District College Football Preview – 10/27/2011

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 27, 2011 | 9:50 AM

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Two conference titles could be decided on Saturday as Slippery Rock tries to sew up the PSAC West crown while Westminster tries to knock off three time champion Thomas More. The Coal Bowl takes places as well between Cal and IUP with the loser being knocked out of playoff contention.

Here are previews of all the games, including three that can be heard right here at www.msasports.net. Stop back on Sunday for recaps of all the games, including updates on all of the local conference races:

Mercyhurst(3-5) at Slippery Rock (7-1)  1pm on WISR 680-AM and the MSA Sports Network
The Lakers are 1-4 in the PSAC West, falling in overtime to Cal 32-26 last week.

Coming into 2011, the Lakers had played just four overtime games in the program’s history, Mercyhurst has gone to overtime three times this season, now falling to 1-2 on the year.

Senior WR Trevor Kennedy had nine catches for 104 yards, but was held without a touchdown for the first time all season. Kennedy is now the all-time leading punt returner in Lakers history. Kennedy leads the PSAC with 58 catches and 1,048 yards and 14 touchdowns, that also leads Division II. 

QB Anthony Vendemia is tenth in the PSAC in passing with 816 yards, he has thrown for seven touchdowns and been picked six times since taking over for Travis Rearick, who was lost for the season.

Ian Wild was held to just four tackles last week. The senior linebacker leads the PSAC with 90 tackles.

The Rock can clinch the West Division title with a win this week, SRU is 5-0 in divisional play, one game better than IUP and Cal, the Rock has beaten both of those teams. It’s the first time the Rock has been 7-1 at this point since 2007. With a win, the Rock would advance to the PSAC State Title game on November 12th to play the East winner.

Slippery Rock is ranked 18th this week in the AFCA Division II poll, up four spaces from last week. The Rock is one of four PSAC teams ranked this week, Bloomsburg is ranked 2nd, Kutztown 16th and California 24th.

The Rock is also sixth in the Super Region 1 rankings, the top six teams qualify for the Division II playoffs.

Slippery Rock defeated Lock Haven 48-27 last week. WR Devin Goda was named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week. The senior caught nine passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns, setting a single game record for receiving yards and touchdowns at the Rock. Goda is third in the conference with 54 catches and fifth with 758 yards. 

Cody Endres threw for 397 yards last week, the second highest single game total in Rock history. Endres is fifth in the conference, averaging 231 yards passing per game, he has thrown 15 touchdowns, but has been picked 12 times.

RB Akeem Satterfield is sixth in the conference in rushing at 84 yards per game, Satterfield has sat out the last couple of weeks, Jimmy Zubik will fill in if Satterfield can’t go.

FS Brandon Watters snagged his sixth interception of the season and 12th of his career in last week’s game. The Rock defense still leads the conference in all four major categories, allowing just 106 points this season, and is also the top defense in Division II, allowing just 225 yards per game.

P James McCombie continues to lead the PSAC in punting, with an average of 42.2 yards per punt. K Kurt Brackman is third in the conference with eleven field goals.

Mercyhurst leads the short series between the schools, 2-1, the Rock’s only win was in 2009.

W & J (4-3) at Grove City (1-6)  1:30pm on WJPA 1450-AM and the MSA Sports Network
W & J got 26 carries and 150 yards from Tim McNerney last week in the win over Geneva. McNerney ran for two scores. The Presidents are now 3-2 in the PAC.

QB Matt Bliss was efficient once again, throwing 21 of 29 passes for 164 yards. Bliss also ran for 92 yards. Bliss leads the PAC with 1,838 passing yards, at 262 yards per game.

WR Hunter Creeel has had at least three catches in every game this season, he has 36 for the season. Bliss’ main target is Alex Baroffio, who leads the PAC with 45 catches and 722 receiving yards.

The Presidents lead the conference in passing and total offense.

LB Neil Sorice had ten tackles in the win, including nine solo stops. Sorice leads the PAC with 72 tackles.

Grove City defeated Saint Vincent last week 21-16. WR Anthony Ritchie made six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the win. The Wolverines are 1-4 in conference play.

Blaine Miller ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win. Miller is second in the conference with ten touchdowns.

QB Brian Pell was 16 of 23 for 139 yards. Pell is eighth in the conference with 665 yards passing, with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

CB Kurt Devlin was named PAC Defensive Player of the Week. The junior from North Allegheny picked off three passes, tying a school record and made ten tackles in the victory.

The Grove City defense forced four turnovers and had four sacks last week. Chris Gibbs is fifth in the conference with 57 tackles.

The Wolverines are the least penalized team in the PAC, drawing only 25 flags all season.

W & J lead the all-time series 34-12, including twelve straight wins over Grove City.

Thiel (0-7) at Geneva (2-6)  7pm on WBVP 1230 AM and the MSA Sports Network
The Tomcats were beaten by Westminster last week 48-21.

RB De’Von Drish ran 24 times for 124 yards, it’s the second time Drish went over 100 yards in a game. No Thiel player has posted two 100 yard games in a season since 2007.  Drish is fourth in the PAC in rushing, he has only scored one touchdown.

Thiel is last in the PAC in both scoring offense with 87 points and scoring defense with 276 points allowed.

QB Andrew Smith threw for two scores and ran for another in the loss. Westminster led 48-0 in the third quarter.

CB Julian McLean had ten tackles, DE Tim Taylor made nine and LB Ethan Ludwig stopped eight.

Geneva lost to W & J last week 24-7. Zack Hayward connected with Corey O’Patchen for a twelve yard touchdown for the GT’s only score. O’Patchen now has six touchdown catches on the season.

Geneva is 2-4 in it’s first season in the PAC. Last week’s loss ensured a losing season at Geneva, it is only the fourth losing season  in the 19 year tenure of head coach Gino DeMarco. DeMarco will coach his 200th game this week, he is the only coach in Geneva history to do that. 

Rocco Colavecchia led the way with 75 yards rushing last week. The junior from Shenango is seventh in the conference in rushing with 435 yards and ninth in passing with 543 yards. Colavecchia has scored four touchdowns and threw for two more.

The Golden Tornadoes are eighth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 267 points this season.

Scott Erb and Tyler Nuetzel each led the team last week with ten tackles.

Geneva leads the series 24-10-3, the Golden Tornadoes have won the last four meetings.

Sacred Heart (4-3) at Robert Morris (2-5)  Noon
Both teams are 2-2 in the NEC.

Sacred Heart QB Tim Little was sacked six times last week by the Monmouth defense. Little threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice and lost a fumble.

Last week’s loss ended the Pioneers winning streak at four.
The Colonials fell 34-27 last week, having a punt blocked for a touchdown in the final minutes, leading to the game winning touchdown. It’s the second straight loss for RMU.

Jeff Sinclair threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, he was intercepted once.

TE Shadrae King caught six passes last week, including a touchdown. The TD catch tied the RMU carrer record at 21. King is the all-time leader with receptions for the Colonials. The senior has caught  at least one pass in 26 consecutive games.

DL Nolan Nearhoof picked up two more sacks last week, the  Colonial defense recorded four last week.

Central Connecticut State (2-6) at Saint Francis (1-7)  Noon
The Blue Devils are 1-4 in the NEC. CCSU fell to league-leader Albany 63-35 last week. QB Gunnar Jesperson threw for 205 yards and two scores for the Blue Devils, who have dropped five straight games, for the first time since 1992.

Central Connecticut was the pre-season favorite in the conference coaches poll, the Blue Devils won the NEC outright in 2009, and finished tied with Robert Morris in 2010, but the Colonials got the FCS berth.

With last week’s loss, the Blue Devils are assured a losing season for the first time since 2003.

The Red Flash are 0-5 in conference play. The Red Flash trailed 42-3 at the half on the way to a 49-23 loss at Youngstown State. QB John Kelly threw for 288 yards in the loss.

Kyle Harbridge ran for 117 yards in the loss, going over one thousand yards for the season. Harbridge is seventh in the FCS in all-purpose yards. Harbridge has 1,041 rushing yards this season, second in the NEC.

DB Jake DeMedal from Wilmington, picked off a pass last week, his second interception in consecutive weeks.

Duquesne (6-2) at Monmouth (4-3)  1pm
Duquesne is 4-1 in the NEC, defeating Wagner 37-21 last week. PK/P Charlie Leventry was named NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. The junior was on the field for every special teams play, pinning Wagner three times inside the twenty yard line and kicked the longest field goal in Duquesne history, hitting a 51 yard attempt on the final play of the first half.

Larry McCoy ran for three scores last week, rushing for 149 yards, putting him over three thousand yards for his career. It was the sixth 100 yard game of the season for McCoy, who also went over the thousand yard mark for this season, with 1,016, good for third in the NEC in rushing.

WR Connor Dixon caught two touchdown  passes last week, giving him eleven for the season.  Dixon has caught 28 passes this season, he has at least one catch in 23 consecutive games. Another Dukes wideout, Issac Spragg leads the NEC with 46 catches.  

QB Sean Patterson has thrown for sixteen touchdown passes this season, he is tied for the conference lead with Dan DiLella of Albany.

DT Mike Passodelis made six tackles, including a sack last week for the Duquesne defense. The Dukes lead the conference in both scoring and total defense.

Monmouth is 3-1 in conference play, defeated Sacred Heart 31-17 last week. DL Eric Macik was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week, making five tackles, including three for loss.

DB Pat Gray is tied for the NEC lead in interceptions with three.

RB Julian Hayes was named the NEC Rookie of the Week, Hayes ran for 84 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win.

Backup QB Craig Peterson threw for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Peterson made his first NCAA start in place of Kyle Fraizer.

Western Illinois (2-5) at Youngstown State (4-3)  1pm
The Leathernecks are 1-3 in conference play, falling last week to Missouri State 31-17. Western Illinois was marching for the tying touchdown before allowing a 91 yard Pick 6.

Larry Patterson returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in the third quarter.

YSU cruised to a big first half lead in the win over Saint Francis last week. RB Jamaine Cook ran for 162 yards and four touchdowns. YSU racked up 450 yards on the ground, including Jordan Thompson‘s 95 yard run.

Cook is second in the FCS and the MVC in rushing at 135 yards per game, trailing Shakir Bell of Indiana State at 156 yards per game.

QB Kurt Hess has thrown at least one touchdown pass in seven straight games. WR Christian Bryan has caught a td pass in three straight games.

The Penguins have won two straight and are 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Look out for YSU in the first half, the Penguins have scored 181 of 264 points before the break. 

YSU leads the series 15-11 and had won six straight against Western Illinois until falling 40-38 last season.

California (6-2) at IUP (5-2)  1pm
It’s the annual Coal Bowl between IUP and Cal, the winner stays alive for an NCAA playoff berth. Cal and IUP are both tied at 4-1 in the PSAC West, one game behind Slippery Rock. .

Cal moved back into the top 25, the Vulcans are ranked 24th this week in the AFCA Poll. Cal is not listed in the Super Region 1 rankings this week.

LB Brian Justice was named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore made eleven tackles and picked off his first career pass in overtime to help Cal to a 32-26 victory over Mercyhurst. The pick set up Jeff Knox’s four yard touchdown run. Cal has picked off nine passes in the last three games.

The Vulcans tied the game last week in the final minute when Peter Lalich hit Blake Williamson for a touchdown, but Cal missed the extra point. WR Thomas Mayo had his fourth straight 100 yard receiving day.

IUP is ranked 9th in the Super Region 1 rankings. Last week’s win over Gannon gave the IUP program 499 wins.

QB Pat Smith was consistent last week, throwing for 225 yards on 10 of 15 and two scores.

RB Harvie Tuck is third in the PSAC in rushing, averaging 108 yards per game.

The IUP defense stayed strong, holding the opposition to seven points or less for the third consecutive week. The D also forced three fumbles and picked off a pass in the win.

The officials could decide this matchup, Cal and IUP have taken the most penalties of any teams in the PSAC. IUP leads the series 58-23-2, the Vulcans have won the last four meetings. 

Lock Haven (0-7) at Edinboro(6-2)  1pm
The Bald Eagles tied the longest losing streak in PSAC history, dropping their 39th consecutive game to Slippery Rock last week. Lock Haven also has the longest current losing streak in any division of NCAA football.

Backup QB Jarrett Kratzer threw for three second half touchdowns last week..

Edinboro is ranked tenth in the Super Region 1 rankings, keeping the Fighting Scots alive for a playoff spot. The Fighting Scots are 3-2 in the PSAC West.

Last week’s win over Clarion ensured a winning season for Edinboro, making it nine straight winning seasons, with six coming with Scott Browning at the helm.

Cody Harris threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third last week.

Edinboro has committed just three turnovers in their six wins, while forcing 17. In the two losses, the Fighting Scots have turned the ball over eleven times while forcing six.

The Edinboro defense is second in the PSAC, behind Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots lead the series with the Bald Eagles 38-14-1, including ten straight wins.

Gannon (3-5) at Clarion (1-7)  1pm
The Golden Knights are 2-3 in the PSAC West.  Senior Lawrence Coleman had seven catches in last week’s 35-7 loss to IUP.

Chris Cook made eleven stops, Randy Colling added ten to anchor the defense.

Clarion is 1-4 in divisional play. The Golden Eagles fell 21-10 to Edinboro last week, but may have found a new running back. Junior Patrick Graham-Murphy was switched to offense after starting seven games at cornerback, he ran for 174 yards on twenty carries and a touchdown.

Ben Fiscus needs 185 rushing yards to break the Clarion record for all-time rushing yards by a quarterback.

DE Barrington Morrison made seven tackles last week. He has fourteen tackles for loss and seven sacks going into this week’s game. The Golden Eagles are last in the conference defending the run.

Clarion leads the series 2-1, including wins the last two seasons..

Seton Hill (0-8) at West Liberty (1-7)  1pm
The Griffins remain winless on the season, falling to Fairmont State last week 38-20. QB Ryan Morris threw for 343 yards and a touchdown, he also ran for a score. Jorge Valdovinos caught six passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Nick McGahagen made nine tackles and forced a fumble. Seton Hill picked off three passes last week.

Seton Hill has lost twelve straight games, and 17 of the last 18.

West Liberty fell to Charleston last week 35-24. L.D. Crow threw for 303 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Schroeder caught eight passes for 128 yards and a score. The Hilltoppers are 1-4 in the WVIAC.

Thomas More (7-0) at Westminster (5-2)  2:30pm
The Saints are ranked 6th for the third consecutive week in the AFCA Division III Top 25. Thomas More leads the PAC at 6-0, they also lead the conference in scoring offense and defense. The Saints are the three-time defending PAC champions.

RB/KR Kendall Owens was named PAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season. Owens returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown in last week’s 41-21 win over Bethany at Bank of Kentucky Stadium. Owens also ran for a 48 yard score and had a 76 yard touchdown pass from QB Robert Kues.

RB Domonique Hayden ran for 119 yards and one score in last week’s win.

Defensively, LB Nick Gramke made fifteen tackles in last week’s win over the Bison. DB Zack Autenrieb picked off three passes, one for a 40 yard Pick 6. Autenrieb set the school record for interceptions in a game, he is also the career leader in picks with 22.

Westminster defeated Thiel last week 48-21 for their third straight win, the longest streak for the Titans since 2003.

The Titans are 4-1 in the PAC, a game and a half behind Thomas More for the conference title. Westminster has scored 161 points this season, the Titans have allowed 156.

QB Shawn Lehocky was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week. The former Freedom quarterback completed his first eleven passes on his way to a 22 of 25 day for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

The Titans also got a fumble return by DB Kortezz Martin.

Westminster, with a win, is looking to equal the best season for the Titans since 2002, when they finished 6-4 and second in the PAC. Whichever team wins the turnover battle is likely to win the game, both the Saints and Titans are tied for the conference lead with a plus ten turnover ratio.

Thomas More leads the series 8-1, the lone win for the Titans came in 2004. Last year Thomas More claimed a 37-13 home win. Owens sealed the win with a 96 yard punt return for a score on the final play of the third quarter.

Saint Vincent (3-4) at Waynesburg (4-2)  1:30pm
LB Anthony Johnson made sixteen tackles in last week’s loss to Grove City. The Bearcats are 2-3 in the PAC.

QB Aaron Smetanka struggled last week, throwing four interceptions and just one touchdown pass.

Saint Vincent has not won four games in a season, dating back to 1960.

Waynesburg had the bye last week. The Yellow Jackets saw their PAC championship hopes take a hit with a loss to Westminster 22-20 two weeks ago. Waynesburg sits at 4-1 in the PAC, they would need to win out, including a win at Thomas More next week and have the Saints defeat Westminster this week.

The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series 15-10-4, including winning the last four games since the Bearcats returned to NCAA competition in 2007.

Wabash (7-0) at Allegheny (4-3)  1pm
The Little Giants moved up a spot to 11th this week in the AFCA Division III poll. Wabash is 4-0 in the NCAC, tied with Wittenberg for the top spot, the Little Giants host the Tigers next week.

Wabash defeated Denison 39-13 last week. The Little Giants led only 11-6 at the half. Chase Belton ran for two scores and threw for another. Belton ran for 137 yards and threw for 210.

The Gators had the bye last week, Allegheny is 2-1 in the NCAC, with their only loss coming to Wittenberg. The Gators defeated Denison 31-28 two weeks ago. QB Jordan Fowler threw for 312 yards and three touchdown passes, the last coming with eleven seconds to play to give Allegheny the win. For his effort, Fowler was named Week 7 NCAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Fowler has thrown for 1,272 yards this season with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Matt Griffith and Sean Griffin lead the team in catches, with 28 and 23 respectively.

Washington University (4-3) at Carnegie Mellon (4-3)  Noon
It’s the UAA opener for both teams.

Washington won 24-21 at Oberlin last week. The Bears have won two straight games.

QB Dan Burkett threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, he also ran for a score. Washington led 21-0 at the end of three but had to hold on for dear life for the win. Oberlin racked up 462 yards last week, 458 thru the air.

The Tartans will go for the 500th  win in program history this week at Gesling Stadium. CMU fell at #23 Wittenberg last week 27-23. Chris Garcia ran for two scores and Patrick Blanks added a touchdown. Jake Nardone led the Tartans with 72 yards, Garcia and Blanks each ran for 64 yards. The CMU defense allowed 455 yards of offense.

Blanks leads the team with 640 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Nardone has ran for 541 yards and seven scores. Garcia has rushed for 377 yards and five touchdowns.

Carnegie Mellon leads the all-time series 15-13. 
 

Tags: Geneva, Slippery Rock, Washington