Chris Ferrick-Manley
Staff Reporter
Unlike McDaniel’s previous three Homecoming football games, its November 8 contest against Gettysburg was not decided in the final seconds of the game, as Gettysburg handily beat McDaniel 38-9. This loss drops the Green Terror to 2-7 (1-6 in the Centennial Conference).
Since their bye week on October 11, the team had lost 49-6 at home to undefeated Muhlenberg who are ranked in the top ten in DIII, lost 26-7 at Ursinus after leading in the fourth quarter, and were shutout 20-0 at Franklin and Marshall.
Green Terror Head Coach Tim Keating, who falls to 10-4-1 in Homecoming games during his tenure, believes there is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel after the struggles of the last two seasons.
“Got to see that they are young, and that if they keep working things will turn their way,” said Keating.
He cited the improvement the offensive line had made in the previous two weeks, a unit that had been one of the weaker areas of the team in the previous year. In addition, Keating also credited the running backs with having stepped up their play. However, both T.J. Develin (high ankle sprain) and Eric Zwilsky (broken sternum) missed the homecoming game. Freshman quarterback Tom Massucci also became the first of the four Green Terror quarterbacks to see every snap in a game against Gettysburg.
“There is only one way of getting good at anything you do and that’s by doing it,” said Keating, who wanted his freshmen quarterbacks Massucci and Vinny Corona to experience, “baptism under fire”.
The homecoming game, being the last home football game of the 2008 season, was also senior day. Among the seniors honored was the 2006 homecoming game’s hero and senior kicker Jay Leonard. Leonard contributed to one of the most memorable moments in recent McDaniel football history by kicking a career long 46-yard field goal with less than 10 seconds left in regulation to defeat Gettysburg.
“I saw the refs hands up in the air and I was like ‘oh yeah’,” said Leonard who also contributed all of McDaniel’s points against Gettysburg this year by being 3 for 3 on field goals.
Leonard, believes that his time playing football at McDaniel has been worthwhile, even though the team itself has struggled.
“Even in adversity it has been fun,” said Leonard.
Keating himself shares that mentality, believing that his players have the mental toughness and character to overcome the tough seasons.
“Might not have tasted victory, but have not succumbed to adversity,” said Keating, who stressed that his team would definitely trade achievements, such as the program’s 500th victory, for a winning season.
“The opportunity to compete and put muscle and brain against someone else is worth the opportunity,” said Keating.
The Green Terror’s final game of the 2008 season is on the road against Johns Hopkins on November 15. Game time is 1pm.