2008 Woodie Awards
Rock-steady defense helps football to 2-0 start
By Brandon Fox
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports
Because this is he first meeting of the teams, SRU will come into the game with little knowledge of the Bulldogs, other than what they have seen on film.
"Not sure what type of style, so it will be a good test for the team," Mihalik said. "See how we can handle playing an unknown opponent."
Offensively the Rock will look to wear down the Bulldog defensive with their physical style of play.
"We don't want to get into a track meet with them," Mihalik said. "They will be looking to hit the big play on us, and that is something we have to avoid."
A week ago the Rock committed three turnovers two of which occurred when running back Corey Manfull fumbled in the red zone, something Mihalik addressed to his team this week.
"We made enough mistakes for three ballgames," said Rock head coach George Mihalik. "We could have blown it open and didn't."
Despite the turnovers, the Rock was well balanced offensively, netting 293 yards through the air and 165 on the ground.
"We were well balanced with the run and pass," Mihalik said. "As long as your not one dimensional, you can have a pretty good offense."
Senior quarterback Nate Crookshank completed 15 of 21 passes and threw three touchdowns, two of them to senior wide receiver Paul Favers who hauled in six passes for a career-high 169 yards, including a 75-yard TD strike in the second quarter, to lead the Rock attack.
"I was running a five yard out n' up route," Favers said. "Terry (Grossetti) did a good job getting them to go inside. I caught it and then just tried to run my fastest and score."
The play proved to be critical, coming three plays after the SRU defense stopped Millersville on 4&1 inside the Rock 25-yard line, with the Rock leading 7-2.
"That was an important play, stopping them on fourth down," Mihalik said. "Then we hit the touchdown and took momentum into the half."
Senior H-back Colin Golden has been cleared to play after missing last week's game with a fracture to his ankle, but his status is still day-to-day.
"Colin has a 50/50 shot of playing, its all about how much pain he can take. He can't do any more damage to it." Mihalik said. "We know he wants to be out there, just have to see how effective he will be."
In two games, the only major hiccup for SRU has been on special teams. In the game against Millersville, the Marauder scored on a safety in the second quarter, when a snap from center sailed over Rock punter Kyle Witman's head and into the endzone, forcing him to kick it out of bounds. Whitman also had a punt blocked in the third quarter, which lead to the MU field goal.
"Speical teams are still a problem for us," Mihalik said. "Give Millersville credit on the block, they blitzed the corner and the snap was high. Kyle had to adjust and they caught us."
Mihalik said his team his ready for the test of taking on Bowie State.
"This will be a real interesting game for us," Mihalik said. "We are ready."
"Not sure what type of style, so it will be a good test for the team," Mihalik said. "See how we can handle playing an unknown opponent."
Offensively the Rock will look to wear down the Bulldog defensive with their physical style of play.
"We don't want to get into a track meet with them," Mihalik said. "They will be looking to hit the big play on us, and that is something we have to avoid."
A week ago the Rock committed three turnovers two of which occurred when running back Corey Manfull fumbled in the red zone, something Mihalik addressed to his team this week.
"We made enough mistakes for three ballgames," said Rock head coach George Mihalik. "We could have blown it open and didn't."
Despite the turnovers, the Rock was well balanced offensively, netting 293 yards through the air and 165 on the ground.
"We were well balanced with the run and pass," Mihalik said. "As long as your not one dimensional, you can have a pretty good offense."
Senior quarterback Nate Crookshank completed 15 of 21 passes and threw three touchdowns, two of them to senior wide receiver Paul Favers who hauled in six passes for a career-high 169 yards, including a 75-yard TD strike in the second quarter, to lead the Rock attack.
"I was running a five yard out n' up route," Favers said. "Terry (Grossetti) did a good job getting them to go inside. I caught it and then just tried to run my fastest and score."
The play proved to be critical, coming three plays after the SRU defense stopped Millersville on 4&1 inside the Rock 25-yard line, with the Rock leading 7-2.
"That was an important play, stopping them on fourth down," Mihalik said. "Then we hit the touchdown and took momentum into the half."
Senior H-back Colin Golden has been cleared to play after missing last week's game with a fracture to his ankle, but his status is still day-to-day.
"Colin has a 50/50 shot of playing, its all about how much pain he can take. He can't do any more damage to it." Mihalik said. "We know he wants to be out there, just have to see how effective he will be."
In two games, the only major hiccup for SRU has been on special teams. In the game against Millersville, the Marauder scored on a safety in the second quarter, when a snap from center sailed over Rock punter Kyle Witman's head and into the endzone, forcing him to kick it out of bounds. Whitman also had a punt blocked in the third quarter, which lead to the MU field goal.
"Speical teams are still a problem for us," Mihalik said. "Give Millersville credit on the block, they blitzed the corner and the snap was high. Kyle had to adjust and they caught us."
Mihalik said his team his ready for the test of taking on Bowie State.
"This will be a real interesting game for us," Mihalik said. "We are ready."
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