SELINSGROVE -- The biggest difference in the success of the Susquehanna University football team in 2009 is not on the field. It's the way the Crusaders handle adversity.

Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium, Worcester Polytechnic Institute gave the Crusaders plenty of ways to prove it in a Liberty League matchup.

WPI led by 14 points in the first half and the Crusaders lost standout running back Dave Paveletz to an injury early in the second quarter. Add in the fact that the Engineers didn't punt, and all signs pointed to Susquehanna blowing its chance at a league title and a berth in the Division III playoffs.

But sophomore quarterback Rich Palazzi threw five touchdown passes, back-up tailback Greg Tellish had 82 yards on 16 carries, and the SU defense forced four second-half turnovers, two coming inside its own 20, to knock off WPI 35-21.

"When you play hard and you play with confidence, that's what happens," Susquehanna coach Steve Briggs said. "That's a cliché, but that's what it was. They played just like they play in practice. They went hard. They're great kids and now here we go. Now, we're doing it."

The Crusaders improved to 7-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Liberty League. They will travel to Schenectady, N.Y., to face Union at noon next Saturday. The winner is the league champion and will earn the automatic berth into the Division III playoffs.

"These seniors have worked their butt off all year. They deserve everything that they've gotten," Palazzi said. "I'm just a part of it. I'm just a piece of the puzzle, but it's a great feeling (to be in this position)."

Things didn't start well for the Crusaders. WPI scored on its first three possessions, dominating the time of possession early and holding the ball for 16 of the first 22 minutes of the game. The Engineers took the opening kickoff and went 67 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead on Ernie Mello's two-yard TD run.

Susquehanna answered when Palazzi and J.J. Moran teamed for the first of three touchdown connections on the day from nine yards out to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive.

WPI (3-6, 0-6) came right back with a 15-play, 63-yard drive capped by an11-yard TD pass from Mike Swanton to Scott Brady. The Crusaders fumbled the ensuing kickoff and WPI scored again, this time on Swanton's two-yard TD run with 6:19 left.

That would be the last points the Engineers would score, but the Crusaders had to block a last-second field goal at halftime and force two red-zone turnovers, so it wasn't easy.

"WPI has a pretty confusing offense. We practiced for it all week. It came down to just wrapping up. Every look they gave us, we practiced against during the week. It just came down to wrapping up (better in the second half)," said Susquehanna defensive end Pete Johnsen, who forced a fumble and had a sack. "When your back's against the wall, everyone in the huddle is asking who is going to step up. We had a whole slew of guys step up. We came up big when we had to."

The Crusaders answered back on their next series, despite Paveletz leaving the game. Palazzi escaped a sack and found Selinsgrove High graduate Mike Ritter in the corner of the end zone with a 25-yard TD pass to cut the lead to 21-14.

"I saw a blitz from backside and the defender was steaming down hard. I saw the defender out of the corner of my eye and tried spinning away. Somehow, I got out of it," Palazzi said. "I saw Mike in the end zone and I just threw it up and let him make a play."

Susquehanna tied the game when Mitch Phillips recovered a Swanton fumble at the Susquehanna 47. Palazzi hit Moran from 22 yards out with 46 seconds left in the second quarter to tie the score.

The Crusaders took the opening kickoff of the second half in for a touchdown to take the lead for good. Palazzi and Ritter hooked up for a 34-yard TD on a fourth-and-eight play with 13:15 left in the third quarter. Ritter caught the pass at the first-down marker, broke a tackle and sprinted into the end zone.

"The route was a choice route and Mike just broke it to the outside," Palazzi said. "He just made a play after the catch."

WPI drove deep into Susquehanna territory on its next possessions, but came up empty. Tony McIntosh recovered a fumble on the SU 7, and the next drive was stopped when Ryan Eck recovered a fumble at the Crusaders' 12.

After the second fumble, the Crusaders salted the game away with a 13-play, 88-yard drive that ended when Palazzi hit Moran with a five-yard TD pass with 10:43 left in the game. The Crusaders defense picked off Swanton twice in the fourth quarter and stopped WPI twice on downs.