By The Daily Item
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BETHLEHEM — Susquehanna had its chances but could not find the end zone in a 12-6 loss at Moravian on Saturday afternoon.
The game, the season and Centennial Conference opener for both squads featured just one touchdown in one of the lowest scoring games in recent SU history.
The second half proved to be the difference. Susquehanna (0-1, 0-1) held the ball for only two minutes in the fourth quarter and just 8:41 for the entire second half. Moravian (1-0, 0-1), meanwhile, held a nearly 15-minute edge in time of possession overall and out-gained the Crusaders by nearly 100 yards on the ground.
Running was the name for both sides, though. Greg Tellish and Connor McGrath combined for all 78 of SU’s yards on the ground. Junior quarterback Rich Palazzi completed 15-of-24 passes for just 99 yards and one interception. He out-threw his Moravian counterpart Phil Garner who completed only seven passes for 72 yards.
Selinsgrove High graduate Mike Ritter was on the receiving end of five of those Palazzi completions for 34 yards. Greg Tellish also caught five balls for 32 yards, including a long of 22 yards.
Senior All-American punter Bobby Eppleman continued to put up impressive numbers, averaging 40 yards per punt, including a long of 45 yards.
After both teams punted on their opening drives, SU took over for its second series of the afternoon on its own 20-yard line. A holding call against the Crusaders pushed them back to the 10-yard line. Susquehanna was called for a delay of game and found itself in a precarious situation on the five-yard line. Palazzi’s intended pass for Ritter was just a few inches touch too long and after Tellish was stalled on a subsequent rush attempt, Susquehanna punted for its second straight series.
That set Alex Hersch up for a 20-yard return that put Moravian into SU territory for the first time. On second-and nine, Rocco Del Priore ran into a wall of Susquehanna defenders that included Trevor Terpening and Bill Mancini which forced a third-and-one situation.
Joe Tegan managed to eke out a first down for a first-and-five situation and Del Priore ran his way into the end zon for a 7-0 lead.
Bobby Eppleman’s 20-yard field goal made it 7-3.
Moravian continued to pound the ball up the middle, settling on a field goal by Greyhounds’ kicker Ian Heck for a 10-3 lead with 1:25 left in the half.
Another Eppleman fileld goal cut the deficit to10-6 at the 10:57 mark in the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, on third and 11 Palazzi fumbled the handoff at the 3-yard line, resulting in a safety and a 12-6 Moravian edge.
With less than five minutes to play, Stephen Homan and Inch came up with a stop on third and eight and the Crusaders took over on their own 20.
SU had four minutes left, but Moravian’s Travis King came up with an interception, the first turnover of the game, which effectively sealed Susquehanna’s fate.
Southern Columbia graduate Ken Schretroma had 10 tackles, two for loss for the Crusaders.
