Albright College (1-1/0-0 MAC) vs. Catholic University of America (2-1/0-0 ODAC)
Albright will look to pick-up their first home win of the 2010 season this afternoon against Catholic University. Last week the Lions enjoyed their first Saturday off, but are once again ready to take on another tough challenge. The red and white will look to close out their 2010 non-conference schedule with a winning record for the fourth consecutive season.
When: Saturday, September 25
Where: Shirk Stadium, Reading, Pa. (
Directions)
Start time: 1 p.m.
Gates Open: Noon
Tailgate Begins: 9 a.m.
Tickets:
$5 - General Admission
Free - Children Under 6 and Albright Students with College ID
GAMEDAY MEDIA
Webcast (Audio):
http://www.teamline.cc/sportpage?teamcode=5466&eventcode=20
Radio: WXAC 91.3 FM
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/albright/football/index.htm
WELCOME TO THE LIONS DEN
Since head coach
John Marzka took over at Albright, the Lions have truly made Shirk Stadium their own. In the last four seasons the Lions are 12-for-15 when they play in Reading. The season opening lost to Ursinus marked the first defeat in Shirk Stadium since the 2008 lost to Salisbury University in week one of the season. Last fall, the Lions went 5-for-5 in Reading, which included a double OT win over Lebanon Valley College in the regular season finale.
WHATEVER IT TAKES IN 2010
With last Saturday off, the Lions are ready for action, as they look to improve to 2-1 on the year. The 54-27 win over Geneva in week 2 showed fans that this year's edition of Lions football has all the potential to not only compete for MAC title, but to make their second straight NCAA tournament appearance as well. Coach Marzka has become even more confident in both his returners and newcomers. This Saturday should prove to be another tough test for the Lions, as they close out the 2010 non-conference schedule.
ALBRIGHT IN DIVISION III
Last season, the Lions were ranked on both the AFCA and D3Football.com Top-25 Coaches Polls for the first time in program history. On the AFCA coaches poll, the Lions ended the season ranked 9th in the country, while on the D3Football.com the Lions were ranked 15th in the country for the first time in program history. On the 2010 D3Football.com Preseason Poll, the Lions were ranked 29th in Division III.
ALBRIGHT PICKED THIRD IN THE MAC
For the second consecutive season, the Lions were picked third on the MAC Coaches Preseason Poll. Last year, after being picked to finish third, Coach Marzka the red and white went to a second place finish falling only to Delaware Valley College. The Aggies were selected as the team to beat in 2009, while Lebanon Valley College was picked second.
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.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB
It was recently announced that Stevenson University will be joining the Middle Atlantic Conference in football. With the addition of the Mustang's to the conference, the Lions will now have eight conference games and only two non-conference games in 2011. With next season marking year two of the PAC-MAC Challenge, Albright will face only one new non-conference opponent. Steven University is located in Stevenson, Maryland and was formerly known as Villa Julie College.
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.
RUSHING FOR THE RECORD
To say, junior tailback
Josan Holmes is off to a great start in 2010 would be an understatement. The Penllyn native rushed for a career best 225 yards against Geneva College two Saturday's ago, and also added three TD's in the 54-27 win. Holmes now sits just four rushing TD's away from tying the all-time record of 30, which was set by Adam Hubley in 2004. His single game performance against the Golden Tornadoes ranks fourth all-time in program history. Holmes needs just 82 yards to break the 2,000 yard rushing mark, and is quickly working his way into the top-5 all-time rushing records as well. Since the start of the season, Holmes has been named to the MAC Honor Roll twice.
MAKING THE BIG PLAYS
Against Geneva College three different receivers combined for 221 yards. Junior
Scott Pillar notched his third career 100+ yard game on just three catches. So far this season, Pillar ranks second amongst all receivers with 117 yards and 2 TD's.
Sean Caldwell Jr. leads the team with 126 yards and is currently averaging over 25 yards per game.
POUNDING THE ROCK
So far this season, the Lions offensive line has totaled 866 yards and is currently averaging over 433 yards per game. When in the redzone, the Lions offense has been perfect going 8-for-8 in the first two games. Only one touchdown on the year does not belong the to the offense, with
Josh Hare returning a fumble for a touchdown in the win over Geneva College.
YOUTH AT QB
With two games under their belts sophomore
Adam Galczynski and freshman Ben Schaffle have shown tremendous development so far this fall. At Geneva, Galczynski had a career night throwing for 157 yards on 7-for-13 passing. He did not throw an interception and was sacked just once. Schaffle totaled 18 yards against the Golden Tornadoes and was 3-for-6 in the air.
HERE COMES THE DOG SOLDIERS
The Lions defense continues to prove it is one of the top lines in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Led by
Rob Mancinelli's 16 tackles Albright has held their first two opponents to 797 yards of total offense. Also stepping to the front of the pack in the first two games has been
Francis Hall who now has 15 tackles on the year, as well as
Ryan Ott. Hare boasts 11 stops this season and has returned one fumble for a touchdown.
REMEMBER THE 90's
The last time Albright College faced the Cardinals of Catholic University, every single member of both team's were either in elementary school, kindergarten, or preschool, and Bill Clinton was still the president. The first time Albright faced the Cardinals was in 1995. Albright has faced Catholic a total of four times, with their last meeting taking place in 1998.
Catholic leads series 1-3
1995 - CU 17-16
1996 - AC 47-40
1997 - CU 44-22
1998 - CU 34-33 OT
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Cardinals got their 2010 season off to a great start earning back-to-back wins. However last Saturday, the fell to McDaniel College by the final score of 24-14. Leading Catholic's offense this Saturday's will be quarterback Greg Cordivari. Cordivari has already thrown for over 720 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground Mike Pitsenberger has totaled 302 yards and one touchdown. The defensive unit is led by Christian Pavlik and Anthony Albanese who have recorded 14 tackles this season. Both players have 2.5 tackles for a loss, and it is Albanese who leads the squad in sacks with two. The Cardinals defense has also picked off two passes, and has recovered three fumbles.
CATHOLIC IN THE ODAC
At the beginning of the 2010 season, Catholic University was picked to finish seventh on the Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Cardinals received 12 points after finishing last season with a 1-9 record and a 0-6 record in the conference. For his efforts in week two Cordivari was named the ODAC Offensive Player of the Week.
NEXT UP FOR THE LIONS
The Lions will be on the road next Saturday as they travel to Wilkes University for a 1 p.m. MAC showdown with the Colonels.
