COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Saturday's games

Carnegie Mellon (1-0)vs. Grove City (0-0)
Game time: 1:30 p.m., Robert E. Thorn Field, Grove City, Pa.Series history: Carnegie Mellon leads 28-18-2Scouting report: Grove City College will rededicate newly-refurbished Robert E. Thorn Field before the game. During the summer, an artificial surface (CSTurf), lights and new track surface were installed at the field. Grove City will likely feature eight new starters in the opener. Last year, The Wolverines lost at home to Carnegie Mellon, 20-16. CMU opened its season last Saturday with a 27-6 victory over Hiram.Radio-TV: WSAJ-FM (91.1); www.gcc.edu/sports.
Thiel (1-0) vs. Alfred (0-0)
Game time: 1 p.m., Merrill Field, Alfred, N.Y.Series history: Alfred leads 8-6Scouting report: Thiel is coming off an impressive 7-0 road win at Geneva last Saturday. The Tomcats were led by junior TB Steve Minton's 75 yards rushing in 23 carries and the game's only TD. Senior QB Billy Blankenship completed 18-of-27 passes for 170 yards and two interceptions and added 44 yards rushing in nine carries. Junior CB Antonio Quartermen led the Thiel defense with eight tackles and two pass breakups. Alfred returns 17 starters from last year's NCAA Division III playoff team, seven on offense, eight on defense and two special team players. Thiel and Alfred last played in 2003 with Alfred winning, 14-9.Radio-Internet: WPIC-AM (790), WLLF-FM (96.7) in Hermitage; www.msasportsnetwork.com
Allegheny (1-0)vs. Washington & amp; Jefferson (0-1)
Game time: 6:30 p.m., Cameron Stadium, Washington, Pa.Series history: Washington & amp; Jefferson leads, 21-20-1Scouting report: Since 1982, W & amp;J has won 10 of the last 11 meetings with Allegheny, and has a three-game winning streak over them, including last year's 45-21 win. Allegheny snapped an eight-year season-opening losing streak with a 35-10 victory over Westminster last Saturday. The Gators forced six turnovers on two interceptions and four fumble recoveries, five of those in the first half. Allegheny totaled 443 yards of offense, led by senior QB Jimmy Savage, who completed 16-of-32 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns.Radio-Internet: WJPA-AM (1450), WNJR-FM (91.7); www.wjpa.com; www.washjeff.edu
Hiram (0-1) vs. Bethany (0-1)
Game time: 1:30 p.m., Bethany Field, Bethany, W.Va.Series history: Hiram leads, 21-14Scouting report: Hiram and Bethany last met in 1989 with the Terriers winning, 33-22. Hiram has won the last six games in the series. Hiram is coming off a 27-6 loss to Carnegie Mellon in the Terriers' season opener. Hiram sophomore QB Trevor Henderson was held to just 69 yards passing, but he ran 25 yards for a TD. Junior Tom Canitia recorded a career-high 17 total tackles for the Terriers, including 13 solo stops. Bethany lost its season opener to Muskingum, 45-20.Radio-Internet: WVBC-FM (88.1); www.teamline.cc (code 3724)
Walsh (1-0) vs. St. Francis (Ill.) (0-1)
Game time: 7 p.m.. Joliet Memorial Stadium, Joliet, Ill.Series history: Walsh leads, 2-0Scouting report: Walsh opened the season last Saturday with a 42-16 win at home over West Liberty State. Antwain Reiene scored two TDs on runs of 6 and 2 yard runs and rushed for 124 yards to lead the Cavaliers. Junior QB Sam Cerreta suffered a collapsed lung in the win and is out this week. Junior QB Marc Pullen, who replaced Cerreta against West Liberty State, will start against St. Francis. Junior Alex Rehfus, who started at nose tackle last year, is out for three more weeks with an ankle fracture. St. Francis lost its season opener last Saturday to St. Joseph's, 37-0. The Fighting Saints were contained to just 55 yards of total offense and only 4 yards on the ground. They were 2-9 last season and 0-7 in the MSFA Midwest. Walsh's two wins over St. Francis came in 2003, 41-0, at Fawcett Stadium and 2002, 28-14, in Joliet.Radio-Internet: WCER-AM 900, www.wcer.us
Azusa Pacific (0-1) vs. Malone (1-0)
Game time: 2 p.m. Fawcett Stadium, CantonSeries history: First gameScouting report: Malone opened the season with a 25-7 win over Trinity International (Ill.) 25-7 last Saturday in coach Mike Gardner's debut at the helm. Gardner previously coached at Tabor (Kan.) College. Malone's defense limited Trinity International to just 53 yards rushing and just missed a shutout. QB Brad Reifsnyder completed 17-of-20 passes to six different receivers for 205 yards and one TD to lead the Pioneers, while the top receiver was junior Josh Settlemire from Howland with four catches for 78 yards. Junior RB Bernard Payton had three TDs and 91 yards rushing in 25 carries. Azuza lost its opener last Saturday to NCAA Division I San Diego, 27-0.
Olivet Nazarene (0-1) vs. Geneva (0-1)
Game time: 1:30 p.m., Reeves Stadium, Beaver Falls, Pa.Series history: Geneva leads, 3-2Scouting report: Despite Justin Sciarro's 200 passing yards, Geneva's late game rally fell just 4 yards short of tying the game in a season-opening 7-0 loss to Thiel last Saturday. The Golden Tornadoes were held to only 54 yards on the ground. Senior LB Brian Hall enjoyed a successful comeback for Geneva with 18 tackles, including six solo stops. Derek McElhaney and Bradley Roman contributed interceptions. The Golden Tornadoes' defense held Thiel to under 300 yards of total offense. Olivet Nazarene lost its season opener last Saturday to St. Norbert (Wis.), 31-13.Radio-Internet: WBVP-AM 1230, WMBA 1460, www.geneva.edu.
Slippery Rock (0-1) vs. Millersville (0-1)
Game time: 1 p.m., Biemesderfer Stadium, Millersville, Pa.Series history: Slippery Rock leads, 10-4-1Scouting report: Slippery Rock lost to Youngstown State in its opener Aug. 31, 51-21, while Millersville lost its opener Aug. 26 to Shepherd, 28-7. Nate Crookshank completed 15-of-22 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions to key Slippery Rock's 282-yard offensive attack against YSU. Crookshank's TD passes were to Colin Golden and Luke Wetzel. Travis Sarver ran 29 yards for a TD on SRU's opening possession of the second half to trim YSU's lead to 28-21. Sarver finished with 66 yards on 19 carries. Golden and Paul Favers each had four receptions. The Rock's defense was led by Seth Randall (nine tackles), Jarel Palmer (seven) and Brandon Rakszawski (six).Radio-internet: WISR-AM 680, www.rockathletics.com, www.msasports.net
Vindicator staff reports