Boxscore
SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Susquehanna University's senior running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, Pa./Hanover Area) rushed for a game-high 185 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for a game-high 60 yards and another TD, as Susquehanna blanked visiting Moravian College, 24-0, in a non-conference football game at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on Sept 5.
The win marked Susquehanna's first season-opening shutout since 1979.
Susquehanna (1-0 overall) put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Paveletz turned a corner and outran a host of Moravian (0-1 overall) players for a career-long 64-yard run and TD that helped spell the final score.
SU dominated the ground game thanks to Paveletz and sophomore running back Josh Gordon (Albany, N.Y./Albany HS). Gordon ran the ball seven times for 48 yards, while the Crusaders held a 226-140 advantage in rushing yards.
Senior running back Ryan Rempe (Dickson City, Pa./Mid-Valley) led the Greyhounds with 97 yards on 19 carries. Teammate and senior quarterback Patrick Weiss (Gilbertsville, Pa./St. Pius X) added 32 yards on three carries.
Weiss replaced sophomore and starting quarterback Andy Polony (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) after Polony completed just four of eight passes for 31 yards and threw two costly interceptions, both in the Susquehanna red zone. Weiss did not fare much better, completing just 3 of 14 passes for 54 yards and another interception inside the SU 20. Polony was a late addition to the lineup, getting the call to start after fellow sophomore and previously announced starter Steve Panasuk (Yorktown, Va./New Egypt) suffered an injury late in the week.
Susquehanna's sophomore quarterback Rich Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) had a very efficient game, completing a game-high 11 of his 16 passes for a game-high 143 yards and a TD to just one interception.
The game started ominously for Moravian. Susquehanna won the coin toss and elected to receive. The Crusaders then marched down the field for a game-opening TD when Palazzi's pass bounced off one SU player in the end zone and into the hands of another--Paveletz.
Susquehanna's sophomore split end Mike Ritter (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) tied Paveletz with a game-high four catches (for 56 yards).
Moravian had three players with two catches apiece--junior wide receivers Alex Hersch (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) and Shawn Sylvainus (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and senior tight end Brian Dencker (Boonton, N.J./Boonton). Hersch had a team-high 46 yards, while Dencker and Sylvainus had 19 and 15, respectively.
The Crusaders enjoyed highlights all-around defensively, led by sophomore linebacker Mitch Phillips (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg), who made a team-high seven tackles--including a team-high five solo stops--and returned his second career interception for 37 yards.
Senior defensive lineman Marc McDonough (Kingston, Pa./Bishop Hoban) and sophomore defensive back Jesse Eggerton (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) both made six tackles (four solo) for SU. McDonough and teammate and senior defensive end Pete Johnsen (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) both racked up two sacks. Johnsen had four tackles (all solo).
Susquehanna's senior linebacker Erich Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) and sophomore defensive end Trevor Terpening (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) both made five tackles (four solo). Majors also broke up a pass. Senior defensive back Josh Simpson (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made four tackles (all solo) and intercepted a pass. Junior defensive back Braden Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) had the Crusaders' other interception. Klingler added two tackles.
Moravian's junior defensive lineman Allen Petros (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty HS) made a game-high eight stops (seven solo), including the Greyhounds' lone sack. Two teammates--junior linebacker Philip Bortz (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and sophomore defensive back David Wacker (Parkton, Md./Hereford)--made seven stops. Junior defensive back Daniel Burley (Easton, Pa./Easton) had Moravian's only pick.
Paveletz's TD catch--his second career receiving TD--and an extra point by junior punter/placekicker Bobby Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) was the only score of the first quarter.
Burley's interception and 18-yard return early in the second quarter set the Greyhounds up nicely at the Susquehanna 12-yard line, but three players later, Phillips' pick and long return put the ball back in SU's hands at its own 43.
The Crusaders put together a long drive following that but stalled on fourth-and-two at the Moravian 27.
A quick three-and-out gave SU the ball back at its own 28, where the Crusaders started a nine-play, 72-yard drive, culminated by a Paveletz lunge from the two-yard line for another six points. Eppleman booted the PAT for a 14-0 score.
Moravian tried to answer on its next possession, but Johnsen sacked Polony on third down from the 50-yard line to apparently set up another Greyhounds punt. The Crusaders were assessed an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty following the sack though, giving Moravian another chance to score before halftime.
On the next play, Polony aired out a ball down the right sideline where it was intercepted by Simpson at the Crusaders 19 to effectively end the half.
Moravian opened the second half with a strong drive to the Susquehanna 2, but another interception--this time by Klingler--ended that threat.
The teams traded possessions after that, with Susquehanna eventually taking over at its own 31 and putting together another scoring drive, ended by a 23-yard field goal from Eppleman that made the score a three-possession difference at 17-0.
Another Moravian three-and-out followed and carried the game into the fourth quarter.
On the next SU possession, Paveletz turned an innocent handoff on third-and-two into a 64-yard race into the end zone for a 23-0 advantage, barreling down the field and hurdling the arms of a would-be tackler at the Moravian goal line. Eppleman followed with the PAT for the final score.
The rest of the fourth quarter was highlighted by a 53-yard punt from Eppleman, who last year, ranked third in NCAA Division III in punting average. Eppleman punted three times in this game for an average of 46.0 yards.
Susquehanna held a 16-12 advantage in first downs and 369-225 nod in total yards. Time of possession was in SU's favor as well. The Crusaders held the ball for 32 minutes, 14 seconds to Moravian's 27:46.
Moravian was shut out for the first time since 2007 and lost on opening day for the first time since 2006.
Next Game: Saturday, Sept. 12, at Juniata (Goal Post Game - non-conference game), 1 p.m.
