Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa - After three consecutive games without a takeaway, Franklin & Marshall turned four Moravian turnovers into 15 points during a 29-13 Centennial Conference (CC) win. With the victory, the Diplomats improved to 5-1 (3-1 CC) for the team's best start since the 1996 season. The Greyhounds slid to 1-6 (1-4 CC).

The rain helped end F&M's takeaway drought early. Drew Hutcheon forced Ryan Rempe to cough up the ball on the first play from scrimmage. Barry Lovett scooped up the ball and went 19 yards down the Moravian sideline before being dragged down on the Hounds' 11. F&M's slow starting offense didn't get the Diplomats any closer to the end zone, setting up Mike Shin's 28-yard field goal to get the Diplomats on the board first.

Shin's shot ended another drought. His kick marked F&M's first successful field goal attempt since the second quarter of the win over Washington & Lee in the season opener - a streak of 18 quarters. Moravian, which entered the game on a streak of 18 quarters without a touchdown, ended its own drought on the ensuing drive.

Facing a third and seven on their own 37, Moravian called Rempe's number. He broke off a 32-yard run before being hauled down by Lovett, who had a handful of facemask. The extra 15 yards set up the Hounds on the F&M 16. Three Rempe touches later, Moravian had its only lead of the day, 7-3.

F&M answered late in the first quarter with a 10-play 96-yard drive. Early in the drive, George Eager caught a 39-yard pass up the F&M sideline and was stopped only by the soggy grass. The completion from John Harrison put the sophomore signal caller over the 3,000-yard mark on his career, making him the fastest player in Centennial history to the plateau. Harrison was good on five more passes on the drive, including a seven-yard jump ball to his tight end, Mike Deutch, in the endzone to put F&M ahead for good.

Harrison ended his day 23-of-39 with 241 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His third touchdown of the afternoon put him within one touchdown completion of tying the F&M season mark for touchdown passes. Geno Pagnozzi has held the record of 21 since 1989.

Harrison hit Eager and Jay Ridinger five times each. Ridinger was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes after F&M gained possession on interceptions. Ridinger's first touchdown of the day came just before the half. His six-yard reception converted Jeff Kellar's midfield interception into six points giving the Diplomats a 16-7 lead going into the locker room. His second touchdown of the afternoon came in the closing minutes of the second half on a drive that was set up by an interception deep in Greyhounds' territory. The 13-yard strike to the falling receiver came on fourth and nine, and put the final nail in the Greyhounds' coffin.

A big nail went into the coffin just after the halftime break. Eager faked a reverse to Alan Williams on the kickoff return. Eager, with the ball, streaked 80-yards up the Franklin & Marshall sideline without being touched for his second 80-yard kickoff return of the season. It was the third kickoff return for a score in his career. The return made it 23-7 in favor of F&M.

Moravian answered late in the quarter with a seven-play, 70-yard drive. Half of the yards came on the final play when Andy Polony dropped a pass over an F&M defender and into the waiting paws of Shawn Sylvainus for a 35-yard score. Polony connected on 10-of-24 passes for 131 yards and the touchdown. Sylvainus had four receptions for 80 yards. A botched snap and hold following his score led to a failed two-point conversion pass, ending Moravian's day of scoring.

Polony tossed three interceptions on the afternoon. Sam Massaro picked off the fourth quarter pass that set up Ridinger's second. Massaro was the Diplomats' leading tackler with 11 stops, seven solo. Ty Savastio was responsible for F&M's other pick. Hutcheon had eight tackles including 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup.

Despite the sloppy conditions, both teams relied heavily on the aerial assault. Rempe and Williams each churned out decent days for their respective teams. Rempe rumbled for 89 yards on 23 touches for Moravian while Williams carried 19 times for 85 yards.

The Diplomats return to action next week against another Lehigh Valley opponent. Muhlenberg comes to Lancaster for Homecoming 2009. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.

Moravian vs Franklin & Marshall (Oct 17, 2009 at Lancaster, Pa.)

Scoring Summary:

1st Quarter           

13:52            F&M            Mike Shin 28 yd field goal, 4-0 0:56, MOR 0 - F&M 3

10:42            MOR            Ryan Rempe 5 yd run (Ian Heck kick), 7-66 3:04, MOR 7 - F&M 3

01:46            F&M            Michael Deutch 7 yd pass from John Harrison (Mike Shin kick), 10-96 4:33, MOR 7 - F&M 10

2nd Quarter           

02:10            F&M            Jay Ridinger 6 yd pass from John Harrison (Mike Shin kick failed), 9-55 3:56, MOR 7 - F&M 16

3rd Quarter          

14:48            F&M            George Eager 80 yd kickoff return (Mike Shin kick), , MOR 7 - F&M 23

04:37            MOR            Shawn Sylvainus 35 yd pass from Andy Polony (Steve Panasuk pass failed), 7-70 3:23, MOR 13 - F&M 23

4th Quarter          

04:06            F&M            Jay Ridinger 13 yd pass from John Harrison (Mike Shin kick failed), 4-14 1:41, MOR 13 - F&M 29

RUSHING: Moravian-Ryan Rempe 23-89; Langston Ross 1-6; Travis King 1-2; Andy Polony 4-minus 9. Franklin & Marshall-Alan Williams 19-85; John Kaschak 10-19; Jarrell Diggs 2-1; TEAM 1-minus 2; John Harrison 6-minus 23.

PASSING: Moravian-Andy Polony 10-24-3-131. Franklin & Marshall-John Harrison 23-39-1-241.

RECEIVING: Moravian-Shawn Sylvainus 4-80; Mike Zanoni 3-27; Max Coveleski 2-11; Alex Hersch 1-13. Franklin & Marshall-George Eager 5-58; Jay Ridinger 5-46;Jarrell Diggs 4-51; John Kaschak 4-40; Michael Deutch 3-32; Alan Williams 2-14.

INTERCEPTIONS: Moravian-Jayson Williams 1-0. Franklin & Marshall-Ty Savastio 1-14; Sam Massaro 1-11; Jeff Kellar 1-0.

FUMBLES: Moravian-Ryan Rempe 1-1. Franklin & Marshall-None.

SACKS (UA-A): Moravian-Anthony Carney 2-0; Seth Payne 1-0; Allen Petros 1-0. Franklin & Marshall-Drew Hutcheon 1-1; C.T. Marsh 0-1.

TACKLES (UA-A): Moravian-Daniel Burley 6-3; Jayson Williams 4-4; Allen Petros 6-1; Evan Bauer 3-4; Kyle Krupa 3-3; Anthony Carney 4-1; Seth Payne 3-2; Michael McClarin 3-0; Travis King 3-0; Matt Johnson 2-0; Derek Protasiewicz 2-0; Ryan Rempe 2-0; Philip Bortz 1-1; Brad Bodine 1-1; Jake Hildebrand 1-0; Jacob Millen 1-0; Thomas Dailey 1-0; David Wacker 1-0; Douglas DiMattia 1-0; Brian Dencker 1-0; Patrick Gordon 0-1; Stephen Kircher 0-1. Franklin & Marshall-Sam Massaro 7-4; Drew Hutcheon 4-4; Frank DiMattia 2-4; Ty Savastio 2-3; Donald Wiezik 3-1; Kenny Provost 3-1; C.T. Marsh 2-1; Jeff Kellar 2-1; Brian Kelly 2-0; Mark Surma 2-0; Jeffrey Liberatore 0-2; Barry Lovett 1-0; Devin Hunter 1-0; Lewie Briggs 0-1.