SELINSGROVE -- After his performance Saturday afternoon at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium, Susquehanna University junior running back Dave Paveletz wanted just one thing: a comfy chair.
"I'm just going to put my feet up and rest awhile," said Paveletz with a smile.
Paveletz set school records with 288 yards on 47 carries and tied a school record with four touchdowns as the Crusaders defeated Rochester 28-13 on a sun-splashed afternoon.
The win pushes the Crusaders to 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Liberty League. The win and league totals surpass what the Crusaders did last season when they were 2-8 and 1-6.
But the day belonged to Paveletz.
"This was the most yards and carries I have ever had in my career," Paveletz said. "But all the credit has to go to my line. They made all the holes and it was easy to find the spots and pick up the yards. This group of guys is the best line I've ever played with."
His head coach was not surprised by the record-breaking performance.
"Since (Paveletz) got on campus he's been tremendous," said Susquehanna coach Steve Briggs. "He's been a bit banged up but when he is healthy, like today, you see what he can do.
"I don't think there is a better back on this level."
Paveletz did get off to a rough start, though.
Susquehanna took the opening kickoff and marched straight down the field on a time-consuming drive, with Paveletz running and Selinsgrove graduate Derek Pope throwing the Crusaders to the Rochester 6. But on the 14th play of the drive, Paveletz went left and with a second effort looked headed for a touchdown, but he fumbled into the end zone and the Yellowjackets got the ball at the 20.
"I've been having a problem with putting the ball on the ground and it would have been easy for me to get down after that," he said. "But our motto all season is keep moving forward."
After two more drives resulted in a missed field goal, the Crusaders got on the board near the end of the first half when Paveletz took it in from a yard out to make it 7-0. The 12-play drive featured 10 runs by Paveletz.
Rochester (1-4, 1-2) drove the ball right down the field looking for the equalizer, but Brazen Subick was intercepted in the end zone by John Lunardi and the Crusaders went into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.
"The kids came out determined today," said Briggs.
Susquehanna started the second half where it left off, as Paveletz rushed the final two plays of a four-play drive and scored from seven yards out to make it 14-0 after Bobby Eppleman's second PAT of the day.
Rochester answered the Crusaders score with one of its own, as Patrick Till crashed in from a yard out to make it 14-7.
After Josh Simpson recovered a Rochester fumble, Paveletz ran the ball five times on a seven-play drive and scored from 18 yards out to make it 21-7 with 13:41 left in the game.
But again Rochester answered to keep the game close.
After a 63-yard run by Clarence Onyiriuka, Subick connected with Zach Ingoldsby for a four-yard touchdown. The PAT failed and Rochester trailed 21-13.
Paveletz then put the wraps on his career day as he busted through the line for a 20-yard touchdown with less than a minute left to make it 28-13.
"With the way Dave was running, we just kept giving him the bean," said Briggs.
The Crusaders racked up 313 yards on the ground. Briggs is now 18-0 at Susquehanna when his team rushes for more than 300 yards in a game. Paveletz has 788 yards in six games so far this season.
Pope was 11-for-16 for 99 yards.
Susquehanna will take its two-game winning streak on the road next Saturday to Rensselaer in a Liberty League contest.
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Record-setting Paveletz leads SU past Rochester
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