Boxscore

KINGS POINT, N.Y. -- Susquehanna University's senior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rushed 29 times for a game-high 154 yards, but visiting Susquehanna lost to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 24-8, in a rain-soaked Liberty League football game at Captain James Harvey Tomb Field on Oct. 3.

The game was stopped early in the third quarter when torrential rain and occasional lightning caused a 1-hour, 25-minute delay. Even prior to that, both the USMMA (3-2, 1-1 Liberty) and SU (3-2, 1-1 Liberty) had to deal with a steady sprinkle and mist that caused a slippery surface and a heavy ball.

SU was hurt by the absence of its injured starting quarterback--sophomore Rich Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack)--especially after falling behind by two scores. Sophomore Tom Duff (Loudonville, N.Y./Colonie Central) filled in for Palazzi and completed seven of 13 passes for 41 yards. Duff also threw an interception before he was replaced in the fourth quarter by fellow sophomore Matt Lottes (Muttontown, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran). Lottes completed four of nine passes for 36 yards and was also intercepted once.

The USMMA's junior quarterback Derrick Ventre (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) completed 14 of 24 passes for a game-high 112 yards.

Paveletz was aided by 17 yards on five carries from sophomore running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) and one carry for 13 yards by senior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills).

Howell also caught two passes, though he lost three total yards on the plays. Paveletz caught three passes for 29 yards. Teammate and senior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) made a game-high-tying four catches for a team-high 32 yards.

The USMMA had a balanced rushing attack, outgaining the Crusaders, 213-149, on the ground. Freshman running back Alex Coviello (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) led the Mariners with 100 rushing yards on 18 carries, including a touchdown. Junior running back Karl Heimbrock (Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek) added 66 yards on his 18 rushes, including another TD. Ventre ran seven times for 32 yards, and senior fullback Erick Zuniga (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) added 22 yards on five runs.

Junior tight end Grant Wright (St. Petersburg, Fla./Cypress Creek) led the USMMA with four catches for 54 yards. Fellow junior tight end Daniel Lagomarsino (San Mateo, Calif./Aragon) and sophomore wide receiver Chris Adema (Covington, La./Mardeville) both hauled in three passes. Lagomarsino gained 23 yards, but Adema lost four.

Defensively, the Crusaders were led by 10 tackles, including a game-high-tying eight solo stops, by freshman defensive back Jalon Scott (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS). Sophomore linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg Area) was close behind with nine tackles (seven solo). Phillips also blocked an extra-point attempt. Senior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) made seven tackles (three solo), while freshman defensive lineman Ken Schetroma (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia Area) and senior linebacker Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) each made six tackles (five solo). Both junior defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) and senior split end/defensive back Justin Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) broke up a pass and made four tackles (three solo). Senior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) notched two solo stops, including the lone Crusaders sack. Simpson bounced around the field, often playing defensive end in addition to his normal spot in the secondary.

For the Mariners, junior safety Jacob Fabricius (Fruitland, Idaho/Fruitland) posted a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops. The real story for the USMMA defense though was freshman defensive back Sal Milone (Floral Park, N.Y./Kellenberg), who made a game-high three sacks (for a total loss of 23 yards) as part of an eight-tackle game (five solo). Sophomore outside linebacker Barry Preusch (Tampa, Fla./Freedom) made eight tackles as well (six solo), including a forced fumble. Junior safety Marcus Broeder (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney) made five tackles (three solo) and intercepted two passes. Junior defensive back A.J. Hunt (Dacula, Ga./Dacula) registered four tackles (two solo), broke up a pass and recovered a fumble.

The game started promisingly for Susquehanna. Howell returned the opening kickoff 39 yards before SU gained 29 more yards over eight plays. However, a 35-yard field-goal try by junior punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) sailed wide left.

The Mariners took over and marched down the field for a 64-yard drive on 13 plays, capped by a successful 33-yard field-goal try by sophomore placekicker/punter Richard Grennen (Port Jeff Station, N.Y./St. Anthony's).

SU was poised to answer on its ensuing possession, driving 62 yards on a long 18 plays down to the USMMA one-yard line, but Preusch forced a lost Paveletz fumble on that drive on second-and-goal from the 1 early in the second quarter.

The Mariners turned the fumble into six points, as Zuniga ended a 12-play, 85-yard drive with a four-yard TD run. Grennen's extra-point attempt was blocked by Phillips, but the score was still 9-0 with 6:32 left in the first half. The score would stay that way through halftime.

Other than the delay, the third quarter was mostly inconsequential.

Eppleman did suffer the first blocked punt of his career in that quarter when Heimbrock broke in untouched, but the Crusaders defense bailed out the special teams by forcing a turnover on downs on the ensuing USMMA possession.

Grennen missed a 40-yard field goal wide left in the third.

The Mariners scored again on the first play of the fourth quarter. Heimbrock scampered for a six-yard TD run to end an eight-play, 37-yard drive, and Grennen booted the PAT to make it 16-0.

The USMMA started that drive after Broeder intercepted Duff for his first pick of the game and returned the ball to the SU 37.

Lottes entered the game on the next SU possession and posted the first completion of his collegiate career, but an important pass to Howell on a third-and-nine play was dropped inside the USMMA 5. Lottes was then sacked by Milone on fourth-and-nine from the Mariners 25 to end the SU scoring threat.

The Mariners' following possession led to two back-breaking scores that upped the lead to 24-0 with just 7:14 to play.

Coviello scored six points on a 14-yard jaunt that capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive, followed by a Ventre-to-Adema two-point conversion.

SU took the next kickoff and drove down to the USMMA 17, but Lottes' pass under pressure was intercepted in the end zone by Broeder.

The Crusaders finally caught a break when the Mariners were forced to punt on the following possession, and a bad snap rolled all the way into the USMMA end zone, where it was recovered by SU's sophomore split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) for a TD. Ritter then caught a two-point pass from Lottes to make it 24-8 with 2:55 left.

Eppleman, whose unconventional but successful onside kick helped SU earn a win over the Mariners last year, tried another onside kick following the Ritter scores, but the USMMA recovered and ended the game in victory formation.

The Mariners held a 33:50-26:10 edge in time of possession.

Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 10, at Rochester (Liberty League game), 1 p.m.