams' first game in 1978. Gettysburg has started fast this season, outscoring its opponents, 42-14, in the first 15 minutes. The Bullets lead the CC in rushing offense (204.5) and are second in total offense (389.8). The problem is that the defense is 10th in total defense (415.8). RB Jamel Mutunga is fourth in the Conference with 76.5 yards rushing per game. QB Kyle Whitmoyer has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 739 yards, while rushing for an additional 223 yards. RB Anthony DeSalva is third among Centennial players in all-purpose yards (570). SS Joe Delaney shares the CC lead in tackles with 46. Moravian went on the road and came away with a 24-16 win at Dickinson last weekend behind reserve QB Matt Johnson. Johnson, the team's starting strong safety for the first four games, ran for 61 yards and a score while also throwing for 174 yards. The 'Hounds amassed 320 total yards - their best offensive output of the season. WR Shawn Sylvainus is fifth in the CC in receiving yards (71.6). Moravian's defense is third in the Conference against the run (100.0) and in total defense (260.8).

The Friday Tailgate

The Friday Tailgate returns for its third season here on the Centennial Conference Today blog. We hope you'll enjoy our weekly look at the weekend's gridiron games.

This year, we welcome Susquehanna University to the Conference as an associate football member, bringing the Centennial to 10 teams. The Crusaders won the Liberty League title last fall, advancing to the NCAA tournament.

Washington & Lee at Franklin & Marshall
Audio: WLUR-FM 91.5. Video: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 11th time that the Generals and the Diplomats have met on the gridiron with the series tied at 5-5. F&M is 67-52-3 in season openers and 3-1 under head coach John Troxell. The Diplomats are also 87-34-1 in their home opener. W&L was picked to finish fifth in the seven-team Old Dominion Athletic Conference, while F&M was slotted in the #2 spot in the Centennial preseason poll. The Generals are 57-52-1 in season lidlifters and has not won a road opener since a 14-13 win at Towson on Sept. 20, 1969 - a string of 19 straight losses away from Lexington.

Gettysburg at Lebanon Valley
Audio: WMSS-FM 91.1. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 37th time that the Bullets have lined up opposite the Flying Dutchmen since 1898. Gettysburg holds a 30-6-1 lead but LVC has won four of the last six matchups, including the last three in Annville. Bullet head coach Barry Streeter ranks 11th among active Division III coaches with 155 victories. He is 6-2 in games at Lebanon Valley - his alma mater. LVC was picked second in the Middle Atlantic Conference preseason poll.

McDaniel at Juniata
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Live Stats: Yes.
It is the 23rd time that the Green Terror and the Eagles meet on the gridiron in a series that dates to 1923. Juniata holds a slim 11-9-1 lead, but McDaniel captured a 30-3 decision last year in Westminster. The Terror is 61-48-6 on opening day and coach Tim Keating is 8-9 in season lidlifters. This is the first time since 1985 that McDaniel has opened with a league foe and the September 4 date is the earliest ever for the Green and Gold to play a Conference opponent. McDaniel was picked seventh in the 10-team preseason Centennial poll, while Juniata was slotted at No. 10. The Eagles are opening with a Conference opponent for the first time since 2001.

Susquehanna at Moravian
Audio: WQSU-FM 88.9; WSAN-AM 1470.
Saturday's game is the 37th in the series between the Crusaders and the Greyhounds - who are back in the same conference for the first time since 2006. Moravian holds a 20-15-1 series lead with three straight wins over SU in Bethlehem. Susquehanna's last win at Moravian was a 41-14 triumph in 2001. The 'Hounds are 7-2 in their last nine season openers. Susquehanna - the newest member of the Centennial - won the Liberty League championship last season. SU head coach Steve Briggs (110-93) and Moravian mentor Scot Dapp (137-99-1) are the winningest coaches in their respective school's histories.

Delaware Valley at Muhlenberg
Audio: DVC Sports Network. Video: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
The Mules and the Aggies - separated by just 33 miles - will meet for the first time since 1972. Delaware Valley captured that contest, 35-14, while Muhlenberg avenged that defeat the following year, aqlso by a 35-14 count. After a season in which five of their 10 opponents continued onto postseason play, the Mules open with an Aggie squad ranked 10th in the preseason by D3football.com. Muhlenberg is 8-2 in its last 10 season lidlifters.

Ursinus at Albright
Audio: WXAC-FM 91.3; Ursinus Sports Network. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 18th meeting between the Bears and the Lions with Albright holding a 10-6-1 series lead. UC head coach Peter Gallagher (40-52) needs just one more win to tie Steve Gilbert for the most victories in school history with 41. This is the Bears' first night game since a 2007 tilt with LaSalle. Both teams were picked to finish third in their respective conference preseason polls. Albright was won nine straight games at Shirk Stadium since a loss in the 2008 season opener to Salisbury. The Lions will be sporting brand-new red uniforms for the contest.

The Friday Tailgate

At the end of the day on Saturday, the Centennial Conference football championship race will have either (1) one team atop the standings at 6-1 and three others at 5-2; (2) two teams with 6-1 CC marks and two more at 5-2; (3) two at 6-1 and one at 5-2. It is possible that we will have an outright champion for the fifth straight season. It is plausible that we could have a four-way tie for the title, reminiscent of the infamous 2004 five-way deadlock for the championship. It also harkens back to 1995, when Dickinson, F&M and Hopkins all entered the penultimate weekend of the season with 4-1 CC marks.

Franklin & Marshall at Johns Hopkins
Audio: godiplomats.com. Video: hopkinssports.com. Live Stats: Yes.
It is the 61st meeting between the Diplomats (5-1 CC, 7-1) and the Blue Jays (5-1, 6-2) in a series that began in 1912. F&M holds a 34-24-2 lead in the series and has an 18-11-2 mark at Homewood Field. Last season, Hopkins picked off a potential game-winning two-point conversion pass in the waning moments of the final period to secure a 26-25 win in Lancaster. The Diplomats, Blue Jays and Dickinson are tied for first place in the CC. Dickinson edged F&M with a last-second field goal, while Johns Hopkins knocked off Dickinson. F&M needs to win out with a Dickinson loss to either Juniata or Ursinus to get the automatic NCAA bid. A Hopkins win would leave the Jays in charge of their own fate heading into the season’s final game at McDaniel. The last time that these two teams when tied for first place was 1995. In that contest Diplomat RB Matt Eisenberg capped a long drive with a 1-yard plunge with :17 left for a 27-22 F&M win. Last week, Diplomat QB John Harrison threw for a school-record 404 yards vs. McDaniel, setting program marks for completions, yards and TDs in a season. Hopkins RB Andrew Kase ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns in the first half of the win at Juniata. Both shared the Centennial Offensive Player of the Week award. Franklin & Marshall is 31-27-2 all-time when playing in the Free State and 10-10 in its last 20 trips across the Mason-Dixon line. The Johns Hopkins SAAC is running a program called "Reuse a Shoe" at this week's game. Fans are encouraged to bring their old sneakers and running shoes to donate. The recycled shoes will be used to build basketball courts, tennis courts and tracks around the country.

Juniata at Dickinson
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
The Red Devils (5-1, 7-1) and the Eagles (1-6, 1-8) meet for the 21st time with Dickinson holding a 12-8 series advantage, including six straight victories. Juniata's last win was a 26-9 triumph at Biddle Field in 2002. This is the second night game for Dickinson at Biddle Field. Last year, the Red Devils defeated Franklin & Marshall, 34-20, in Dickinson's 1,000th all-time game and 100th meeting with the Dips. Last week, Dickinson was held to its lowest offensive output of the season (326 yards) but rallied for 17 fourth-quarter points to defeat Muhlenberg. PK Gordon Craig booted a 41-yard FG with :07 left for the game-winning points. It was the third game-winning kick of his career. Dickinson ranks 22nd nationally in turnover margin (+10). Juniata brings down the curtain on its season on Friday night. RB Derek Kramer leads the Eagles with 419 rushing yards. The Eagles are looking for their second road win of the season, something they have not done since 2003.

Muhlenberg at Ursinus
Audio: Ursinus Sports Network. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
The Mules (1-5, 2-6) and the Bears (4-2, 4-4) meet for the 73rd time in a series that began in 1900. Muhlenberg has won nine straight in the series to forge a 42-23-7 advantage. Ursinus' last victory was a 35-23 triumph in Allentown in 1999, while its last win in Collegeville came in 1996 (13-7, OT). Mule RB J.T. Merklinger had its first 100-yard game of his career last week vs. Dickinson, running for 101 yards. The defense held the Devils to their lowest offensive production of the season (326 yards). PK Michael Katz booted three FGs (29, 32 and 37 yards). He shares the CC lead with eight three-pointers. Ursinus is still in the CC championship chase, but needs wins against Muhlenberg and Dickinson, along with a little help, to get a share of its first title since 1996. QB Justin Decristofaro has thrown for 1,773 yards this year and needs 227 to become the first Bear to reach 2,000 for a season since Frank Vecchio in 1999. For the second straight week, KR Al Desiderio returned a kick for a touchdown, scampering 90 yards with a punt for a score vs. Moravian. He leads the Centennial in all-purpose yards (1,200). PK Keith Baker booted a career-long 42-yard field goal vs. the 'Hounds.

McDaniel at Gettysburg
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: gettysburgsports.com. Live Stats: Yes.
The Route 97 rivalry began in 1891 and is renewed for the 63rd time on Saturday. Gettysburg has won the last two meetings and holds a 45-16-1 series advantage. McDaniel has not won at the Battlefield since 2001 (55-7). Gettysburg ranks third in Division III in total offense, 17th in scoring offense, 23rd in passing offense and 25th in rushing offense. RB Jamel Mutunga has rushed for 822 yards and 12 TDs and needs 178 yards to become Gettysburg's 17th 1,000-yard back. QB Matt Flynn can become the Centennial's all-time leader in total offense with 70 yards in his final two games. McDaniel QB Tom Massucci became just the fifth different Terror passer to throw for over 1,500 yards in a season. Freshman C.J. Billera shares the team lead in all-purpose yards with 829. He had a career-best 110 receiving yards last week vs. F&M. The defense is sixth in Division III with 29 sacks. The Terror is 1-13 over its last 14 Centennial road games.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:
http://www.centennial.org/football/gameday/
Join the Centennial chatter:
http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=3550.2265
Join in the Tuesday press conference:
http://centennialconference.blogspot.com/search/label/press%20conference

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.

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.

Sunday Morning QB

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that Dickinson's Ian Mitchell seemed unfazed by the rain in the Devils' win over McDaniel.

His post-game notebook also talks about how Green Terror WR Matt Cahill played through the pain of a separated shoulder.

Jeff Gill of the Altoona Mirror looks for some highlights from Juniata's 34-7 loss to Franklin & Marshall.

The following newspapers provide roundups from yesterday: Baltimore Sun and Easton Express-Times, while these papers provide staff reports: Carlisle Sentinel, Lancaster Sunday News and Gettysburg Times.

The Friday Tailgate

The first weekend of fall means the first full weekend of Centennial football action with games at four venues. The biggest game of the day pits a pair of CC unbeatens as Moravian visits Johns Hopkins. Can't make the trip to see your favorite team play? You can watch two games - Moravian-Hopkins and Muhlenberg-Gettysburg - on your computer with streaming video courtesy of JHU and Gettysburg. You can also listen to the game in Baltimore, as well as the Dickinson-McDaniel contest. Follow the links below.

Coach to Cure MD
Coach To Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a professional organization for over 10,000 college football coaches and staff, and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In 2008 the AFCA adopted PPMD’s Coach To Cure MD program as one of their charity efforts. One reason the AFCA was drawn to Coach To Cure MD was because of the unique parallels between Duchenne, a disorder which robs young men of precious muscle strength and college football, a game where young men are at the peak of their muscle strength.

The goals of Coach To Cure MD are simple: raise national awareness of the disorder and raise money to fund research for a cure. Our approach to reaching these goals is also simple. One football Saturday of each season (this year it will be on September 26, 2009) AFCA coaches nationwide agree to promote Coach To Cure MD. By wearing armbands, mentioning Coach To Cure MD during on and off-field interviews, and in some instances doing even more extensive media relations around the date, coaches are rolling up their sleeves and proudly getting involved.

Moravian at Johns Hopkins
Audio: WSAN-AM. Video: hopkinssports.com Live Stats: Yes.
The Greyhounds (1-2, 1-0 CC) head south to Baltimore to take on the Blue Jays (2-1, 1-0) in a game between two Conference unbeatens. Moravian knocked off McDaniel, 21-16, two weeks ago, while Hopkins downed Gettysburg, 41-23, last Friday night. The 'Hounds have struggled offensively, mustering just under 200 yards per game, and have not scored in the second half this season. The Jays, on the other hand, are producing 363 yards and nearly 28 points per contest. Moravian hopes to have RB Ryan Rempe back in the fold after missing two games with an injury. Hopkins RB Andrew Kase holds the JHU career record with 27 rushing TDs, while his 3,311 yards are ninth on the all-time Centennial list.

Muhlenberg at Gettysburg
Audio: No. Video: gettysburgsports.com Live Stats: Yes.
The Mules (1-1, 1-0) open Conference play with a trip to the Battlefield to take on the struggling Bullets (0-3, 0-1). It is the 74th meeting between the team with Gettysburg holding a 41-31-1 overall edge. 'Berg has won three straight and eight of the last 10 games. It is a classic battle between irresistible force meets immovable object - Gettysburg is 14th in DIII in total offense at nearly 500 yards per game, while Muhlenberg is 22nd in the country allowing just under 240 yards per contest. Keep an eye on the running backs, as Muhlenberg freshman Terrence Dandridge has averaged 116 yards in his first two collegiate games, while Gettysburg junior Jamel Mutunga is averaging 113 per outing. Bullet QB Matt Flynn needs just 12 yards to become the third Centennial player to reach 7,000 total offense yards in a career.

McDaniel at Dickinson
Audio: WTTR-AM, WDCV-FM. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
The undefeated Red Devils (3-0, 1-0) welcome the Green Terror (2-1, 0-1) to Carlisle for the 65th renewal of their rivalry. McDaniel holds a 36-27-1 series lead and captured a 20-13 victory in the final minute last season in Westminster. Dickinson is 16th in the country, averaging 41 points per game. Since 1885, the Red and White has never scored more points (121) in its opening three games. Ian Mitchell set a Centennial career record for rushing yards by a QB (2,046) and a school record for career passing yards (3,895) last week vs. F&M. WR Pat O'Connor is six catches shy of tying the school career reception mark (141). Dickinson is 14-for-14 inside the red zone. McDaniel is 2-1 for the first time since 2005, following a thrilling 21-17 win vs. Catholic. It was the 100th victory for head coach Tim Keating on The Hill. Both teams are tied for the Conference lead in scrimmage plays of 20 yards or more (13). Terror QB Tom Massucci has thrown for 635 yards and five TDs this season.

Franklin & Marshall at Juniata
Audio: B2 Network. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
The Diplomats (2-1, 0-1) head west of 22/322 to Huntingdon to take on the Eagles (0-3, 0-1). It is the sixth meeting between the schools with F&M holding a 4-1 edge, including two straight victories. Juniata's lone win in the series came in 1986 at home (21-11). The Blue and White offense is ranked 29th in DIII in scoring (38.0), 9th in passing (338.7) and 59th in total offense (402.0). QB John Harrison has already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark (1,011) and has 12 touchdown tosses - the first time that's been done in three consecutive games since 1999. WR George Eager is fourth on the all-time F&M reception list (147). The Eagles are 0-3 for the fifth straight season. Juniata's offense has struggled, converting just 5-of-41 third-downs and averaging just 4.3 points per game. In fact, JC is scoreless in the 1st and 3rd quarters in 2009. QB Alex Snyder has protected the football, throwing 67 consecutive passes without an interception.

The Friday Tailgate

It's the first full weekend of Conference play, including our first of two Friday night games in the 2009 season.

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins
Audio: No. Video: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
The Bullets (0-2) and the Blue Jays (1-1) meet for the 37th time and the 10th time under the lights at Homewood Field. Hopkins holds a 6-3 lead on Friday night but Gettysburg has a 20-14-2 overall series advantage. The Bullets have had some success in Baltimore, winning 11 of 21 games with two draws, including a 41-10 win in 2007. This is the Conference opener for both schools. Hopkins is 16-10 (.615) in Centennial lidlifters, while Gettysburg is 14-12 (.538). While the game this week is about a lot more than two players, the spotlight will focus heavily on Johns Hopkins running back Andrew Kase and Gettysburg quarterback Matt Flynn. Kase is the Centennial's active career rushing leader (3,128 yards) and Flynn is the CC's active career passing leader (5,969). How rare is a meeting like this? It will have been exactly 10 years to the day since a Centennial Conference running back with more than 3,000 career yards faced a Centennial Conference quarterback with more than 5,000 career years. On September 18, 1999, Gettysburg RB Paul Smith and then Western Maryland QB Ron Sermarini entered their early-season matchup with more than 3,000 rushing yards and 5,000 passing yards, respectively.

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Video: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
It's "Wagon Week" in Carlisle and Lancaster, as the Red Devils (2-0) and the Diplomats (2-0) meet for the 101st time in the Conference's longest-running series. F&M holds a 59-38-3 overall lead, but Dickinson has captured five straight, including a 34-20 decision last year in Carlisle. To the winner goes the "Conestoga Wagon Trophy," a miniature replica of the mode of transportation used during the teams' first meeting in 1889. Two of the Centennial's top QBs meet in Dickinson's Ian Mitchell and F&M's John Harrison. Mitchell needs 26 rushing yards to set the Conference all-time record for quarterbacks and 202 passing yards to become the 24th CC passer to reach 4,000 yards for his career. Harrison has eight touchdown passes in two games with a 74.7 completion percentage. The last time both teams were undefeated entering the game was 1989 - F&M (4-0) and Dickinson (3-0-1).

Ursinus at Juniata
Audio: Ursinus Sports Network. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
Two teams looking for their first win of the season meet in Huntingdon. The Bears (0-2) have won two straight in the series to close the Eagles (0-2) lead to 10-4. Ursinus has not opened a season 0-3 since 2002, while Juniata has started 0-3 in each of the last five seasons. The Bears are 53rd in the country in passing offense, led by QB Justin Decristofaro who has 518 yards and three TDs in two games. WR Al Desiderio is averaging 23.7 yards on nine receptions. Juniata QB Alex Snyder has protected the football, not throwing an interception in 40 attempts. WR Matt Dunker averages 15.1 yards on seven catches.

Catholic at McDaniel
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
The Green Terror (1-1) closes out its non-conference schedule with a home tilt with the Cardinals (0-2). McDaniel leads the all-time series, 10-4, but Catholic has won the last two meetings. A Terror win would give coach Tim Keating his 100th victory on The Hill. RB T.J. Develin leads the Centennial in rushing (246 yds), while QB Tom Massucci has thrown for 437 yards and four TDs in two games. The defense is 22nd in Division III against the run, surrendering just 54 yards per game.

Lebanon Valley at Moravian
Audio: WSAN-AM 1470, WMSS-FM 91.1. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
The Greyhounds (1-1) try to break the Dutchmen's (2-0) Centennial win streak when the two teams meet for the 67th time on Saturday. Moravian holds a 34-31-1 series lead with victories in eight of the last 10 games, including the previous two matchups. Lebanon Valley has not won in Bethlehem since 1999 (24-13). 'Hound QB Steve Panasuk threw for 175 yards and two scores in his MC debut. WR Shawn Sylvainus has six reception with two producing touchdowns. LVC his shooting for its first 3-0 start since 1979.

Union at Muhlenberg
Audio: WMUH-FM 91.7, WABY-AM 1160. Video: Yes. TV: Service Electric 2. Live Stats: Yes.
The Mules (0-1) return to action after an off week to take on the No. 22 Dutchmen. 'Berg holds a slim 5-4 series lead after wins in the last two meetings. Muhlenberg has won three straight home openers since a 2005 loss to Union. RB Terrence Dandridge became the first 'Berg freshman to rush for over 100 yards (120) in the first game of his career since 1977. QB Justin Kreamer threw for 212 yards in his debut but was picked three times by Wilkes.

Sunday Morning QB

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes about the empty feeling left in the McDaniel team following its 21-16 loss at Moravian. He also contributes a post-game notebook.

Tom Hinkel of The Express Times writes about Moravian's bend-but-don't-break defense and how it picked up a struggling offense in the 'Hounds victory.

Jeff Schuler of The Morning Call notes that a loose ball that seemed to rest on the field for an eternity decided the Moravian-McDaniel game.

Dave Byrne of the Lancaster Sunday News writes about John Harrison's five-touchdown performance through the air in Franklin & Marshall's 42-21 win over Catholic.

Jeff Gill of the Altoona Mirror writes about Juniata's struggles on both sides of the ball in the Eagles' 43-13 loss to Susquehanna.

Dan Sernoffsky of the Lebanon Daily News writes about how Ursinus' second-half rally just fell short at Lebanon Valley.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News provides a capsule summary of Dickinson's 26-3 win over Hobart and Gettysburg's 46-43 overtime loss at Hampden-Sydney.

Here is the Philadelphia Inquirer's wrap on Saturday's local action, while the Baltimore Sun offers a Maryland perspective.

The Friday Tailgate

It's the opening weekend of Conference play - albeit with just one game on the slate - as McDaniel travels to Bethlehem to take on Moravian. Five other games are on the docket with Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall taking 1-0 marks into their home openers.

McDaniel at Moravian
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470, WSAN-AM 1470.
Video: No. Live Stats: No.
The Terror and the Greyhounds meet for the 14th time with Moravian holding a 9-4 series advantage. The 'Hounds have won both meetings as a Centennial member by 43-14 and 42-3 counts. RB Ryan Rempe rushed for 97 yards in Moravian's loss at Susquehanna. McDaniel opened with a win over Saint Vincent. QB Tom Massucci (pictured) completed 22-of-28 passes for 238 yards and four TDs, while RB TJ Develin gained another 98 on the ground. Terror coach Tim Keating goes for his 100th win on The Hill.

Hobart at Dickinson
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3, WEOS-FM 89.7. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
The Red Devils (1-0) open their home schedule against the Statesmen who were idle last week. Hobart, ranked 17th by D3football.com, has a 76.6 winning percentage since 2000 - the highest in New York State and in the top 20 in the nation. Keep an eye on WR Tyler Vincent and LB Ryan Robinson for the Statesmen. Dickinson QB Ian Mitchell was named the Conference's Offensive Player of the Week, after amassing 437 total yards and four TDs last week vs. Grove City.

Catholic at Franklin & Marshall
Audio: No. Video: godiplomats.com. Live Stats: Yes.
The Diplomats and the Cardinals meet for the 10th time with CUA holding a 7-2 seried edge. It is F&M's home opener and the Blue has an 86-34-1 record in its first contest at Sponaugle-Williamson Field. Catholic opened its season with a 21-3 loss to Shenandoah. F&M LB Sam Massaro was named the Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, after recording eight tackles, picking off a pass and leading a defense that limited W&L to just 229 total yards. QB John Harrison set a school single-game record with 35 completions on 47 throws for 295 yards and three scores vs. the Generals.

Gettysburg at Hampden-Sydney
Audio: WFLO-FM 95.7. Video: Yes. Live Stats: No.
The Bullets and the Tigers meet for the 22nd time with H-SC holding a 14-7 series lead. If you like offense, you've come to the right place, as over the last five years, the teams have combined to average 73.0 points per game. Gettysburg put up 581 yards and 42 points in its season-opening loss to Lebanon Valley. Hampden-Sydney racked up 628 yards in a 55-23 win vs. North Carolina Wesleyan. It will be a showdown between two of the top QBs in the region - Gettysburg's Matt Flynn and H-SC's Corey Sedlar. Flynn threw for 375 yards and three scores last week, while Sedlar tossed four TD passes and 404 yards.

Randolph-Macon at Johns Hopkins
Audio: WHAN-AM 1430. Video: hopkinssports.com. Live Stats: Yes.
It's the home opener for the Blue Jays who look to bounce back from a loss at Delaware Valley last week. Hopkins is 13-5-1 in Homewood openers under coach Jim Margraff. Since 1996, JHU is 16-8 against the members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. QB Hewitt Tomlin threw for 208 yards and a score vs. the Aggies, putting him over the 2,000-yard passing mark in just 12 career games. R-MC is 0-1 after a 16-10 loss to King's last weekend. RB Steve Mathews led the Yellow Jacket ground game with 84 yards last week.

Susquehanna at Juniata
Audio: WQSU-FM 88.9. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 70th time that the Crusaders and Eagles have met on the gridiron and 50th time they've played for the "Goal Post Trophy." Susquehanna leads the all-time series, 35-31-3, and in Goal Post games, 25-23-1. Juniata opened the year with a 13-0 loss at Allegheny. WR Matt Dunker grabbed five passes for 72 yards to lead the offense, while LB Chris Stephens had a team-high nine tackles. Susquehanna RB Dave Paveletz rushed for 185 yards and two scores in the win vs. Moravian.

Ursinus at Lebanon Valley
Audio: WMSS-FM 91.1. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 39th time that the Bears and the Dutchmen have met with LVC holding a 21-17-1 lead. Ursinus has not visited Annville since 1999 and have not lost to the Dutchmen on the road since 1978. QB Justin Decristofaro threw for 214 yards in UC's season-opening loss to Albright. Lebanon Valley defeated Gettysburg in its opener as RB Charlie Parker rushed for 129 yards and two scores. LVC looks for its second consecutive 2-0 start - something that hasn't happened in Annville since 1968 and 1969.

Football Media Day '09

The Centennial Conference's Football Media Day is slated for Wednesday, August 5, with a live chat with the nine head coaches. We'll begin at 11:30 with Moravian, Muhlenberg and Ursinus, while Johns Hopkins, Juniata and McDaniel will follow at 11:55. We'll close the day at 12:20 with Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg. Join the fun and ask the coach of your favorite team a question. We'll try to respond to as many questions from our audience as possible.

What We're Reading on a Sunday Morning (11/9)

Mules Take Centennial Title
"The last thing Brandon Doyle, Phil Cresta, and Erik Snyder expected was
to spend their Senior Day at Muhlenberg standing on the sidelines. Yet
the trio, each a multi-year starter, did just that Saturday afternoon --
Doyle for the entire game against Ursinus with a dislocated thumb
suffered in practice, the other two after suffering first-quarter
injuries. Cresta's injury, to his right ankle on a punt return, gave
another senior, Edward DeRisi, a chance in the spotlight. And DeRisi
responded with a career game, catching six passes for 113 yards and a
touchdown in a 45-8 Mules romp that gives them their second straight
outright Centennial Conference title and an NCAA Division III playoff
berth."
- Allentown Morning Call

F&M Falls a Point Short
"The PAT is often times overlooked in a football game. But
recent struggles converting that extra-point opportunity came back to
haunt Franklin & Marshall Saturday afternoon. Not only did the Diplomats
miss one for the fifth game in a row, it was their fear of missing
another that forced them to try a pair of two-point conversions in the
fourth quarter, including one with 29 seconds left when they trailed by
a lone point."
- Lancaster Sunday News

Mistakes Catch Up to McDaniel in Loss
"The McDaniel defense had been stifling. The offense had
been threatening. And then everything changed once the third quarter
began. Turnovers, bad decisions and a defense that could no longer hold
on against the league's best offense turned a promising homecoming game
into a 38-9 Gettysburg rout on Saturday at Scott S. Bair Stadium."
- Carroll County Times

Eagles Lose Final Game for Exiting Coach
"Emotions ran high after Dickinson handed Juniata a 53-41
Centennial Conference setback at Knox Stadium, Saturday afternoon in the
Eagles' season finale. It wasn't because of the loss, but for two other
factors - it was senior day and it the last game for head coach Darrell
Alt, who announced his resignation after five years on Friday."
- Altoona Mirror

Rout Gives the Mules a League Crown
"John DeLuca rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns as Muhlenberg clinched the Centennial Conference championship with a 45-8 rout of Ursinus yesterday in Allentown."
- Philadelphia Inquirer

Back-to-Back Titles for Muhlenberg
"Marc Bigelli must be getting used to winning by now. The 2007 Phillipsburg High School graduate entered Muhlenberg College with three Skyland Conference Delaware East Division championships and an NJSIAA North 2 Group 3 title to his credit. The sophomore guard has continued to pile up victories at the college level."
- The Express-Times

The Friday Tailgate 11/7

It's the penultimate Saturday of the college football season and the 2008 Centennial championship could be secured outright in Allentown. Muhlenberg clinched a share of the title last Saturday with its victory at Dickinson and can make it back-to-back outright crowns with a win against Ursinus. Moravian and Johns Hopkins - the two-loss teams in the CC - need a Bear victory to keep their hopes of a shared Conference title alive. The Blue Jays must defeat Franklin & Marshall, while the Greyhounds have the week off.

Academics
Eight Centennial Conference football players were named to the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District first team - John DeLuca, Joe Caporoso, Mike Nolan and Jake Floyd of Muhlenberg; Tyler McCambridge, Brian Reckenbeil and Carl Robinson of Moravian; and Steven Levinson of Johns Hopkins. Two other Hopkins' players - Anthony Catanzano and Mike Stoffel were second-team selections.

Tailgate Recipe of the Week
We have focused on pregame for most of the season ... how 'bout preparing a little halftime snack as well? This recipe for pumpkin roll is just right as Halloween disappears in the rearview mirror.

Want to get Centennial Conference football scores immediately after the game on the web or on your cell? Sign up at Twitter.com. Send the message "follow centennialconf" to 40404 and you're set to go.

Can't get enough info on today's game? Go to our Gameday site.


Ursinus at Muhlenberg
Video: Yes. Audio: No. Live Stats: Yes.
The Bears and the Mules get together for the 72nd time on the gridiron since 1900 ... 'Berg holds a 41-23-7 advantage with wins in the last eight contests ... Ursinus' last win was a 35-23 triumph in Allentown in 1999 ... UC's second-ranked rush defense (117.0) will be tested by the Mules' top-ranked rush offense (214.9) ... the Bears' O-Line has allowed a CC-high 33 sacks this season ... the punting game has been a strong point for Ursinus, leading the Conference in average (40.1) and net yards per kick (33.1) ... RB Mark Jaskowski is fourth in the CC in rushing (99.0) but has missed two games due to injury ... Muhlenberg can clinch its second outright Centennial title and sixth Conference crown in eight seasons with a victory against the Bears or Moravian ... the Mules are one of three teams that are 18-0 over the last two regular-seasons, joining Mount Union and Case Western Reserve ... RB John DeLuca needs 339 yards to reach 4,000 rushing yards for his career ... QB Eric Santagato is just the fifth CC signal-caller to reach 6,000 total offense yards for a career and he is 380 passing yards shy of becoming the fourth passer to reach 6,000 ... Muhlenberg is ranked sixth in the country by D3football.com and third by the AFCA.

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall
Video: Yes. Audio: No. Live Stats: Yes.
The Blue Jays and the Diplomats meet for the 60th time in a series that dates to 1912 ... F&M holds a 34-23-2 advantage, including a 19-11 win last season in Baltimore to snapped a 10-game Hopkins' win streak in the series ... JHU ran its win streak to three with a 12-0 win against Juniata ... it is the first time since 2003 that Hopkins has posted consecutive shutouts and the first time in school history that JHU has shut out back-to-back Centennial opponents ... RB Andrew Kase rushed for 180 yards and a touchdown, breaking the school single-season yardage record (1,151) ... it was his school-record 14th 100-yard effort and the TD also set a school rushing mark (12) ... Kase needs just 30 more yards to become the 21st Centennial back to gain over 2,500 yards in a career ... QB Hewitt Tomlin was 20-of-30 for 253 yards to raise his season total to 1,591 yards - just 245 shy of the Hopkins record for a freshman ... JHU, now 17-3 in its last 20 games in the month of November, can get its eighth season with seven or more wins since Jim Margraff took over as head coach ... prior to his arrival in 1990, Hopkins had won seven games in a season just five times ... F&M evened its record at .500 with a 20-0 whitewashing of McDaniel ... it was the Blue and White's first blanking of the Terror since 1986 (37-0) ... the Diplomats have shut out three of its four home opponents this season and have yet to yield a second-half point at Sponaugle-Williamson Field in 2008 ... Franklin & Marshall has not finished unbeaten at home since 1992 ... the two top passers in the Conference are on display Saturday - and it's not the QBs, it's the WRs ... Hopkins' Dan Crowley (791.2) and F&M's Jarrell Diggs (656.3) are 1-2 in the CC in the category, but do not have enough attempts to qualify for the Conference lead ... Crowley is 2-for-2 for 86 yards and two TDs, while Diggs is 2-for-3 for 132 yards and two scores.

Dickinson at Juniata
Video: No. Audio: Yes. Live Stats: Yes.
The Red Devils and the Eagles meet for the 20th time in a series that began in 1921 ... Dickinson holds an 11-8 advantage with five consecutive wins ... Juniata's last victory was a 26-9 win in Huntingdon in 2002 ... Ian Mitchell became just the second Dickinson QB to throw for over 1,500 yards in a season (1,507), joining Matt Torchia (2005-2006) ... he is just 21 yards shy of the 3,000-yard mark for his career ... WR Pat O'Connor grabbed eight passes for 109 yards ... his 64 catches are 10 shy of the school single-season record, while his 1,039 yards shatters the old standard of 750 ... the Red Devils share the Conference lead with 20 sacks ... Dickinson has converted 12-of-17 fourth-downs this season ... Juniata closes its 2008 season and says good-bye to nine seniors against the Devils ... DB Jordan Baird tied an NCAA all-divisions record by forcing four fumbles vs. Johns Hopkins ... he recovered one to go along with nine solo and 11 overall tackles ... QB Jay Leonard went over the 7,000-yard mark in total offense for his career (7,100) and needs 320 in his final game to break the school's career record ... the Eagles have earned 19 first downs via penalty this season.

Gettysburg at McDaniel
Video: No. Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Live Stats: Yes.
The Bullets and the Green Terror meet for the 62nd time in a series that began in 1891 ... Gettysburg holds a 44-16-1 advantage in this Route 97 rivalry ... the home team has won the last six meetings in the series ... the Bullets were idle last week ... QB Matt Flynn leads the Conference in total offense (270.5) … his fourth-quarter TD pass vs. Dickinson was the 34th of his career, breaking the school mark previously held by Dennis Flaherty '01 ... WB Charles Curcio is fourth in the CC in all-purpose yards (151.2 per game) … Gettysburg leads the Conference in passing and total offense and is second in scoring offense … the Bullets are last in the CC in red zone defense, allowing points on 83.3 percent of opponents' trips inside the 20 ... DE Josh Jerrold leads the Centennial in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (10.5) … Gettysburg is last in the CC in turnover margin (-7) ... McDaniel fell to 2-6 with a 20-0 loss at Franklin & Marshall, ensuring the Terror's third straight losing season - something that has not happened on The Hill since 1987-88-89 ... LB Mike Weick has five straight double-digit tackle games and leads the CC with 12.0 per game ... this weekend is Homecoming Weekend at McDaniel, who has a 52-22-1 record in front of the alums.