The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

PSAC Football Preview - Week 11

(November 7, 2007)

This Saturday marks the conclusion of the regular season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Two squads remain undefeated in divisional play. West Chester owns a 4-0 record in the Eastern Division while California owns a 5-0 record in the West. Both teams can clinch their respective titles outright with a win.

This week's crossover game features IUP at Bloomsburg (12 Noon). In 2006, league teams played the first 10-game mandated schedule, which featured teams from the Eastern and Western Divisions squaring off against the opposite division for the first three weeks of the season with one more crossover spread out among the final seven weeks of the season. Through 23 contests this season, the West holds the advantage with 14 victories.

The IUP-Bloomsburg contest is also the final SPORTSfever Television Network "APSCUF Game of the Week" to be broadcast state-wide, and will be available through a network of Pennsylvania commercial television stations with a potential audience of 4.8 million cable, satellite and over-the-air households.

Viewers can also follow the game's action on the internet, as the contest will be shown by CSTV via broadband at http://www.cstv.com/ncaa/divii.

Other games include West Chester at Cheyney (1 p.m.), Lock Haven at Clarion (1 p.m.), Slippery Rock at Edinboro (1 p.m.), Kutztown at Millersville (1 p.m.), and Shippensburg at California (12 Noon), which will be broadcast by Fox SportsNet Pittsburgh.

On the national scene, three PSAC teams are ranked in the top 25 of both the AFCA and D2Football.com polls while five teams earned spots in the NCAA Northeast Region rankings.

Northeast Region

1. California (Pennsylvania) (10-0)

2. Shepherd (9-1)

3. West Chester (8-2)

4. Southern Connecticut State (7-3)

5. Bryant (7-2)

6. Indiana (Pennsylvania) (8-1)

7. Bentley (7-2)

8. Slippery Rock (8-2)

9. West Liberty State (7-3)

10. Charleston (West Virginia) (7-3)

11. American International (6-3)

12. Edinboro (7-3)

AFCA Poll - 11/6

D2Football.com Poll - 11/6

1. Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
2. Chadron St. (Neb.)
3. Nebraska-Omaha
4. West Texas A&M
5. Northwest Missouri St.
6. California (Pa.)
7. North Dakota
8. Valdosta St. (Ga.)
9. Delta St. (Miss.)
10. North Alabama
11. Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
12. Catawba (N.C.)
13. Tarleton St. (Texas)
14. Tuskegee (Ala.)
15. Shepherd (W. Va.)
16. Central Washington
17. Abilene Christian (Texas)
18. Indiana (Pa.)
19. Midwestern St. (Texas)
20. West Chester (Pa.)
21. Mesa St. (Colo.)
22. Newberry (S.C.)
23. Winona St. (Mich.)
24. Virginia Union
25. Hillsdale (Mich.)

1. Grand Valley St.
2. Nebraska-Omaha
3. Chadron St.
4. West Texas A&M
5. Northwest Missouri
6. North Dakota
7. California
8. Valdosta St.
9. North Alabama
10. Delta St.
11. Carson-Newman
12. Shepherd
13. Central Washington
14. Tuskegee
15. Catawba
16. Abilene Christian
17. Tarleton St.
18. West Chester
19. Newberry
20. Midwestern St.
21. Ashland
22. IUP
23. Winona St.
24. Mesa St.
25. Virginia Union

Following is a preview of this weekend's action:

IUP at Bloomsburg - 12 Noon
"APSCUF" Game of the Week - SPORTSfever Television Network
CSTV to Broadcast via Broadband - http://www.cstv.com/ncaa/divii.

Series: IUP leads the all-time series, 18-7. The last Crimson Hawks victory came in 2003 by a 42-40 count. Bloomsburg has to the two meetings since then, posting 34-24 decision in 2004 and most recently, blanking IUP in 2005, 27-0.

IUP
Overall: 8-1
Conference: 5-1 PSAC West
Last Contest: IUP 30, Shippensburg 0
Players to Watch:
RB Kareem Dutrieuille - 155-for-670 yds, 7 TDs
QB Andrew Krewatch - 164-of-278, 2,210 yds, 20 TDs
Current Trends:
Last week the Crimson Hawks held the league's fourth-best rushing offense in Shippensburg to -16 rushing yards. Kicker Matt McNelis is the league's only kicker is who perfect in field goal attempts (8-for-8).

Bloomsburg
Overall: 6-3
Conference: 4-1 PSAC East
Last Contest: Bloomsburg 55, Cheyney 6
Players to Watch:
RB Jamar Brittingham - 217-for-1,315 yds, 23 TDs
WR Brahin Bilal - 144.0 all purpose ypg; 6.44 rpg
Current Trends:
Bloomsburg's Jamar Brittingham needs 79 yards to become the league's all-time rushing yards leader and surpass California's Wesley Cates and his mark of 5,647 yards. IUP's rushing defense ranks second in the PSAC, allowing 78.8 yards per game.

Shippensburg at California - 12 Noon
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh to Broadcast Game

Series: Shippensburg owns a 41-27-1 series record against California but haven't won since 2004 when the Red Raiders defeated the Vulcans, 32-14. That win also marked the last of 14 straight victories for Shippensburg over California.

Shippensburg
Overall: 3-7
Conference: 2-3 PSAC West
Last Contest: IUP 30, Shippensburg 0
Players to Watch:
QB Gabe Maiocco - 168-of-328, 2,261 yds, 10 TDs
WR Mike Harris - 5.30 rpg; 53-for-750 yds, 4 TDs
Current Trends:
After being shutout a week ago, the Red Raiders again face a daunting defense in California. The Red Raiders must cut down on turnovers against the Vulcans, who own the league's top turnover margin at 1.50. Against IUP, three turnovers led to 17 Crimson Hawk points.

California
Overall: 10-0
Conference: 5-0 PSAC West
Last Contest: California 30, West Chester 14
Players to Watch:
WR Nate Forse - 40-for-547 yds, 8 TDs
P Jace Amore - 43-for-1,735 yds; 40.3 ypp
Current Trends:
With a victory California can clinch the Western Division title outright and finish the regular season unblemished in both the PSAC and overall. It would be the Vulcans first 11-0 season.

West Chester at Cheyney - 1 p.m.

Series: West Chester holds a 37-1-1 record against Cheyney.

West Chester
Overall: 8-2
Conference: 4-0 PSAC East
Last Contest: California 30, West Chester 14
Players to Watch:
QB Bill Zwaan - 154-of-272, 2,559 yds, 24 TDs
KR Kevin Garland - 22-for-551 yds
Current Trends:
West Chester saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end last week. A victory this week gives the Golden Rams their first Eastern Division title since 2004.

Cheyney
Overall: 1-9
Conference: 0-4 PSAC East
Last Contest: Bloomsburg 55, Cheyney 6
Players to Watch:
QB Derrick Murry - 98-of-201, 1,291 yds, 9 TDs
WR Dominique Curry - 34-for-524 yds, 3 TDs
Current Trends:
Cheyney is in search of its first conference victory this season after closing the season with five consecutive games against PSAC East opponents.

Lock Haven at Clarion - 1 p.m.

Series: Clarion leads the series 40-15-1, dating back to the squads first meeting in 1928. The two teams have been back and forth in recent years, with the home team usually taking the victory, including Lock Haven's 14-7 win at home last year.

Lock Haven
Overall: 0-10
Conference: 0-5 PSAC West
Last Contest: Slippery Rock 27, Lock Haven 11
Players to Watch:
RB/WR Ibrahim Smith - 114-for-381 yds, 4 TDs; 16-for-130 yds receiving
LB Corey Gildea - Leads team with 95 TT, TFL, FR
Current Trends:
Lock Haven looks for its first win of the 2007 campaign. The Bald Eagles have been shutout just once this season, dating back to the season opener when they fell 20-0 to I-AA VMI.

Clarion
Overall: 0-10
Conference: 0-5 PSAC West
Last Contest: Edinboro 49, Clarion 30
Players to Watch:
QB Tyler Huether - 127-of-252, 1,614 yds, 9 TDs
WR Pierre Odom - 49-for-598 yds, 5 TDs
Current Trends:
Like Lock Haven, Clarion is also in search of its first win this season. The Golden Eagles have also been shutout once, and since then, Clarion's offense has come alive. The Golden Eagles took IUP to the wire two weeks ago, then last week were on the losing end of a 49-30 shootout at Edinboro where the two teams scored on eight straight possessions.

Slippery Rock at Edinboro - 1 p.m.

Series: Slippery Rock holds a 44-22-1 advantage over Edinboro in the all-time series. Last year's 24-21 overtime decision for the Rock snapped a three-game losing skid to the Fighting Scots.

Slippery Rock
Overall: 8-2
Conference: 3-2 PSAC West
Last Contest: Slippery Rock 27, Lock Haven 11
Players to Watch:
QB Nate Crookshank - 139-of-237, 1,984 yds, 19 TDs
DL Clint Forsha - 55 TT, 13 TFL, 7.5 Sks
Current Trends:
Slippery Rock boasts the league's top-ranked offense, averaging 460.0 yards per game. Running back Corey Manfull is second in the league (135.8 ypg) while receivers Paul Favers (65.2 ypg) and Terry Grossetti (60.8 ypg) rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in receiving yards. Meanwhile, The Rock defense is allowing 315.6 yards per game.

Edinboro
Overall: 7-3
Conference: 3-2 PSAC West
Last Contest: Edinboro 49, Clarion 30
Players to Watch:
WR Rich Cerro - 48-for-541 yds, 5 TDs
WR Ryan Rybicki - 43-for-433 yds, 7 TDs
Current Trends:
Edinboro's offense is equally dangerous as the Fighting Scots are posting 455.5 yards per game total offense (2nd - PSAC). Edinboro is led by reigning PSAC West Rookie of the Year Trevor Harris, who has thrown for 2,893 yards and 28 touchdowns. Edinboro has lost just once at home this yeark, and that was in the season opener (West Chester 32, Edinboro 16).

Kutztown at Millersville - 1 p.m.

Series: Millersville leads the all-time series, 56-21-3, including last season's 45-17 decision. Kutztown's last win came in 2003 when the Golden Bears posted a 17-0 victory.

Kutztown
Overall: 4-6
Conference: 1-3 PSAC East
Last Contest: East Stroudsburg 24, Kutztown 23
Players to Watch:
WR Elfren Quiles - 58-for-1,114 yds, 8 TDs
RS Dontay Wilson - 22-for-646 yds, 25.8 ypr
Current Trends:
Kutztown looks to stop a two-game losing skid. Wide receiver Elfren Quiles became the first Golden Bear to amass more than 1,000 yards receiving. The Golden Bears haven't met Millersville in a regular season finale since 1946. The last time Kutztown failed to win less than two divisional games was in 1993 (2-9 overall, 0-6 PSAC East).

Millersville
Overall: 3-7
Conference: 2-2 PSAC East
Last Contest: Bentley 17, Millersville 10
Players to Watch:
DB Marcus Banks - Leads team with 70 TT
QB Jamal Smith - 59-for-152, 788 yds, 4 TDs; 5 rushing TDs
Current Trends:
For the first time in Joe Trainer's career at Millersville, the Marauders will not finish with five wins. The squad has posted identical 5-6 records in each of Trainer's first two seasons. Millersville has recorded three wins in the PSAC East in each of the last three seasons.