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East Media Day Photo Gallery (courtesy of Kutztown)
Lock Haven, Pa. - For the fifth straight season, the California Vulcans have been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the PSAC West while West Chester has been tabbed by the league’s head coaches to win the PSAC East for the third time in the last four years. The Golden Rams were also the preseason favorite in the East in both 2007 and 2008. The Vulcans and Golden Rams top the divisions in the 2010 PSAC football coaches’ preseason poll that is being announced today as a part of PSAC football media day.
California will be looking to advance to the PSAC Championship game for the third straight season after the annual “State Game” was reinstated for the 2008 season. The Vulcans will also be looking for their fourth straight NCAA Super Region One championship, as the Vulcans have advanced to the NCAA semifinals in each of the last three straight years. West Chester will be looking to rebound from a 7-4 season last year in which the Golden Rams had their string of five straight NCAA playoff appearances snapped, a streak that had ranked second among all Division II schools.
In what appears to be a shared belief that the Eastern Division will be a close race this year, the Golden Rams got the top spot in the preseason poll despite not receiving a single first place vote, edging out second place Bloomsburg, which receiving only one first place vote, by just one point. C.W. Post, which won five of its last six games last season to finish 6-5 in its second year as an associate member of the PSAC in football, received three first place votes to finish in third place, just five points behind West Chester. Defending East and PSAC Champion Shippensburg also received three first place votes to finish just four points behind C.W. Post and in fourth place, while fellow NCAA playoff participant East Stroudsburg got the nod for fifth place, receiving the remaining first place vote. In total, just 13 points in the poll separated first place from fifth place. Kutztown, Millersville and Cheyney rounded out the poll.
Things were not as close at the top in the Western Division as California garnered all but one first place vote to easily take the top spot. Despite having its first losing season in over 25 years last season, IUP still got the nod for second place, reflecting a belief by the league’s head coaches that IUP’s 5-6 mark last year was largely more a result of a rash of injuries than anything else. Clarion, which posted one of the best improvements in the nation in Division II last year, followed IUP in third place while Erie County residents Edinboro, also an NCAA playoff team last year, and Gannon tied for fourth place while Slippery Rock came in sixth. The Fighting Scots received the other first place vote. The West poll was bunched up in the middle as opposed to the top as in the East, as third place through sixth place were separated by just three points. Mercyhurst came in seventh, just seven points behind Slippery Rock, while Lock Haven rounded out the poll in eighth.
The results of the coaches’ poll are listed below. First place votes are in parenthesis.
Eastern Division
1. West Chester
2. Bloomsburg (1)
3. C.W. Post (3)
4. Shippensburg (3)
5. East Stroudsburg (1)
6. Kutztown
7. Millersville
8. Cheyney
Western Division
1. California (7)
2. IUP
3. Clarion
T4. Edinboro (1)
T4. Gannon
6. Slippery Rock
7. Mercyhurst
8. Lock Haven
Eastern Division
West Chester (7-4, 5-2) is the PSAC East favorite this year and will be looking to return to the NCAA playoffs after having its five-year streak of making the playoffs stopped last year with a 7-4 record. The Golden Rams are the favorites despite returning just three starters from last year’s standout defense that led the PSAC in total defense. Gone are all four of the Golden Rams’ standout linebackers and three-quarters of the defensive backs. The offense is in slightly better shape with seven returning starters but will breaking in a new quarterback as two-year starter Joe Wright departed after being among the PSAC’s leaders in passing yards in each of the last two years.
Although West Chester is thin in starting experience on defense, it does welcome back a key cog to lead the unit. Travis Ford-Bey, a three-time All-PSAC East selection, including being honored on the first team in each of the last two seasons, returns to anchor the defensive line, which was a big part in the Golden Rams allowing just 77.7 yards per game on the ground last year, which was the fifth-fewest in all of Division II. Fellow senior Scott Schiavo also returns as the Golden Rams figure to remain strong on the defensive line. However, the play of the new group of starting linebackers may ultimately have as big of an effect on whether or not West Chester is able to duplicate its stingy rush defense as the returning linemen. In the secondary, although he was not a starter last year, senior Cordero Newkirk led the PSAC in passes broken up and tied for the league lead in passes defended with 13. His presence should give the Golden Rams some security in the defensive backfield.
Sophomore Matt Mattei will take over at quarterback for the Golden Rams this fall after winning that position during the spring in a battle with junior Jared Jorgensen, who backed up Wright the last two years. With a speedy receiver like Dan DePalma to throw to, the Rams may not even skip a beat in their passing game, which has consistently ranked near the top of the PSAC in recent years, including second the last two years and in the top five in each of head coach Bill Zwaan’s seven years with the Rams. The Rams look to be extra-stacked in the running game this year, though, as senior tailback D’Andre Webb returns along with junior Jackson Fagan and sophomore fullback Matt McLaughlin. Both Webb and Fagan have had big games in the past and have big play potential, but with a running-back by committee approach last year, neither put up eye-popping numbers despite both averaging five yard per carry and rarely getting tackled for losses. With four returning starters on the offensive line, the running game may turn out to be a strength for the Rams this year as well as its usually consistent passing game.
Bloomsburg (8-3, 5-2), for the first time in four years, will have a new starting quarterback, as four-year starter Dan Latorre’s eligibility ran out after a standout career with the Huskies after last season. Mike Wagner is the only QB on the roster who has thrown a collegiate pass and he will battle with fellow junior Pat Carey and redshirt freshman Adam Diltz for the starting job. Whoever wins the job will lead the Huskies into a new season in which they will be trying to erase the disappointing finish to last year, when Bloomsburg raced out to an 8-0 start before dropping its final three games and narrowly missed out on the NCAA playoffs.
The new starting quarterback will have the luxury of having an experienced backfield behind him as junior running backs Derrick Price and Kenny Domzalski return to form one of the best 1-2 backfield duos in the conference. Price has over 2,000 yards rushing in his first two seasons while Domzalski checks in at nearly 1,500 yards on the ground in his first two years as a Husky. Three starting offensive linemen also return as the Huskies figure to once again be primarily a running team. Although the running game has been Bloomsburg’s main offensive attack for the last several years, its passing game actually averaged slightly more yards per game last year than its running game, and this year, the new QB will have some experienced targets to throw to as well, as Bloomsburg’s top three receivers from last year return as well in Cory Stiger, Ben Weaber and Chris Tressler.
The Huskies’ defense was a dominant one at times last year and with the new starting quarterback on the other side of the ball, may be called upon to put up similar numbers again this year in order for the Huskies to once again finish near the top of the PSAC East standings as they have done so often in recent years. Bloomsburg effectively shut down several opponents’ running games last year and finished at the top of the PSAC in scoring defense, effectively winning several games with its defense. This year, only half of the starters return from last year but those that do are all experienced and have been a part of the Huskies’ strong defenses of the last couple of years. The Huskies should be particularly strong up front with seniors Marcus Zimmerman and Todd Givler returning on the defensive line and Mike Varanavage and Tom McFarland, also both seniors, returning as starting linebackers. Cornerback Oscar Rivera, a first team All-PSAC East pick last year, has developed into one of the top coverage defensive backs in the league the last two years and he will lead some new starters in the secondary.
C.W. Post (6-5, 5-2), which struggled in its first year in the PSAC two years ago with a 3-8 record, turned things around last year, especially in the second half of the year, as the Pioneers won their last four games of the season - all by double digit margins - and five of their final six games, including handing PSAC champion Shippensburg its only divisional loss of the season. C.W. Post will be looking to continue that momentum from the end of last year and they look to have the personnel to do just that, as they return seven starters on offense, including nearly all of the vital cogs from the PSAC’s top-ranked rushing offense from last year.
Senior quarterback Eric Anderwkavich, the top rushing QB in the PSAC last year who also finished ninth in the league in rushing and fifth in total offense, returns to direct the Post offense. In addition to being the top rushing QB in the conference, he also finished seventh in the PSAC in total passing yards and he should be one of the top dual-threat QBs in the PSAC this year. Behind him in the backfield will be last year’s PSAC East Freshman of the Year, Thomas Beverly, who led the PSAC in total rushing yards last year and scored 11 touchdowns, fourth in the league. The talented backfield duo will have the fortune of running behind a very experienced offensive line, as four starters return, including three All-PSAC East picks from last year in Kevin Martin, John Siopa and Will Strano. Through the air, Andrewkavich will have a top target in senior Darnel Williams, who led the team in touchdown catches last year with nine, all making for what figures to be one of the top offenses in the PSAC once again.
C.W. Post developed into one of the PSAC’s top defenses toward the end of last year as well, finishing third in both scoring and total defense and holding seven opponents, including five out of their last six, to under 25 points. The Pioneers were particularly strong in defending the pass, however they lose all but one starter in the defensive backfield this year. That one returning starter, however, is second team All-PSAC pick Juma McKenley, who is also one of the team’s top return specialists on special teams. He will lead the secondary but the strength of the team could end up being up front this year behind defensive lineman Xavier Brown, a first team All-PSAC pick who was among the league leaders in sacks last year. He leads the defensive line that returns all four starters from last year.
Shippensburg (9-3, 6-1) will look to defend its 2009 Eastern Division and overall PSAC Championship from last year through the strength of its running game, which will likely be a key in Shippensburg’s unique Wing-T offense as the Red Raiders will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and a new set of receivers. Redshirt junior Dave Chervansky and redshirt sophomore Steven Adams are the only signal-callers on the roster that have completed a collegiate pass and they have combined for just 20 career completions. In addition to their quarterback, the Red Raiders also lost their three top receivers from last year, including two-time 1,000-yard split end Mike Harris, an AFCA All-American last year.
With their two top returning receivers being two of their returning backs, the Red Raiders will probably rely heavily on their running game, led by fullback and 2009 first team All-PSAC selection Kevin Herod and halfback Kevin Marshall, a second team All-PSAC East pick last year after being named first team two years ago. The duo combined for nearly 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground last year with Herod’s 727 yards being the most for a Shippensburg back since current Green Bay Packer John Kuhn’s in 2004. Also returning to the backfield is sophomore Mike Frenette and junior Roshaan McCain. Frenette averaged 5.6 yards per carry and had five fushing touchdowns as a true freshman last year while McCain averaged an eye-popping 8.0 yards per carry. The returning foursome in the backfield will be able to run behind four returning offensive linemen, increasing the chances that the Raiders may be able to duplicate its running game from last year, which ranked second in the PSAC.
On defense, the Red Raiders proved to be a bend-but-don’t-break unit last year, as they ranked around the middle of the PSAC in most categories. The strength will be in the defensive front, as Shippensburg returns three of four defensive linemen and two linebackers, led by Riley Bowen, a second team All-PSAC East pick in each of the last two seasons. The Raiders will need to slot in some replacements in the secondary as just one starter returns in the defensive backfield.
East Stroudsburg (8-4, 4-3) boasts a senior quarterback in Matt Marshall and a pair of experienced wideouts in seniors Jeff Giglio and Ed Kiser as it attempts to duplicate its NCAA playoff appearance from last season. Once again, the strength of the Warrior offense should be in its passing game behind Marshall, who was second in the PSAC in total offense and third in passing yards last year. He returns for his second year as a starter in addition to Giglio and Kiser, who combined for over 80 catches and 1,400 receiving yards last year. Both also are big-play threats on special teams.
The East Stroudsburg running game produced 135 yards per game last year, its highest output since 2005. Starter Zack Krise completed just four games but still finished as the team’s leading running back. He is gone this year but trie sophomores Kendrick Williams and Eric Deery got a chance to receive significant playing time after Krise went down last year and the duo combined for over 700 yards. With four starters on the offensive line returning, the Warriors may look for a more balanced offensive attack.
The Warriors’ defense ranked in the lower half of the PSAC in yards allowed last year but in the upper half in points allowed, mainly due to its league high 33 turnovers gained. ESU will be a bit thin on experience on the defensive line with just one starter returning but its starting linebackers are very experienced - three seniors and one junior - and will be relyed upon heavily to lead the defense. That group is led by senior Matt Freed, who has led the PSAC in tackles in each of the last two seasons, led the league in sacks and tackles for loss last year, and is coming off two straight All-American campaigns. The outside of the secondary is also high on experience, with David Castillo and Shawnte Carroll set to start at cornerback. That group will lead a secondary that co-led the PSAC in interceptions last year with 18.
Kutztown (3-8, 1-6) took some lumps last year as the Golden Bears switched starting quarterbacks halfway through the season as then-freshman Kevin Morton took over. The change brought a much-needed boost to Kutztown’s passing game but overall, the Golden Bears struggled with turnovers as they ranked near the bottom of the PSAC in turnover margin. This year, with Morton back as well as the entire offensive line as well as eight starters on defense and two of the top specialists in the conference as well, Kutztown hopes to rebound and climb back up the PSAC East standings.
Morton will have one of the top targets in the league to throw to in fellow sophomore receiver Chris McCormick, who caught seven touchdown passes last year as a freshman. With Morton more of a pocket passer, he is more of a threat in the passing game than his predecessor, who was more of a running QB. With that added threat, it may open up the running game more for the Bears, who lose one of the top backs in the league from last year in Dontay Wilson but return all five starters on the offensive line as well as a starting tailback in Kendell Coleman, who is also one of the top kick return men in the PSAC. Special teams should also be a strength as kicker/punter Matt Dineen also returns. He was the top scoring kicker in the league last year and also one of the most accurate, hitting 17-of-20 field goal attempts.
With eight starters also back in defense, the Golden Bears also expect improvement there, and they will looking for it in two areas in particular. Kutztown had the league’s worst passing defense last year and also generated just 12 takeaways and only three interceptions, easily the fewest in the league. Two seniors in Jay McKnight and Kalief Evans return in the secondary, which will need to post an improvement if the Golden Bears are to move up the East standings. All four starters return on Kutztown’s defensive line, which will look to retain its strong rush defense, which was one of the top units in the PSAC in that area a year ago.
Millersville (3-8, 2-5) posted a two-win improvement last year over 2008 and also won one more divisional game, a small step in the right direction for a rebuilding program. Whether or not the Marauders can keep that momentum going will likely depend on how much its defense can improve. Despite posting modest improvements from two years ago, Millersville still ranked at or near the bottom of the PSAC in most defensive categories last year, including rushing and overall defense, where they ranked dead last.
The good news for the Marauders is that nine players return on defense. Seven of those 10 returnees are seniors or juniors, including three of the four starters on the defensive line, led by second team All-PSAC pick Chad Miller. All three starting linebackers also return as do two members of the secondary, including starting cornerback Jamie Hoffman, who started last year as a freshmen. With another year of experience for all of the defensive players and with head coach Greg Colby and his defensive background entering his third year, the Marauder defense is poised for another significant improvement.
Offensively, Millersville has some weapons and experience, particularly at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. Senior Bill Shirk returns for his second full year as the starting quarterback after moving into the starting position during the 2008 season, taking over for Jamal Smith, who is now one of the top wideouts in the PSAC. That combination went for 10 touchdowns last year, including four in one game, and figures to be one of the top passing combinations in the PSAC this year. Junior Matt Egenrieder also returns, while Smith is also a big threat on kick returns. The Marauders also have three returning starters on the offensive line but lost top rusher Brad Lantz. They do, however, return senior Cardoza Jacks, who led the team in rushing two years ago and averaged an impressive 5.2 yards per carry last year as the backup.
Cheyney (0-11, 0-7), despite going winless for the second straight year last year, showed some encouraging signs, particularly on offense, signs that could point to the Wolves breaking their losing streak this year. Those encouraging signs start on offense, where quarterback Angel Rodriguez was one of the top rushing QBs in the league last year and Cheyney’s rushing game overall was very respectable as a new offense was installed last year. The Wolves also had one of the conference’s best pass defenses, and three starters return from that secondary unit.
Although Rodriguez returns under center and remains a running threat, the Wolves lost their top rusher in Ron Hunter, however they return Dominic Crowell, who started alongside Hunter last year. Two starters return on the offensive line, led by first team All-PSAC East lineman Gabe Siano-Johnson, giving the Wolves hope that their running game will be solid once again as they enter the second year of the new offensive system. In order to keep opposing defenses honest, however, Cheyney will likely need to improve its passing game, which ranked last in the PSAC last year at less than 100 yards per game. Top receiver John Newman returns to help that area as does tight end Hannibal Flores. Kicker Tyler Wilkinson gave the Wolves kicking game a much-needed boost last year after Cheyney struggled gravely in the kicking game two years ago and he gives the Wolves a reliable option in that area after hitting on 6-of-7 field goals last year.
With seniors Stan Banks and Ronnell Kennedy and junior Carl Meeks returning in the secondary and that trio having been responsible for exactly half of Cheyney’s interceptions last year, hopes are high that Cheyney’s pass defense will be similarly strong once again this year. However, in order to improve its overall defense, the Wolves will need to get better in stopping the run. With three returning starters on the defensive line, including former All-PSAC East pick Tim Hume, and eight total starters returning on defense, the Wolves are optimistic that the defense will improve this year and help the Wolves to an overall improvement as well.
Western Division
California (11-4, 7-0), which has not lost a PSAC West game in three years, is once again the favorite in the Western Division and not surprisingly, returns seven starters on both offense and defense as well as all of its specialists as the Vulcans aim for their fourth straight NCAA regional championship and to get back to the top of the PSAC after falling to Shippensburg in the PSAC championship game last year.
Leading the way on offense is quarterback Josh Portis, a dual threat who led the PSAC in overall passing yards and touchdown passes last year with 36 while tossing just nine interceptions. He also ranked third in average total offense and was tops in overall yards with his leadership and exploits leading the Vulcans to the top scoring and overall offense in the PSAC. The Vulcans appear to be loaded once again on offense, starting with four senior starters on the offensive line. Who will be running behind it, other than Portis, is a bit up in the air as the season begins, however, as the Vulcans lost their top rusher from last year in Freddie Bacco while second-leading rusher Windell Brown will redshirt this year, leaving Portis as the team’s leading returning rusher. The passing game is far more certain, as senior Terrance Moore, one of just three receivers in the PSAC with over 1,000 receiving yards last year, returns as does Chedrick Cherry and tight end Blake Williamson, who were third and fourth on the team in catches last year.
Defensively, while the Vulcans did not have as dominating of a unit last year as they had the previous two years, it was enough when combined with the explosive offense to win another West championship and advance back to the NCAA semifinals. However, the Vulcan defense had its worst two performances of the year in the PSAC championship and NCAA semifinal game, giving up a combined 98 points in those two losses. With a postional balance of seven returning starters back, the Vulcans will look to get their defense back to its dominating level from a few years ago. Leading the way are a pair of experienced defensive linemen in Marcus Cook and Sam Fikaris, linebacker Brett Diamond, and defensive back Erik Harris, the team’s second-leading tackler and co-leader in interceptions last year.
IUP (5-6, 1-6) will be looking to rebound from its first losing season in over 25 years last year and after going through some growing pains with a freshman quarterback in Pat Smith when starter Andrew Krewatch was lost for the season with an injury, looks to have the personnel for a bounce-back season. The Crimson Hawks also struggled with injuries in addition to the one to their starting quarterback and this year will return several of those that missed significant portions of last year with injuries.
Smith is the leader heading into camp to start at QB but he will be challenged by junior college transfer Bo Napoleon. IUP will have the most returning offensive starters in the PSAC with nine. Particularly strong should be their offensive line, a veteran group that returns four starters, including guard Jim O’Rourke, a two-time All-PSAC West selection who missed last year with an injury. The running game was IUP’s strength last year and figures to be the same this year, so much in fact that Tobias Robinson, IUP’s leading rusher the last two years and the PSAC’s leading rusher two seasons ago, is being moved to cornerback this year. Sophomore Harvie Tuck, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year in seven games, and redshirt freshman James Johnson figure to be 1-2 on the depth chart while Darryl Herod is a solid fullback. The passing game struggled last year but with Smith a year older and the team’s top four receivers back, including seniors Javon Rowan and Mychal Skinner, the Crimson Hawks will look to bring their offense back to the levels of 2008 and before when it was one of the best in the PSAC.
The injuries hit the IUP defense particularly hard last year, but two starters who missed the bulk of the 2009 season return this year in defensive end Josh Bolyard and free safety Andre Henderson. Despite having so many injuries last year, the IUP defense finished in the upper half of the PSAC in most defensive categories and with six starters back, there is optimism that the Crimson Hawks can return to their dominance of two years ago when they led the PSAC in scoring and overall defense. In addition to Bolyard on the defensive line, defensive tackle Carl Thornton returns after being named to the All-PSAC West second team as a freshman. The secondary is also experienced, particularly up the middle, as in addition to Henderson, junior strong safety Mark Jackson also returns. With both starting corners from last year having departed, including fourth round NFL draft pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, former running back Robinson will shift to corner this year, giving IUP another tall and athletic player at that position.
Clarion (8-3, 6-1) was the surprise of the PSAC last year as the Golden Eagles posted the most wins since it won the PSAC West title in 1996 as head coach Jay Foster’s first group of recruits had all of its experiences while playing as freshman and sophomore finally pay off in the form of wins as juniors and seniors. This year, Clarion will be one of the most experienced teams in the PSAC as they return a league best 20 starters from a team that came within a sniff of an NCAA playoff berth last year.
While the offense has eight starters returning who are either juniors or seniors, it will be missing starting experienced in the most key position, quarterback, as Tyler Huether exhausted his eligibility last season. Junior Eric Coxon, who completed two passes during the 2008 season, and sophomore Ben Fiscus, who did not see any action at QB last year, will battle for the starting position. Whichever one wins the job will have the services of last year’s PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year and the PSAC’s leading rusher in Alfonso Hoggard behind him. Also one of the PSAC’s top kick returners, Hoggard also led the PSAC in all-purpose yardage last year. Hoggard will also have an experienced offensive line to run behind as four starters who are all either juniors or seniors return from a group that also allowed just 15 sacks last year. Despite Hoggard’s exploits last year, the Golden Eagles actually had a stronger passing game than its rushing game, and with three of their top four receivers back, either Coxon or Fiscus will have several weapons at his disposal, led by senior Jacques Robinson, who is the top returning receiver in the PSAC whose 70 catches last year ranked second in the league. Fellow receivers Craig Bunney and Matt Ward also return.
The improvement of Clarion’s defense last year from the previous year may have been the biggest reason for the team’s overall improvement and it rose into the upper half of the PSAC in most defensive categories, highlighted by its outstanding rushing defense, which ranked in a tie for third. Several of the key cogs from that stout defense are back, including three starters on the defensive line, led by All-PSAC West first team defensive end Ben Maund. Senior Joe Fox leads a pair of returning linebackers, while the secondary is also very solid behind senior safeties Nick Sipes and Shawn Sopic.
Edinboro (9-4, 5-2) enjoyed its first NCAA playoff appearance since 2004 last year behind the senior year of quarterback Trevor Harris, who finished his career at or near the top of several categories in the PSAC record book. He is gone to the NFL now, having signed as a free agent, and his younger brother, Cody Harris, is expected to take over under center for the Fighting Scots this year and should enjoy the production of several of the same supporting cast members that his older brother had to work with the last couple of years.
Edinboro’s top two receivers from last year return in Josh Brown and Gary Nolen, who combined for 88 catches and over 100 yards per game last year. Also returning are Nick Marino, D’mar Jeter and running back David Bostic, who will move to receiver this year, giving the Scots back five of their top six recievers from a group in which the wealth was spread out to last year en route to leading the PSAC in passing offense. In total, seven players had at least 20 catches last year, including all five of the aforementioned returnees. Not even included in that group is tight end Shawn Walker, a physical tight end who is also an asset in blocking whose four touchdown catches last year were tied for second on the team. A total of 10 players caught TD passes for the Scots last year, and six of them return. The Edinboro rushing game struggled last year at times, partially due to injuries, but it appears to be strong again this year with the return of Michael Battles and three starting offensive lineman, including four-year starter and Edinboro native Rob Stoner.
On defense, Edinboro returns nine starters but last year’s unit was among the worst in the PSAC only one year after ranking among the best in the PSAC in 2008. Edinboro will likely need to improve on its defensive numbers if they are to return to the playoffs, and doing that will likely start in the secondary, where the Fighting Scots are particularly experienced with senior safeties Dan Skelton and Ben Swank each returning. The duo are the team’s two leading returning tacklers. Junior Branden Williams is one of the top cover corners in the PSAC and he enters his third year as a starter with three career interceptions returned for touchdowns and nine career picks total. Mike Perillo returns to play opposite of Williams. Linebacker Greg Sondag had a solid season last year in addition to doubling up as a fullback in certain situations and will be a leader of the linebacker corps while senior Adam Smith-Friedman is the veteran on the defensive line.
Gannon (6-5, 3-4) finished last year strong to finish the season with a winning record for the first time 2003 as the Golden Knights won their final four games, including an overtime road win over nationally-ranked Bloomsburg in the final game of the year that knocked the Huskies out of the NCAA playoffs. With 19 starters returning from last year’s team that posted a three-game improvement from 2008, the level of optimism at Gannon is the highest in several years heading into 2010. Gone from last year, however, is workhorse running back Jon Richardson, who was third in the PSAC in rushing and whose 16 touchdowns ranked second last year as Gannon sported on of the top rushing offenses in the league. Sliding into his starting spot will likely be Tyler Batts, a more explosive runner who averaged an impressive 6.3 yards per carry last year and is also a dynamic kick returner.
Quarterback Zach Boedicker returns for his second season as the full-time starter after being part of a two-quarterback system earlier in his career. He was the team’s second-leading rusher last year, ran for four touchdowns and threw more TDs (7) than interceptions (5). Only two starting offensive linemen return but one is the mammouth Sam Geldmaker, a three-year starter, and tight end Matt Davis also returns. Gannon struggled at times in the passing game last year but the return of two of its top three receivers in Levar Goff and Corey Bradley gives the air assault hope.
The Golden Knights improved on defense for the second straight year last year but overall, still ranked in the lower half of the PSAC in most categories, except for one, passing defense, where the Knights gave up the second-fewest number of passing yards in the league. That part of Gannon’s defense looks to be strong again as all five starting defensive backs return, led by the Knight’s two leading tacklers in seniors Matthew Neal-Mink and Khayree Connors-McChristian. The Knights will likely need to improve their rushing defense if the team is going to further improve on wins, but with all four defensive linemen who are all juniors or seniors also returning, led by first team All-PSAC West selection Randy Colling, the Knights may be poised for another year of defensive improvement.
For Slippery Rock (6-5, 3-4), it was tale of two halves of a season last year as The Rock started out 5-1 and was ranked in the initial set of NCAA regional rankings before stumbling to a 1-4 finish to the season. This year, with several key players back, The Rock will be searching for some more consistency as it attempts to climb back up the top of the PSAC West standings, but it will be breaking in a new starting quarterback for the third straight season.
Rock enters fall camp with four redshirt freshman QBs on the roster: Mike Bongivengo (a transfer from Seton Hill), Kellen O’Neill, Kirk Ramsey and Ryan Sabo. Whichever signal caller wins the job will have the fortune of behind protected by one of the most experienced offensive lines in the PSAC as four starters return, led by two-time first team All-PSAC West center Brandon Fusco. Also returning is fellow senior Mike Tomaino and juniors A.J. Hopp and Austin Fedell, solidifying a unit that helped The Rock rank sixth in the PSAC in rushing last year. Rushing has been Rock’s strength in recent years and that doesn’t figure to change much this year with a new QB and the experienced offensive line. Although Rock lost three of its top four rushers from last year, Akeem Satterfield returns after a solid freshman year in which he averaged 5.8 yards per carry and also developed into a solid kick returner. Receivers Devin Goda and Jermale Cromerdie are both experienced and should give the new QB two solid targets to throw to.
Slippery Rock’s defense last year was solid, ranking in the upper half of the league in in overall and passing defense. However, they ranked in the lower half in scoring defense, due in part to having four interceptions and three punts returned for touchdowns against them. If Rock can clear the problems in those areas this year, they will likely fare much better, as they return three solid starters in the secondary from that outstanding pass defense in All-PSAC West cornerback Robert Doiley and safeties Jayson Nickson and Brandon Watters. That trio combined for 10 of Rock’s 14 interceptions last year, with returning linebacker Zach Sheridan accounting for two others. Nickson, Sheridan, fellow linebacker Tyler Henderson, who also returns, and Watters were also Rock’s top four tacklers last year. The Rock special teams are also solid, with All-PSAC West kicker C.J. Bahr returning for his senior season as well as return specialists Doiley and Satterfield.
Mercyhurst (4-7, 3-4), after coming within one win of capturing the PSAC West in its first year in the PSAC two years ago, slid back a bit last year, finishing in a tie for fourth place as its offense was unable to duplicate its numbers from the previous year. However, with an experienced quarterback returning along with most of its key performers from a solid defense last year, particularly against the run, the Lakers hope to climb back up the standings.
Last year’s quarterback, Joe Laffey, elected not to return for his fifth year but the starting QB from two years ago when the Lakers went 5-2 in the PSAC West does return for his senior year in Garrett Kensy. After losing the battle for starting QB in last year’s camp, Kensy saw some action as a wide receiver last year. He would appear to have a leg up on the competition this year but will battle with Travis Rearick and freshmen Anthony Vendemia and Chad Tibbitts for the starting job this year. With three starters back on the offensive line and one half of last year’s running back platoon also back in senior Gerald Anderson, the Lakers are hopeful their running game can return to the level of 2008, when Mercyhurst ranked among the best running games in the PSAC, averaging nearly 60 yards more on the ground than it did last year. Sophomore Andrew Bailey, the team’s top kick returner last year, may also see much more time at RB this year. The receiving corps is a bit thin this year as junior Trevor Kennedy is the only receiver to return that had more than 10 catches last year. However, sophomore Paris Bruner, who made his mark on special teams last year, will likely have an increased role on offense.
Injuries slowed the Lakers’ defense at times last year but they still ended up with a solid defense, particularly against the run, where they ranked third in the PSAC. With their top nine tacklers from last year returning, including a trio of former All-PSAC picks, Mercyhurst has a solid foundation on defense and one that has the makings of another top unit. The Lakers return all three starting linebackers, led by senior Bryan Boyce. A first team All-PSAC West pick two years ago, he was slowed by injuries last year but along with fellow senior Tim Herbener, last year’s leading tacker, and junior Kevin Williams, the Lakers may have one of the top linebacking groups in the PSAC. Senior Fred Hale leads the way on the defensive line while a trio of experienced juniors in Ian Wild, Bryant Kimball and Julius McCormick return in the secondary to form a strong and experienced core in that area.
Lock Haven (0-10, 0-7), which had the most returning starters in the league last year, will have the fewest number of the returning starters in the PSAC this season, as the Bald Eagles return just nine starters from last year. Fortunately, one of those nine is at the most important position - quarterback, as sophomore Jarrett Kratzer, who got the majority of the starts at QB last year and led the team in passing, returns for his sophomore year.
Also returning are fellow quarterbacks Jarryd Burkett and Shawn Faulk, who also both played extensively last year. Burkett got the majority of the playing time under center two years ago. Now both juniors, they should make for a strong battle in camp this year along with Kratzer as the Bald Eagles will be looking for some continuity at QB. Lock Haven had the worst running game in the PSAC last year but with their top three rushers all returning in Jeremiah Dunchack, Ian Smith and Ibrahim Smith, who missed the second half of last year with injury, it should be an experienced group, which should lead to better production in that facet of the game. Fullback Phil Hostetler also returns. The Bald Eagles’ passing game may also be in line for some improvement as their top three receivers all return in Jay Hartman, Ian Smith, and tight end Ryan Poorman.
Defensively, the Eagles return just three starters - one in each area: defensive line, linebacker and secondary. On the defensive line, All-PSAC second team selection Nick Gounaris returns, giving Lock Haven a solid presence up front. Senior linebacker Wes Plummer, a veteran who led the team in tackles last year, is the lone returning starter there while sophomore Tyree Pompey is the only returnees from a secondary that led the PSAC in passing defense, a key bright spot in an otherwise dismal season last year that the Eagles hope will carry over to this year and hopefully join other new bright spots this season. Gounaris, Plummer and Pompey will be the leaders on a defense that figures to have many new faces and will undoubtedly be counted on to keep the Bald Eagles in games this year.
The Top 10 Things to Know About the PSAC for the 2010 Season
-The PSAC had just two 1,000-yard rushers last season. It marked the first time since 1978 (according to available records, which are missing some years in the 1980s), that the PSAC had only two rushers run for at least 1,000 yards. Both of those rushers - Thomas Beverly of C.W. Post and Alfonso Hoggard of Clarion - return this year.
-The PSAC has had at least three teams qualify for the NCAA Division II playoffs for six consecutive seasons. These included two years - 2004 and last year - in which four PSAC teams were selected to the playoffs.
-California has won the Super Region One (formerly the Northeast Region) championship and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals in each of the past three seasons. Only Northwest Missouri State out of Super Region Four (formerly the Southwest Region) has a longer current streak of regional championships/NCAA semifinal appearances. The Bearcats have won five straight regional titles.
-The phrase "defense wins championships" almost always holds true. However, in the PSAC, championships haven't necessarily been won with defense lately. Over the past two seasons, the teams that have led the PSAC in both scoring and total defense have not only not won the PSAC championship, but they also haven't qualified for the NCAA playoffs. Last year, Bloomsburg led the league in scoring defense and West Chester led in total defense while two years ago, IUP led the in both scoring and total defense, but none of those three made the playoffs. The last PSAC team that led the league in both categories that made the playoffs was California in 2007.
-Cheyney quarterback Angel Rodriguez, who returns as a starter this year for the Wolves, ran for 207 yards in a single game last year, becoming the first PSAC QB to rush for over 200 yards in the last decade.
-California has a current 20-game winning streak in PSAC West play, as the Vulcans have not dropped a PSAC West contest since the final game of the 2006 season to IUP.
-IUP's Tobias Robinson, who led the PSAC in rushing two years ago and led the team in rushing last year will move to cornerback this year. It will mark the second straight year that a top PSAC running back has been moved from the offensive to the defensive backfield as last year, Houston Brown of Edinboro switched from running back to cornerback.
-The PSAC has three current head coaches that have been at their respective institutions for 20 or more years: Denny Douds of East Stroudsburg (37th year), Dr. George Mihalik of Slippery Rock (23rd year) and Rocky Rees of Shippensburg (21st year). The PSAC is the only Division II conference in the country that has that many football coaches that have been at their current school for at least 20 years. No other Division II league has more than one head coach with at least 20 years at his current school.
-Only four kickers in PSAC history have ever made five field goals in a game, the latest of which was senior kicker Matt Dineen of Kutztown, who did it last year vs. Cheyney.
-With Shippensburg's outright PSAC East championship last year, it marked the first time since Millersville won the outright title in 1998 that either West Chester or Bloomsburg did not win at least a share of the East title.