Saturday's Game: Allegheny Gators (4-1, 1-1 NCAC) vs. Denison (2-3, 1-2 NCAC)
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Opening Kickoff:
Allegheny and Denison are squaring off for the 24th time since the all-time series began in 1984. The Gators hold a 19-4 lead in the series, but the Big Red snapped a 19-game losing streak to Allegheny with a 13-10 victory last year. The Gators have shut out Denison four times, including the most recent in 2007 when Allegheny posted a 14-0 victory at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.
First meeting: 1984 (Denison 52, Allegheny 14)
Last meeting: 2008 (Denison 14, Allegheny 10)
Most points by one team: 1996 (Allegheny 72, Denison 7)
Largest margin of victory: 1996 (Allegheny 72, Denison 7)
Smallest margin of victory: 1985 (Denison 16, Allegheny 14)
The Gators have not lost on their home turf against Denison since 1986 (Denison 28, Allegheny 24)
Last Week:
T.J. Salopek went 19-for-28 for 211 yards and threw for three touchdowns while rushing for another score to lead Allegheny past Carnegie Mellon 38-35 on Saturday. Terry Hartford scored the eventual game-winning touchdown on a 56-yard pass from T.J. Salopek late in the fourth quarter to help the Gators avenge a 41-14 loss to the Tartans last year. Salopek connected with Jake Vite eight times for a team-high 86 yards and a score.
On The Run:
Brian Tamburlin rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 19 carries and scored his first collegiate touchdown against CMU. He also made four catches for 14 yards. The last time a Gator rushed for over 100 yards was on Nov. 11, 2006 (Mario Tarquinio – 149) when Allegheny defeated Oberlin, 35-14.
Statistically Speaking:
Kyle Wilson and Sid Facaros are tied for first in the NCAC with three interceptions in five games. Wilson has the third longest return with 57 yards, coming in the win over Westminster. He is also first in the conference win nine passes defended. Wilson had his first punt return of the season and of the game on Saturday, taking the ball seven yards. Terry Hartford is Allegheny's man in the back, taking 11 of the team's 12 punt returns.
With Honors Times Two:
Sid Facaros has been named the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Defensive Player of the Week and to the D3Football.com Team of the Week for his play against Carnegie Mellon. Facaros, a junior strong safety, forced and recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter to set up the Gators (4-1) game-winning touchdown. He also led Allegheny with a career and game-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo. Facaros also had a sack for a loss of 13 yards. On the season, he has 30 tackles and is tied for first on the team with three interceptions.
Sack Race Continued:
Allegheny has 15 sacks through five games and is just five shy of 20 set in 2008. The defense also has eight interceptions this season, putting them five short of last year (13). Travis Wilkins paces the team with three sacks for a loss of 25 yards.
Moving On Up:
T.J. Salopek has moved into sixth place on the all-time leaders chart for career passing yards with 4,374 and needs 191 more yards to take over the fifth spot. He is also third in career completions with 406 and needs 56 to take over the No. 2 spot held by Jimmy Savage (2003-06) with 461. Jake Vite is now fifth in program history with 96 career receptions and only needs seven more to move into fourth place.
The Last Meeting:
Denison's Jon Berg scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 10:08 left in the fourth quarter to complete the come-from-behind victory over Allegheny 14-10 on October 18, 2008. The game-winning drive covered 68 yards in 10 plays and began when the Big Red intercepted Gators' quarterback T.J. Salopek at the Denison 32 yardline. Allegheny had a chance to tie the game on its ensuing possession but Ryan Zipf's field goal attempt from 42 yards missed wide right.
Denison Last Week:
Denison scored 23 points in the opening quarter, en route to a dominating 44-0 victory over visiting Hiram College, under the lights at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium on Saturday evening in Granville, Ohio. The shutout win was the first for Denison since blanking Gallaudet University 42-0 on Sept. 22, 2007. It also marked the largest margin of victory for Denison since topping Hiram 53-6 in 2005. Hiram quarterback Rendan Rehor was 14 of 24 for 78 yards and three interceptions. His favorite target, Glenn Campbell, caught five passes for 32 yards. Campbell also led the team in rushing with 36 yards before leaving the game with an injury late in the third quarter.
