jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
Sometimes, these situations don't turn out well.
When Bobby Swallow won the starting quarterback job at Washington & Jefferson College, Ryan Church found himself with the clipboard and baseball cap.
Actually, the Presidents use laminated flip cards and caps are optional.
Swallow flourished, leading the Presidents to the PAC title and a two-week stay in the NCAA Division III playoffs last season. The 6-2 junior leads the nation in passing efficiency through four weeks with a hot streak that includes 11 touchdowns and only 10 incompletions in the last two games.
The decision to start Swallow might have sent Church looking for another school and another opportunity.
"You're always concerned about that," W&J head coach Mike Sirianni said. "And that happens in a lot of places."
That's not the way it played out.
Sirianni felt Church's abilities were being wasted on the sidelines, so he approached the 6-4 junior about switching to wide receiver.
He agreed, and that began a good relationship. Swallow and Church have teamed up for three touchdowns in the past two victories for the 12th-ranked Presidents. Church's addition at wide receiver makes W&J's offense more flexible and unpredictable.
"He's excited about it," Sirianni said. "He's gotten a chance to get on the field and he's made some plays."
Church has seven catches for 176 yards, third on the list behind Tom McCafferty (11, 198) and David Ravida (17, 222). Church is part of a receiving corps that has a combined 15 touchdowns in three games.
"He gives us another target, a bigger target," Sirianni said. "He's really athletic. I don't think he's ever played wide receiver before."
Swallow has played a little more than a half in a 56-26 win over Oberlin last week and just under a half in a 54-10 victory over Hanover two weeks ago. But he has completed 51 of 70 passes for 967 yards. He found Church for TD passes of 31 and 45 yards against Oberlin.
"Ryan has been making plays for us," said Swallow. "I want to try to get him the ball anyway I can."
Waynesburg at Thomas More
He has been a welcome addition to Waynesburg's defense and has caused quite a stir in the film rooms of the Yellow Jackets' opposing coaches.
B.J. Dewitt, a 6-4, 230-pound defensive end, set a single-game record with 41/2 sacks in last week's victory over Grove City. Dewitt and senior Mike Czerwien have formed an effective 1-2 punch across the Yellow Jackets' front.
Dewitt has six sacks for minus-34 yards and is on pace for a 20-sack season. Czerwien has seven for minus-42 yards and the Yellow Jackets have a combined 17.
Maybe the most impressive number on Waynesburg's defense is 762. That's how many total yards the Yellow Jackets have allowed combined in three victories.
Clarion at California
After sputtering in a season-opening win against East Stroudsburg, California's offense has been running in high gear. The Vulcans scored 34 against Glenville State, 31 against Bloomsburg and 57 against Cheyney.
It could be another offensive display against winless Clarion, in the PSAC opener for both teams.
Cal quarterback Joe Ruggiero passed for 167 yards last week and moved to 5,771 in his career. If healthy, the senior should pass Kevin Russell (6,508) for second place on the career passing yardage list. Sam Mannery's mark of 8,680 appears untouchable.
Outside linebacker Darren Burns has been an unexpected star on the defense.
He is second in the Division II with an average of 1.6 sacks per game.
Cal's defense leads Division II teams with an average of 144 total yards per game and 5.75 sacks per game.