Lebanon Valley (2-0) at Moravian (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 19 - 1 p.m. - Rocco Calvo Field - The 67th Meeting
Radio: WMSS 91.1 FM
Webcast: WMSSFM.com

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Media Notes In PDF Format (includes two-deep)

Aiming for its first 3-0 start since 1979, Lebanon Valley visits Moravian in the non-conference finale. The Dutchmen, coming off a 27-20 win against Ursinus, hope to improve their second-half performance after two straight near-misses in wins over Gettysburg and Ursinus.

On the Radio
All of this season's games will be heard live in the capital region on WMSS 91.1 FM, with the exception of the Wilkes game, which will be on WWSM 1510 AM in Lebanon County. John Wilsbach and Brian Keyser will call the action for the fourth consecutive season. Every game will be streamed live and free at WMSSFM.com and www.GoDutchmen.com.

If You Only Know 5 Things...
1. LVC has a chance to go 3-0 for the first time since 1979. The Dutchmen have started 2-0 for the second consecutive season, for the first time since 1968 and 1969.
2. Senior RB Charlie Parker needs 66 yards rushing to become LVC's second 3,000-yard rusher, and 172 yards to top Rick Coleman '78 for the program record.
3. The LVC defense generated eight sacks last week and leads the MAC in that category this season. DE Zach Bleiler led LVC with 3.5 sacks, a career-high.
4. Moravian had just 224 yards of total offense in its 21-16 win over McDaniel last week.
5. LVC's special teams have been outstanding so far this season, yielding both MAC ST Players of the Week thus far (Ben Guiles and Colt Zarilla). The Dutchmen are averaging 57.3 yards per kick-off, 31.5 yards per kick-off return, and 40.2 yards per punt, all best in the MAC.

Ursinus Recap
For the second straight week, Lebanon Valley raced out to a big lead before overcoming second-half mistakes, holding on to defeat Ursinus, 27-20, in the 2009 home opener at Arnold Field. With the win, the Dutchmen moved to 2-0 for the second straight season for the first time since 1969. The Bears (0-2) pressed for 20 fourth-quarter points after LVC worked up a 21-0 lead. Joe Brennan and Ben Guiles both scored a pair of touchdowns, with Guiles helping put the game away with a big 77-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. The LVC defense held Ursinus to 285 yards of total offense (including -19 yards rushing) while sacking quarterback Justin Decristofaro eight times. Zach Bleiler (3.5 sacks, 7 tackles), Will Keylor (2 sacks, 7 tackles), and Jeff Ochoa (2 sacks, 6 tackles) terrorized the Ursinus offense, while corners Matt Lillis and Tim Ridewood each grabbed an interception. Caleb Fick was 19-of-28 for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but was picked off three times in the second half, while Decristofaro aired it out to the tune of 304 yards and three TDs on 21-of-41 passing.

Parker Nears 3,000 Yards, Records
Senior RB Charlie Parker started the season chasing after three LVC career rushing records, and now owns one of them. His two touchdowns against Gettysburg put him in the lead for career rushing TDs with 25, breaking Ken Wilson '90's 20 year-old record. Now, Parker will bid to become LVC's second 3,000-yard rusher (he needs 66 more yards) and will go after a pair of records held by Rick Coleman '78 - career yardage (3,106; Parker needs 172 more) and touches (673, Parker needs 40 more).

Zarilla Named MAC ST POW
P/QB Colt Zarilla was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sunday, marking the second straight week a Dutchman has earned the special teams accolade; KR Ben Guiles was last week's recipient. Zarilla put all three of his punts inside the 20 in LVC's 27-20 win over Ursinus, including a 55-yard fourth-quarter boot that pinned Ursinus at its own one yard-line. Zarilla averaged 39.5 yards per punt. A fourth punt went awry due to a bouncing snap; Zarilla fell on it to prevent a recovery and probable touchdown.

Running Deep
LVC has taken full advantage of its depth at running back this year, handing the ball to five differnet backs, plus QBs Caleb Fick and Colt Zarilla. Charlie Parker leads the way with 193 yards on 38 carries, but Ben Guiles has the big-play potential with 131 yards on 15 carries and 2 TDs. FB Bryan Lynch (8 att., 36 yds), Blair Ransom (3 att., 5 yds, 1 TD), and Mike Scott (5 att., -9 yds) have also contributed this year.

Two Under Center
In preseason, coach Jim Monos indicated that he would have several packages ready for back-up quarterback Colt Zarilla, a more mobile option than pocket passer Caleb Fick. Zarilla certainly showed why he can make life difficult for opposing defenses in his one first-half series at Gettysburg; Zarilla immediately ran the ball, and completed his first two passes for first downs before capping off a 66-yard drive with his own nine-yard touchdown run.

Special Teams Shine
LVC's special teams have been outstanding so far this season, yielding both MAC ST Players of the Week thus far (Ben Guiles and Colt Zarilla). The Dutchmen are averaging 57.3 yards per kick-off behind the boot of freshman Nate Fehr;, 31.5 yards per kick-off return with Guiles and Sean Donovan; and 40.2 yards per punt thanks to Zarilla; each is the best in the MAC.

Secondary Struggles
In their first two match-ups of the season, LVC faced two pass-oriented offenses, and was torched both times to the tune of 375 yards (Gettysburg) and 304 yards (Ursinus) and six total passing touchdowns. The pass defense ranks last in the MAC through Week 2. However, with such a high volume of passes (opponents have passed 96 times to 75 rushing plays), the LVC defense has broken up 20 passes in two games, and snagged three interceptions.

Young On the Lines
Between the eight starters of the offensive and defensive lines, there are three all-MAC returners and 87 combined career starts. Yet among those eight, there is a more significant number that jumps out - there's only one senior. LT Sean Tetreault is the lone senior, with four juniors and three sophomores rounding out the group. And, if you go further into the two-deep, there's only one more senior among their back-ups: Rob Evangelista at strong-side defensive end.

The Red Zone Blues Fixed?
Last season, LVC struggled mightily inside the red zone, scoring just 59 percent of the time; opponents scored 70 percent of the time. However, after making red zone production a top offseason priority, the Dutchmen are 7-for-8 so far this season, including 5-for-5 against Gettysburg and 2-for-3 against Ursinus. LVC has not turned the ball over inside the 20 yet (a missed field goal was the only blown opportunity).

Go Long! Longer!
The LVC special teams put the defense in a bind last year, with an average opponents' starting field position from kick-offs on the 38. A major off-season goal for the special teams was to increase the depth of kick-offs to around the 10 yard-line, helping the kick coverage team to stop the return. Freshman Nate Fehr has certainly seemed to solve those problems, averaging 57.3 yards per kick-off, with the LVC coverage unit holding opponents to a net of 37.6.

MAC Dominates Non-Conference
After two weeks of non-league play, MAC teams are 10-3, including a 5-0 record against Centennial foes (and LVC accounts for two of those wins). This week, however, will be a tough one, with marquee match-ups including #5 Wesley at Delaware Valley, Widener at #25 Ithaca, and FDU-Florham at TCNJ.

Taking on the Centennial Conference
Forget eyes on the MAC title - if the Moravian game goes well, LVC could be halfway to a Centennial Conference championship by the end of Saturday. All three non-conference opponents this year - Gettysburg, Ursinus, and Moravian - are members of the Centennial, marking the 13th straight year that all of or the majority of LVC's non-conference opponents has come from the conference. That streak will end next year, however, with the addition of Bridgewater, a member of the ODAC, and the beginning of the PAC-MAC Challenge, in which the first-place MAC team plays the first-place Presidents' Athletic Conference team, #2 plays #2, etc.

Moravian Scouting Report
The biggest question mark for the Greyhounds has been at quarterback, where sophomore Steve Panasuk has completed 12 of 22 passes for 175 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Sophomore Andy Polony started for at Susquehanna and completed just four-of-eight passes for 31 yards with two interceptions in the first half. Senior Patrick Weiss, a transfer from LVC, played the other half of the game at Susquehanna and was just three-for-14 for 54 yards and an interception. Moravian also lost most of its rushing attack to graduation, and has relied on senior Ryan Rempe, who has 113 yards on 20 carries. Defensively, Moravian has allowed 357.5 yards of total offense per game while giving up 20 points per game. LB Derek Protasiewicz leads with 15 tackles, and Allen Petros has 12 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and a sack.

Next Time Out
LVC will enjoy a bye week before returning home to face pre-season MAC favorite Delaware Valley on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.