Zwilsky powers McDaniel to first win of season, 500th in program history
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Eric Zwilsky (Knoxville, Md./Brunswick) amassed 143 all-purpose yards and both touchdowns to lead McDaniel to a 14-10 victory over Juniata in Centennial Conference (CC) football action on Saturday.
Zwilsky rushed for 110 yards become the first Green Terror player to run for 100 yards since Oct. 29, 2005 when Meikos Parker amassed 100 yards against Franklin & Marshall.
The win marked the first for McDaniel (1-4, 1-2 CC) this season in five tries and the 500th victory in program history, allowing the Green Terror to join 24 other Division III teams in the elite club on its six attempt.
Jay Leonard, the conference’s leading passer at 286.7 yards per game, led the Eagles (0-4, 0-3 CC) completed juts 22 of 46 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Two of the bottom three defenses in the CC entering play on Saturday, both defenses held their opponent to more than 100 yards fewer than their season average. The Juniata defense entered play surrendering 478.3 yards per game and held the Green Terror to 350 – its highest offensive output of the season. McDaniel was allowing 370.0 per game and held the Eagles to 225, which was both the fewest yards amassed by the Junita offense and surrendered by the Green Terror defense in 2007.
After just 10 total points through the first three quarters, David Nicklaus caught a 12-yard pass from Jay Leonard on fourth-and-8 to cap a 14-play, 77-yard drive and give the Eagles a 10-7 lead with 10:52 to play.
After a pair of big pass plays moved Juniata into McDaniel territory, Kyle McKechnie rushed for 12 yards on third-and-10 and four plays later, Leonard found Chad Steiner on a quick five-yard slant to convert a fourth-and-2 from the Green Terror 19.
After a net of two yards on the next three plays, the Eagles elected to go for the lead and Leonard found Nicklaus by himself in the middle of the end zone for a 9-7 lead. Davis Smith converted the PAT for the three-point advantage.
On the ensuing possession, Tom Wenrich (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) guided McDaniel 56 yards on seven plays in just 1 minute, 42 seconds to put his squad back on top, going 4-for-5 through the air on the drive.
From 15 yards out on second-and-10, Zwilsky capped the march with a leaping grab between two defenders in the front of the end zone to put his team back in front.
After an exchange of three-and-out drives, the Green Terror looked poised to put the game out of reach with fewer than four minutes showing on the game clock.
Taking over on its own 35, T.J. Develin (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) ripped off a long run to the right that was called most of the way back on a hold. On the next play from scrimmage, Develin got it all back and then some with McDaniel’s longest play of the season – a 41-yard scamper down the near sideline to set up a first down at the Juniata 20.
After moving the ball just five more yards on the next three plays, the Green Terror elected to attempt a 32-yard field goal. Jay Leonard (Westminster, Md./Westminster), who had missed two early from the same area on the field, including one that doinked off the left upright, had his third attempt blocked by Zach Swartz with 1:41 to play.
Neither team recorded positive yardage over the final four drives.
After watching its opposition take the opening drive to the end zone in three of four games, the Green Terror returned the favor, marching 64 yards on eight plays over 3 minutes, 12 seconds to take a 7-0 lead.
Zwilsky accounted for the final 27 of the drive, bouncing outside and taking the run down the right sideline for the score.
After an errant snap on a punt attempt two McDaniel drives later, the Eagles took over at the Green Terror 20. After getting to the five-yard line on three plays, the Green Terror defense pushed Juniata back two yards to force a Smith 24-yard field goal.
After getting second life on a running-into-the-kicker, Travis Wenrich (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) recorded his second interception in as many weeks two plays later and returned it 35 yards to help McDaniel set up at its own with 25 seconds left.
After a six-yard rush and an incompletion to stop the clock, Leonard pushed his second field goal attempt of the quarter wide left.
Tom Wenrich threw for 179 yards on 19 of 31 pasisng, including seven times for 69 yards to Matt Bergbauer (Westminster, Md./Westminster). Develin rushed for a career-high 72 yards on nine carries.
Aaron Slaughter (Baltimore, Md./Loyola) led the defense with eight tackles, including six solo stops, while Bryan Letourneau (Damascus, Md./Damascus) had six, including four for loss and three sacks that pushed the Eagles back 32 yards.
Tyler Hall led three Juniata defenders with double-digit tackles, tallying 13. Zach Swartz had 11 while Brandon Spayd had 10.
Zwilsky, who leads the CC with nine scores and 54 points, has scored the last five McDaniel touchdowns.
After a week off, McDaniel returns to action at Muhlenberg on Oct. 13. Game time is 1 p.m.
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