Gators Look to Use Momentum In Week Two

Sep 6, 2006

Football Game Notes (PDF)

MEADVILLE, Pa. – For the first time since 1997 the Allegheny College Gators head into the second week of the season with a 1-0 record after a convincing 35-10 victory over the Titans of Westminster College on Saturday, September 2. Week two takes the Gators to Washington, Pa., to face off against the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College.

“We are in uncharted territory,” said head football coach Mark Matlak. “This is the first time in my five seasons that we have had an opening game win. It just puts a whole new spin on everything. It is a lot of fun to start 1-0.”

In the tightest of series record of any teams on Allegheny’s schedule, the Presidents hold the slimmest of margins, 21-20-1. The perennial powerhouse, however, was bumped from the d3football.com top 25 for the first time since the third week of 2004 after a 32-14 los to Salisbury, in which they were out-gained 425-to-179, including by a 352-to-22 margin on the ground.

Last season the Presidents used a record-breaking performance from quarterback Chris Edwards as he set an NCAA Division III record by completing his first 21 passes of the game, throwing for a career-high 419 yards on 33-of-37 passing with four touchdowns. Aaron Krepps hauled in a game-high 10 passes for 95 yards, while Jon Miller and R.J. Soeder hauled in nine and five passes for 134 and 117 yards, respectively. Gone, however, is the aforementioned quartet, as the Presidents return seven offensive starters and 15 overall from the team that went 9-2, and made the NCAA Tournament.

“Losing Aaron Krepps and R.J. Zitzelberger (who rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns against Allegheny in 2004) on offense stick out like a sore thumb,” said Matlak. “They definitely stuck out against us in the past. Their quarterback, Chris Edwards, had a record day against us last year. It was like he was throwing on air. They lost those three guys, and any time you change over quarterbacks you are going to have some growing pains.”

Looking to help increase those growing pains for the Presidents is a defense that held Westminster College to just 277 total yards, and just 139 without their two scoring drives, which came within the last minute of each half. The Gators forced six turnovers against the young Titan squad, including three fumbles and a pair of interceptions in the first half.

“I think we made some improvements on the defensive end,” noted the head coach. “They had their touchdown drive against our second and third team guys, but overall the defense was good. There are still improvements to be made, and when you look at the tape we still have a long way to go.”

Offensively the team used a balanced offensive attack, rushing for 195 yards and passing for 247, en route to gaining 444 yards in the game. Senior quarterback Jimmy Savage (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) was 16-of-32 passing for 230 yards and a trio of touchdowns. James Jones (Ellington, N.Y./Falconer Central), Dallas Robinson (Wooster, Ohio/Northwestern) and Jim Lieb (Carrolltown, Pa./Northern Cambria). Running back Mario Tarquinio (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) rushed 21 times for 97 yards, an average of 4.6 yards per carry, while scoring twice.

“Offensive balance is what we strive for,” noted Matlak. “We have a senior tailback and quarterback with guys that have been in the system for three years. We have some older offensive linemen that haven’t played. We’re striving for some balance. We expect them to get better of the get go and finally got the results on Saturday.”

Kickoff for the game is at 6:30 p.m. in Washington, Pa.

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