Moravian opens with win at home

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Moravian College sophomore cornerback Travis King suspected a big play was headed in his direction late in the fourth quarter as the Greyhounds clung to a slim lead over Susquehanna University Saturday at Rocco Calvo Field.

The Crusaders, who handed Moravian a shutout opening day loss last year, were attempting to spark a possible game-winning drive in its waning minutes from deep in its own territory.

King quickly reacted to a first-down pass play, perfectly timed his contact with Mike Ritter and wrestled the ball from the wide receiver for the interception that clinched Moravian's 12-6 Centennial Conference victory over the Crusaders.

"We were in a cover two and I wanted to stay back, so I didn't hit him early and risk an interference call," King said. "I came over his back and we kind of both had the ball. I just wrestled it away from him.



King's timely pick sealed a well-deserved victory for a Greyhound team that struggled to put points on the board throughout last year's 2-8 campaign. Points remained at a premium Saturday as Moravian squandered several golden scoring opportunities following long, clock eating drives.

But the Greyhound defense rose to the challenge on several occasions, including a third quarter goal line stand that ended with a completed fourth down pass to David Purkert who was stopped inches short of a touchdown.

"I know it's a cliché, but this was a real team effort," Moravian head coach Scot Dapp. "What the defense did today, especially with their backs against the wall, I can't be too unhappy. Our defense can match anybody's and if we can control the ball as we did today, I'll be a happy coach."

The drive that set the tone for the remainder of the game started when the Greyhounds found themselves pinned against the end zone following the goal line stand. Freshman quarterback Phil Garner, who rushed 11 times for 36 yards and completed seven of 12 passes for 72 yards, started the Greyhounds out with a three-yard quarterback keep.

That began a 21-play, 85-yard march that ate more than 12 minutes of the third and fourth quarters. But, points again eluded the Greyhounds when holder Brandon Lesko bobbled the snap on an Ian Heck field 23-yard goal attempt with just more than four minutes to play. Lesko's run to the Crusader 8 fell just short of a first down.

"We might have been doing a little better on offense. We didn't get enough points and we had a bad penalty and that kills you," Dapp said. "I'm sure [Garner] made some freshman mistakes, and there were a couple of things he probably didn't do right, but he threw a couple of good, key passes. We had some good drives, the offensive line did a great job and the back hit the holes well."

Moravian was poised to cap an 80-yard second quarter drive with a touchdown when Garner found Joe Tegan with a flare pass to the Susquehanna 1. An illegal procedure penalty forced the Greyhounds back to the six where they settled for 25-yard Heck field goal.

Special teams play led to the game's lone touchdown when Eric Dzienglski unleashed a 57-yard punt that pinned Susquehanna deep in its own territory. A 20-yard punt return by Alex Hersch set the Greyhounds up on the Crusader 28.

Five plays later, Rocco Del Priore (24 carries, 80 yards) scampered five yards for the game's lone touchdown with 4:11 to play in the first quarter.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-momo-football-20100904,0,5078558.story