By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
Just two weeks ago, Hurricane Isabel ravaged the Tidewater region of Virginia, home to one of Division III's up and coming programs, Christopher Newport. Isabel's wrath cancelled the Captains' home opener against Muhlenberg and most players assumed a new role.
"This place was a disaster area," said head coach Matt Kelchner. "Last week guys were cutting trees, working the chainsaws, everything you can possibly imagine."
Several days into the cleanup, with the region still reeling from nature's fury and most players and coaches without electricity, the Captains gathered at POMOCO Stadium to hold their first practice following Isabel. Banding together amidst the destruction, CNU prepared for the most important regular-season game of the program's three-year history.
Whether it was an extra week to contemplate this cross-commonwealth rivalry, the sparkling atmosphere at POMOCO, or just sheer adrenaline, the Captains stymied Bridgewater, knocking off the then-No. 8 Eagles 16-12. The loss was the first regular-season defeat for Bridgewater in their last 29 games, the second-longest streak in the country only to Mount Union. CNU monopolized the clock, running the ball on 50 of 69 offensive plays, two of which were touchdown runs for Mario Marin. The Captains converted one-half of their third down opportunities and punted only once.
Defensively, Kelchner's squad was just as strong, keeping the Eagles to 106 yards on the ground and forcing fourth downs on eight of 12 chances. The Captains' defense improved after allowing 10 first-quarter points, holding the Eagles scoreless the rest of the game. Looking back to week 1 against No. 7 Rowan, CNU started the fourth quarter in Glassboro down by seven before allowing the Profs to break away.
"They made two big plays in the fourth quarter and we made zero, that was the difference," Kelchner said. Those two big plays, a 58-yard run setting up a touchdown and a 60-yard touchdown pass on the next Rowan series, negated a strong afternoon for the Captains against one of the top programs in Division III.
Scheduling Rowan, McDaniel, Muhlenberg, and Bridgewater, the Captains charted an ambitious course and emerge from non-conference play with a 2-1 record. "You can't ask for much better competition," Kelchner said Sunday afternoon, glowing after his program's lone victory over a ranked opponent.
"I've been waiting 16 years for this," says Kelchner, a 1982 Susquehanna graduate. Relishing the chance to turn his fledgling third-year squad into a national power, Kelchner continues to look for ways to improve the Captains. What better opponent than seven-time national champion Mount Union?
"If we had an opportunity to go play Mount Union, we would. I spoke with Coach (Larry) Kehres this summer and it's definitely something we want to do. I don't know if we can handle them, but we'll try." While a game between Mount Union and CNU is not imminent, the non-conference scheduling for CNU and the USAC will shrink with the addition of North Carolina Wesleyan next season. As a result, CNU will drop Muhlenberg from the docket in 2004.
This week, CNU is nationally ranked for the first time in history and will host Shenandoah, a team they have never beaten. The Hornets are 3-1 this season, their only loss a 42-0 drubbing by Bridgewater. Reeling from the magnitude of the Bridgewater win, the Captains will need to press on against the Hornets, 19-15 winners in 2002 and 27-24 overtime victors in 2001.
Excitement in Aggie-land
We mentioned last week that Delaware Valley looked like a program on the rise and the Aggies did not let us down this week, trouncing Susquehanna 48-19. Del Val improves to 3-0 for the first time since 1963 and will attempt to begin the season 4-0 when it travels to Lebanon Valley (1-3). It has been 45 years since the squad from Doylestown, Pa., started with four consecutive wins.
Led by former Florida quarterback G.A. Mangus, a backup to Shane Matthews in the early '90s, the Aggies are fast, young, and energetic. "They've taken on my personality," said the vivacious Mangus. "All this place needed was a shot of confidence," and the coach with the slight southern accent was pleased to bring it to Doylestown.
Mangus and his staff recruited 107 freshmen to play this season and they are down to 90. The roster is packed with plenty of "Fr." designations and uniform numbers used more than once.
"I sold players on playing time, an improved atmosphere, new uniforms, a new locker room. We'd redo everything, and we did. That's how I got them here," the second year coach continued.
Adam Knoblauch, the Aggies second-year signal caller and last year's MAC rookie of the year, was speechless after the win over Susquehanna. "This is unexplainable," said Knoblauch, who took a year off after high school before deciding on Del Val. "They never gave up on me and I decided to give it a shot." The sophomore credits the coaching staff for the team's success. "They've been incredible, just amazing; the play-calling is the mastermind of Coach Mangus."
The Aggies will be put to the test later in the season as they travel to Lycoming, Widener, and Wilkes.
Around the Centennial
The Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins improved to 4-0 for the second consecutive season with a 21-0 shutout of Carnegie Mellon (3-1). The combined record of Hopkins' opponents is 6-7 as their non-conference opponents leave something to be desired, but one cannot deny the outstanding defensive play of the Blue Jays. Johns Hopkins has outscored its four adversaries 108-16 (an average game score of 27-4) and have taken eight in a row since last season, including an ECAC postseason game. The defense has tallied 12 interceptions through the first four games, registered 15 pass breakups, sacked opposing quarterbacks eight times, notched 35 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, and blocked two kicks. The shutout was the second consecutive shutout for the Blue Jays, the first time they have accomplished that feat since 1996.
After McDaniel starting quarterback Orion Canine left school last week, the Green Terror rebounded for their first win of the season behind freshman Brad Baer to knock off key Centennial rival Muhlenberg 22-9. The Mules dropped to 0-2 and will head to Lancaster for a conference bout with Franklin & Marshall (1-2). Despite Muhlenberg's struggles this season, McDaniel's win was the first conference game and typically one of their toughest. The Green Terror needed that win if they want a sniff of the postseason.
Ursinus's Gary Sheffield has lived in the end zone this season with 10 touchdowns for the Bears. Sheffield found paydirt five times this week against Mount Ida, tying a conference record, in the Bears 47-0 win.
Sea Gulls fly on
Salisbury improved to 3-0 in this 2003 season and leads the South Region's Pool B standings with their 28-17 win at Greensboro. The Pride rallied after trailing 21-7 to make it 21-17 heading into the fourth quarter. There, the Sea Gulls responded with less than two minutes remaining to tack on an extra score. Salisbury and Washington & Jefferson (3-0) appear to be the only chances for the South Region to land a Pool B bid. While the strength of Salisbury's schedule remains an issue (see last week's column), as long as the Sea Gulls keep winning, they will remain in the running.
Warriors squeak by again; King's in deep
Lycoming struggled with Albright (1-2) last weekend, needing two touchdowns in the final five minutes to keep the Lions at bay. The Warriors held a tenuous three-point lead when Phil Mann connected with Tim Brown for a 78-yard score to open a ten-point margin. Albright fumbled on their next possession and Lyco rumbled home for the death blow. The Warriors win pushes their season record to 3-0, but the record may be a bit deceiving. In their season-opening win over King's, the Warriors needed a fumble recovery in the Monarchs' end zone to extend a bare-boned three point lead against the defending conference champs. The Warriors rest this week, but host FDU-Florham on October 11 and then a key matchup in Williamsport against Delaware Valley. Should the Aggies get by Lebanon Valley and King's, the Lycoming/Del Val game could play a role in the MAC representative in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, King's failed to come back against Widener and lost its second MAC game this season, 27-24. The loss puts the Monarchs in the deep end of an already bloated 11-team pool. With the exhibited early strength of Delaware Valley, the potentially explosive Mark Bartosic and Susquehanna, Brett Trichilo and Wilkes -- anything can, and probably will happen in the MAC this season. Look out!
Obscure Mid-Atlantic Region Media Guide Factoid of the Week
If you think that Lycoming will remain competitive this season, history is on your side. The men from Williamsport have lost two or fewer games in 21 of the last 28 seasons. Within that span, the Warriors have lost only one game in 12 of those years. Four of the 28 seasons (including last year) saw three losses, while Lyco lost four games only three times. Never in the past 28 years have the Warriors recorded a .500 or losing season.
Mid-Atlantic Region Top 5
Ok folks, expect this to change on a weekly basis. Lycoming struggled mightily with Albright. Bridgewater's offense is stymied by CNU. Hampden-Sydney has played well, but their early competition is suspect. Hopkins is 4-0. Let me put it to you this way, I value CNU's loss at Rowan more than all seven wins of Johns Hopkins and Salisbury combined. The Captains have earned this designation. Play a tough schedule, open some eyes. It is easy to respect the Captains for their ambitiousness, even if it resulted in a tough 21-0 loss at Rowan.
1. Christopher Newport
2. Lycoming
3. Hampden-Sydney
4. Bridgewater
5. Johns Hopkins
Games of the Week
No. 17 Bridgewater (3-1) at No. 12 Hampden-Sydney (3-0), Farmville, Va., 1 p.m.: This game takes on a playoff mentality for the Eagles. A loss for Bridgewater dramatically reduces their shot at winning the ODAC and practically eliminates their chance at a Pool C (at-large) bid. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan will have the call from Farmville in our D3football.com Game of the Week.
Shenandoah (3-1) at No. 25 Christopher Newport (2-1), Newport News, Va., 1 p.m.: In their only two meetings, the Hornets have upended the Captains, spoiling any hopes for an undefeated conference record.
Johns Hopkins (4-0) at Dickinson (2-1), Carlisle, Pa., 1 p.m.: The Blue Jays look to go to 5-0 and jump start their ride to the top of the Centennial against the Red Devils.
Muhlenberg (0-2) at Franklin & Marshall (1-2), Lancaster, Pa., 1 p.m.: The Mules are just two games removed from the second round of the playoffs when they hosted a feisty John Carroll squad after crushing Mass-Dartmouth in the first round of the second season. Now, they find themselves without a win opening conference play against the struggling Diplomats. A F&M win could signify another team flailing in the deep end.
