Football Getting Ready for 2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College football team has finished up its preseason camp and will get into a normal weekly practice routine this week with the start of classes Monday as the squad prepares for a scrimmage at Rowan University on August 31.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College football team has finished up its preseason camp and will get into a normal weekly practice routine this week with the start of classes Monday as the squad prepares for a scrimmage at Rowan University on August 31.
Third-year Head Coach Jeff Pukszyn '97 has seen his team have a good start to the season and several battles for starting positions will be worked out this week.
On the offensive side of the ball, Moravian has seven starters returning.
"Going into preseason camp, we had six quarterbacks competing, with the two veterans being senior Robbie Moyer and sophomore Corey Clemons," stated Pukszyn. "Both Robbie and Corey had very good springs, but will certainly be pushed by a couple of the freshmen that are coming into camp. This is obviously a critical position that needs to be solidified by the end of preseason camp."
Moyer, who was elected a co-captain for the second straight season, completed 46 of 111 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown in 2011 but did not attempt a pass last season. He also had 99 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries two years ago. Clemons missed on his only pass attempt last year in the opener with Ithaca College before suffering a season-ending injury in the second half of the game.
"Having lost our two leading rushers to graduation, this position is the most unknown and wide open spot on the offense," Pukszyn explained. "Juniors Tom Froehlich and Luke Gotzon had good off seasons and had some playing experience last fall. Beside those two, we will have another seven players vying for carries this season."
Froehlich is the top returning runner for the Greyhounds, gaining 94 yards on 30 carries last season while Gotzon picked up 30 yards on 16 carries.
"Senior Chase Zimnik is back from a late-season injury and has established himself at the top of the depth chart at tight end," said Pukszyn. "Junior Dave Givler will also play a major role, along with senior Mike Corman making the transition from the fullback spot to tight end."
Zimnik caught six passes for 43 yards a year ago while Corman pulled in one pass and had one rushing attempt in 2012.
"Wide receiver is easily the deepest and most talented position on the offensive side of the football," Pukszyn stated. "Sophomores Jimmy McCarthy and Will McLaughlin return to lead the unit, while juniors Sam Boyer and Terry Rodriguez and sophomores Luke Loughery and Ryan Sickler are all going to take a big step forward. There are a number of talented new players that also will be hoping to earn some playing time this fall."
McCarthy was the 2012 Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year after catching a team high 39 passes for 505 yards and a touchdown while McLaughlin added 24 receptions for 360 yards and two scores. Boyer pulled in five passes for 51 yards last season while Rodriguez had five catches for 38 yards. Sickler caught four passes for 28 yards a year ago.
"The offensive line is the most experienced unit, with senior Julian DiGiacomo, junior Jacob McKee and sophomores Daniel Smith and Max Neis all returning as starters this season, Pukszyn said. Senior Nick Fitzsimmons and junior Steve Paradiso have also had some game experience and will be battling for the fifth starting spot on the line. A number of young players are looking to push the starters, and a strong incoming class should add important depth to the unit."
DiGiacomo, a co-captain this fall, is going into his third year as a starter while McKee moved from tight end to the line during the year last season and is now more comfortable in the position.
The Greyhounds have eight starters back on the defensive side of the ball that will lead Moravian this fall.
"Junior Andrew Richmond, senior Fran Corbett and sophomore Ryan Pysher all return after each starting the majority of the 2012 season on the defensive line," Pukszyn explained. "Sophomore Jason Borso had a great offseason and has put himself into the mix this fall. We have a number of very talented incoming freshmen, who will push our upperclassmen for playing time right away."
Richmond made 34 tackles last season with four tackles for loss, one and a half sacks and two fumble recoveries while Pysher had 22 stops, two tackles for loss, one and a half sacks and three pass break-ups. Corbett made 21 tackles with half a sack and two passes defended.
"Junior Kevin Bracken leads a young but experienced group of linebackers," stated Pukszyn. "Juniors Ed Buoye and Richard Kugel and sophomores Brendan Downey, Chernoh Shaw and Brayan Arroyo all saw various amounts of playing time last fall and will all have a major impact this season. A solid group of incoming players will look to assert themselves in training camp and earn playing time this season."
Bracken had 66 tackles with five tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, three passes defended, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble last fall while Downey had 58 tackles with two and a half for loss, an interception, three passes defended and a forced fumble in just six games due to injuries. Buoye contributed 51 tackles with four for loss, one sack, one interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble while Kugel made 36 tackles with a half a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Shaw added nine tackles with one and a half tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
"Junior Rick Sinnig and senior Brandon Lesko are back at the safety spots to lead the defensive back field," Pukszyn said. "Junior Chris McGrath and senior Keith Hinds had solid off seasons and will factor into the mix this year. Senior Rees Judge returns at cornerback after a solid 2012 season, and looks to be joined by junior David Siepietowski, who had a great spring. A group of solid younger players will fight for reps throughout the season."
Sinnig, a co-captain this season, had 53 tackles, two tackles for loss and three interceptions last fall while Lesko is the top returning tackler with 69 stops to go with an interception, two passes defended and one fumble recovery. Judge had 44 tackles while making a team high four interceptions and nine passes defended, and he also blocked a punt last season. Siepietowski had three tackles in limited action.
"Sophomore David Fiumara is the leading candidate at both the kicker and punter spots," stated Pukszyn. "McCarthy will reprise his role as our kick returner, and should be one of the top returners in the conference. A group of players look to take over the punt return duties this fall."
McCarthy had a school record 29 kickoff returns last fall for 652 yards.
Moravian is slated to kick off the 2013 season on Saturday, September 7 in the squad's only non-conference game at Ithaca College starting at 1:00 p.m.
