We cap off Football Preview Week on GoDutchmen.com with a look at each of LVC's 2009 opponents. The Dutchmen open with three non-conference opponents before starting their chase for an MAC championship on Oct. 3 against Delaware Valley.
Thanks for checking out FPW '09 this week - be sure to log on to GoDutchmen.com later this month for full coverage of preseason camp!
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at Gettysburg
Sept. 5 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 5-5, 5-3 Centennial
2008 Game: LVC 19, GC 13 (at LVC)
2009 Centennial Preseason Poll: 5th
Head Coach: Barry Streeter
Offense: Spread Wing
Defense: Multiple
Starters R/L: 16/8 |
The Bullets will be led by three-year starter and all-time leading passer Matt Flynn, who returns for his final season at quarterback in the spread wing offense ... Gettysburg's total offense ranked best in the Centennial and 16th in NCAA Division III last year ... Flynn will have several options, including returning tailback Jamel Mutunga (800 yds, 7 TDs) and receivers Ricky Manigat (32 rec., 357 yds, 4 TDs), Charles Curcio (32 rec., 368 yds, 3 TDs), and Brian Betley (22 rec., 4 TDs) ... Gettysburg returns just two starters on the offense line ... Six defensive starters return, including Sebastian Sullivan, who had nine tackles against LVC last year ... Leading tackler Tim Widdoes (71 tackles) is also back.
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Ursinus
Sept. 12 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 3-7, 2-6 CC
2008 Game: LVC 31, Ursinus 19 (at Ursinus)
2009 Centennial Preseason Poll: 7th
Head Coach: Pete Gallagher
Offense: Pro
Defense: 4-2-5
Starters R/L: 18/4 |
Ursinus returns 18 starters, nine each on offense and defense ... The biggest question mark will be at quarterback. After the loss of two-year starter Nick Dye, newcomers Matt McHugh and Justin DeCristofaro will push for the spot, and coach Pete Gallagher hasn't discounted using a two-QB system ... Tailback Mark Jaskowski (753 yds, 5 TDs) returns as the starter ... A trio of wide-outs will also be back with Al Desiderio (29 rec., 401 yds, 2 TDs), Jesse Ordonio (24 rec., 256 yds, 2 TDs), and Kahill Pittman (13 rec., 187 yds) ... Defensively, nine starters are back in the Bears' attacking-style 4-2-5 set that help against the pass ... The defense is led by linebacker Joe Galie, the team's leading tackler with 66 last year ... Nate Mast is back after nine TFL and three sacks in 65 tackles.
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at Moravian
Sept. 19 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 8-3, 6-2 CC
2008 Game: Moravian 23, LVC 16 (at LVC)
2009 Centennial Preseason Poll: 4th
Head Coach: Scott Dapp
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 3-4
Starters R/L: 13/14 |
Moravian loses 14 starters from an impressive 2008 campaign that saw the Greyhounds tie for second in the Centennial after knocking off #5 Muhlenberg in OT in their regular-season finale ... Quarterback will be up in the air with the graduation of Marc Braxmeier, and as many as nine QBs will compete for the spot in camp ... Ryan Rempe, who did not play against LVC last year, is the leading rusher returning after a 727-yard, seven-TD season. He ran for 647 yards in the final four games of last year ... Also back are wide-outs Shawn Sylvanius and Alex Hersch ... Defensively, Moravian brings back six starters, but loses its top four players to graduation ... DB Daniel Burley and LB Anthony Carney both racked up 60 tackles a year ago ... DB Brad Bodine added 44 stops and three for a loss, and DL Allen Petros was solid with 37 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks.
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Delaware Valley
Oct. 3 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 8-3, 5-2 MAC (tri-champion), ECAC South Atlantic Bowl champion
2008 Game: W 26-14 (at Delaware Valley)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 1st
Head Coach: Jim Clements
Offense: Multiple
Defense: Multiple
Starters R/L: 13/9 |
LVC will get an early test as it faces the MAC's preseason favorite at home to start the conference slate ... Del Val appeared as high as fourth in several preseason polls, and received votes in the d3football.com preseason top-25 ... Thirteen starters return from a team that upset the No. 3 and 6 ranked teams in the country last year and went on to win the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl ... DVC returns MAC Offensive Player of the Year Mike Isgro at quarterback for his senior season after passing for 1,787 yards and 21 touchdowns last year ... On the ground, first-team all-MAC tailback Matt Cook ran for 1,323 yards and 13 TDs in 2008 ... Senior Chad Peterman (32 rec., 377 yds., 5 TDs) is the leading returning receiver ... Defensively, preseason all-American LB Kyle Gesswein led the MAC with 11.5 sacks and 105 tackles ... Other all-conference returnees unclude CB Charles Squitiere (six INT, 41 tackles) and DE Derek Porter (32 tackles).
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at Wilkes
Oct. 10 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 4-6, 4-3 MAC
2008 Game: LVC 28, Wilkes 21 (at Wilkes)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 6th
Head Coach: Frank Sheptock
Offense: Multiple
Defense: Multiple
Starters R/L: 15/7 |
Wilkes returns most of its main threats on both sides of the ball after a strong finish to the 2008 season that saw then win four of their last six after starting 0-4 ... Quarterback Rob Johnson is back after throwing for 1,147 yards and 19 touchdowns ... WR Gennaro Zangardi had 20 catches for 274 yards and tight end Jordan DeEmilio caught 25 balls for 313 yards, but Wilkes will have to absorb the graduation of WR Jason Prushinski, the MAC's third-leading receiver ... Big tailback Harry Reese is the leading run threat with 445 yards and two scores in 2008 ... Defensively, Wilkes loses all-MAC linebacker Drew Letcavage, who had 112 tackles and 10.5 sacks last year ... Returning DB Kevin Gerhart had 62 tackles and five picks ... Chris Horn was the top kicker in the MAC last year, going 9-for-9 on field goals (including three from 40+) and 23-for-25 on PATs.
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at FDU-Florham
Oct. 17 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 3-7, 1-6 MAC
2008 Game: LVC 38, FDU-Florham 3 (at LVC)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 8th
Head Coach: Rich Mosca
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: 4-3
Starters R/L: 11/11 |
FDU-Florham will rely on a large group of newcomers after losing 11 starters from last year's team that went 3-7 and 1-6 in the MAC ... FDU's lone MAC win last year was a stunner over Delaware Valley in Week 7 ... They also upset eventual NCAA team TCNJ early in the season ... The Devils will be led by quarterback Bill Winters, who was one of the MAC's top all-around threats last year with 195.8 yards passing per game (2nd in the MAC) and 60.5 yards rushing per game (5th) ... FDU loses top receiver Rob Eck but returns Kyle Bukowiec, who had 51 catches and 4 TDs ... Jason Glezman is team's leading returning tackler with 66 stops, but the Devils lose four of their top five stoppers on defense to graduation.
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King's
Oct. 24 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 3-7, 2-5 MAC
2008 Game: LVC 34, King's 7 (At King's)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 7th
Head Coach: Rich Mannello
Offense: Multiple
Defense: Multiple
Starters R/L: 16/6 |
King's will hope to build on a strong end to the 2008 season that saw them beat eventual MAC champion Lycoming and FDU-Florham to end up 3-7 after seven straight losses mid-season ... The Monarchs return nine offensive starters, including three offensive lineman (led by first-team all-MAC pick Brandon Cogley) ... QB Corey Lavin started the final two games last year and was impressive in both wins ... TB Claude O'Connor moved from linebacker to running back in mid-season and averaged 4.5 yards per carry ... WR Mike Verbitski was the top receiving threat, catching 35 passes for 539 yards ... On defense, three return on the line, including DE Ryan Nelson, who had 53 tackles last year and is the returning leader ... King's loses two of three starting linebackers, with PJ Nivens back ... Safeties Brian Mitros and Justin Zlotek return along with CB Edwyn Edwards.
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at Widener
Oct. 31 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 4-6, 2-5 MAC
2008 Game: LVC 20, Widener 13 (OT)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 5th
Head Coach: Dave Wood
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 3-4
Starters R/L: 17/5 |
Widener will hope to rebound after a disappointing 4-6 campaign ... LVC played an absolute classic with the Pride on Oktoberfest Weekend last year, winning 20-13 in overtime ... The Pride return 17 starters overall, including six all-MAC picks ... RB Ian Decker leads the attack, averaging 45.5 yards per game on the ground to earn second-team all-MAC ... First-team all-MAC tight end Michael Penna was outstanding, catching 18 passes for 200 yards and blocking in the MAC's fourth-ranked rushing defense ... Nine starters return on defense, including all-region linebacker Joe Favinger, who posted 92 tackles and 6.5 sacks ... DL James Woodley, a first-team all-MAC selection, had 49 tackles and four sacks.
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Lycoming
Nov. 7 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 7-4, 5-2 MAC (MAC Tri-Champion, NCAA Tournament)
2008 Game: Lycoming 23, LVC 15 (at Lycoming)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 2nd
Head Coach: Mike Clark
Offense: Multiple Pro
Defense: 4-3
Starters R/L: 14/8 |
LVC will face the defending MAC champions in their home finale on Nov. 7 ... Lycoming beat LVC in the season finale last year thanks to a late interception return to secure a share of the MAC title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament ... The Warriors lose eight starters from that team ... Senior QB Colin Dwyer (2,035 yards, 13 TDs, 20 INT) returns to run the offense ... His main weapon will be Josh Kleinfelter, a second-team all-MAC pick who averaged 107.4 yards per game and was the team's third-leading receiver at 32.7 yards per game ... Defensively, preseason all-American DT Ted Geurds led the line with 58 tackles ... Geurds anchors a defensive line that produced the MAC's second-best rushing defense last year, behind LVC's ... Senior DE Kyle Murren (42 tackles, 3.5 sacks) joins Geurds on the line ... Chuck Bellitto is the team's leading returning tackler, racking up 86 stops and an interception.
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at Albright
Nov. 14 - 1 p.m.
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2008 Record: 8-3, 5-2 (MAC tri-champion, ECAC South Central Bowl champion)
2008 Game: Albright 31, LVC 14 (at LVC)
2009 MAC Preseason Poll: 3rd
Head Coach: John Marzka
Offense: Multiple
Defense: Multiple
Starters R/L: 18/4 |
LVC will end the regular season at archrival Albright, hopefully with the MAC title on the line ... The Lions bring back a whopping 18 starters, including 10 on defense, from a team that went 8-3 and was a MAC tri-champion last year ... Senior QB Tanner Kelly will drive a dangerous offense. He threw for 1,795 yards and 15 TDs last year, and was also the MAC's top punter ... His main target will be Nate Romig, one of the program's all-time top scorers, who caught a MAC-best 11 touchdowns last year ... The Lions also have a very skilled tailback in Josan Holmes, the MAC Rookie of the Year, who ran for 1,087 yards and 12 scores as a freshman ... Defensively, the MAC's best scoring defense returns 10 starters ... Their only loss is significant, however, as All-American safety Matt Christ graduated ... FS Joe Baciotti led the team with five picks ... LB Andrew Kibler had a team-best 66 tackles, 6.5 for a loss.
