A New Era
The 2023 Fall season ushers in a new era for the Landmark Conference as the league begins competition in its first-ever football season.
The conference welcomes two new full-time members in Lycoming College and Wilkes University, while Keystone College (football only) joined the conference's footprint as an associate member.
In February 2022, the conference Executive Board unanimously voted to add football as a league-sponsored sport. The addition increases the Landmark's NCAA sport offering to 23 and marks the first new sport offered by the conference since adding women's golf in 2018.
The 2023 inaugural season will begin on September 1 under the lights as Catholic University hosts McDaniel College at 7:00 p.m. and Moravian University travels to cross-town rival Muhlenberg College at 7:00 p.m. Conference play officially starts on Saturday, September 30.
At the end of the regular season, the conference champion and automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championship will be determined by the conference winning percentage.
In the Fall of 2022, the conference announced a four-year bowl series partnership entitled the Chesapeake Bowl Challenge with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).
The format of the series will feature two games with four teams (two from each conference) playing in either the Cape Henry Bowl or the Cape Charles Bowl. Cape Henry and Cape Charles serve as the northern and southern gateways of the Chesapeake Bay. Each conference will be represented by the top two teams from their respective league standings that do not qualify for the NCAA postseason.
Preseason Coaches Poll
The River Hawks, who entered preseason ranked 22nd by D3football.com, received six of the seven total first-place votes for 36 points. The Wilkes University Colonels were selected second with 31 points and one first-place vote, followed by Catholic University in third with 25 points.
Lycoming College was selected to finish fourth with 22 points. Moravian University (15 points), Keystone College (11 points), and Juniata College (7 points) round out the poll.
Catholic University
- Head Coach: Mike Gutelius (6th Season)
- 2022 Record: 6-5 (5-1 NEWMAC)
After back-to-back six-win seasons as a member of the NEWMAC, the Cardinals are excited to play Landmark Conference football in 2023.
2022 saw Catholic reach a bowl game for the first time since 2008, a 34-24 loss to Bridgewater State in the New England Bowl Series. Mike Gutelius' squad placed a program-record 12 athletes on the All-NEWMAC team in 2022. First Team selections Nico Casares (QB), Javier Oliver (OL), Preston Jeffrey (WR), and Malachi Hansen (Returner) are back for the 2023 squad. Hansen earned D3football.com All-Region honors for his efforts in the return game and enters his junior season as one of the most electrifying returners in Division III.
The 2023 Cardinals will also feature some staff changes with Adam Shaker being named Offensive Coordinator in March and sixth-year assistant Brandon Beech earning a promotion to Defensive Coordinator in July.
Catholic retains a large number of starters from last year's squad with four offensive linemen, including fifth-year student-athletes Oliver and John Diaz. Senior punter Connor Gill and Hansen will lead the way for Catholic on Special Teams.
The Cardinals will take on McDaniel, Randolph-Macon, Morrisville State, and Alfred in non-conference play before tackling the Landmark Conference slate for the first time.
"We are really excited for year one in the Landmark Conference. It will be great to play the same schools the rest of our teams do under the conference umbrella. The level of competition is high and we are excited to renew some old rivalries while building new ones as well. It has been a pleasure to see these guys come in and get started during training camp and I truly believe this is the most talented team that I have brought to preseason during my tenure as the head coach at Catholic." - Vincent and Ellen Sica Endowed Head Coach, Mike Gutelius
Juniata College
- Head Coach: Blake Treadwell (1st Season)
- 2022 Record: 0-10 (0-9 Centennial)
The Juniata football team has an infusion of youth heading into the season as 46 first-years will join the 46 returners this fall for the Eagles.
First-year head coach Blake Treadwell will look to be efficient and dynamic on both sides of the ball as Juniata looks to run effectively on offense and stop it on defense while creating turnovers.
The team will aim to be consistent in all aspects of what they do, led by their three captains: wide receiver Chris Mignanelli, defensive lineman Ian Brunner, and running back Hunter Wolfley.
"The Landmark Conference is a new beginning for us going forward as a program. This will be a great opportunity to be a part of something new. There will be new records being made each game and we will continue to play this great game of football." - Head Coach Blake Treadwell
Keystone College
- Head Coach: Justin Higgins (3rd Season)
- 2022 Record 3-7 (3-3 ECFC)
Entering its third season as an NCAA football program, the Keystone College football team is looking to build off of a strong 2022 campaign.
Following a winless 2021 season, the Giants saw tremendous improvement as they went 3-7 last year and were 3-1 in their final four games. Keystone brings back tons of experience which includes six all-conference selections.
With a solid group of returners as well as some great new additions added to the squad, Keystone looks to keep the momentum rolling as they enter the Landmark Conference.
“We are excited to be going into the first season of the Landmark Conference as a newer program. It is going to be a process as we transition to a new conference, but I believe we have the right guys that will help us get to the next level.”- Head Coach, Justin Higgins
Lycoming College
- Head Coach: Mike Clark (16th Season)
- 2022 Record: 4-6 (3-5 MAC)
2023 marks the first year the Lycoming College football team has not been in the Middle Atlantic Conference, the only conference the program has ever been a member of in the school’s 112-year history.
The Warriors face some of the toughest teams in Division III football in the non-conference schedule, meeting up with Widener (Sept. 2), #17 Cortland (Sept. 9), Utica (receiving votes) (Sept. 16), and Brockport (Sept. 23) before the Landmark Conference schedule commences in October.
The Warriors enter the year with a new quarterback for the first time since 2018 when Elijah Shemory stepped on campus, with eight student-athletes coming into camp to vie for the job. The new signal caller will have some talented receivers and running backs to work with, as six players return that caught at least five passes in 2022, and junior Heath Jones rushed for more than 400 yards.
The Warrior defense, as has been the reputation of it since associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator Steve Wiser joined the staff in 1974, returns loaded with talent, stocked up with two all-region defensive backs in seniors Hunter Campbell and Austin Rowley and a talented frontline that will feature junior Jake Welch, who posted 63 tackles, five for a loss, as a sophomore.
Senior Ian Plankenhorn heads the special teams' group, as the two-time all-region kicker knocked in six field goals and all 26 of his extra-point tries in 2022.
“It’s a unique time for us. Obviously, we have a long history of playing in the MAC, so to be in the Landmark and reunite with some historical rivalries like Moravian, Susquehanna and Juniata, as well as Wilkes joining us, it’s an exciting time for the conference and our program. In the first five weeks of the season, we are going to be on the field with multiple NCAA playoff teams or fringe NCAA teams. I think we learned a lot last year. Defensively, we were pretty good last year. Offensively, we did enough to hang around, but at the end of the day, close doesn’t really matter. We had a good offseason. We used some extra practice time in May to go play a game in Canada and I think that’s an experience that will benefit us as well. What also is going to really matter is when we show up to camp, what kind of summers have all our guys had.” - Head Coach, Mike Clark
Moravian University
- Head Coach: Jeffrey Long (1st Season)
- 2022 Record: 3-7 (3-6 Centennial)
The Greyhounds have a number of changes for the 2023 season including first-year Head Coach Jeff Long leading the program and the move to the Landmark Conference. Moravian returns most of its offense this fall led by junior quarterback Jared Jenkins, who started just three games in 2022 due to injury. The Hounds also return their top six receivers from 2022 led by senior wideout Tim Garlick and senior wide receiver Brad Bryan, who also saw time at quarterback after the Jenkins injury. Senior running back Nate Boyle anchors the running attack and surpassed 1,000 career yards last season, and Moravian has three starters back on the offensive line including junior center Brandon Guffy.
The Greyhound defense also returns six starters on defense with sophomore linebacker Clay Basile leading the group with 59 tackles a year ago. Junior defensive back Chad Newhard missed the final four games in 2022 due to an injury but is healthy for his third year as a starter in the defensive backfield while juniors Drew Bailey and Jeremy McGuigan return to anchor the defensive line. Moravian brings back All-Region punter/kicker junior Sam Bingaman to anchor the special teams.
"We are excited to be a part of this conference that now breaks ground on a great football tradition. Each week will be a battle and will test our players' toughness! Fundamental focus will be the key for the Greyhounds as we head into camp this week." - Head Coach, Jeffrey Long
Susquehanna University
- Head Coach: Tom Perkovich (9th Season)
- 2022 Record: 10-1 (9-0 Centennial)
Susquehanna enters the Landmark Conference season ranked 22nd in D3football.com's Preseason Top 25 Poll. Despite many key departures following their unbeaten Centennial Conference championship season, the River Hawks boast a loaded, talented roster heading into the inaugural Landmark season.
Returning for 2023 are two D3football.com All-Region selections in offensive lineman Nick Gonzalez and receiver/returner Kyle Howes. Both received All-Centennial Conference honors a year ago. Keith Green III (defensive back), Cooper Vellis (offensive lineman), Mark Custer (offensive lineman), Jake Schultes (defensive lineman), and Drew Robinson (linebacker) add depth and experience to the Susquehanna roster.
Susquehanna's fall slate includes a pair of D3football.com Preseason Top 25 matchups in Bridgwater (RV) and SUNY Cortland (#17). The River Hawks will be tested in week one, traveling to Bridgewater for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff. Then, just two weeks later, SU will take on SUNY Cortland at 1:00 p.m. on the road.
"We are set on continuing what has made us great as we enter our first Landmark season. There are some key spots we need to fill entering this year, but we've been working hard since January with our returners who have that chance to step up and be playmakers. Our recruiting class was one of our finest that covers so many competitive regions, so I'm looking forward to see what they can do for us down the road. With a new league comes plenty of excitement for our guys to make a name for ourselves and play opponents outside of our region. There are always challenges when you come off a championship season like we did last year, and our guys understand that and know how to rise above it. Everyone knows their assignments and what needs to get done. As long as we stay true to that we're set to have a great season." - Head Coach, Tom Perkovich
Wilkes University
- Head Coach: Jon Drach
- 2022 Record: 7-3 (5-3 MAC)
Wilkes returns a bevy of talent on both sides of the football, including nine offensive starters and ten defensive starters to a squad that finished 7-3 in its final season in the Middle Atlantic Conference.
Most of the skilled players return on offense along with four of five starters on the offensive line for a team that ranked first in scoring offense a season ago (28.5 ppg). Running back Elijah Jules was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-MAC, and First Team All-Region after compiling 1,004 rushing yards on the year and 13 rushing touchdowns, where he led the MAC in both categories, with his rushing making him 32nd in the nation. Quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez was recognized on the Honorable Mention Team after starting the first six games before an injury ended his season early. Rodriguez finished his year with 1,390 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns with zero interceptions. Center Billy Anderson is back anchoring the Colonel offensive line after being named Third Team All-Region by D3football.com and First Team All-MAC.
Defensively, Wilkes returns all but one starter including three all-conference players from a season ago. Defensive back Leroy Marshall will lead the Colonel secondary as he tied for first on the team and fourth in the MAC with three interceptions on the year. He also had four pass breakups and was tied for sixth on the team with 41 tackles. Defensive tackle Angel Ramos was recognized as an Honorable Mention selection after finishing his junior season with a team-leading and career-high 10 sacks, which ranked him third in the MAC. His 15 tackles-for-loss also was fifth in the conference. He was third on the team with 58 total tackles. Linebacker Brandon Holcomb earned Honorable Mention status as he led the Colonels with 87 total tackles on the year, finishing third in the MAC. He had five-plus tackles in every game he played in, with four of those games earning 10+ tackles.
On special teams, All-Conference punter Alex Orlando is back after leading the conference with a 38.6 punting average including two over 50 yards and six that went inside the 20 yard-line.
“The standard for us doesn’t change from the MAC to the Landmark Conference as we have a standard of excellence and continual improvement that’s not going to change no mater what conference Wilkes is in”. “We expect to be successful in this new conference and are excited to compete”. - Head Coach Jon Drach
Where & How to Watch
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