Game Notes

GETTYSBURG, Pa.  – The Gettysburg College football team hits the road to take on Susquehanna University in a Centennial Conference match up at Alonzo Stagg Field this Saturday. 
 
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday's game will feature live stats and live video courtesy of Susquehanna University. You can follow along on your computer or mobile device for the live video at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/susquehanna/ and live stats at http://www.gosusqu.com/sports/fball/2016-17/boxscores/20160924_iyil.xml.
 
THE COACHES
Barry Streeter enters his 38th season at the helm of Gettysburg's football program. Streeter is the longest-tenured active coach in Division III and his 191 wins place him seventh among active coaches. Streeter has led Gettysburg to three Centennial Conference championships (1983-85) and he has twice been named CC Coach of the Year. In 1985, he led the Bullets to the only undefeated regular season in school history (9-0-1) and an appearance in the national semifinals. Streeter is a 1971 graduate of Lebanon Valley and he is a member of the Dutchmen's Hall of Fame.
 
Tom Perkovich is in his second season at the helm of the River Hawks. In his first season, he guided the team to a 5-5 overall record, including 4-5 in the Centennial Conference. Perkovich was a long-time member of the coaching staff at Muhlenberg College prior to his arrival in Selinsgrove, including five years as the offensive coordinator. He played football at Division I Canisius College, where he graduated with a degree in physical education in 2003.
 
THE SERIES
Gettysburg holds a 9-3-1 edge in the all-time series with Susquehanna. The Bullets have won the last four meetings since a 56-55 overtime shootout loss in 2011. Gettysburg has scored at least 31 points in each of the last seven contests with the River Hawks.
 
LAST MEETING
Gettysburg erased a 17-point first-half deficit to beat Susquehanna 49-30 last fall. The River Hawks jumped out to a 24-7 lead as Cameron Ott picked up receiving and rushing touchdowns. The Bullets closed the gap quickly, posting three touchdowns in the final 3:11 of the opening half. Matt McFadden '19 (Morristown, N.J./Morristown Beard) produced the biggest play, returning a punt 77 yards to the end zone. A one-yard reception by Ryan Thompson '18 (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) gave the hosts a 28-24 edge at halftime. Susquehanna took the lead on the only score in the third quarter, but Gettysburg ended the game with three-straight touchdowns, including a 29-yard reception from Sam McDermott '16 to Jordan Kelso '17 (Cookstown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) with 2:53 left. McFadden finished with 243 all-purpose yards, while McDermott threw for 163 yards and four touchdowns. Kelso hauled in a pair of touchdowns and racked up 67 receiving yards and Kyle Wigley '16 carried the ball 25 times for 120 yards.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Juniata held Gettysburg of the board for 27 minutes in the second half on the way to a 41-35 decision at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium. A high-scoring first half saw the Eagles jump ahead 27-14 following a pair of touchdowns and a field goal. The Bullets closed the gap to 27-21 at the break on a 10-yard touchdown run by senior Danny Thompson (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills). Gettysburg took the lead at the start of the third period when sophomore Matt McFadden broke loose for a 53-yard scamper down the sideline. Juniata answered with a pair of touchdowns to take a 41-28 lead with 6:34 left in the third quarter. The Eagles held the Bullets off the scoreboard until a touchdown grab by sophomore Chase Fee (Spotswood, N.J./Spotswood) with two minutes left. The two teams nearly totaled 1,000 yards of offense with Gettysburg out-gaining Juniata 536-459. Danny Thompson and junior Justin Davidov (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) combined to go 15-of-26 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Justin Walsh (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) posted personal highs with 96 yards rushing and 68 yards receiving, while McFadden picked up 89 yards on the ground. Sophomore Jake Skinner (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) paced the defense with 11 tackles.
 
SCOUTING SUSQUEHANNA
Susquehanna picked up its first victory with a 31-24 win over Dickinson last weekend. The River Hawks jumped out to a strong start, scoring the first 17 points and extending the lead to three touchdowns with back-to-back scores to start the fourth quarter. Susquehanna held Dickinson to just 274 yards of total offense and picked off three passes. Quarterbacks Bobby Grigas and Matt Thies combined to go 19-of-31 for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Cameron Ott picked up 65 yards rushing and 29 yards receiving. Chris Beals hauled in six passes for 100 years. Juwan Rodriguez posted eight tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for a loss. The River Hawks currently lead the Centennial Conference in kick return average at 23.6 yards per game. Brandon Tinson leads the team with 23.8 yards on nine kickoff returns.
 
 

GETTYSBURG OFFENSE
Gettysburg is averaging 33 points and 476 total yards per game. The Bullets rank second in the conference in rushing yards (642), rushing yards per game (214), passing yards per completion (15.2), and passing touchdowns (8). The team's 335 rushing yards against Juniata was its best total since putting up 381 against McDaniel last October. Sophomore Justin Walsh has increased his rushing yardage in each game this season and he currently ranks sixth in the Centennial at 70.3 rushing yards per game. Junior Justin Davidov ranks second among all conference quarterbacks in rushing yardage at 59.3 yards per game. Davidov and senior Danny Thompson have combined for 786 passing yards and 274 rushing yards this fall.
 
GETTYSBURG DEFENSE
Gettysburg paces the conference in tackles (254) and interception return average (26.5). The Bullets have totaled six forced turnovers on four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Junior Frank Olmo (Eatontown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) ranks fourth in the conference with an average of 9.3 tackles per game. Sophomore safety Mike McKnight (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) has posted 17 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one interception, one recovered fumble, and one forced fumble this season.
 
GETTYSBURG SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bullets have increased their return yardage in each contest this fall and are coming off a season-high 158 kickoff return yards against Juniata. Junior Ryan Thompson and sophomore Matt McFadden each had kickoff returns of 32 yards or more against the Eagles. Freshman Justin Geisel (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) has connected on all six of his extra points as well as a 22-yard field goal. Geisel is averaging 55.3 yards per kickoff as well. Sophomore Tyler Frazee (Hopewell, N.J./South Hunterdon), who scored his first receiving touchdown last time out, has averaged 43.5 yards over his last four punts.
 
COACHES TO CURE MD
For the fourth consecutive season, the annual meeting between Gettysburg and Susquehanna will be a part of Coach to Cure MD, a nation-wide event that seeks to raise national awareness of the disorder and raise money to fund research for a cure. Coach to Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Parent Project Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood. A progressive muscle disorder that causes loss of muscle function and independence, Duchenne affects approximately one out of every 3,500 boys and 20,000 babies born each year worldwide. For the fourth-straight year, twins Dayton and Blake Biesecker will join the team captains from both teams for the coin toss. Dayton and Blake, now age 10, were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age six.