Game Notes

Last time out (L, 48-45 (2OT)) ...

The Diplomats gave No. 22 Muhlenberg all it could handle during a 48-45 double overtime loss in Allentown last week. The contest was a back-and-forth battle through the air as both quarterbacks passed for over 300 yards and five touchdowns before the Mules (8-1, 5-1 CC) scored a touchdown on their second possession of the overtime to clinch the victory. The Diplomats (6-3, 2-3 CC) had a touchdown during their first overtime possession and converted a field goal with their second chance of the extra time.

All five of those passing touchdowns went to Gary Lewis. The previous F&M record for touchdown receptions in a single game was three which had been accomplished 19 times prior to today. The most recent to do it was Lewis during the team's home opener this season against TCNJ. In addition to shattering the school record, Lewis also became the first player in Centennial Conference history with five touchdown receptions as the previous conference record of four receiving touchdowns had been achieved six times previously – most recently during the 2018 season. Lewis' five touchdowns tied the school record with 30 points in a single game which is now shared with Ryan Murray (2007) and Wally Witmer (1951). Lewis' five touchdowns on Saturday give him 15 on the season, tying him with Dale Amos (1989) for the most receiving touchdowns in a season in program history.

Stars of the Past Week

Following his Centennial Conference record, Gary Lewis was named the Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while Laurence Miller was named the Centennial Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. He went 6-for-6 on PATs and knocked a 36-yard field goal through the uprights in overtime.  Also helping the offensive efforts was 338 yards passing from quarterback Ty Tremba. Tremba's five touchdown passes tied the school record that had been accomplished previously by four different quarterbacks a combined seven times. The most recent F&M quarterback to throw for five touchdowns was Tanner Erisman against McDaniel during the 2017 season.

Senior Owen Walsh led the defense as he was all over the field with 13 tackles and one pass break up to headline a number of key defensive performances. Matt Wertz and Scully both finished with nine tackles through the contest. Scully also had a tack for loss in addition to his interception which was one of two takeaways for the F&M defense as the other came on Decker's sack.

Last Game vs. Gettysburg ( (W, 31-14; November 12, 2022)

Aaron Rascoe scored three rushing touchdowns to lead Franklin & Marshall to a 31-13 win at Gettysburg during the 2022 season finale. Those three touchdown runs allowed Rascoe to finish the 2022 season with 14 rushing touchdowns. That mark tied the 113-year older school record that was originally set by Elliott Weller during the 1909 season. Rascoe scored his final two touchdowns during the fourth quarter as the Diplomats scored 28 of their 31 points during the second and fourth quarters. The F&M defense dominated the other two quarters, shutting out the Bullets during those periods.

Rascoe's running helped the Diplomats to 386 yards of total offense. Ty Tremba threw for another 249 yards in the air, including his touchdown to Will Higson. Bolstered by his 41-yard catch, Gary Lewis led the receiving corps with six catches and 100 yards. Bobby Buchys led the defense with eight tackles. His day featured seven solo stops and two sacks. The F&M defense got to the quarterback five times on Saturday, with Brian Lafty and Matt Scully also registering sacks. Jacob Hille and Jeff Decker additionally combined on another. Matt Wertz and Kevonte Beard finished with seven and six tackles, respectively.

Nine Games in nine weeks*

The postponed TCNJ game will create a unique challenge for this year's team as it is set to play the fourth of nine games in nine consecutive weeks. However, that is not as rare as a might seem at first glance.

• F&M has played nine games in nine weeks during 43 others seasons (first since 2007)

• 15th time since Centennial (1983) formed that F&M will play nine games in nine weeks

• The 1972 & 1974 teams were only teams to go undefeated during their nine games in nine week stretches, they were 4th & 5th undefeated teams in school history

• Since CC was formed, the best record during a nine game/nine week stretch was 8-1 by both the 1986 & 1989 teams

• This will be the first time since 2004 that F&M will be playing five home games in a span of 51 days or fewer

* The Diplomats attempt to make it 10 games in 10 weeks as they can officially lock up a bid to the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series with a win on Saturday.

Looking at the national rankings...

• Team Rankings in Top 50 Nationally

  • 17th: Fourth down conversion percentage (.667)

  • 37th: Punt return defense (4.09)

  • 43rd: Team tackles for loss (7.1 per game)

  • 45th: Passing yards per completion (13.94)

  • 46th: Team passing efficiency (153.96)

• Individuals in top 50 Nationallly

  • Laurence Miller

    • 7th: Field goals per game (1.22) - first in Centennial

    • 14th: Field goal percentage (.786)

  • LT Kelley

    • 20th: Fumbles recovered (2)

  • Matt Wertz

    • 45th: Passes defended (1.2 per game)

  • Jeff Decker

    • 19th: Forced fumbles (0.33 per game) - first in Centennial

    • 30th: Tackles for loss (1.6 per game)

  • Ty Tremba

    • 29th: Passing touchdowns (24)

    • 36th: Points responsible for (158)

    • 37th: Points responsible for per game (17.6)

    • 40th: Passing yards per completion (14.03)

    • 46th: Passing efficiency (152.4)

  • Chris Albero

    • 33rd: Punt return average (10.1) - first in Centennial

  • Gary Lewis

    • 4th: Receiving touchdowns (15) - first in Centennial

    • 12th: Scoring (11.2 points per game) - first in Centennial

    • 14th: Total scoring (90 points) - first in Centennial

    • 14th: Total touchdowns (15) - first in Centennial

    • 41st: Receiving yards per game (89.4) - first in Centennial

Checking the record books (Career rankings at F&M)

• Chris Albero

  • Average yards/punt return: 6th (9.33)

  • Punt return yards: 21st (168)

  • Punt returns: t-25th (18)

  • SINGLE SEASON RANKINGS: Punt return yards: 21st (168 in 2023) | Average yards/punt return: 25th (9.33 in 2023) | Punt returns: t-29th (18 in 2023)

• Kevonte Beard

  • Fumble return TDs: 1st (2)

  • Punt return TDs: t-3rd (1)

  • Yards from tackles for loss: 4th (152)

  • Tackles for loss: t-4th (41.0)

  • Fumble returns: t-11th (1)

  • Fumbles forced: t-13th (4)

  • Fumble return yards: 21st (3)

  • Unassisted tackles: 22nd (110)

  • Quarterback sacks: t-24th (12.0)

  • Yards from sacks: t-24th (63)

• Anthony Bonanno

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Blocked kicks: t-28th (1)

• John Burke

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Blocked kicks: t-28th (1)

• Logan Clouse

  • Pass completion pct: 14th (50.7)

  • Pass efficiency: 20th (102.1)

  • Passing yards/game: 20th (79.5)

  • Passing TDs: 22nd (14)

  • Total offense/game: 22nd (85.9)

  • Pass attempts: 23rd (286)

  • Pass completions: 23rd (145)

  • Passing yards: 26th (1511)

  • Average yards/pass: 28th (5.3)

  • Average yards/completion: 30th (10.4)

• Luke Dauberman

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Fumbles forced: t-27th (2 in 2023)

• Jeff Decker

  • Tackles for loss: t-12th (27.0)

  • Fumbles forced: t-13th (4)

  • Yards from tackles for loss: 15th (105)

  • Yards from sacks: t-30th (57)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Fumbles forced: t-8th (3 in 2023) | Tackles for loss: t-12th (14.5 in 2023) | Yards from tackles for loss: 16th (55 in 2023)

• Justin Gerhart

  • Interception return TDs: t-5th (1)

  • Interceptions: t-10th (9)

  • Passes defended: t-13th (24)

  • Interception return yards: 22nd (94)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Passes defended: t-15th (11 in 2023)

• Trey Glass

  • Average yards/kick return: 17th (20.27)

• Kell Hall

  • Interception return TDs: t-5th (1)

  • Passes defended: t-25th (18)

• Matt Hanna

  • Average yards/kick return: 12th (21.10)

  • Kick return yards: 26th (422)

  • Kick returns: t-28th (20)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Kick return yards: 14th (401 in 2023) | Kick returns: t-18th (19 in 2023) | Average yards/kick return: 24th (21.11 in 2023)

• Jacob Hille

  • Blocked kicks: t-12th (2)

• Nick Johnston

  • Kick return TDs: t-2nd (1)

• LT Kelley

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Fumbles recovered: t-19th (2 in 2023)

• Gary Lewis

  • Receptions/game: 5th (4.80)

  • Pass reception TDs: t-8th (18)

  • Average yards/catch: 10th (15.99)

  • All purpose yards/game: 13th (80.8)

  • Touchdowns scored: t-20th (18)

  • Pass reception yards: 27th (1151)

  • Total points scored: t-30th (108)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Pass reception TDs: t-1st (15 in 2023) | Touchdowns scored: t-4th (15 in 2023) | Total points scored: t-5th (90 in 2023) | Receptions/game: 13th (5.88 in 2023) | Average yards/catch: 15th (15.21 in 2023) | Pass reception yards: 23rd (715 in 2023) | TDs responsible for: t-24th (15 in 2023) | Pass receptions: t-29th (47 in 2023)

• Ryan McArthur

  • Punt return TDs: t-3rd (1)

• Laurence Miller

  • Field goals made: t-1st (20)

  • PAT kicks made: 4th (77)

  • PAT kick pct: 4th (92.8)

  • Field goal pct: 6th (74.1)

  • Average yards/punt: 12th (36.35)

  • Total points scored: 13th (137)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Field goals made: t-2nd (11 in 2023) | Field goal pct: t-11th (78.6 in 2023) | PAT kicks made: t-13th (28 in 2023) | PAT kick pct: 14th (93.3 in 2023) | Total points scored: 28th (61 in 2023) | Average yards/punt: 28th (36.35 in 2023)

• Jack O'Hearen

  • Receptions/game: 24th (2.59)

• Matt Scully

  • Average yards/kick return: 1st (24.26)

  • Kick return TDs: t-2nd (1)

  • Interception return TDs: t-5th (1)

  • Kick return yards: 7th (825)

  • Kick returns: 11th (34)

  • Passes defended: t-21st (19)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Fumbles forced: t-27th (2 in 2023)

• Jack Sutton

  • Receptions/game: 16th (3.21)

  • Average yards/catch: 18th (14.52)

• Ty Tremba

  • Pass efficiency: 1st (152.0)

  • Average yards/pass: 1st (8.5)

  • Passing yards/game: 1st (215.3)

  • Total offense/game: 1st (239.1)

  • Average yards/completion: 4th (14.3)

  • Total offense/play: 4th (6.68)

  • Pass completion pct: 5th (59.5)

  • Passing TDs: 9th (34)

  • TDs responsible for: 9th (40)

  • Total offense yards: 11th (4064)

  • Passing yards: 12th (3660)

  • Pass completions: 13th (256)

  • Pass attempts: 14th (430)

  • SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS: Passing TDs: 5th (24 in 2023) | Pass efficiency: 5th (153.2 in 2023) | TDs responsible for: 6th (26 in 2023) | Total offense/game: 6th (247.9 in 2023) | Passing yards/game: 7th (225.2 in 2023) | Average yards/pass: 8th (8.1 in 2023) | Total offense yards: 9th (2231 in 2023) | Passing yards: 11th (2027 in 2023) | Total offense/play: 13th (6.80 in 2023) | Pass completions: 14th (144 in 2023) | Pass completion pct: 17th (57.8 in 2023) | Pass attempts: 19th (249 in 2023) | Average yards/completion: 27th (14.1 in 2023)

• Mitch Wagner

  • Average yards/rush: 23rd (4.29)

• Matt Wertz

  • SINGLE-SEAON RANKINGS: Passes defended: t-15th (11 in 2023) | Blocked kicks: t-28th (1 in 2023)

Returning All-Centennial Conference Performers

• Kevonte Beard - LB/DE (2022 first team; 2021 second team); 2019 Rookie of the Year

• Jeff Decker - DE (2022 second team)

• Justin Gerhart - CB (2022 first team) - 2022 All-American

• Jacob Hille - LB (2022 second team)

• Matt Scully - KR (2021 honorable mention)

Centennial Conference/Postseason Outlook

Centennial Conference Standings

Removing the automatic qualifier who will go to the NCAA Tournament and accounting for the possibility of any at-large selections to the national tournament, the next three teams in the Centennial Conference standings who do not advance to the NCAA Tournament will play in the Centennial-MAC Bowl series on the Saturday following the regular season finale.

Johns Hopkins has clinched the Centennial Conference and the conference's automatic qualifier, while Muhlenberg is currently sitting in second place and currently hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. McDaniel is also guaranteed to finish in seventh, leaving F&M, Dickinson, Ursinus, and Gettysburg all in flux for the third through sixth place spots in the final conference standings.

Franklin & Marshall is guaranteed a bowl bid (top four finish in Centennial Conference standings with a win on Senior Day vs. Gettysburg.

Playoff Scenarios

• If F&M & Dickinson win: Dickinson finishes third (4-2 CC) and F&M fourth (3-3 CC).

• If F&M & Ursinus win: The Diplomats, Dickinson, and Ursinus would all finish at 3-3 in the conference during the regular season

  • F&M would place third based on SOS and then Ursinus would be 4th with the head to head over Dickinson.

• If Gettysburg & Dickinson win: Dickinson would be 4-2 in the conference leaving, F&M, Ursinus, & Gettysburg a three-way tie for fourth

  • F&M would finish fourth based on having the highest strength of schedule, while Ursinus would finish fifth with their head to head win over Gettysburg.

• If Gettysburg & Ursinus win: Ursinus and Dickinson would be tied for third (4-2) and F&M/Gettysburg would be tied for fifth (2-4 CC)

  • Ursinus would finish third (Dickinson fourth) in the final standings based on the head-to-head result

  • Gettysburg would finish fifth and F&M sixth in the conference based on Gettysburg owning the head-to-head victory

Centennial Conference Schedule

Friday, November 10
Muhlenberg at Montclair State (6 p.m.) - non-conference game

Saturday, November 11
Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (1 p.m.)
Dickinson at Ursinus (1 p.m.)
McDaniel at Johns Hopkins (1 p.m.)

Scouting Gettysburg

Gettysburg comes into the final week of the regular season trying to snap a five-game losing streak after starting the season 2-2. A 40-20 win against Juniata and 27-20 victory over McDaniel helped the team out to the strong start before its recent slump. However, the Bullets remain in the hunt for a bowl bid that is contingent on three things: 1 . Muhlenberg receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament 2. Gettysburg defeats Ursinus 3. Ursinus defeats Dickinson. So the Bullets still have plenty to play for heading into this rivalry matchup.

The Bullets have three strong runners in the backfield that the F&M offense will need to keep track of. Rocco Abdinoor leads the team with 522 yards on the ground through his seven games played which also includes four rushing touchdowns in addition to the quarterback's work in the passing game. Peter Schelling is the lead back with a team-best five rushing touchdowns and 483 rushing yards. Michael Zrelak has added 405 yards on the ground as the Bullets average 153.2 yards rushing per game. Abdinoor has seen the majority of the reps at quarterback and is averaging 178.3 yards passing per game. He is completing 54.3 percent of his passes and has 10 touchdowns and four interceptions on the year. The top target this season for Gettysburg has been Ryan McAndrew who has 45 catches for 765 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, Matt Mikulka (54 tackles) and Justin Rhyne (53 tackles) are teh team leaders in that category with five others who have at least 40 tackles on the season. Mikulka also has nine pass break ups in the secondary. Rhyne has made 10 of his stops behind the line of scrimmage, with just one of those being a sack. Chris Singleton, Jr. leads the team with five sacks on the season. Chris Lessel has also been a turnover machine with three interceptions and three forced fumbles. Rob Meyer has been strong on special teams for Gettysburg by connecting on eight of his 10 field goal attempts, including a long of 44 yards. The Bullets have two different punters who are averaging just over 30 yards per punt, but each has a long on the season in excess of 60 yards.