LANCASTER, PA -- Steve Ulrich, Executive Director of the Centennial Conference (CC), announced that Franklin & Marshall College tailback Scott Stephen (Sr., Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) has been named the September 5 Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while cornerback Matt Pastore (So., Ridgewood, NJ/Peddie School) earned Centennial Conference Football Honor Roll mention.

In a 35-7 rout of Bethany College, Stephen scored three touchdowns and registered 153-yards of total offense as the Diplomats dominated the Bison in first downs (21 to 13), rushing attempts (42 to 34), yards gained rushing (193 to 120), net yards rushing (172 to 102), net yards passing (198 to 135), net yards (370 to 237) and time of possession (31:32 to 28:28).

Overall, Stephen gained 149 yards on 28 carries, including one and 25 yard touchdown runs, and reeled in a four yard touchdown pass from quarterback Doug Hiltner (Sr., Margate, NJ/Atlantic City) to highlight a team performance in which the Diplomats offense racked up 370 net yards on 68 plays.

The victory marks the fourth straight season-opening win for the Diplomats following back-to-back-to-back victories over Oberlin College in 2001 (26-14 in Lancaster), 2002 (13-6 in Oberlin, Ohio) and 2003 (30-6 in Lancaster).

F&M jumped on the board midway through the second quarter as Stephen scampered one-yard for a touchdown to cap a nine play, 70-yard drive. Stephen struck again with 9:44 left in the third quarter as he broke through the line of scrimmage untouched and raced to the endzone to close out an eight play, 70 yard drive for a 14-0 F&M lead.

Leading 21-7 in the fourth quarter, Hiltner threaded a pass to Stephen to highlight an 11 play, 59-yard drive for a 28-7 lead before the Diplomats' added another touchdown late for the 28-point victory.

The game marked the second straight season opener Stephen finished with three touchdowns, as he totaled 138-yards of total offense in a 30-6 victory over the Oberlin College Yeomen in Lancaster on September 6, 2003. Further, it marked his second consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing as he rushed 28 times for 141 yards and tossed two touchdowns to account for the Diplomats' scoring as Franklin & Marshall recorded a 14-13 victory over Gettysburg on November 15 at home to conclude the 2003 season.

A team tri-captain with defensive linemen Matt Capone (Sr., Scarsdale, NY/Scarsdale) and Chris White (Sr., Vestal, NY/Vestal), Stephen finished second on the team in scoring as a junior with 54 points off nine touchdowns, while placing fifth in receiving with 17 catches for 160 yards with three touchdowns, an average of 16.0 yards per game.

Further, he completed three-of-four passes for 45 yards with three touchdowns, while leading the team in rushing with 190 attempts for 676 net yards and six touchdowns.

For his career, he has rushed for 1,574 yards with 10 touchdowns, caught 28 passes for 210 yards with four touchdowns and has completed 24-of-75 passing attempts for 288 yards with three touchdowns.

Historically, he is 426 yards away from joining Andy Surtz '97 (705 carries for 2,913 yards) as the only Franklin & Marshall players with 2,000 career rushing yards. He can move into fifth place all-time in rushing yardage in the Diplomats next game as he needs 20 yards to surpass Ted D'Amico '76 who totaled 1,593 yards during his career.

On defense, Pastore starred for the Diplomats finishing third in tackles with seven, reeling in an interception with a 17-yard return and breaking up two passes as the Diplomats opened the season with the largest margin of victory since a 44-8 victory over Randolph-Macon at Williamson Field in the first game of the 1989 season.

Franklin & Marshall (1-0, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on September 11 at Oberlin College. Game time is set for 1 p.m.