There?s no place like home ? or at least that?s what McDaniel football coach Tim Keating hopes.
The Green Terror opened the season by suffering two lopsided defeats in opponents? stadiums, the latest being a 43-14 loss at Moravian in its first Centennial Conference game of the season.
The Green Terror, which opened the season with a 45-19 loss to Bridgewater on Sept. 1, has been outscored, 88-33. It doesn?t get any easier this week, as Catholic (2-0) enters McDaniel Stadium for a nonleague game on Saturday afternoon at 1 o?clock coming off a 20-14 victory over Ohio Wesleyan.
“It?s always nice to play at home,” Keating said. “And being on the road for three weeks, including our scrimmage, playing at home could be a shot in the arm for us.”
The scenario is almost exactly reversed from last year, when McDaniel opened the season with two losses at home, but then traveled to Catholic and earned its first victory of the season in a wild, 14-13 contest. It will be imperative McDaniel defeats the Cardinals, as an 0-3 start will make it extremely difficult to avoid finishing the season with a losing record for the second consecutive season. Last season, McDaniel went 4-6, it?s first losing season in a decade.
“The series isn?t that old” as some other area rivalries, Keating said. “But I think it?s a great game, and I love playing it.”
If the Green Terror is to defeat the Cardinals, it must improve in nearly every facet of the game, especially rushing the football. Through two games, McDaniel has been outgained, 524-141, on the ground. McDaniel had its chance to take the lead in the first half against Moravian, trailing just 6-0. The Green Terror went 60 yards in 18 plays, but quarterback Brad Baer threw an interception in the end zone and McDaniel never recovered.
And more turnovers, including a botched snap on a punt, only continued to bury McDaniel in its own mistakes.
“We have to quit making mistakes,” Keating said, “and shooting ourselves in the foot.”
McDaniel sophomore running back leads Eric Zwilsky leads the team in scoring with three rushing touchdowns, but it will be up to Baer?the team?s unquestioned leader?to lead his team to victory. Through two games, the fifth-year senior has been mediocre, completing 37-for-57 passes for 308 yards with an interception, while rushing for 97 yards on 28 carries.
But now, he must find a way correct a mistake-prone offense that scored its two touchdowns against Moravian in the fourth quarter when it was trailing, 43-0.
“Offensivley we just continually make mistakes,” Keating said. “It’s everybody contributing to those.”
MCDANIEL GREEN TERROR VS. CATHOLIC CARDINALS
» Kickoff: Saturday, 1 p.m.
» Where: McDaniel Stadium, Westminster
» TV/Radio: 1470 AM
» Tickets:: Free
