GETTYSBURG, Pa. --- Senior quarterback Kody Smith completed 15-of-26 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, and he added 127 yards and two more scores on 21 rushing attempts to lead the Gettysburg College football team to a 42-20 Centennial Conference victory over visiting Moravian College Saturday at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.
The Bullets, now 6-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play, received the opening kickoff and needed just two plays to score with Smith connecting on a 70-yard pass and run to junior wide receiver Adam Twer. Freshman Robby Fay added the extra-point to give Gettysburg a 7-0 just 40 seconds into the game.
The Greyhounds, who fall to 2-6 overall and 2-5 in Centennial Conference action, picked up eight yards on their first possession before senior Tyler Thompson punted the ball back to the Bullets.
The Bullets picked up a first down on a pass from Smith to sophomore wide receiver Alec Pacelli before punting.
On Moravian's first play, sophomore quarterback Jimmy Lahue and sophomore running back Tom Froehlich weren't able to connect on a half off with Gettysburg junior linebacker Cody DiAmore falling on the ball at the Moravian 12-yard line.
Three plays later, senior running back Ted Delia scored on a one-yard touchdown run, and Fay added the extra-point to put the Bullets up 14-0 with 9:07 left in the first quarter.
After a touchback on the kickoff, Moravian needed just two plays to get on the scoreboard. Lahue beat a blitz by the Gettysburg defense with a short pass to senior wide receiver Albie Moran, who broke a tackle and raced 69 yards to the end zone. The catch was a career long for Moran, who returned the lineup after missing two weeks with an injury. Thompson made the extra-point to cut the Bullets' lead to 14-7 with 8:18 remaining in the opening quarter.
Gettysburg was unable to move the ball on their next possession with Fay punting after three plays. The Greyhounds would end up doing the same.
Smith would cap the Bullets next drive of 53 yards on eight plays with a five-yard touchdown run off the right side on a fourth-and-two play. Fay's extra-point pushed the Gettysburg lead to 21-7 with 2:06 to go in the first quarter.
Freshman wide receiver Jimmy McCarthy returned the ensuing kickoff 43 yards to set the Moravian offense up near midfield for their Greyhounds' possession. However, Moravian was unable to pick up a first down and would punt on the opening play of the second quarter. Thompson connected on a 50-yard punt with his left foot that rolled into the end zone.
Gettysburg would be forced to punt again, and senior defensive back Travis King had a 12 yard return to set the Moravian offense up at its own 38-yard line. The Greyhounds would pick up nine yards before Thompson punted inside the 20-yard line again.
The Bullets picked up a first down before having to punt again. On Moravian's second play, senior running back C.J. Billera ran for 13 yards and a first down, and he picked up 22 yards on the next play to put the ball at the Gettysburg 22-yard line. A penalty pushed the Greyhounds back, and Thompson would punt the ball out of bounds at the five-yard line.
Gettysburg picked up nine yards on three plays but would punt and the ball rolled out of bounds at the Bullets' 41-yard line.
Lahue was sacked on back-to-back plays, the second by senior defensive end Mark Wojcik that caused a fumble. Senior defensive lineman Joe Ventresca covered the ball for the Bullets at the Gettysburg 49-yard line.
On the third play of the drive, Moravian sophomore defensive back Rick Sinnig intercepted a Smith pass at the Moravian 36-yard line and returned it 25 yard line, and a personal foul on the Bullets set the Moravian offense up at the Gettysburg 26-yard line.
Billera ran on back-to-back plays to move the ball down to the 15-yard line for the Greyhounds. Lahue then found freshman wide receiver Jason Fuehring with a pass to the three-yard line. Billera ran three straight times and was stopped short of the goal line. After a timeout, the Greyhound attempted a fake punt with McCarthy rolling to the right and pitching it to Thompson, but the ball would end up on the turf and roll out of bounds with just eight seconds left in the first half, leaving the halftime score at 21-7 Gettysburg.
Moravian received the opening kickoff of the second half. On the second play of the drive, DiAmore intercepted Lahue at the Moravian 33-yard line and returned the ball for a touchdown. Fay would make the extra-point to extend the Bullets' lead to 28-7 just 54 seconds into the second half.
The Greyhounds' second drive of the half would see one first down on a 21-yard pass from Lahue to Moran before the drive stalled and Thompson came on to punt.
Gettysburg first offensive possession of the second half would end when Moravian senior defensive back Rees Judge intercepted a Smith pass at the Moravian 20-yard line and returned it 25 yards. Another personal foul penalty on the Bullets would start the Greyhounds possession at the Gettysburg 40-yard line.
Lahue connected with Moran three of four passes for a pair of first downs to move the ball to the Bullets' eight yard line. On the drive, Moran went over 100 yards receiving in a game for the first time in his career. Billera would finish off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, his second score of the season. Thompson added the extra-point to cut the Gettysburg lead to 28-14 with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter.
On the second play of Bullets possession, junior running back Peter Fessenden had a run of 30 yards to midfield, but he was hit from behind by King, forcing a fumble. Moravian sophomore linebacker Ed Buoye recovered the ball at the Gettysburg 48-yard line.
Lahue hit McCarthy with an 18-yard pass on a third down play for the Greyhounds to move to the 27-yard line. Lahue would hit Fuehring with another long third down pass inside the five-yard line but freshman defensive back Michael Kornegay hit Feuhring and forced a fumble. Senior defensive back D.J. Thompson recovered at the one-yard line for the Bullets.
Gettysburg put together a 99 yard drive on 11 plays with sophomore tailback Eddie Hutchins scoring on a four yard touchdown run. Fay drilled the extra-point to push the Bullets' lead to 35-14 with 31 seconds left in the third quarter.
Moravian moved into Gettysburg's side of the field on its next possession before Thompson came onto punt to the Gettysburg 34-yard line.
Smith would finish off the next Bullets drive with a one-yard touchdown run to cap the 12-play, 76-yard drive. Fay would make his sixth extra-point of the game to push the score to 42-14 with 5:11 left on the clock.
The Greyhounds would move down the field through the air with Lahue finishing the 11-play, 71-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to McCarthy, his first career receiving touchdown. Thompson's extra-point was blocked by sophomore defensive back Gordon Prince, leaving the score at 42-20 with 1:59 to play.
The Bullets would run out the clock to end the game. Gettysburg ran 75 plays for 431 yards. Fessenden had 30 yards on two carries while Hutchins added 17 yards and a touchdown on ten carries. Delia had 13 yards and a score on seven attempts. Senior wide receiver Kyle Davis caught four passes for 40 yards while Pacelli had 49 yards on three catches. Twer added 76 yards on two receptions while Delia caught two passes for 24 yards.
Moravian had a season high 344 yards on 73 plays while controlling the ball for 32:19 of the game. Lahue completed 17-of-31 passes for a career high 276 yards to go with two touchdowns and one interception. Moran finished with 123 yards on five catches to go with his touchdown while Fuehring added four catches for 80 yards. Senior wide receiver Ryan Onushco added four receptions for 25 yards while McCarthy had three catches for 41 yards. Billera ran for 66 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries while Froehlich added 16 yards on nine rushing attempts.
Judge, King and sophomore linebacker Kevin Bracken each had eight tackles to lead the Moravian defense. Bracken had two tackles for loss and a sack while King had one tackle for loss to go with his forced fumble. Junior defensive back Brandon Lesko added seven tackles.
Senior linebacker Larry DelViscio led the Gettysburg defense with 15 tackles including three for loss while freshman linebacker Kodie McNamara added seven tackles with one sack. DiAmore had six tackles for the Bullets.
Moravian will play its final road game of the 2012 season next Saturday, November 3rd in a noon kickoff at Juniata College in Huntingdon at Knox Stadium in Centennial Conference action.
