Sunday Morning Quarterback

Mike Finney of the Wilmington News Journal writes that third-ranked Wesley made a statement in its 53-14 victory over Muhlenberg.

Jeff Schuler of the Morning Call writes that Wesley eliminated the Centennial champion for the fifth straight season, defeating Muhlenberg, 53-14.

Andy Mease of the Lebanon Daily News writes that sometimes, a great play could lead to a nightmare, as Johns Hopkins routed Lebanon Valley, 44-14.

Dave Rosengrant of The Times-Leader writes that Moravian turned the tables on Wilkes in the turnover category as the Greyhounds defeated the Colonels, 26-14.

Michael Cignoli of the Times-Tribune notes that turnovers made the difference in Moravian's victory at Wilkes.

Matt Shetlet of the Observer-Reporter says that Washington & Jefferson's 54-41 victory over Franklin & Marshall was a treat for fans of offensive football.

Roundups: Philadelphia Inquirer, Annapolis Capital, The Express-Times, Lancaster Sunday News,

Sunday Morning Quarterback

Moravian's Joe Tegan (top) tries to break the tackle of Muhlenberg's Shane O'Connor. (ROB KANDEL, THE MORNING CALL)

Jeff Schuler of the Morning Call writes that the 2010 Centennial season will show tri-champions, but the best team at the end of the season is not one of them.

Tom Hinkel of the Express-Times writes that Moravian's biggest hero in its 14-13 win over Muhlenberg was not one of the usual suspects.

Jim Wagner for the Pottstown Mercury writes that Ursinus made 2010 a memorable season with a 41-21 victory against Dickinson.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that this was not the way McDaniel wanted to end its season - a 34-10 loss at Johns Hopkins. Notebook

Travis Johnson of the Evening Sun notes that Gettysburg's Charles Curcio and his fellow seniors delivered a message to their teammates and to Franklin & Marshall in a 57-35 triumph.

Phil Soto-Ortiz of the Patriot-News that Gettysburg missed starting QB Kyle Whitmoyer not a whit in a 57-35 win against F&M.

Dave Byrne of the Sunday News pens that the last group to have as unpleasant a trip to Gettysburg as F&M was the Army of Northern Virginia, as the Diplomats dropped their season finale.

Jeff Gill of the Altoona Mirror writes that there were no wins for the seven seniors on Juniata's football team to celebrate this season, after a season-ending loss to Washington and Lee.

STAFF REPORTS
Pottstown Mercury, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun, The Sentinel.

The Friday Tailgate

For the final time this season, we present "The Friday Tailgate." It has been quite the football season in the Centennial Conference and it's not over yet. Muhlenberg has clinched a share of the CC championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, but Johns Hopkins and Ursinus can also still get a share of the title. A Moravian win over the Mules, combined with wins by either the Blue Jays or the Bears will result in a shared crown.

Muhlenberg at Moravian
Audio: WMUH-FM 91.7, WSAN-AM 1470. TV: Service-Electric TV-2
It is the 59th time that the two Lehigh Valley rivals will meet on the gridiron with the 'Hounds holding a 32-24-2 advantage. Moravian has a 15-11-1 lead in games played in Bethlehem, including a thrilling 27-24 overtime win in 2008, breaking the Mules' five-game win streak at Rocco Calvo Field. Muhlenberg (7-1 CC, 7-2) lead the Conference in scoring defense (16.4), while Moravian (5-3, 5-4) is ninth in scoring offense (18.4). But the Greyhound offense has come alive behind QB Matt Johnson, amassing over 300 yards in each of his starts after failing to do so in the first four games. Johnson leads the Conference in yards per play (7.7). 'Berg RB Terrence Dandridge needs just 18 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

McDaniel at Johns Hopkins
Live Stats: Yes. Video: HopkinsSports.com. Audio: WTTR-AM 1470.
The battle for Free State supremacy is renewed for the 89th time as the Green Terror (4-4, 5-4) visits Baltimore to take on the Blue Jays (6-2, 6-3). Hopkins holds a 48-35-5 all-time lead and has nine straight wins - the longest JHU streak in the 110-year history of the matchup. McDaniel is 17-34-2 all-time in the Charm City and has not defeated the Blue Jays since 2000 (41-7) at Homewood. The Terror played its second-ever triple-overtime game last weekend vs. Gettysburg and came away with a 36-30 victory. Freshman RB Joe Rollins had the second-biggest day ever by a McDaniel back, rushing for 294 yards. DB Chris Kolb recorded his second defensive PAT of the season vs. the Bullets. The Terror can record its first winning season since 2004 with a victory. Hopkins' win at F&M last weekend was the 1,000th game in JHU history. The Blue Jays are 24-4 in November since 2001. WR Tucker Michels will break the school record for career starts with his 44th. WR Sam Wernick has a school-record 14 TD receptions on the year and is one shy of the Conference mark. A Hopkins win and a Muhlenberg loss gives the Jays a share of the Centennial title.

Dickinson at Ursinus
Live Stats: Yes. Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3, ursinusathletics.com.
The Red Devils (3-5, 3-6) and the Bears (6-2, 7-2) meet for the 82nd time in a series that dates to 1894. Dickinson holds a 44-31-6 overall lead and a 22-13-4 lead in games in Collegeville. Ursinus captured last year's clash in Carlisle by a 35-32 count. A Bear victory, combined with a Muhlenberg loss, would give Ursinus a share of the Conference title - its second in school history. Dickinson PK Gordon Craig is second on the all-time Centennial kick-scoring list with 217 points. He has made 11-of-15 field goal attempts (73.3 percent) this season. WR Craig Helfer is fifth among CC leading receivers in yards per catch (16.3). QB Justin Decristofaro is the first Ursinus QB to throw for over 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. RB Bryan Ellis needs 93 yards to set the school record for rushing yards by a freshman. WR Nick Giarratano is two TD catches shy of the UC career record of 19.

Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg
Live Stats: Yes. Video: gettysburgsports.com. Audio: godiplomats.com.
This is the 96th time that the Diplomats (5-3, 6-3) and the Bullets (4-4, 5-4) have met on the gridiron since 1890. F&M holds a 45-43-7 lead in the series, but Gettysburg has won the last two games at the Battlefield. In fact, the home team has won the last five contests in the series. Diplomat DL C.T. Marsh has a sack in eight straight games. QB John Harrison has accounted for 66 career touchdowns and needs three to tie the school record of 69. WR Jarrell Diggs has caught at least one pass in 30 consecutive games. RB John Kaschak needs one reception to register 100 for his career. Gettysburg can clinch its first winning season since 2007 with a victory. Kyle Whitmoyer tied the school single-season record for rushing TDs by a QB (10). RB Jamel Mutunga needs 46 yards to move into sixth place on the school career rushing list and 290 to reach 3,000 for his career. WB Charles Curcio needs nine receptions to break the Gettysburg career catch mark of 130.

Washington and Lee at Juniata
Live Stats: Yes. Audio: WLUR-FM 91.5.
The Eagles (0-9, 0-9) and the Generals (7-2) meet for the first time. The teams have one common opponent - Franklin & Marshall. W&L lost at F&M in the season opener, 35-7, while the Eagles also dropped a 55-13 decision to the Diplomats. The Juniata offense has struggled in 2010, totaling more than 200 yards in a game just twice. This is the eighth time that the Eagles have played an opponent with a record above .500. The JC defense is second in the CC in stopping teams on fourth-downs (63.2 percent), while the red-zone defense is third (72.9). LB Kevin Gorman leads all Centennial freshmen with 73 tackles. W&L does not have "A Friend in Pennsylvania," as the Generals have not won in the Keystone State since 1998 (0-6). Washington and Lee won the ODAC title with a 38-27 win over Hampden-Sydney last week.

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.

Football Coaches Chat

The 2010 football season officially kicks off on Thursday, August 5, with the annual Coaches' Interactive Chat. It is your opportunity to ask questions of the Centennial's 10 head football coaches as they get ready for the new season. Join us at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

Each coach will be available during a 10-minute block for questions.

2:00 - Darwin Breaux, Dickinson
2:10 - Tim Keating, McDaniel
2:20 - John Troxell, Franklin & Marshall
2:30 - Scot Dapp, Moravian
2:40 - Barry Streeter, Gettysburg
2:50 - Mike Donnelly, Muhlenberg
3:00 - Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins
3:10 - Steve Briggs, Susquehanna
3:20 - Carmen Felus, Juniata
3:30 - Pete Gallagher, Ursinus

Can't wait to get started? Send us your questions now. Please remember to identify yourself and which coach the question should be directed to.

Sunday Morning QB

photo by Gary Emeigh, Wilmington News Journal

Mike Finney, writing for the Baltimore Sun, notes that Johns Hopkins battled the weather and its own mistakes and lost on both fronts Saturday afternoon.

Finney, writing for the Wilmington News Journal, says that Wesley abandoned its usual high-octane offense and turned a couple of Hopkins' miscues on special teams into touchdowns as the Wolverines recorded a 12-0 shutout to capture their third South Region championship over the past five seasons.

A busy man on Saturday, Finney notes that mistakes made the big difference in a game played in a downpour of sleet throughout the second half. Finney also provides a post-game notebook.

Sunday Morning QB

Dave Byrne of the Lancaster Sunday News writes about Franklin & Marshall's thrilling 19-point fourth-quarter rally to topple Wilkes, 29-24.

The Baltimore Sun has a staff report on Johns Hopkins' 23-7 win at Hampden-Sydney, while the Times Leader also files a staff report on Franklin & Marshall's 29-24 win over Wilkes.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has an area roundup that includes Ursinus' ECAC loss to Kean.

Sunday Morning QB

photo by Justin Graybill, Lancaster Newspapers

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that despite inspired play, McDaniel's missteps proved too much to overcome in a 38-14 loss to Johns Hopkins. He also adds a post-game notebook.

Dave Byrne of the Lancaster Sunday News notes that records toppled like sand castles swarmed by the incoming tide in Franklin & Marshall's 33-23 win over Gettysburg.

Jamie Raub of the Morning Call notes that Muhlenberg ended a dreary year on a high note with a 7-0 shutout of rival Moravian.

Andy Loigu of the Express-Times writes that Muhlenberg did the "Curley Shuffle" on Moravian in its 7-0 victory.

Mark Singelais of the Albany Times Union writes that Union head coach John Audino helped Susquehanna join the Liberty League three years ago. Now, the Crusaders are leaving the LL for the Centennial as champions following a 28-17 win over the Dutchmen.

A state roundup is provided by the Baltimore Sun. The Harrisburg Patriot-News provides an area roundup, as does the Philadelphia Inquirer. Staff reports are provided by the Carlisle Sentinel.

The Friday Tailgate

It's a milestone weekend for the Centennial Conference, as we post for the 500th time and we crown a football champion for 2009. The gridiron champion thing is a bit more important, but we didn't want to fail to pat ourselves on the back.

Johns Hopkins is in the driver's seat. A Blue Jay win at McDaniel gives Hopkins at least a share of the Centennial title and the Conference's automatic berth to the Division III championship tournament that begins next weekend. Dickinson can get at least a piece of the crown with a home win vs. Ursinus and can also get the outright championship and the AQ with a victory and a Hopkins loss.

Ursinus still has hopes of both a Centennial title and NCAA berth. A Hopkins loss, combined by a Bears win over the Red Devils, makes UC the tri-champions and the recipient of the automatic spot in the NCAA field. Franklin & Marshall can force a four-way tie at the top with a win over Gettysburg and losses by Hopkins and Dickinson. It will be a day filled with scoreboard watching, as we bring the curtain down on the 2009 regular season.

Johns Hopkins at McDaniel
Audio: WTTR-AM 1470. Video: No. Live Stats: Yes.
This is the 88th all-time meeting between the two Maryland football representatives in the Conference with the Blue Jays holding a 47-35-5 lead after eight straight wins. The Terror's last win was a 41-7 triumph in 2000. It is the first time in the history of college football in the Free State that two coaches with more than 100 wins at their respective in-state schools will face each other - Jim Margraff (126-74-3) and Tim Keating (103-69-3). Hopkins has posted back-to-back 50-point performances for the first time since 1967 and the 109 points over the last two games is the second-most by a JHU team in school history. JHU amassed over 200 yards rushing and passing vs. F&M and is 23-2 in the 25 games since 1955 when that has happened. RB Andrew Kase (4,132 yards) is 48 yards away from becoming the No. 2 rusher in state history. The leader - McDaniel's Eric Frees who totaled 5,281 from 1988-91. This is the 1,000th game in McDaniel program history. The Terror is 507-443-49 (.532) in its 115th gridiron season. A Green and Gold win would give McDaniel its first winning season since finishing 6-4 in 2004. QB Tom Massucci has five 200-yard passing games to his credit this season - the most since three-time CC Offensive Player of the Year Ron Sermarini did it in 1999. The offensive line has allowed just 11 sacks this season - the fewest since the 1992 unit surrendered just four. WR Matt Cahill has 699 receiving yards which is the most since Teron Powell gathered in balls for 771 yards in 2001.

Ursinus at Dickinson
Audio: WDCV-FM 88.3. Video: No. Live Stats: No.
It's the 81st matchup between the Bears and the Red Devils with Dickinson riding a three-game home win streak in the series. Dickinson holds a 44-30-6 series lead. Ursinus mustered just seven first downs last week vs. Muhlenberg but turned four turnovers into 24 points and a 24-10 win. QB Justin Decristofaro needs 112 passing yards to become the first Bear to throw for 2,000 in a season since Frank Vecchio in 1999. The Bears are looking for things to break their way and secure a piece of the Centennial title for the first time since 1996. QB Ian Mitchell tied the Centennial record for career rushing TDs by a quarterback (27) and raised his Conference single-season mark to 14. He also needs 125 passing yards to reach 5,000 for his career. The Red Devils are 15th in D-III in rushing offense (245.3), while the defense leads the CC in pass efficiency defense and is 10th in the country in turnover margin.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall
Audio: No. Video: godiplomats.com. Live Stats: Yes.
The Bullets and the Diplomats square off for the 95th time with F&M holding a slim 44-43-7 advantage. The home team has won the last four games. Gettysburg has not won in Lancaster since 2001 (24-16). The game features the top two passing offenses in the Conference, as the Dips are averaging 302.1 yards per game while the Bullets are next at 275.4. Gettysburg is ranked third in D-III in total offense (498.3). Although QB Matt Flynn already has a truckload of records to his credit, there are still some within reach on Saturday, including school marks for single-season TD passes (needs one) and the Conference single-season record for total offense (needs 149). Flynn is 259 yards away from the Centennial season standard for passing yards, but F&M counterpart John Harrison is closer, needing just 58 yards to surpass the old mark. Harrison has already set most Diplomat single-season passing marks, including completions (224), yards (2,652) and TDs (28). WR George Eager is 15th in D3 in receptions (69), 32nd in yards (881) and 37th in all-purpose yards (1,294).

Moravian at Muhlenberg
Audio: WSAN-AM 1470, WMUH-FM 91.7. Video: muhlenberg.edu/sports. Live Stats: Yes.
It is the 58th time that the 'Hounds and the Mules have met on the gridiron with Moravian holding a 32-23-2 advantage, including a 17-12-1 lead in Allentown. Both teams are 2-7, the fewest combined win total for the two teams since the Mules (2-6) and Greyhounds (0-7-1) met in 1981. Moravian RB Ryan Rempe is one of the top backs in the CC with 716 rushing yards. DL Allen Petros leads the defensive line with 37 tackles and four sacks. KR Travis King needs one kickoff return and 97 yards to set single-season school marks in both categories. Muhlenberg WR Phil Cresta needs 12 receptions and 144 yards to become the school's career leader in those categories. The Mules have dropped four straight games, despite allowing an average of just 258 yards to the opposition. The 29 turnovers by 'Berg is the most by the team since 2001.

Sunday Morning QB

photo by Dave Munch, Carroll County Times

Todd Karpovich of the Baltimore Sun writes that Johns Hopkins dominated every facet of the game in its 51-13 victory over Franklin & Marshall.

Dave Byrne of the Lancaster Sunday News notes that Johns Hopkins found the best way to stop Franklin & Marshall's prolific offense in the Jays' win in Baltimore.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that McDaniel freshman Nick DeLuca made his dream come true in the Green Terror's 22-20 win at Gettysburg. Land also adds a post-game notebook.

Travis Johnson of the Hanover Evening Sun writes that it was a McDaniel freshman that spoiled Gettysburg's Senior Day in the Terror's nail-biting win at the Battlefield.

Diana Fishlock of the Harrisburg Patriot-News writes that Dickinson QB Ian Mitchell uses his arm and legs to help families of kids with terminal illnesses.

Area roundups, courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Baltimore Sun.

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.

Football Press Conference

The game of the day is Franklin & Marshall at Johns Hopkins - a pair of 5-1 CC teams with Centennial championship and NCAA playoff hopes. What do John Troxell and Jim Margraff think about the game? Is Dickinson's Darwin Breaux concerned about a letdown? What does Ursinus need to do to bounce back from last week's upset loss to Moravian? All this and more in this week's chat with the head coaches.

Sunday Morning QB

Here's a quick review of Saturday's games through the eyes, words and lens of our local and regional newspaper correspondents.

Jamie A. Raub of The Morning Call writes that "if only" could have been the quote of the day in Muhlenberg's 17-16 loss to Dickinson.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times notes that mistakes and more mistakes doomed McDaniel in its 41-20 loss to Franklin & Marshall. He also adds a post-game notebook.

Jeff Gill of the Altoona Mirror writes that on Senior Day, there was not a lot to celebrate in Juniata's loss to Johns Hopkins.

Darryl Grumling of the Pottstown Mercury writes that breakdowns on special teams and in other areas led to Ursinus' 20-19 home loss to Moravian.

Staff reports are provided by the Lancaster Sunday News, Allentown Morning Call and Carlisle Sentinel.

The Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer provides area roundups, while the Harrisburg Patriot-News provides a Dickinson-Muhlenberg wrap.

Denise Sanchez of the Allentown Morning Call has a photo gallery of the Dickinson-Muhlenberg game.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.