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Centennial Conference Athletics

Susquehanna University Crusaders

 

Head Coach Steve Briggs

Briggs (Springfield ‘84) enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Crusaders with a 118-105 record. He was honored as the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year in 1999 and he and his staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year from the Liberty League in 2009.

Lettermen Returning/Lost: 33/31
Offensive System: Multiple I
Defensive System: 3-4

 Offensive Preview

Starters Returning (6)
SE-Mike Ritter, Sr.
SE-Spenser Ercole, Sr.
SE-Alex Patchin, Jr.
OL-Brandon Cuevas, Jr.
OL-Quinton Gierlatowicz, Jr.
OL-Tim Robinson, Sr.

The Crusaders finished 6-4 a year ago and ranked 44th in the nation in passing offense, averaging 242 yards per game ... but SU needs to find replacements for the graduated Rich Palazzi and Greg Tellish - the top passer and rusher from last fall ... junior Mark Rosenblum saw limited action at signal-caller last season and could contend for the starting spot ... senior FB Connor McGrath and junior RB Duke Hyacinthe combined for only 35 carries and 114 yards last fall ... a trio of talented receivers return, led by senior Mike Ritter who has 131 career receptions for 1,893 yards ... he caught 29 passes in an injury-shortened season in 2011 ... junior Alex Patchin stepped up and snared 37 passes for 480 yards and six scores, while senior Spenser Ercole caught 26 balls for 391 yards ... a pair of juniors lead the interior line in Brandon Cuevas and Quinton Gierlatowicz ... senior Tim Robinson will line up with that pair.

 Defensive Preview

Starters Returning (8)
DE-Kyle Morosko, Sr.
DL-Bill Mancini, Jr.
DL-Andrew Sayler, Sr.
DL-Ken Schetroma, Sr.
LB-Jared Minori, Soph.
DB-Jack McCarty, Sr.
CB-Will Dyson, Sr.
FS-Jalon Scott, Sr.

The Crusader defense returns nine starters from a unit that ranked in the second half of the Conference in most statistical categories ... the entire defensive front returns in seniors Ken Schetroma, Andrew Sayler, Kyle Morosko and junior Bill Mancini ... Mancini led the quartet with 43 tackles, including a team-high seven sacks a year ago ... Schetroma had 38 tackles, including nine for loss on his way to second-team All-Centennial honors ... sophomore Jared Minori had a solid rookie campaign with 47 tackles and a sack and returns to lead the linebacking corps ... the secondary will also be a strength with the return of four seniors ... Jack McCarty added 46 stops and two picks ... Will Dyson had a team-leading three thefts, while Jalon Scott added one to go along with 45 stops.

Special Teams Preview

Starters Returning (1)
PK-Spencer Hotaling, Soph.

Sophomore Spencer Hotaling was a first-team All-Centennal selection after converting 11-of-14 field goal tries ... he had a pair of last-second, game-winning kicks against Wilkes and Dickinson.

2012 Outlook

Susquehanna's defense will have to carry the load while the new-look offense takes shape this fall ... if the Crusaders can weather the early portion of the schedule that includes Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg, SU could be in the title hunt come November.

 

The 3,500-seat football and track & field stadium is named for former SU football player Nicholas A. Lopardo '68, former chair of the university's Board of Directors and a member of the SU Sports Hall of Fame. It replaced the former site of Amos Alonzo Stagg Field, which had hosted SU home games for the past 100 years.

The state-of-the-art ProGrass playing surface of Lopardo Stadium has retained the familiar Stagg Field designation, while the installation of lights prior to the 2002 season permitted teams to play on-campus night games for the first time in program history.

More Previews

Dickinson | Franklin & Marshall | Gettysburg | Johns Hopkins | Juniata

McDaniel | Moravian | Muhlenberg | Susquehanna | Ursinus