By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
The 17th ranked Tigers of Hampden-Sydney (7-1) found themselves in a 13-point third-quarter deficit against Dickinson (2-5) and rebounded to score a nail-biting 21-20 win against the Red Devils. One of the top five offenses in the country, Hampden-Sydney was held to 350 yards of total offense.
The Red Devils held a 14-7 lead with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter when sophomore Dwight Phyall scampered to paydirt from 4 yards out. Drew Magyar's extra point was wide and was the difference in a potentially devastating upset of the nationally ranked Tigers.
"I think it hurt us when we failed to go up by 14," head coach Darwin Breaux told the Harrisburg Patriot-News. "You could see the momentum shift."
Tigers quarterback J.D. Ricca pitched to Conrad Singh who launched a bomb to Tripp Murchison. 61 yards later, Hampden-Sydney found itself back in the hunt as the fourth quarter approached. Ricca found running back C.W. Clemmons for a 7-yard score and Alex Bland's extra point was enough to keep the Tigers from a loss that would have removed them from Pool C consideration.
Dickinson outrushed the Tigers 279-91 and clearly lacked the punch necessary to score when it mattered most. Regardless, one has to wonder if Hampden-Sydney took the Red Devils lightly, losers of five in a row coming into Saturday's game, or if they really had difficulty with the rush-heavy offense of Dickinson.
A one-point margin of victory to a 2-6 squad will not look good in the decision-making chambers of the selection committee, whether it's officially part of the criteria or not. Three Pool C bids are available. The Tigers will be waiting on the edge of their seats come Selection Sunday.
Bartosic owns NCAA record
Susquehanna's Mark Bartosic, who we have been following all season long, now holds an NCAA record that no player in modern college football history has ever touched.
Bartosic became the first player in NCAA football (all-divisions) to tally at least 1,000 receiving yards in all each of his four season of eligibility. In the Crusaders' 55-31 loss to Albright, Bartosic caught three touchdowns to bring his total number of career touchdowns to 53. That number surpasses Mississippi Valley State's Jerry Rice for fourth-place in all divisions for most touchdowns in a career.
On a more local level, Bartosic became the MAC's all-time leader in career receptions.
Susquehanna's Josh Kleha tallied 101 receiving yards on the day, becoming the first Crusader other than Bartosic to surpass 100 yards in consecutive games for the first time since Don Duffy in 1996.
"It was good for us to march the ball down the field and put it in the end zone before halftime," said Bartosic, who entered the game with 936 receiving yards on the season. "It was nice to get (the record) out of the way and not have to think about it next week."
Defenses can double and triple-team Bartosic and it just does not matter, the man gets to the football. Albright coach EJ Sandusky told the Sunbury Daily Item: "We felt going into the game we had pretty good corners. You just can't stop Bartosic, Mark's just such a great player." The 6-1 Bartosic is leading the class of Division III hopefuls for future football endeavors.
MAC showdown set
You've heard it all season long, but Del Val has continues to roll and controls its own destiny for the playoffs. The Aggies jumped out to a 40-8 lead over FDU-Florham and allowed the Devils to score some late points, maintaining a 40-22 victory.
Del Val will travel to face Wilkes this week for a chance to move one step closer to the playoffs in this Cinderella season for the Doylestowners. Of course, the Aggies will have to stop the one, the only, Brett Trichilo.
Last week against lowly Lebanon Valley, Trichilo rushed for 214 yards and five touchdowns, a Colonels record. Again, only a junior. Oh the stories they'll tell!
Mid-Atlantic Region Top 5
1. Christopher Newport
2. Bridgewater
3. Delaware Valley
4. Hampden-Sydney
5. Johns Hopkins
Judging from the overall play of the Mid-Atlantic Region, I would be shocked if a team from this top five or the rest of the region advanced deep into the NCAA playoffs. Mount Union, St. John's, Linfield, Wheaton, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Springfield, all seem to be much stronger than anything the Mid-Atlantic has put forth this season; that's just a personal observation. That being said, after some early-season gun-shyness on my part to declare my top five squads in region, I think most folks would agree that CNU has now established itself as the best team in region with Bridgewater a very close second.
Beyond that, Hopkins still has a tremendous defense, but their lackluster play in a loss at Muhlenberg squelched their chances to win the automatic bid.
Playoff watch
Centennial: Muhlenberg has clinched a tie and can win the bid with a McDaniel loss. A McDaniel win vs. Johns Hopkins next week will send the Green Terror to the playoffs. Hopkins has been eliminated since their lone conference loss came to Muhlenberg, but the Blue Jays can lay their hopes on the vain knowledge that they can once again share the conference title.
ODAC: It's Bridgewater's to lose. The Eagles lose, the Tigers win. BC has two home games on their schedule against Randolph-Macon and Catholic. An upset is possible, but not probable.
MAC: As it stands going into Week 10, Del Val holds the automatic bid. Should they lose this week to Wilkes and Lycoming wins against Widener and Susquehanna (by no means a cakewalk), the Warriors return to the playoffs. Two Del Val losses and two Lycoming losses plus two wins by either Wilkes or King's would clinch an improbable turn of events. One of the two squads is guaranteed a third conference loss since Wilkes and King's play each other in Week 11.
USA South: CNU from me to you. The Captains will see the postseason again. I predict the addition of N.C. Wesleyan next season will change that ... or not.
Games of the Week
Shenandoah (4-1 ODAC, 6-2) @ Salisbury (7-0), Salisbury, Md., 1 p.m.: This could be the toughest game on the weak Salisbury schedule and a must win for Salisbury to be a legitimate contender for a Pool B bid. The Hornets and Sea Gulls share four common opponents and have a combined 8-0 record. Here is a breakdown of the results:
Shenandoah vs. Kean = 34-7; Salisbury vs. Kean = 21-0
Shenandoah vs. Catholic = 14-7; Salisbury vs. Catholic = 54-20
Shenandoah vs. Greensboro = 29-13; Salisbury vs. Greensboro = 28-17
Shenandoah vs. Chowan = 54-6; Salisbury vs. Chowan = 44-3
The Hornets can certainly pull this one out. The Sea Gulls needed a big win over Frostburg last season to solidify a Pool B bid and were instead rolled on a neutral field. Their game versus the Hornets this season is of the same importance as the loss to Frostburg. The Sea Gulls won't even sniff the playoffs if they lose on Saturday.
Delaware Valley (6-1 MAC, 7-1) at Wilkes (6-2 MAC, 6-2), Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1 p.m.: An Aggies win brings them yet another step closer to the automatic bid in the MAC. They will have to stop Brett Trichilo and the Colonels who face the demise of their season should they lose.
Widener (4-3 MAC, 5-3) at No. 21 Lycoming (6-1 MAC, 6-1), Williamsport, Pa., 1 p.m.: Historically, this contest has been a barnburner. Lyco lost last season on a wacky overtime shocker. Let's revisit the words of Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan from 2002.
"Widener lined up to attempt a 38-yard field goal (to win in overtime). Carl Schoenman's kick was blocked behind the line of scrimmage by Lycoming's Brian Bond, and deMarteleire, the holder, picked up the ball and in the process of being tackled for a loss, threw a shovel pass to wide receiver Bo Fischer, who ran into the end zone uncontested for the game-winning score. The officials conferred for several minutes before coming to the center of the field and making a touchdown signal."
The Pioneers have a respectable record this season, but were certainly expecting a better result in 2003. I expect Widener to give the Warriors a serious contest. The Pioneers won't make it to the playoffs, but this is a marked game on their schedule, a long-standing rivalry that can help salvage Widener's season.
