Boxscore
SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Susquehanna University's freshman defensive back Jalon Scott (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS) made his Liberty League-leading third and fourth interceptions this season to help host Susquehanna beat three-time defending Liberty champion Hobart College, 20-10, in a football game at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on Sept. 26.
This was the first league game of the season for both SU (3-1, 1-0 Liberty) and Hobart (1-2, 0-1 Liberty).
The Crusaders trailed, 7-3, entering the second quarter but the n scored the game's next 10 points to take a lead they would not relinquish.
SU's senior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rushed 37 times for a game-high 161 yards, as the Orange and Maroon outgained Hobart on the ground, 188-102.
Paveletz ran for one touchdown--the 41st rushing TD of his career--to edge closer to the Susquehanna career record of 45 set by Jason Eck '05 from 2001-04.
In controlling the ground game, the Crusaders held possession for 34 minutes, 26 seconds, compared to 25:34 for the Statesmen.
Junior running back Andrew Marlier (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) ran 13 times for 57 yards to lead Hobart. Sophomore quarterback Doug Vella (Franklin Square, N.Y./Chaminade HS) added 34 yards on 14 carries, including his team's lone TD.
Vella also completed a game-high 17 passes (on 38 attempts) for a game-high 245 yards. He was victimized twice by Scott.
SU sophomore quarterback Rich Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) completed seven of 11 passes for 133 yards and one TD before leaving the game late in the third quarter with an upper-body injury. Palazzi was relieved by fellow sophomore quarterback Tom Duff (Loudonville, N.Y./Colonie Central), who went 1-for-3 for 10 yards, including his first collegiate completion.
The Crusaders' senior split end J.J. Moran (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) tied for the game-high with four catches (for 58 yards). Sophomore split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) led the team with 68 receiving yards (on two catches), including a dazzling 56-yard catch-and-run TD for six of the game's final seven points. Teammate and senior split end Keith Howell (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) also made two catches (for 17 yards).
Hobart's senior wide receivers Tyler Vincent (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) and Mike Lazore (Carthage, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) and sophomore wide receiver Garth Muratori (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) each made four catches. Vincent led the Statesmen with 84 yards, while Muratori was close behind with 81. Lazore had 28 yards. Marlier added two receptions for 23 yards.
Vincent also completed his only pass of the day for a 17-yard first down on a fake punt in the third quarter.
Freshman defensive end Ken Schetroma (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia Area) led SU with eight tackles, including a team-high seven of the solo variety. Sophomore defensive end Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) made six tackles for the Crusaders (five solo), including an important sack for a seven-yard loss on the last play of the third quarter.
SU's junior linebacker Ryan Eck (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) and senior linebacker Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) both made five tackles. All of Eck's were solo, as were four of Majors'. Majors also broke up a pass to force a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter.
Senior defensive end Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) continued an impressive young season by sacking Vella twice as part of a four-tackle day (three solo). Johnsen leads the Liberty with 7.5 sacks this year. Senior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) also made four tackles (three solo). Simpson broke up a pass.
Scott finished the day with three tackles (two solo).
Hobart's junior linebacker Kyle O'Laughlin (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga) made a game-high 10 tackles, including a game-high nine solo stops. Senior linebacker Ryan Robinson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) made seven tackles (all solo), including two for a loss. Senior defensive tackle Mike Arduini (Hamilton, N.J./Hun School of Princeton) also had two tackles for a loss. Arduini had five total stops (all solo). Senior cornerback Chris Szymanski (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville East) was the other Statesmen with five tackles (four solo). Szymanski broke up a game-high two passes.
Susquehanna received the opening kickoff and went 33 yards in seven plays before setting up for a 44-yard field goal. Junior punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) boomed the 44-yarder with ease to set a new Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium record for longest field goal and to put SU ahead, 3-0. Lopardo Stadium debuted during the 2000 season.
Hobart responded by marching 63 yards in nine plays on the ensuing possession, culminated by Vella's four-yard TD keeper. Sophomore placekicker Conor Callahan [Rangeley, Maine/Concord-Carlisle (Mass.)] then made the extra point for a 7-3 lead.
The Crusaders answered right back when Paveletz capped a 12-play, 67-yard drive with a bullish eight-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter. Eppleman kicked the PAT for a 10-7 advantage.
The SU defense forced a three-and-out on the next Statesmen drive. The Crusaders then went 63 yards in 13 plays before another Eppleman field goal--this one from 32 yards--made it 13-7 with 6:57 left in the first half.
Scott's first interception of the day ended Hobart's next drive. He leaped high into the air to make the sprawling pick while falling to the ground at the SU 46-yard line.
The Crusaders were poised to take a bigger lead when they drove to the Hobart 3 on the following possession, but sophomore running back Josh Gordon (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS) fumbled on his way around the right side, spinning the ball out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback.
The Statesmen took advantage of the turnover, taking the ball 75 yards in 11 plays for Callahan's 22-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
The score at the break was 13-10.
Neither team scored again until Palazzi and Ritter hooked up for a game-changing 56-yard TD pass with 7:46 left in the third. Ritter caught the ball cutting through the middle of the field and shed several would-be tacklers before outrunning a few more on his way to the end zone. Eppleman hit the PAT for the final score.
Ritter leads the 2009 Crusaders with 267 receiving yards and is tied for the team lead with 15 catches and two TD receptions.
A fake punt for a first down on the next Hobart possession gave the Statesmen some life, but the drive eventually stalled when Johnsen wrapped up Vella for a sack on third-and-eight at the Crusaders 40.
Palazzi took a big hit on the last play of the next SU drive and was forced to leave the game. Eppleman punted down to the Hobart 8 on the next play-his first of two punts inside the Statesmen's 20 in this game.
Following a rush for no gain, Terpening sacked Vella at the 1. A short gain followed, and then Howell nearly blocked a Hobart punt. Still, Howell's influence caused a short, 26-yard kick that bounced out of bounds at the Statesmen 30.
Duff entered the game and guided the Crusaders forward a couple of yards before Eppleman attempted a 45-yarder. The kick fell inches short, and Hobart took over at its 28 with a chance to get within one score.
Scott ended that threat though by making his second pick of the day and returning the ball 10 yards to the Susquehanna 33.
Another Crusaders punt gave Hobart the ball again with 6:37 left in the game. The Statesmen went 50 yards over 14 plays, but Majors ended the drive when he knocked the ball loose from Vincent on fourth-and-10 at the SU 36.
The Crusaders ran some time off the clock on the following drive while Hobart used all three of its second-half timeouts. SU tried to pin the Statesmen deep in their own end on a punt from the Crusaders 49, but a bad snap sent Eppleman racing after the ball. Eppleman tracked the ball down and, amazingly, got off a punt under pressure that still ended up at the Hobart 24.
The Statesmen's last attempt at cutting the deficit to one possession failed when Callahan's 41-yard-field-goal try with 40 seconds left came up short.
SU ended the game in victory formation, as Duff took a knee to run out the clock.
Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 3, at USMMA (Liberty League game), 2:30 p.m.
