2013 Ithaca Bombers Football Game Notes - Ithaca College Athletics

Head Coach
Mike Welch
In his 20th season as Ithaca’s
head coach, Mike Welch (Ithaca
’73) has posted a 150-61 (.710)
record, including a regular-season
mark of 138-52 (.725). He entered
the season 15th all-time among
Division III coaches in winning
percentage. A running back who
earned two letters while playing
for coach Jim Butterfield, Welch
succeeded his former coach after
10 years as an assistant at his
alma mater.
Ithaca Under Mike Welch
Overall 150-61
At Home 80-24
In November 33-24
On Nov. 2 1-1
Against Frostburg 4-0
Ithaca Coaching Staff
Greg Hadley, linebackers
Ryan Heasley,
offensive coordinator/offensive line
Mark McDonough,
defensive coordinator/linebackers
Jack Mrozinski,
defensive backs/special teams
Tyler Noll, wide receivers
Jim O’Neill, quarterbacks
Alex Peffley,
wide receivers/offensive line
Joe Volpe, tight ends/fullbacks
Junior Varsity Coach: Dan Elberty
2013 HONORS
Tom Dempsey, QB
E8 Offensive Player of the Week, 10/26
Skylar Griffenberg, S
D3football Team of the Week, 10/12
Garrett Nicholson, K
USA College Football Preseason
All-America; Honorable Mention
E8 Special Teams
Player of the Week, 10/26
Josh Oliver, WR/RET
E8 Special Teams
Player of the Week, 9/28
D3football Team of the Week, 9/28
Jared Prugar, TE
E8 Offensive Player of the Week, 9/21
D3football Team of the Week, 9/21
Max Rottenecker, K
E8 Special Teams
Player of the Week, 10/26
D3football Team of the Week, 10/26
Mike Vulcano, CB
D3football Team of the Week, 9/28
TEAM TAKEAWAY: Ithaca ranks seventh nationally in turnovers gained
this season, with 23 takeaways in seven games. Ithaca took five turnovers
away from St. John Fisher last week, the second game this season that
Ithaca has forced five opponent turnovers (Utica; Oct. 19).
TOUGH DEFENSE: The Ithaca defense has been one of the topperforming
defenses in the nation this year. Among 242 NCAA Division III
football teams, Ithaca ranks 15th nationally in scoring defense by allowing
just 13.0 points-per-game, and 15th in rushing defense allowing 88.7
yards per game. The Bombers are 14th in the country in turnovers gained
(18) and 20th in the nation in pass interceptions (10). Through its first six
games, Ithaca has held every opponent below its season scoring average.
OPPONENTS BELOW AVERAGE: In each of Ithaca’s seven games
this season, the Bombers have held their opponents below their season
scoring average. Four of those opponents were more than 10 points
below their season average, which includes all games played.
Opponent Points vs. Ithaca Season Scoring Average
Moravian 7 17.2
Union 3 20.2
Buffalo State 20 26.0
Hartwick 21 32.8
Alfred 6 26.6
Utica 21 25.5
St. John Fisher 22 35.5
NO-FLY ZONE: The Ithaca College secondary has intercepted at least
one pass in 13 of its last 17 games, dating back to the start of the 2012
season, and has totaled 24 interceptions in that span.
WINNING DEBUT: Quarterback Tom Dempsey made his first career start
last week in Ithaca’s 17-6 win over Alfred. He is the 10th consecutive
Bomber quarterback to lead Ithaca to a win in his first career start.
Dempsey followed that up with three touchdown passes in last week’s win
at Utica.
Tom Dempsey Jr. beat Alfred 17-6 10/12/13
Jason Hendel Jr. beat Union (a) 37-18 9/17/11
Phil Neumann So. beat Brockport 19-14 9/3/11
Rob Zappia Sr. beat St. Lawrence 33-3 9/4/10
Brian Grastorf Jr. beat Cortland (a) 35-13 11/15/08
Dan Juvan So. beat Huntingdon 33-12 9/2/06
Jeff O’Hara Jr. beat Utica 52-14 10/23/04
Josh Felicetti Fr. beat St. John Fisher (a) 30-20 9/28/02
Ryan Steenberg So. beat Alfred (a) 33-11 9/14/02
Greg Sheeler Sr. beat Rensselaer (a) 27-10 11/24/01
NATIONAL HONOR: Skylar Griffenberg was named to the D3football.
com National Team of the Week following Ithaca’s 17-6 win over Alfred on
Oct. 12. Griffenberg was among the leaders on a strong defense that held
Alfred to just six points, which was 26 points below its season scoring
aveage. Griffenberg totaled eight tackles including two tackles for loss,
and had two pass break-ups in the Bomber victory. He is the fourth Ithaca
player to earn Team of the Week honors this season. The Team of the
Week recognizes the best players or groups at each position from across
NCAA Division III football.
LINE PAVES THE WAY: The Ithaca offensive line had its best game of
the season in a 17-6 win over Alfred on Oct. 12. The Bombers rushed
for a season-high 214 yards and protected starting quarterback Tom
Dempsey who completed 14-of-20 pass attempts. The offensive line
allowed just two sacks and did not commit a penalty.
MILESTONE FOR NEUMANN: Senior quarterback Phil Neumann
surpassed 3,000 passing yards in his career in a win over Buffalo
State on Sept. 28. Neumann ranks in the top-10 in three prominent
passing categories in Ithaca football history. Neumann is sixth all-time
in completions (296), eighth in passing yards (3,298) and eighth in
touchdowns (23). He has eight career 200-yard passing games, which
is tied for fifth in program history, including all three Bomber games this
season.
60-PLUS PUNTER: Mike Lopez had punts of 63 and 61 yards in Ithaca’s
win at Union on Sept. 21. He became the first punter in Ithaca history to
have two punts of 60 or more yards in a single game.
D3football.com
Team
Rec Pts. LW
1 Mount Union (16) 7-0 609 1
2 Linfield (6) 6-0 597 2
3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (3) 7-0 591 3
4 North Central (Ill.) 7-0 533 4
5 Bethel 7-0 519 5
6 UW-Whitewater 7-0 495 7
7 Hobart 6-0 473 6
8 UW-Platteville 7-0 435 8
9 Heidelberg 7-0 416 11
10 UW-Oshkosh 6-1 356 9
11 Franklin 5-2 340 12
12 Johns Hopkins 7-0 337 13
13 Illinois Wesleyan 7-0 295 20
14 Wabash 7-0 287 14
15 John Carroll 7-0 274 16
16 Pacific Lutheran 6-1 260 17
17 Wittenberg 6-1 254 18
18 St. Thomas 5-2 210 15
19 Wheaton (Ill.) 6-1 146 10
20 Wesley 6-2 131 19
21 Concordia-Moorhead 6-1 128 22
22 St. John’s 6-1 107 23
23 Salisbury 5-2 63 24
24 Illinois College 7-0 50 --
25 Willamette 5-1 45 21
Others receiving votes: Millsaps 34;
ITHACA 31; Wartburg 31; Maryville (Tenn.)
15; Lebanon Valley 15; Thomas More 13;
Coe 9; Pacific 8; Trinity (Conn.) 5; Redlands
3; Framingham State 3; Texas Lutheran 3;
Louisiana College 3; Wesleyan 1.
AFCA Division III Poll
Team
Rec Pts. LW
1 Mount Union (40) 7-0 1,048 1
2 Mary Hardin-Baylor (2) 7-0 1,002 2
3 Linfield 6-0 968 3
4 North Central (Ill.) 7-0 912 4
5 Wisconsin-Whitewater 7-0 839 5
6 Hobart 6-0 803 6
7 Wisconsin-Platteville 7-0 801 7
8 Bethel (Minn.) 7-0 792 8
9 Heidelberg 7-0 695 10
10 Johns Hopkins 7-0 631 12
11 Wabash 7-0 555 13
12 Illinois Wesleyan 7-0 517 17
13 John Carroll 7-0 511 15
14 Wisconsin-Oshkosh 6-1 478 9
15 Wittenberg 6-1 476 14
16 Pacific Lutheran 6-1 444 16
17 Franklin 5-2 329 18
18 St. John’s (Minn.) 6-1 306 20
19 Concordia-Moorhead 6-1 264 22
20 Wheaton (Ill.) 6-1 258 11
21 St. Thomas (Minn.) 5-2 235 21
22 Wesley 6-2 214 23
23 Millsaps 7-0 164 24
24 Illinois College 7-0 98 NR
25 Texas Lutheran 6-0 72 NR
Others receiving votes: Willamette 52;
Wartburg 40; Pacific (Ore.) 30; Gallaudet
21; Lebanon Valley 21; Thomas More
19; Salisbury 18; Guilford 9; ITHACA 7;
Rowan 6; Wesleyan (Conn.) 5; Redlands
4; Delaware Valley 3; Louisiana College 1;
Maryville (Tenn.) 1; Widener 1.
2013 Empire 8 Football
Preseason Coaches Poll
Team
Points
1. Salisbury (7) 49
2. St. John Fisher (1) 43
3. Alfred 35
t4. ITHACA 28
t4. Buffalo State 28
6. Utica 20
7. Frostburg State 14
8. Hartwick 7