WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The Catholic football team returns home on Saturday afternoon in week four of the season to take on the No. 6 team in the country, Salisbury. 


SERIES HISTORY

In a series that dates back to 1979, the Seagulls are 5-2 all-time against the Cardinals but this will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2004. Catholic picked up back-to-back victories against Salisbury in 1996 and 1999 by scores of 26-8 and 34-2. 

In the most recent showdown between the two programs, the Seagulls came away with a 31-14 victory at Cardinal Stadium.


LAST TIME OUT
The Cardinals are looking to bounce back after a pair of road losses in weeks two and three. In the loss against Franklin & Marshall, Daequan Harvin averaged 5.6 yards per rush on 10 carries, while Brady McBride recorded his second rushing touchdown of the season. Andrew Tabor and Nole Henry each caught three passes in the game, recording 35 and 32 yards respectively. McBride and Charles Gulbin each took snaps at quarterback for the Cardinals and combined for 103 yards through the air.

Evan Chromy led the defense in tackles, racking up 10 in total including a sack. Omid Aliaskari was behind him with six tackles, five of which were solo and he also forced a fumble. Michael Hopkins finished the game with five tackles. He ranks in the top 50 in the country in yards per rush this season and is second in the Landmark Conference.


TEAM LEADERS

Harvin currently leads Catholic's rushing attack with 224 yards on 37 carries so far this season. He ranks in the top 50 in the country in yards per rush this season and is second in the Landmark Conference.

McBride has racked up 325 passing yards thus far on the season with a pair of touchdowns through the air. He has completed 63.3% of his throws on the year and is currently third in the conference in yards per attempt at 6.63. His top target this season has been senior Cade Chrebet, who has hauled in seven passes for 98 yards and a score. Henry has six receptions on the season for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Chromy leads the team in tackles this season with 26, 13 more than anyone else on the defense. He is also the team leader in TFL's with 3.5. Lawson Haylock has been a force on the defensive line for the Cardinals with 13 tackles including two for loss and two forced fumbles. Ryan Creston leads the secondary in tackles with 12, six of which are solo. Tyler Donnelly has the lone interception on the season for Catholic and leads the squad with three pass breakups. 


SCOUTING THE SEAGULLS

The two teams do have one common opponent so far this season, both picking up a victory over McDaniel. The Seagulls picked up a dominant 62-7 victory over the Green Terror last week, where they gained 565 yards on offense, 477 of which on the ground, while holding McDaniel to just 211 yards. SyRus McGowan posted three touchdown passes while completing seven of his 10 attempts for 81 yards, adding 66 more on the ground. Seven different players rushed for at least 40 yards for Salisbury with Darrell Walter running for a game-high 77 yards and a pair of scores.

McGowan accounts for a bulk of the Seagulls offense as a dual-threat quarterback, leading the team in both passing yards (327) and rushing yards (152). He has totaled seven touchdowns on the year, five through the air and two on the ground. Walter and Dario Belizaire both also are a threat in the running game as both have combined for 210 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season. Belizaire has also been a threat in the pass game, leading the team with six receptions for 148 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver. He is 15th in the country in receiving touchdowns entering the game. Clark Daniel has also made big plays through the air with four catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. 

Defensively for the Seagulls, three players are tied for the team-lead with 10 tackles, Jordan Scipio, Patrick Sheil and Colin Wargo. Sheil and Jimmy Celentano both have an interception on the season and Taj Kontosis leads the team in pass break ups with two. Salisbury is 35th in the country in scoring defense on the season.

Salisbury brings to DC one of the best offenses in the country to this point in the season, ranking second in rushing offense, second in yards per completion, seventh in scoring offense and 11th in total offense.