SCOUTING REPORTS | Saturday's area college football games
BETHANY (0-3, 0-0 PAC) vs.GROVE CITY (1-2, 0-0 PAC)
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Robert E. Thorn Field, Grove City.
Last year: Grove City 28, Bethany 20.
Scouting report: This will be the Presidents' Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Grove City lost to Defiance last week, 14-9, while Bethany was walloped by Wooster, 69-7. Grove City has won the last six games against Bethany. Last year, the Bison blew a 20-14 half time lead to fall. In the Wolverines' loss to Defiance, sophomore FS Ross Trimmer (Hickory High) registered a team-high 10 tackles, while inside LB Ben Szelong had eight tackles and an sack. Offensively, Sam Mowrey passed for 184 yards and led Grove City in rushing for the second straight game with 57 yards. Dave DiDonato had seven receptions for 79 yards, while Bo Danton and Tim Flenner caught four aerials apiece.
THIEL (1-1, 0-0 PAC) vs.WASHINGTON & amp; JEFFERSON (2-0, 0-0)
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Cameron Stadium, Washington, Pa.
Last year: W & amp;J 21, Thiel 17
Scouting report: Thiel rolled past Bluffton last week, 35-7, while W & amp;J whipped Franklin & amp; Marshall, 36-14. W & amp;J enjoys a 21-game winning streak against Thiel, which last won in 1981, 34-3. Last year, the Tomcats blew a 17-7 halftime lead to falter. In Thiel's win over Bluffton, sophomore WR Brandon Chambers (Farrell High) set a school record with 283 receiving yards on eight catches with three TDs. Junior QB Daryl Moore turned in his best game ever for the Tomcats with 302 yards passing on 12-for-21 and four TDs.
WESTMINSTER (0-2) vs.ALLEGHENY (0-2)
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Robertson Field, Meadville, Pa.
Last year: Westminster 24, Allegheny 13.
Scouting report: Westminster was drubbed by Mansfield (Pa.) last week, 50-17, while Allegheny was idle. Last year, Westminster took a 17-0 lead over Allegheny before prevailing. Last week, the Titans trailed Mansfield by only 22-17 at halftime, and then threatened to score by marching the second-half kickoff to the Mounties' 15-yard line. But Westminster fumbled away the scoring opportunity, which set up the first of four Mansfield TDs. Senior WR Brian Ekis (Boardman High) led the Titans with eight receptions for a career-high 154 yards and a 65-yard TD catch. Senior QB Matt Robison (Wilmington) passed for 211 yards on 14-for-25 with one interception. Freshman PK Jason Montgomery (Wilmington) was successful on his first collegiate field goal attempt of 35 yards, and also was 2-for-2 in extra-point kicks and made two tackles on special teams to be named Special Teams Titan of the Week. Senior WR Steve Scott and junior outside LB Ryan Aleski were named Offensive and Defensive Titan of the week, respectively. Scott had four receptions for 30 yards, blocked well and was cited for his hustle in the game, while Aleski had seven tackles, including four solo hits. Junior RB Scott Froelich rushed for 70 yards in 24 carries.
MOUNT UNION (2-0, 1-0 OAC) vs.MUSKINGUM (2-0, 1-0 OAC)
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: McConagha Stadium, New Concord.
Last year: Mount Union 49, Muskingum 3.
Scouting report: Mount Union, three-time defending national champion, defeated Baldwin-Wallace last week, 24-0. The Purple Raiders have three winning streaks going: consecutive games (44, longest in NCAA), regular-season games (86) and consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season games (77). Muskingum rolled past Heidelberg, 45-14, last week. The Muskies lead Mount Union in the all-time series, 29-26-2, but the Purple Raiders are unbeaten in the 1ast 18 meetings, the other outcome ending in a tie. In MUC's win over B-W, senior WR Nick Sirianni enjoyed a career-best 135 yards receiving on a game-high seven catches with two TDs. Junior QB Zac Bruney had his best game ever with 179 yards passing on 11-for-16 with two TDs. Senior LB Shaun Spisak led the team in tackles with 10, while senior CB Mike Miller had nine stops, forced one fumble, deflected two passes and blocked a field goal attempt.
BLOOMSBURG (1-2) vs.SLIPPERY ROCK (1-2)
When: 6 p.m.
Where: DiSpirito Field at Thompson Stadium.
Last year: Bloomsburg 38, Slippery Rock 14
Scouting report: Slippery Rock thumped Fairmont State last week, 35-14, with 35 unanswered points; while Bloomsburg was topped by Lock Haven, 17-15. Senior QB Chad DeVore came off the bench to relieve starter Luke McCaffrey, and threw three TD passes for the Rockets. He completed five of nine passes for 134 yards with one interception. Senior RB Brandon Markus has 1,427 career rushing yards and 18 TDs for Slippery Rock, and needs four TDs to climb into the school's top 10. Bloomsburg has won the last five meetings with Slippery Rock to take a 6-3 lead in the series.
ST. FRANCIS (ILL.) (1-1) vs.WALSH (2-1)
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Canton Fawcett Stadium.
Last year: Walsh 28, St. Francis 14.
Scouting report: Walsh was stopped last week by St. Xavier, 37-7, after scoring first in the game. Senior QB Derek Besgrove led the Cavs with 139 yards rushing, and is 213 yards shy of becoming Walsh's all-time rushing leader. Besgrove has 4,455 yards. Damont Skanes is the all-time leader with 4,667 yards. Besgrove's 100-yard game was the 23rd of his career. St. Francis is coming off a 31-28 overtime win over Urbana. The Fighting Saints blew 28-7 third-quarter lead, then won the game on Jose Murillo's 27-yard field goal.
MALONE (0-2, 0-0 MSFA MIDWEST)vs. OLIVET NAZARENE (1-1, 0-0)
When: 3:30 p.m.
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton.
Last year: Malone defeated Olivet Nazarene last year, 45-21, in the first meeting between the two schools.
Scouting report: Malone lost to Trinity International last week, 24-17; while Olivet Nazarene defeated Geneva, 24-14. Senior QB Eric Rector completed 13 of 32 passes for 162 yards and one TD with two interceptions for Malone. RB Joel Peterson rushed for 88 yards in 24 carries, while Jerome Moss caught four passes for 54 yards and Jason Diebler had three catches for 34 yards. Junior DB Mitch Fusek (Canfield High) and LB Jason Kennedy each had 12 tackles, including three for losses. LB Ben Carnifax had 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. Junior DB Mike Swanson (East Liverpool High) contributed seven tackles and one interception, while DB Danny Kendrick added two tackles and one interception. Fusek ranks No. 3 on the team in tackles with 18, including 11 unassisted; while Swanson is No. 5 with 14 stops, including 12 solo hits. Kennedy is No. 1 with 28 tackles (11 solo hits) and Carnifax No. 2 with 22 (16 solo stops).
GENEVA (1-1) vs.TRINITY INTERNATIONAL (3-0)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Reeves Stadium, Beaver Falls, Pa.
Last year: Trinity International 21, Geneva 14.
Scouting report: Geneva is coming off a 24-14 loss to Olivet Nazarene, after rallying from a 17-0 deficit; while Trinity International beat Malone, 24-17. Geneva rallied on a 13-yard TD reception by Tim Frost (Ursuline High), and a 5-yard hook up from Ben Swallow (West Branch) to Tony Clacker with 8:15 left to play in the fourth. Swallow threw for 193 yards on 19-for-37 with three interceptions. Matt Nowaczynski stood out again for Geneva with a game-high 10 catches for 107 yards. The Golden Tornadoes managed only 92 yards rushing led by Josh Mullen's 61 yards. Defensively, Mark Villella had two interceptions to give him three for the season and 15 for his career, to make him No. 6 on Geneva's all-time interception list. Tom Contenta and Dan Glaze spearheaded the defensive charge with 11 tackles each, while Frank Hernandez added in with nine tackles.