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SEPTEMBER 17, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
MORAVIAN RIDES JACOBS, SPECIAL TEAMS TO 29-18 WIN OVER KINGS
WILKES-BARRE -- Chris Jacoubs rushed for 164 yards with two touchdowns
and Matt Sheridan tied an NCAA record by blocking three punts as
visiting Moravian College posted a 29-18 over King's College Saturday at
Betzler Fields.
With the win, Moravian improved to 2-1 overall and in the Middle
Atlantic Conference while the Monarchs fell to 1-2 and 1-1 in conference
play.
Moravian pushed across the first score of the game when it forced King's
to punt deep in its own territory. After a 13-yard return by Tyler
Chomik, the Greyhounds would take over at the Monarch 30. On a
third-and-12 play, King's was flagged for a personal foul, giving
Moravian a first down at the Monarch 17. Four plays later, Jacoubs would
score from one yard out. Moravian elected to bypass the extra-point kick
and successfully converted a two-point play when quarterback Jerry
Venturino reached the end zone on an option keeper to give the
Greyhounds an 8-0 lead with 6:56 left in the opening quarter.
In the second period, Moravian forced a King's punt from its own 17 when
Sheridan blocked his second kick of the day as Tony Gro recovered at the
Monarch eight-yard line. Two plays later Venturino found Josh Hawkins
alone in the end zone for an eight-yard scoring play. Brian Maida's
conversion kick gave the Greyhounds a 15-0 lead with 13:15 remaining in
the half.
The Greyhounds padded the lead on the first possession of the second
half with a five-play, 76-yard scoring drive. A 46-yard pass from
Venturino to Cletus Kilker gave Moravian possession at the Monarch 30.
On third down, Venturino hit Hawkins down the right sideline for a
28-yard touchdown. Brian Reckenbeil added the point-after as the
Greyhounds took a 22-0 lead with 12:14 left in the third period.
King's would finally score after completing an 11-play, 60 yard drive,
set up by an 18-yard pass from Chris Barnic to Matt Nicodemus on a
fourth-and-five play down to the Moravian 10. John Ortiz would score
from six-yards out but Tim Lust's conversion kick was blocked by Corey
Czerniak as King's trailed 22-6 with 4:42 remaining in the third
quarter.
The Monarchs would come up with a turnover on the next possession when
Mike Lyons intercepted Venturino at the King's 40. A 45-yard pass from
Barnic to Julian Walker gave King's a first down at the Greyhound three
before Ortiz scored his second touchdown of the day on the next play.
The two-point attempt failed and Moravian would maintain a 22-12 lead
with 4:36 left in the third period.
Later in the third quarter with King's again pinned deep in its own
territory, Sheridan tied the NCAA record shared by five other players
when he blocked his third punt of the day, giving the Greyhounds a first
down at the King's 24. Jacoubs would eventually score on a one-yard run
as Reckenbeil's kick upped the Moravian lead to 29-12 with 14:01 left in
the contest.
King's would score the game's final points Barnic hit Nicodemus with an
eight-yard scoring toss with 1:31 remaining.
Statistically, King's out gained Moravian 395-to-352 in total yards and
registered 19 first downs compared to 17 for Moravian. The
Monarchs, however, hurt themselves with numerous mistakes including
missed open receivers, several dropped passes, and six key penalties at
inopportune moments.
Jacoubs, who was fifth in NCAA Division III rushing a year ago, ran for
a season-high 164 yards on 30 carries. Venturino completed 8-of-20
passes for 136 yards and two scores. Hawkins was the top Greyhound
receiver with three catches for 44 yards. Kilker added two receptions
for 58 yards.
Ortiz led King's with his second-straight 100-plus yard rushing game,
finishing with 116 yards on 26 attempts. Barnic was 14-of-35 for 223
yards with one touchdown and one interception. Letchford had five
catches for 98 yards while Nicodemus posted four receptions of 37 yards.
Tore Alaimo led the King's defense with 16 tackles on the day. George
Montras and Lesan Chernet also blocked field goal attempts by the
Greyhounds.
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