Franklin & Marshall (3-1, 1-1cc) at Ursinus (2-2, 2-0cc)

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F&M Game Notes | Ursinus Game Notes

Series History
Overall: F&M 61-25-4 | In Centennial: F&M 18-8 | Streak: F&M +1

Today’s game marks the 91st renewal of a series that dates back to 1894. Franklin & Marshall won the initial contest by a score of 76-0. The Bears picked up their first win over F&M in the sixth meeting, a 16-0 victory in Collegeville in 1902.

Franklin & Marshall holds a 61-25-4 lead in the series and an 18-8 lead since Centennial play began in 1983. In games played in Collegeville, F&M leads 26-13-1. The Diplomats have taken five of the last seven meetings.

The Last Meeting
Wide receiver Jarrell Diggs (So. / Baltimore / Gilman) was responsible for three touchdowns, fueling Franklin & Marshall’s 51-13 homecoming win over Ursinus. Diggs rushed for a score, then threw and received a touchdown pass in the Centennial Conference (CC) win. The Diplomats moved to 3-2 (2-1 CC), while Ursinus fell to 2-3 (1-2 CC). All three of F&M’s wins have come at home.

F&M Last Week
The Diplomats were idle last week. Two weeks ago, George Eager (Sr. / Lititz, Pa. / Manheim Twp.) caught six passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns to lead Franklin & Marshall to a 34-7 win over Juniata in Centennial Conference (CC) action. Eager did all of his dirty work in a 34-0 first half, before joining the starters on the bench for the second half.

Ursinus Last Week
Ursinus and Gettysburg re-wrote the Centennial Conference record book, as the Bears defeated the Bullets 55-50 on Homecoming at Patterson Field. Ursinus defeated the Bullets for the first time since 2005 and went 2-0 in the Centennial for the first time since 1996.

Bears Bits
Ursinus’ 55 points last week were the most since 2002… Ursinus set the Centennial Conference record for points in a half with 48… Senior quarterback Justin Decristofaro was named MVP of the homecoming game… Decristofaro was named as the Centennial Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He shared the honor with Gettysburg senior quarterback Matt Flynn. Decristofaro completed 24-of-33 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for 70 yards and two more scores in Ursinus’ 55-50 win over Gettysburg... Sophomore wideout Nick Giarratano tied a school record with 11 receptions…

Harrison Launches Aerial Assault on F&M's Record Book
John Harrison (Flourtown, Pa. / La Salle College HS) moved into tenth place in career completions (239) on his 19-of-26 day that lasted two quarters. He jumped up to 11th in career passing yards (2,685) after his third consecutive 300-yard passing performance (317). His three touchdowns moved him into a tie for sixth place on the passing touchdown chart with Beau Eckert. He needs seven touchdowns to join Geno Pagnozzi, Kyle Turner and Bill Meekings for third overall. He is currently the most efficient quarterback in F&M history with a 141.9 PER. He is also tops in completion percentage connecting on 63.7 of his passes so far.

Four games into the season, Harrison needs 30-yards to pass his freshman year output of yards (1,357). Sitting on 1,328, his season is already the 21st most prolific season on record in passing yards. His third touchdown at Juniata moved him to 15 on the season, one more than his freshman campaign and seventh overall. He is within six of Geno Pagnozzi’s season record of 21 set back in 1989. His 72.1 completion percentage is 12.1 percent better than the previous record of 60 percent set by Seiki Murono in 1964. His 177.6 per supplants Dale Ritter’s 1952 PER of 162.8 as the single most efficient season from a quarterback. 

On the Receiving End
George Eager became the fifth Diplomat to roll up 1,800 receiving yards in a career. He finished the Juniata game with 1,824 yards, and now sits fourth on the career chart. He moved into third on the list for receptions (153), points scored (148), receiving touchdowns (22) and total touchdowns scored (24). Eager’s eighth touchdown of the year matched his 2007 total rolled up in his first year at F&M. His pair of eights ties him with David Ivie and Derek Boyce for the tenth best season on record. He needs seven touchdowns over the final six games to catch up to Dale Amos, who snared 15 touchdowns passes in 1989.

Eager Earns POTW... Again
For the second consecutive week, George Eager was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week. In one half of football, Eager caught six passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns, helping F&M build a 34-0 lead at the half. Eager, quarterback, John Harrison, and most of the rest of the Diplomats starters did not see second half action in F&M’s 34-7 win over Juniata.

Eager was previously named the Centennial’s Special Teams Player of the Week following last week’s 45-43 loss to Dickinson. The Diplomats have had a Centennial Player of the Week in one phase of the game following each contest during the Diplomats 3-1 start. Harrison was named the Offensive Player of the Week following the Catholic win, while linebacker, Sam Massaro was named the Centennial’s Defensive Player of the Week following the win at Washington & Lee.

Also honored
James Freeman (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) was named to the Centennial’s Weekly Honor Roll following the Juniata win. He recorded seven tackles, six solo to spearhead a defensive effort that limited the Eagles to 164 yards. Freeman was out of the game when most of those yards were gained in the fourth quarter.

Ridinger’s Gravy Train
Jay Ridinger (Jr. / WR / Lititz, Pa. / Manheim Twp.) moved into 11th in career receptions, tied with Mike Sernatinger with 89. Ridinger’s 1,063 receiving yards rank him 18th at F&M, and his 10 touchdowns rank him 14th aling with Dale Schleif, Matt Wagaman, Robert Donofrio and Matt Mondeonedo.

F&M’s Provost is an Iron Man
Freshman offensive lineman, Kenny Provost (Fr. / Petoskey, Mich. / Petoskey) made his first collegiate start on the defensive line at Juniata. He recorded four tackles, including three solo stops. His shared tackle was a sack. One of his solo tackles was also for a loss of yards. He then turned around in the second half and played on his own side of the ball for two quarters. A member of his high school marching band, he might jump up and join the pep band during special teams plays when F&M returns home next week. Provost captained Petoskey’s football team. He was a three-time All-Area selection and Special Mention All-State.

sack race
F&M has 10 sacks through four games this season, one less than the defense posted in 2008.