Third-place Muhlenberg looks to start a winning streak
October’s first full week brings the midpoint of the 2022 NCAA Division II and III football seasons.
The four teams from The Morning Call’s coverage area hope to go streaking in the second half.
East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Moravian and Muhlenberg are all one game over or under .500 after five weeks. None of them has won more than two straight games.
Does anyone have a second-half championship run in them? Here’s a look at where each team stands, along with how some local players have contributed to date.
Muhlenberg (3 -2 overall, 3 -1 Centennial Conference)
The Mules sit one game behind Centennial Conference co-leaders Johns Hopkins and Susquehanna. They play both teams in the second half, starting with an Oct. 14 visit to Johns Hopkins.
A defense led by Bethlehem Catholic graduate and senior linebacker Owen Daddona will be key to Muhlenberg’s chances to overtake the conference co-leaders. Daddona has 40 total tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, all tops on the team.
Johns Hopkins and Susquehanna rank 1-2 in scoring in the Centennial Conference, with Johns Hopkins shredding teams for 51.4 points per game. Muhlenberg has allowed at least 35 points in both of its losses.
Kutztown (3 -2 overall, 1 -1 PSAC East)
Kutztown already fell to PSAC East leader Shepherd, so the
Golden Bears will need help to win another division title. They should hang around as long as their defense continues to stymie opponents.
Junior defensive lineman Domenico Italiani (Bethlehem Catholic) and senior linebacker Tyler Whary (Upper Perkiomen) have played prominent roles for a unit that has held opponents to 2.9 yards per carry. Coach Jim Clements would like to see Kutztown generate more turnovers. They have forced five through five games and have a minus-5 turnover margin.
East Stroudsburg (2 -3 overall, 1 -1 PSAC East)
The Warriors are one of six PSAC East teams at 1-1 in the league. Redshirt senior quarterback Matt DeLaurentis has taken the offensive reins with East Stroudsburg South graduate Jake Cirillo sidelined by injury.
Continued growth from John Siggins (Parkland) will be vital for ESU’s offense in the second half. The sophomore has become one of the Warriors’ top targets, ranking second in catches (18), receiving yards (261) and touchdown catches (three).
ESU would also benefit from more consistency from a rushing attack that includes Liberty grad Gunner Anglovich and Dieruff graduate Devante Robinson. The Warriors have averaged fewer than 3.3 yards per carry in three of their five games.
Moravian (2 -3 overall, 2 -2 Centennial Conference)
The Greyhounds’ first half featured lopsided games galore. All five were decided by at least 15
points.
While Moravian was overmatched in road losses to Centennial Conference co-leaders Susquehanna and Johns Hopkins, it also topped 40 points in both of its wins. The Greyhounds only scored 21 points in a game twice last season.
Junior running back Nate Boyle (Tamaqua) has been a workhorse, averaging 23.8 carries and 106.4
rushing yards per game. Junior wide receivers and Quakertown grads Tim Garlick (27 catches, 310 yards) and Brad Bryan (18 catches, 258 yards) have become top targets for Moravian.
One thing to watch in the second half is whether the Greyhounds’ defense can make enough improvements to slow some of the league’s better offenses. They still have games with Ursinus and
Muhlenberg, who are both averaging over 31 points per games.
Here’s a look at this week’s games. Moravian and Muhlenberg both have byes.
East Stroudsburg (2 -3 overall, 1 -1 PSAC East)
Up next: at Millersville, noon Saturday.
Worth noting: The Warriors had at least 10 players catch passes for a second straight game in Saturday’s 24-20 loss to Kutztown. Devante Robinson (Dieruff ) led the Warriors with 47 receiving yards on four catches. … Millersville sophomore running back Matt Frauen (Notre Dame-Green Pond) ran for a career-best 29 yards and scored his first touchdown in last week’s win at Lock Haven.
Kutztown (3 -2 overall, 1 -1 PSAC East)
Up next: Bloomsburg, noon Saturday.
Worth noting: Boyertown High graduate Jerome Kapp recorded his second straight 100-yard receiving game in Saturday’s 24-20 comeback win at ESU. He is the first Golden Bear to have consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Diego Torres in 2019. … Whary is tied for second on the team with 30 tackles. He also has four quarterback hurries. … Bloomsburg senior defensive back Chris Monaco (Pocono Mountain West) has two interceptions and a forced fumble to go with 17 tackles through five games.