Moravian Week
The following is from the D3Football.com Season Preview Kickoff Edition:
Moravian Greyhounds
Last playoff appearance: 2005
Last year: 4-6, 4-5 MAC
Last conference title: 1988
Wins increase from 05-06: Minus-3
Preseason ranking: 83 of 238
Head coach: Scot Dapp, 21st year, 121-84-1
Starters returning: 18 (eight offense, eight defense, two special teams)
Position battle to watch: Quarterbacks. Senior Brad Swartz and juniors Marc Braxmeier and Ryan Rempe all started at least two games as the Greyhounds searched for consistent performances out of their QBs. "It was not a productive position," head coach Scot Dapp said. Indeed, the three combined for a passer rating of just over 100 and, as a team, the Greyhounds were next-to-last in the Middle Atlantic Conference in passing offense. Junior Josh Hinkle, a transfer from Division II Edinboro, may also be in the mix.
Pressure is on: The defensive line, particularly defensive ends. Moravian was hit hardest by graduation there, losing three players. Among them was Nick Feo, who led the Greyhounds with four sacks, and Alex Smith-Constantine, who was sixth on the team in tackles. Junior Don Maxwell (30 tackles, 1.5 sacks in '06) is the most experienced of the returners.
Where did he come from? Junior running back Tyler de Rouen doesn't have much mileage by running back standards. He blew out his knee during the preseason in 2005; he rebounded nicely in 2006, topping 100 yards in two of the Greyhounds' first three games. But during the second of those games, a 112-yard effort at Juniata, de Rouen suffered another serious knee injury - but kept playing. "On Monday after the third game, [head athletic trainer] Bob Ward came in and said, 'I think Tyler tore his ACL again.' I said, 'When?' He said, 'In the game.' I said, 'He played the whole game.' And [Ward] said, 'I know.'", Dapp recalled. "Then I talked to Tyler, and he tells me he did it in the first half. ... He said, 'Well, I just thought my brace was slipping.'"
Their season will be defined by: Their first game, a Thursday night game at former MAC rival Susquehanna, now in the Liberty League. Dapp remembers back to the 1999 season; the Greyhounds were coming off a 3-7 season in '98 and opened '99 with an overtime loss to Delaware Valley. Moravian went on to finish '99 with a 2-8 mark, but that opening loss left them "deflated," Dapp said. He added that while playing Susquehanna may feel normal, it's a non-league game; in Week 2, they'll play McDaniel, a team Moravian has seen twice since 1982.
Predicted record: 8-2, 6-2
Capsule: There's one key to the preseason for Moravian: Stay healthy. The Greyhounds were doomed by injuries a year ago, when they finished 4-6 and in the middle of the Middle Atlantic Conference. But there's optimism for this year, with everyone healthy and a new conference affiliation, too. Moravian and Juniata jumped to the Centennial; both schools will compete in the new Landmark Conference in every other sport. Moravian returns nearly all of its offense and defense intact. Tight end Kris Bisci and offensive lineman Jeff Kocsis are both back for their final seasons in Bethlehem; both were all-second team MAC picks a year ago. Leading rusher Tyler McCambridge is back, as is defensive back Carl Robinson, who led the squad with four interceptions. Kicker Brian Reckenbeil, who hit on 8 of 11 field goal tries also returns. The switch in conferences also means the Greyhounds' traditional season finale with Muhlenberg is for more than just bragging rights. The teams will play a conference game for the first time since the current Centennial schools split from the MAC in 1983. Head coach Scot Dapp needs two wins to become the school's winningest coach; the record belongs to legendary coach Rocco Calvo; Moravian's home field is named after him.
Moravian Greyhounds
Last playoff appearance: 2005
Last year: 4-6, 4-5 MAC
Last conference title: 1988
Wins increase from 05-06: Minus-3
Preseason ranking: 83 of 238
Head coach: Scot Dapp, 21st year, 121-84-1
Starters returning: 18 (eight offense, eight defense, two special teams)
Position battle to watch: Quarterbacks. Senior Brad Swartz and juniors Marc Braxmeier and Ryan Rempe all started at least two games as the Greyhounds searched for consistent performances out of their QBs. "It was not a productive position," head coach Scot Dapp said. Indeed, the three combined for a passer rating of just over 100 and, as a team, the Greyhounds were next-to-last in the Middle Atlantic Conference in passing offense. Junior Josh Hinkle, a transfer from Division II Edinboro, may also be in the mix.
Pressure is on: The defensive line, particularly defensive ends. Moravian was hit hardest by graduation there, losing three players. Among them was Nick Feo, who led the Greyhounds with four sacks, and Alex Smith-Constantine, who was sixth on the team in tackles. Junior Don Maxwell (30 tackles, 1.5 sacks in '06) is the most experienced of the returners.
Where did he come from? Junior running back Tyler de Rouen doesn't have much mileage by running back standards. He blew out his knee during the preseason in 2005; he rebounded nicely in 2006, topping 100 yards in two of the Greyhounds' first three games. But during the second of those games, a 112-yard effort at Juniata, de Rouen suffered another serious knee injury - but kept playing. "On Monday after the third game, [head athletic trainer] Bob Ward came in and said, 'I think Tyler tore his ACL again.' I said, 'When?' He said, 'In the game.' I said, 'He played the whole game.' And [Ward] said, 'I know.'", Dapp recalled. "Then I talked to Tyler, and he tells me he did it in the first half. ... He said, 'Well, I just thought my brace was slipping.'"
Their season will be defined by: Their first game, a Thursday night game at former MAC rival Susquehanna, now in the Liberty League. Dapp remembers back to the 1999 season; the Greyhounds were coming off a 3-7 season in '98 and opened '99 with an overtime loss to Delaware Valley. Moravian went on to finish '99 with a 2-8 mark, but that opening loss left them "deflated," Dapp said. He added that while playing Susquehanna may feel normal, it's a non-league game; in Week 2, they'll play McDaniel, a team Moravian has seen twice since 1982.
Predicted record: 8-2, 6-2
Capsule: There's one key to the preseason for Moravian: Stay healthy. The Greyhounds were doomed by injuries a year ago, when they finished 4-6 and in the middle of the Middle Atlantic Conference. But there's optimism for this year, with everyone healthy and a new conference affiliation, too. Moravian and Juniata jumped to the Centennial; both schools will compete in the new Landmark Conference in every other sport. Moravian returns nearly all of its offense and defense intact. Tight end Kris Bisci and offensive lineman Jeff Kocsis are both back for their final seasons in Bethlehem; both were all-second team MAC picks a year ago. Leading rusher Tyler McCambridge is back, as is defensive back Carl Robinson, who led the squad with four interceptions. Kicker Brian Reckenbeil, who hit on 8 of 11 field goal tries also returns. The switch in conferences also means the Greyhounds' traditional season finale with Muhlenberg is for more than just bragging rights. The teams will play a conference game for the first time since the current Centennial schools split from the MAC in 1983. Head coach Scot Dapp needs two wins to become the school's winningest coach; the record belongs to legendary coach Rocco Calvo; Moravian's home field is named after him.
posted by Pat McConnell | 6:19 PM
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