Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Crusaders had their chances but could not find the end zone in a 12-6 loss at Moravian on Saturday afternoon. The game, the season and Centennial Conference opener for both squads, featured just one touchdown in one of the lowest scoring games in recent SU history.

The second half proved to be the difference in the game. Susquehanna (0-1, 0-1) held the ball for only two minutes in the fourth quarter and just 8:41 for the entire second half. Moravian (1-0, 0-1), meanwhile, held a nearly 15-minute edge in time of possession overall and out-gained the Crusaders by nearly 100 yards on the ground.

Running was the name for both sides, though. Greg Tellish and Connor McGrath combined for all 78 of SU's yards on the ground. Junior QB Rich Palazzi completed 15-of-24 passes for just 99 yards and one interception. He out-threw his Moravian counterpart Phil Garner who completed only seven passes for 72 yards.

Mike Ritter was on the receiving end of five of those Palazzi completions for 34 yards. Greg Tellish also caught five balls for 32 yards, including a long of 22 yards.

Senior All-American punter Bobby Eppleman continued to put up impressive numbers, averaging 40 yards per punt, including a long of 45 yards.

After both teams punted on their opening drives, SU took over for its second series of the afternoon on its own 20-yard line. A holding call against the Crusaders pushed them back to the 10-yard line. Susquehanna was called for a delay of game and found itself in a precarious situation on the five-yard line. Palazzi's intended pass for Ritter was just a few inches touch too long and after Tellish was stalled on a subsequent rush attempt, Susquehanna punted for its second straight series.

That set Alex Hersch up for a 20-yard return that put Moravian into SU territory for the first time. On second-and nine, Rocco Del Priore ran into a wall of Susquehanna defenders that included Trevor Terpening and Bill Mancini which forced a third-and-one situation.

Joe Tegan managed to eke out a first down for a first-and-five situation and Del Priore ran his way into the endzone. The successful PAT gave the Greyhounds a 7-0 lead with 4:11 on the clock.

Moravian had a hard time bringing Ritter down on the ensuing kickoff as he forced his way to the Susquehanna 35. On third and 13, Palazzi connected with Tellish for a 22-yard pickup. Two plays later, the junior QB found Matt Knouse to put SU in a fourth-and-nine scenario. That proved to be a critical play when Palazzi then found Connor McGrath who managed to keep his toes inbound on a diving grab to secure a first down.

SU continued to move the ball down the field to start the second quarter. On second-and-four, Tellish was stalled for no gain and was halted again at the two-yard line to set-up an Eppleman 20-yard field goal attempt. Eppleman's kick was good for a 7-3 score.

Unfortunately the SU defense failed to stop Moravian from putting together another long drive. Moravian continued to pound the ball up the middle, including a quarterback keeper for three yards that put the ball on the Crusaders' 30-yard line. Garner finally deviated from the run threw a pass that found Mike Zanoni for a first down at the 16.

Tegan was able to convert a short pass into a 15-yard pickup to move to the one-yard line. Susquehanna caught a small break when a penalty against the Greyhounds pushed the ball back to the six-yard line. Bill Mancini and Ken Schretoma came up with big stops on second-and-six for a two-yard loss. Sophomore transfer Aaron Inch followed with a pass breakup on what would have been a touchdown reception and the Greyhounds' kicker Ian Heck settled for a field goal and a 10-3 lead with 1:25 to play in the opening half.

The Crusaders' offense started their final series of the half on their own 29-yard line but the drive ended in another punt and the teams headed into their locker rooms with Moravian leading 10-3.

SU's first time with the ball in the second half began on a positive note—on Moravian's 40-yard line. Palazzi and Spencer Cox connected to move the ball down to the 24-yard line.

Susquehanna switched things up when Tellish lined up at QB but he kept the ball for no gain. Palazzi came back in and two plays later, on third-and-six, had a pass intended for Ritter in far corner of the end zone broken up.

Eppleman knocked the ball through the uprights to make it a 10-6 ball at the 10:57 mark in the third quarter.

SU's second turn on offense started in similar fashion to its first—with prime field position near midfield. Ritter worked his way to the Moravian 34 for a fresh set of downs. Following a five-yard penalty, Tellish followed with a 12-yard run.

McGrath kept the running game going with four straight runs that quickly moved Susquehanna to the three-yard line. On third-and-three, Palazzi's pass intended for Ritter was incomplete but the Crusaders took a gamble by going for it on fourth and three.

The gamble fell short when Knouse was called out of bounds at the one-yard line.

SU worked Moravian into a third down situation, but a costly roughing the passer call kept the ball with the Greyhounds. They ran their way down to the 15. Brandon Lesko fumbled the snap on a 27-yard field goal attempt. He held on to the ball but fell short of a first down and SU took over at the seven-yard line with 6:48 remaining.

On third and 11, Palazzi fumbled the handoff at the third-yard line which resulted in a safety and a 12-6 Moravian edge.

With less than five minutes to play, Stephen Homan and Inch came up with a stop on third and eight and the Crusaders took over on their own 20.

SU had four minutes to work with but Moravian's Travis King came up with an interception, the first turnover of the game, which effectively sealed Susquehanna's fate.

Schretroma and Inch had 10 tackles apiece. Schretroma had two for a loss and seven of Inch's tackles were solo.  

Next game: Sept. 11 – home opener vs. Juniata at 1 p.m. (Goal Post Game)

Postgame Notes:

-Trevor Terpening and Mike Ritter served as honorary captains for the game, in addition to co-captains Braden Klingler and Ryan Schumann.

- The 18 points scored in the point were the fewest combined points since SU's 10-3 win against Juniata on Sept. 13, 2008.

- Susquehanna's six points were the fewest the team has scored since a 14-3 loss against King's in 2006.