Albright College (3-3/1-2 MAC) at Widener University (3-3/2-1 MAC)
Now with their first conference win under their belts, the Lions will hit the road to take on a very tough Widener University team. Albright will look to pick-up their second straight win after handing King's College a 38-14 loss last Saturday. The Lions still have their eyes set on this year's postseason, and will come one step closer if they pull out a win over Widener this weekend.
When: Saturday, October 23
Where: Leslie C. Quirk Jr. Stadium (
Directions/
Campus Map)
Start time: 1 p.m.
Gates Open: Noon
Tickets:
$5- Adults
$4 - Seniors
$2 - Students
GAMEDAY MEDIA
Webcast (Audio):
http://www.teamline.cc
Live Stats:
http://www.muse.widener.edu/~dacrudel/xlive.htm
BACK ON TRACK
After suffering two straight losses, the Lions got back on track last Saturday against King's College. They will now look for their second straight conference win this Saturday at Widener. Since his arrival in Reading, coach Marzka has never loss three consecutive regular season games, and with last Saturday's win coach Marzka maintained that record.
WHATEVER IT TAKES IN 2010
With the win over King's the Lions offense is now ranked second in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Averaging 388 yards per game, the Lions have totaled 181 points this season, which ranks third behind Lycoming and Delaware Valley. In the air, the red and white are currently the second best team in the MAC averaging 205.8 yards per game, while their passing efficiency of 131.6 ranks third overall. Defensively, Albright is currently sitting fifth in the MAC, having allowed 2,243 yards this season. When it comes to stopping the run Albright is sixth, and when it comes to stopping the pass the Lions are seventh in the conference.
ALBRIGHT IN DIVISION III
Of the 236 teams in Division III, the Lions are currently ranked 55th in rushing offense with 182.17 yards per game. Going into Saturday's match-up with Widener, the Lions are ranked 74th in scoring and 62nd in total offense.
KELLY ON THE SIDELINES
After having one of the most prolific careers in program history, former quarterback
Tanner Kelly has joined Head Coach
John Marzka's staff for the 2010 season. Kelly will work primarily with the quarterbacks as well as being in charge of the offensive quality control. The ECAC Division III Player of the Year, Kelly ended his senior season as one of the top passers in the country, and was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year, ECAC Southeast Player of the Year, and D3Football.com East Region Offensive Player of the Year.
PAC-MAC CHALLENGE
For the first time ever members of the Middle Atlantic Conference and the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference faced each other in rivalry games in week 2. Albright along with Widener, Wilkes, Delaware Valley, Lycoming, and FDU-Florham pulled out victories against their Western Pennsylvania opponents. Next season, the Lions will host Geneva College in year-two of the PAC-MAC Challenge and for the first time in over 70 years. The rest of the conference will pack their bags and travel to their PAC counterparts in hopes to continue the dominance that is Middle Atlantic Conference football.
ANOTHER ONE JOINS THE PARTY
It was recently announced that Misericordia University will be starting a collegiate football program. With the addition of the Cougars, the Middle Atlantic Conference now has 10 conference teams. Just like Stevenson University, Misericordia will kickoff their first season in 2012. Misericordia who are members of the MAC Freedom Conference have begun their search for a new head coach and are beginning renovations to all their athletic facilities. Along with Albright College, Misericordia is the only other college in the MAC that carries all 23 sanctioned MAC sports. This announcement comes less than two months after Stevenson announced they will be joining the MAC for the 2012 season. Misericordia is located in Dallas, Pa. while Stevenson remains the only team to compete in the MAC from the state of Maryland.
ODENWALT AND WHELAN TABBED AS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Prior to the start of the 2010 season, senior offensive lineman
Matt Odenwalt and senior kicker
John Whelan were named Preseason All-Americans by D3PRODAY.com. The honor was the first for both players. The duo is also the only two returning players from the 2009 squad that earned MAC All-Conference honors.
HOLMES HOLDING STRONG
Still in the hunt for that record breaking TD, junior tailback
Josan Holmes was able to catch his breathe last week against King's. For the first time in his career Holmes did not record a single carry in the Lions 38-14 win over the Monarchs. Despite not seeing any action, the junior still leads Albright's run game with 486 yards this season. In his career, Holmes has rushed for 2,109 yards and has 30 rushing TD's. The Penllyn native also has two touchdown receptions and has totaled 651 career receiving yards. In the nation, Holmes ranks 86th in rushing, 59th in scoring, and 52nd in all-purpose yards.
HUGHES ARRIVES
Last Saturday, saw a very promising performance from sophomore tailback
Ty Hughes. Hughes carried Albright to their first conference win of the year. Hughes rushed for a career-best 153 yards on 27 carries and had three touchdowns. Going into that game, Hughes had totaled 61 yards and only one TD in the first half of the season. For his efforts he was named to the MAC Weekly Honor Roll.
POUNDING THE ROCK
Going into Saturday's match-up, the Lions offense has totaled 2,328 yards of total offense. They have recorded 181 points and 116 first downs. On the ground they have rushed for 1,093 yards, while in the air they have thrown for 1,235 yards. When in the redzone, the Lions have scored on 22 of their 25 opportunities which leads the Middle Atlantic Conference.
TAKING CHARGE OF THE OFFENSE
Sophomore quarterback
Adam Galczynski looked like a seasoned veteran last Saturday against King's. In only his sixth career start at QB, the Kutztown native recorded a career best 224 yards and two touchdowns. On the day he was 11-for-21 with no interceptions. In the MAC, Galczynski's passer rating of 150.6 is first amongst all active quarterbacks.
HERE COMES THE DOG SOLDIERS
Against King's, the Lions defense was dominant from start to finish. Combined the dog soldiers recorded 71 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, three interceptions, broke-up seven pass attempts, and blocked one punt. Junior
Keith Bruno led the defensive unit with a career-high eight tackles, while senior captain
Ryan McAdams totaled seven stops. Picking up his first career interception on Saturday was
Michael Rice, whose 51 yard return on the play, resulted in an Albright touchdown on the Lions next possession. Junior Joe Arneth has recorded three of Albright's six INT's, which ranks him second in the MAC.
WORLD WAR WIDENER
The first time that Albright faced Widener University was when World War I was at its peak. In 1916 the Lions dropped their inaugural game with the Pride, who at the time was known as the Pennsylvania Military College, by the final score of 24-7. Albright did not defeat Widener for the first time until 1921 (27-20). This Saturday's showdown will mark the 57th meeting between the two programs.
Widener leads series 40-16
Since 2000...
2000 - WU 27-14
2001 - WU 47-33
2002 - WU 13-12
2003 - AC 30-29
2004 - WU 52-35
2005 - WU 33-19
2006 - WU 33-19
2007 - WU 28-24
2008 - AC 21-10
2009 - AC 31-17
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Widener's offense has numerous weapons at its disposal, starting with dual quarterbacks Chris Haupt and Colin Masterson. So far this season the two have thrown for 877 yards and six touchdowns respectively. On the ground Adam Smith has rushed for a team best 270 yards on 63 carries and is currently averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Cedrick Clayton has proven to be the Pride's top receiver this fall totaling 393 yards on 33 catches and four touchdowns. Defensively Joe Wojceichowski leads the Pride with 37 tackles, and also has eight tackles for a loss. Shane Szumski is the team leader in tackles for a loss with nine, and sacks with eight.
WIDENER IN THE MAC
On the 2010 MAC Coaches Preseason poll, the Pride was picked to finish sixth this season. Widener closed out 2009 with a 3-7 record and a 1-6 finish in the MAC. This season, Widener finished their non-conference schedule with a 1-2 record. Once they entered conference play, the Pride recorded back-to-back wins defeating FDU-Florham and King's. Last Saturday they suffered their first conference loss of the year to first place Lycoming College.
NEXT UP FOR THE LIONS
The Lions will travel to FDU-Florham next Saturday for a 1 p.m. Middle Atlantic Conference showdown.
