Boxscore

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. -- Susquehanna University took a 7-0 lead just 13 seconds into the game, but host and nationally ranked No. 17 Delaware Valley College scored the final 66 points at Robert A. Lipinski Field at James Work Memorial Stadium on Nov. 21 to advance to the second round of the 2009 NCAA Division III football championships.

Susquehanna's senior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) forced a Delaware Valley (10-1 overall) fumble on the opening kickoff, which was recovered by junior fullback Jim Cavanaugh (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) to give SU (8-3 overall) the ball at the DVC 29-yard line.

The very next play, sophomore quarterback Rich Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) hit senior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) for a 29-yard touchdown. Junior punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) then converted the point-after for a stunning early lead.

The TD pass was Palazzi's 20th of the season, tying the school record set by Mike Bowman '03 in 2000.

Unfortunately for the Crusaders, 59 minutes and 47 seconds still remained in the game, and the Aggies used all of it to avenge a 17-10 home loss to the Crusaders when these teams last met in 2006.

Despite this 66-7 loss, Susquehanna still leads the all-time series with Delaware Valley, 26-18.

The Aggies outgained SU, 642-186, in this game and enjoyed a 33:43-26:17 advantage in time of possession. Most importantly, DVC forced six Crusaders turnovers while turning the ball over only once itself.

Four of those turnovers came on Palazzi interceptions. Palazzi had come into the game having thrown just three interceptions all season.

Palazzi completed 12 of 23 passes in this game for 104 yards and the one TD. His favorite target was Howell, who tied for the game-high with four catches (for 52 yards) and the TD.

SU's sophomore tight end Matt Knouse (Elliottsburg, Pa./West Perry), sophomore split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) and sophomore running back Greg Tellish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) all made two catches. Knouse and Ritter both gained 16 yards, while Tellish gained five.

Tellish also rushed five times for 17 yards. Teammate and senior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) ended his brilliant career with a team-high 67 yards on 24 carries. With the exception of single-season TD runs, Paveletz owns or shares every Susquehanna rushing record.

Delaware Valley had a host of offensive highlights, led by a game-high 259 yards passing from senior quarterback Mike Isgro (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) on 17-of-22 throwing, including two TD. Isgro also ran the ball seven times for 49 yards and two TD.

Junior quarterback Mark Hatty (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) completed three of four passes for 37 yards in relief of Isgro.

Isgro's TD throws went to senior wide receiver Brandon Fox (Laureldale, Pa./Muhlenberg HS) and freshman wide receiver Chris Ruiz (Pennsauken, N.J./Camden Catholic). Fox finished with a game-high 108 yards on three receptions. The TD was Ruiz's lone catch.

DVC's senior wide receiver Chad Peterman (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and junior wide receiver Dan Heiland (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Moreland) caught four passes each for 49 and 41 yards, respectively.

Teammate and sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Hall (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) added three catches for four yards, and junior running back Matt Cook (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) caught a pair for 15.

Cook did most of his damage on the ground, eating up a game-high 156 yards on 20 carries, including a game-high-tying two TD. Sophomore running back Tyler Neal (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) added 73 yards and two TD on 11 carries, and freshman running back Anthony Denny (Somerdale, Pa./Sterling) gained 59 yards on two carries, including a 58-yard TD run for six of the game's final seven points.

Freshman placekicker Jake Sobchak (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) made the point-after to spell the final score with 3:34 left in the game. Sobchak was perfect on nine PAT tries and booted a 23-yard field goal with 10:47 left in the first quarter.

Freshman defensive back Jalon Scott (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS) led the Crusaders with 11 tackles, including a game-high nine solo stops. Senior defensive back Tony McIntosh (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove) followed closely behind with nine tackles (six solo).

Teammate and senior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) made six stops (four solo), and sophomore defensive end Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) made six as well (three solo), including a team-high two tackles for a loss.

The Aggies' junior linebacker Kyle Gesswein (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) led all players with 12 tackles (seven solo), including a game-high three for a loss and a sack. Gesswein also broke up a pass.

Teammate and senior defensive back Charles Squitiere (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) added seven tackles (six solo), a pass breakup and a fumble recovery, and sophomore defensive back Troy Green (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) made four stops (three solo) and an interception.

Sophomore defensive back Ryan McCullough (Cherry Hill, N.J./Northeast Catholic), junior defensive back Rob Eagles (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Moreland) and sophomore linebacker Mike Jaskowski (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) had the Aggies' other picks.

Delaware Valley answered SU's 7-0 lead by driving 50 yards over eight plays for Sobchak's 23-yarder exactly four minutes later.

SU punted the ball on its next possession, and the Aggies struck again, this time ending an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a 15-yard Isgro TD run and a Sobchak PAT for their first and last lead.

The Crusaders tried to answer back, recovering a surprise onside kick at their own 47 before marching down to the DVC 16. On first-and-10 from there, Palazzi found Howell for an apparent catch inside the 10, but Howell was hit hard and bobbled the ball to Jaskowski for an interception at the 7.

The Aggies next drive took up 16 plays, 65 yards and 8:17 but stalled at the SU 28 with 7:40 left in the second quarter.

Three plays later though, McCullough intercepted Palazzi at the Susquehanna 43, setting the stage for a four-play, 43-yard DVC drive that ended with a 17-yard TD run by Cook and another Sobchak PAT to put the score at 17-7.

Delaware Valley never looked back from there and led, 31-7, at halftime. The Aggies scored 14 more points in the third quarter and 21 more in the fourth.

The loss snapped Susquehanna's five-game winning streak. Nevertheless, eight wins are the most in one season for SU since the 1992 Crusaders went 9-1.

This was Susquehanna's first trip to the NCAA football championships since 1991.

The contest also marked SU's final time representing the Liberty League. The Crusaders played three seasons in the Liberty, capturing a championship this year that they will never have to defend.

Next year, SU football joins the Centennial Conference. Like the Liberty, the Centennial champion annually receives an automatic invitation to the NCAA playoffs.

Delaware Valley will face Albright College (10-1 overall) in the second round of the 2009 Division III championships on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 12 p.m. DVC will host the game. Albright defeated Alfred University (8-2 overall), 35-25, on Nov. 21 in another first-round tilt.

End of season