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Centennial Conference Athletics

Susquehanna University Crusaders

 

Head Coach Steve Briggs

Briggs (Springfield ‘84) enters his 24th season at the helm of the Crusaders with a 124-109 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: 40/20
Offensive System: Multiple I
Defensive System: 3-4

 Offensive Preview

Starters Returning (6)
QB-Taylor Kolmer, Jr., 6-0, 185
RB-Tim Wade, Soph., 5-8, 190
FB-Pat Murtha, Jr., 6-0, 220
WR-Ryan Lopes, Jr., 6-2, 190
OL-Brandon Cuevas, Sr., 6-4, 300
OL-Arlen Kilmartin, Sr., 6-1, 250

The Crusaders finished strong a year ago, winning five of their last six games ... with the return of nine starters on offense, SU hopes to keep it rolling in 2013 ... junior Taylor Kolmer emerged as the starting QB after a rash of injuries and was fourth in the Conference in pass efficiency (132.44) ... he will battle junior Mark Rosenbaum, who missed most of the 2012 campaign due to an injury, for the starting berth ... soph Tim Wade is the leading returnee in the backfield, rushing for 319 yards ... replacing first-team All-CC WR Mike Ritter won't be easy, but juniors Ryan Lopes and Denzell Walker look to step up ... senior OTs Brandon Cuevas, a second-team All-CC pick, heads up the interior line along with Arlen Kilmartin.

 Defensive Preview

Starters Returning (10)
DL-Bill Mancini, Sr., 5-11, 240
DL-Stephen Homan, Sr., 5-11, 290
DL-Quinton Gierlatowicz, Sr., 6-4, 260
DL-Joe Trego, Sr., 6-0, 250
DE-Jared Minori, Jr., 6-2, 220
LB-Mike Statuti, Jr., 5-11, 205
LB-Adrian Bernard, Jr., 6-0, 220
DB-Ryan MacIver, Jr., 5-7, 160
DB-Steven Viegas, Jr., 6-1, 190
DB-Cody Miller, Jr., 5-10, 175

The Crusader defense returns eight starters from an opportunistic unit that led the Conference and was sixth nationally in turnover margin (+17) ... senior Bill Mancini and Stephen Homan lead the interior line ... Mancini had six tackles for loss a year ago, while Homan added three ... two other seniors - Quinton Gierlatowicz and Joe Trego - move over from the offensive line, while junior Jared Minori moves from linebacker to end ... a pair of juniors - Mike Statuti and Adrian Bernard - head the linebackers ... Bernard, a second-team All-Conference selection, led the team with 97 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, while forcing four fumbles ... Statuti had 8.5 TFL and a team-high two sacks ... junior Stephen Viegas is the leading returnee in the secondary ... he had 26 tackles and an interception, while classmate Ryan MacIver broke up three passes.

Special Teams Preview

Starters Returning (2)
PK-Spencer Hotaling, Jr., 6-3, 170
P-T.J. Morton, Soph., Soph., 5-10, 175

Junior Spencer Hotaling was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goal tries a year ago and is 17-of-20 in his career ... a first-team All-CC choice, he was also 26-of-27 on PATs and has a streak of 23 made in a row ... Hotaling doubled as punter and averaged 39.7 yards per kick and placed 10 inside the 20, but T.J. Morton returns after sitting out last season ... he was a second-team All-CC punter in 2011, averaging 39.2 yards per kick.

2013 Outlook

The Crusaders overcame a rash of early-season injuries to finish 5-1 over their last six games. With the experience on the offensive and defensive lines, Susquehanna will be able to handle the physical challenges of the Conference season. It remains to be seen if the skill positions can step up and make the plays necessary to compete for the title.

 

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, which was resurfaced in the summer of 2013, 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.

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