NCAA Playoffs - Week 2 Notes (pdf)
Two PSAC teams won their first round games last week and one will makes its debut this week after a first round bye, leaving three PSAC teams still alive in the NCAA playoffs as the second round rolls around this weekend. In round two, it will be two rematches from games earlier in the season, both of which were high-scoring affairs. In both games, the winners scored 42 points while both losers each scored at least 30 points in the losses.
No. 5 seed Edinboro will travel to No. 1 seed West Liberty State in a rematch of the Week 1 game won by Edinboro 42-30 at Edinboro. No. 2 seed Shippensburg will host No. 3 seed California for the second time in the last three weeks after the Red Raiders defeated the Vulcans 42-35 at home in the PSAC championship game two weeks ago.
PSAC Football - NCAA Playoffs Week 2 Notes - 11/19/09
Quick Hits
- Edinboro won its first NCAA playoff game since 2004 with a win over East Stroudsburg last week.
- This is also Edinboro’s first appearance in the second round since 2004.
- California, which has had a first round bye in the NCAA playoffs in each of the last two seasons, won its first-ever first round game last week over Fayetteville State.
- The Vulcans are the two-time defending Super Region One champions.
- Shippensburg is making its first appearance in the NCAA playoffs since the 2004 season, when it also had a first round bye and fell to West Chester in the second round.
- California and Shippensburg will meet in the second round of the NCAA playoffs this week just tw oweeks after meeting in the PSAC championship game. The will mark the first time in the history of the PSAC championship game, which was revived last year after ending after the 1987 game, that the two teams that met in the championship game have met in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
- The PSAC placed four teams in the NCAA playoffs this year for only the second time in history. The only other time was in 2004.
- Edinboro is making its ninth NCAA playoff appearance, with their previous ones coming in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2003 and 2004. The furthest the Fighting Scots ahve been in the playoffs was the quarterfinals in 1990.
- California is making its third overall and straight appearance in the NCAA playoffs, with their previous two coming in each of the last two seasons, in both of which they made the semifinals.
- Shippensburg is making its fourth all-time appearance in the NCAA playoffs, with its previous ones coming in 2004, 1991 and 1981. The Red Raiders are looking for their first NCAA playoff win since 1991, when they defeated East Stroudsburg in the first round and was the last time the Red Raiders advanced as far as the quarterfinals.
- The PSAC ended the regular season with two punters ranked in the top three in the country in average yards per punt. Shippensburg’s Kyler Ford and Slippery Rock’s Kyle Witman are currently ranked third and fourth in the country, respectively in average yards per punt. Witman’s season, as well as that of the two punters in first and second place are all finished, meaning that with at least one game left, Ford has a chance to become the second straight PSAC punter to lead the nation in punting, following East Stroudsburg’s Nick Krut last year. He is averaging 41.92 yards per punt and the leader, Justin Hinson of UNC-Pembroke, is averaging 43.05 yards per punt.
A Week for Highs
Week 8 was a week for some big offensive performances all around the PSAC. League single-game highs this season were set in rushing yards, passing yards, total offense, receiving yards and receptions as well as total kickoff return yards. The players listed below set those respective PSAC single-game highs.
Rushing Yards - Harvie Tuck, IUP (218)
Passing Yards - Matt Marshall, East Stroudsburg (430)
Receiving Yards - Steve Miller, West Chester (181)
Receptions - Ed Kiser, East Stroudsburg and Steve MIller, West Chester (11)
Total Offense - Matt Marshall, East Stroudsburg (471)
National Leaders
The PSAC has one individual and one team that is leading the country in various categories as of the latest NCAA statistical report. He is listed below.
- West Chester punt returner Kevin Garland leads the country in average punt return for the fifth straight week at 20.57 yards per return.
- Edinboro is tied with three other teams for the national lead in fewest fumbles lost. The Fighting Scots have lost just three fumbles on the year.
PSAC in Non-Conference Action
The PSAC went 9-5 this year against Division II non-conference competition, and 9-6 overall. This is a large improvement over last year’s 6-9 overall non-conference record (6-8 vs. Division II opponents). Listed below is the conference and record breakdown of the PSAC’s non-conference opponents this year, followed by the PSAC’s record last year in non-conference action.
2009 - 9-6 overall (9-5 vs. Division II)
Northeast 10: 3-1 (Wins - IUP over Southern Connecticut State, Millersville over Assumption, Kutztown over St. Anselm; Losses - American International over C.W. Post)
WVIAC: 2-1 (Wins - Clarion over Fairmont State, Edinboro over West Liberty State; Losses - Shepherd over Shippensburg)
CIAA: 2-1 (Wins - East Stroudsburg over Virginia Union, Slippery Rock over Bowie State; Losses - Lincoln over Cheyney)
GLIAC: 1-2 (Wins - Bloomsburg over Ashland; Losses - Wayne State over Mercyhurst, Saginaw Valley State over California)
Independents: 1-0 (Gannon over Lake Erie)
Division I FCS (CAA): 0-1 (Losses - Delaware over West Chester)
2008 - 6-9 overall (6-8 vs. Division II)
WVIAC: 1-4 (Wins - Edinboro over West Liberty State; Losses - Fairmont State over Clarion, Glenville State over Lock Haven, Shepherd over Shippensburg, Seton Hill over Slippery Rock)
Northeast 10: 1-2 (Wins - Kutztown over St. Anselm; Losses - AIC over C.W. Post, Bentley over Millersville
GLIAC: 1-1 (Wins - Bloomsburg over Ashland; Losses - Wayne State over Mercyhurst)
CIAA: 1-1 (Wins - East Stroudsburg over Virginia Union; Losses - Bowie State over Cheyney)
Independent: 2-0 (Wins - Gannon over Lake Erie, California over Lake Erie)
Division I FCS (CAA): 0-1 (Losses - Delaware over West Chester)
Long Ones are Rare
Bloomsburg K Jon Koenig booted a career-long 50-yard field goal on September 19 in the Huskies’ win over Kutztown. It marked the third straight year that a PSAC kicker made a field goal from at least 50 yards but it also marked only the fifth FG made from 50+ yards in the PSAC in the last nine seasons dating back to 2000. Koenig and Millersville’s John Banzhof are the only active PSAC kickers that have made FGs from 50 yards or more. Listed below are the PSAC kickers that have made FGs from 50+ yards in this decade.
53 - Greg Knauss (East Stroudsburg) vs. IUP, 2007
53 - Sean McNicholas (Edinboro) vs. East Stroudsburg, 2000
52 - John Katsaouni (Slippery Rock) vs. Shippensburg, 2003
50 - John Banzhof (Millersville) vs. Bloomsburg, 2008
50 - Jon Koenig (Bloomsburg) vs. Kutztown, 2009
Streaks
There are a couple of streaks in the PSAC that teams will take into next season, some of which teams want to keep going, and others that teams want to break. California has a 20-game winning streak in PSAC West play, which it will take into next season with PSAC divisional play having wrapped up for the season.
On the opposite end, Cheyney will take a 23-game losing streak in PSAC East play into next season and the Wolves are also looking to break an overall 28-game losing streak. Lock Haven will take a 14-game losing streak in PSAC West play into next season and will have one more chance to break an overall 21-game losing streak.
Playoff Team-by-Team Notes
California Vulcans
The Vulcans rushed for a season-high five touchdowns in their 42-13 victory over Fayetteville State in the first round NCAA Playoffs…Sr. WR A.J. Jackson set the single-season school record for receptions (82) against the Broncos, surpassing the previous record of 80 set last season by Marcel Pestano…Jackson is only 39 yards shy of breaking Pestano's single-season record for receiving yards (1,176) … Cal U is now 5-2 all-time in NCAA post-season games, but will be making its first road appearance at Shippensburg in the second round … The Vulcans will face the Red Raiders for the second time year, marking the third time in the last two seasons in which Cal U has face an opponent twice in one year .. Cal U has won 10 of their last 12 games in the month of November dating back to 2005
East Stroudsburg Warriors
ESU fell to 4-4 in the NCAA Division II Playoffs with a 31-16 loss to Edinboro...The Warriors finish the decade with a 77-34 record, the most in any decade in school history, and made three of their four postseason appearances (2004, 2005, 2009) under veteran head coach Denny Douds (226-146-3)...Jr. QB Matt Marshall threw for 301 yards and had 360 yards of total offense on Saturday...He finishes the year sixth in school history in passing (2,938), total offense (3,251), TD passes (26) and quarterback rating (150.3) behind four years from Jimmy Terwilliger and Damian Poalucci's record-setting 1996 season...ESU QBs have thrown for 300 yards in six of its eight postseason games...Jr. WR Ed Kiser had five catches for 121 yards and led ESU with 43 catches, 805 receiving yards and 1,228 all-purpose yards...Sr. WR Sam Shuman caught a 77-yard TD pass in the first quarter to go over 2,000 career yards (2,043), the eighth player in ESU history to hit that mark...Jr. OLB Matt Freed (11 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) had 132 tackles, 18.0 TFL and 10.0 sacks in 2009...ESU brings back 15 starters (8 offense, 7 defense) for the 2010 season...Marshall and his top four wide receivers, Fr. TBs Kendrick Williams and Eric Deery and four offensive linemen are all back...The top five LBs, led by Freed, and cornerbacks David Castillo and Shawnte Carroll also return.
Edinboro Fighting Scots
Nine days after having knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Trevor Harris returned to throw for 298 yards and 3 TDs to lead Edinboro to a 31-16 win at East Stroudsburg in the first round of the Super Regional One...Edinboro is now 9-3, tying the school record for wins in a season previously set eight times, the last a year ago...This also marks the third time Edinboro has reached a regional semifinal, the last in 2004…While Harris was leading the offense, CB Branden Williams starred on defense and special teams. He had only had three tackles, but on one he pulled down an ESU receiver after an 80-yard gain. Several plays later the Warriors fumbled...He intercepted a pass at the EU 17, and blocked an extra point and field goal...The blocked FG turned the game around, as he scooped it up and went 61 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half, giving Edinboro a 17-13 lead...It was part of a 28-3 run...The sophomore now has seven career blocked kicks, four this year, and four returns for touchdowns…Edinboro now plays West Liberty. The two met in week one, with ‘Boro handing the Hilltoppers their lone loss of the season, 42-30.
Shippensburg Red Raiders
Shippensburg (9-2) won its first PSAC championship game since 1981...The Red Raiders have defeated all three of their nationally-ranked opponents this season...SU has reached 9+ wins for just the fourth time in school history (third under Rocky Rees) and the first since 2004...The Red Raiders have thrown 27 touchdown passes this season, the most in a campaign since 1999 and the second-most in SU single-season history…SU has won six straight at home dating back to last season...Sr.Chad DiFebbo set a new school record for passing touchdowns in a season with 26...Sr. Mike Harris, a Harlon Hill regional candidate, is just one touchdown short of tying the SU career record...Sr. P Kyler Ford unleashed a 76-yard punt in the PSAC championship game, the third-longest in SU history...Shippensburg extended its season-long, school-record streak of scoring at least 23 points in every game to 11 contests...Shippensburg will make its first NCAA playoff appearance since 2004.
Game Previews
Edinboro (9-3, 5-2 PSAC West) at West Liberty State (10-1, 8-0 WVIAC)
Nov. 21- 12:00 p.m.
West Liberty, W.Va.
Russek Field (4,000)
NCAA Playoffs - Second Round
Radio/Internet: edinboro.ezstream.com
Edinboro Conference(PSAC)/NCAA Ranks
Scoring Offense: 28.2 - 7th/66th Rush Offense: 123.8 - 13th/102nd
Scoring Defense: 23.5 - 10th/92nd Rush Defense: 153.8 - 11th/92nd
Pass Offense: 249.2 - 3rd/34th Total Offense: 373.0 - 6th/61st
Pass Defense: 178.2 - 5th/34th Total Defense: 331.9 - 11th/60th
West Liberty State Conference (WVIAC)/NCAA Ranks
Scoring Offense: 45.1 - 1st/1st Rush Offense: 152.5 - 6th/64th
Scoring Defense: 27.6 - 4th/89th Rush Defense: 149.3 - 4th/86th
Pass Offense: 382.2 - 1st/2nd Total Offense: 534.7 - 1st/1st
Pass Defense: 220.2 - 6th/95th Total Defense: 369.5 - 4th/90th
Coaches
Edinboro: Scott Browning (4th year; 31-14 career record)
West Liberty State: Roger Waialae (5th year; 38-17 career record)
What to Expect
Edinboro was responsible for West Liberty’s only loss of the season back in Week 1 and that contest was an offensive shootout, with both teams combining for over 1000 yards of total offense - 529 for Edinboro and 484 for West Liberty. With both offenses, particularly that of West Liberty, having put up similar numbers throughout the season and both defenses also allowing sizable amonts of points and yards at various points during the year, this figures to be another high-scoring affair. As is the case in many games throughout the course of the season and particularly in the postseason and as was the case in the teams’ first matchup, this game could come down to the turnover battle, and specifically which team is able to capitalize and score points off of its takeaways. The Fighting Scots won the turnover battle 4-3 in the first meeting and also scored off one of its turnovers while the Hilltoppers did not score off any of Edinboro’s. The Scots have a turnover margin of +9, which ranks second in the PSAC, and have lost just three fumbles this year, while West Liberty has a +10 margin but have more fumbles and INTs than Edinboro.
The Fighting Scots’ defense played perhaps its best game of the season last week in the 31-16 win at East Stroudsburg in the first round of the playoffs. They will have their work cut out for them as they face Division II’s top total offense that averages over 500 yards per game led by QB Zach Amedro, who has thrown for at least 300 yards in every game this year. He has two 1,000-yard receivers to throw to and that duo of Ryan Travis and Kashif Walls has combined for 33 TD grabs this year, while WR Eddie Hills, a converted running back, is fewer than 100 yards shy of 1,000 on the year. When the Hilltoppers aren’t throwing the ball, they have a solid back in Kevon Calhoun, who averages over 100 per game and has gone over 1,000 yards on the season and went for 153 yards and three TDs against Edinboro in the teams’ first game. However, Calhoun has received well over half of WL’s total carries on the year, so there is little behind him. Much like in Week 1, the Fighting Scots have struggled in stopping the run this year, having only held one opponent this year under 100 yards rushing, however their pass defense is much better, having allowed more than 200 passing yards just three times in 12 games this year, with the 317 passing yards yielded to West Liberty in Week 1 being their most all year. Edinboro CB Branden Williams returned an INT for a TD in Week 1 and also made two big plays last week, returning a blocked kick for a TD, so the Scots may need another big play from him or from someone else on defense to maintain the edge they had in the first game.
The Hilltoppers defense has not been great this year either, as they have given up at least 200 passing yards in six out of 11 games this year and have given up at least 400 yards of total offense in four different contests. The Fighting Scots will likely air it out once again and the Hilltoppers will be hard pressed to stop a “Boro passing game in which nine different players have a TD reception this year and six different recievers have at least 20 catches as QB Trevor Harris spreads the wealth. Harris looked plenty healthy last week just nine days after surgery on his knee so his health appears to not be a concern. One area of concern for the Scots may be the depth of their running game, as David Bostic missed last week’s game and Junior Jabbie has played in just four games this year. In their absence last week, third-string back Michael Battles ran for a solid 59 yards and also caught a team-leading seven passes. However, in a contrast to ‘Boro’s defense, West Liberty is better against the run than the pass, so that matchup appears to favor Edinboro more than the West Liberty offense vs. Edinboro defensive matchup.
In a close game, special teams can certainly have an impact and this game, as potential high-scoring contest in which the battle for field position could be important, should be no different. West Liberty has only two punt returns this year of longer than 10 yards while Edinboro has allowed just 13 punt returns and net a decent 31.7 yards per punt. The Scots, despite only having returned 11 punts this year, average 15.0 yards per return on punts, while West Liberty has given up an average of 9.7 yards per punt return. Both teams have just one long kick return apiece this year, with Edinboro’s coming last week and both teams average under 20 yards per return on kicks. If kicking comes into the equation, that appears to slightly favor Edinboro as well, as K Alex Romanias has missed just two FGs and one PAT, while West Liberty K Mike Blewett has missed six FGs and seven PATs this year.
Series/Game Notes
Edinboro leads the all-time series with West Liberty State 4-2 after the Fighting Scots topped West Liberty by a 42-30 score in the opening game of the season at Edinboro...The Fighting Scots also won at West Liberty in the last season’s opener 35-10...Edinboro also won both games of a home-and-home series to open the 1983 and 1984 seasons and have won four straight in the series...The Hilltoppers’ last win in the series came in 1947.
California (9-3, 7-0 PSAC West) at Shippensburg (9-2, 6-1 PSAC East)
Nov. 21 - 12:00 p.m.
Shippensburg, Pa.
Grove Stadium (7,700)
NCAA Playoffs - Second Round
TV: B2livetv.com/SUTV/ Ship.edu/goraiders
Radio/Internet: wsyc.org
California Conference (PSAC)/NCAA Ranks
Scoring Offense: 35.0 - 1st/16th Rush Offense: 173.9 - 4th/41st
Scoring Defense: 19.1 - 3rd/21st Rush Defense: 102.0 - 2nd21st
Pass Offense: 224.3 - 4th/57th Total Offense: 398.2 - 3rd/42nd
Pass Defense: 179.8 - 6th/37th Total Defense: 281.8 - 2nd/15th
Shippensburg Conference (PSAC)/NCAA Ranks
Scoring Offense: 33.8 - 3rd/25th Rush Offense: 174.8 - 3rd/40th
Scoring Defense: 22.4 - 8th/56th Rush Defense: 136.6 - 10th/71st
Pass Offense: 213.4 - 5th/64th Total Offense: 388.2 - 5th/52nd
Pass Defense: 185.6 - 12th/48th Total Defense: 322.3 - 8th/51st
Coaches
California: John Luckhardt (8th year; 203-64-2 career record; 66-27 at Cal)
Shippensburg: Rocky Rees (20th year; 154-118-2 career record; 118-103-1 at SU)
What to Expect
Even though the numbers on paper seem to slightly favor California, particularly on defense, that did not matter two weeks ago when Shippensburg raced out to an early lead that was as large 28 points in the fourth quarter and then held off a late California rally that saw the Vulcans scored three fourth quarter TDs to claim the PSAC championship. Since Shippensburg hasn’t played since that game and California put up its usual average numbers on both offense and defense last week, the numbers have not changed much since that matchup two weeks ago, meaning that a similar high-scoring game can be expected if going by the numbers. The second-matchup-in-three-weeks as usual is hard to quantify for either team as to who that may give and advantage to. Both teams also played turnover-free football in the first matchup, so in a close game with two explosive offenses, just a single turnover by either team could push it in favor of the opponent.
Ship outgained Cal on the ground two weeks ago, which was surprising since the Vulcans have one of the best rush defenses in the country, allowing just over 100 yards per game. Perhaps a big reason for that is because Ship usually spreads out the carries in its Wing T offense and this week should be no different with Kevin Marshall, Kevin Herod and Mike Frenette each getting several carries apiece. WR Chase DiFebbo also had a big game two weeks ago, catching for 168 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Cal limited leading receiver Mike Harris to just 34 yards receiving and four catches. The Vulcans will likely focus on Harris again, so DiFebbo or someone else may need to have a big receiving game again if Harris is limited once again. QB Chad DiFebbo also completed 75 percent of his passes with four TD tosses and no interceptions and that may be important again, as of DiFebbo’s 10 total interceptions this year, four have come in Ship’s two losses.
Aside from three straight possessions in the fourth quarter in which Cal cut a four-touchdown lead to a one-touchdown lead, Shippensburg’s defense was tremenhous for most of the game two weeks ago, particularly through three quarters. After allowing the Vulcans to scored on the first possession of the game, the Red Raiders forced three punts, a missed field goal and stopped Cal on fourth down on two straight possessions, all while the offense built a sizable lead. Not digging themselves a hole early may be an important factor for the Vulcans again, and their offense will need to be more consistent throughout the game for that to happen. Expect a solid 1-2 punch in the running game once again with Windell Brown and Freddie Bacco and if the Vulcans do not go down early, they may get more carries. The Vulcans’ running game has hampered due to being down by so much, forcing QB Josh Portis to throw the ball 48 times, completing just half of them. The Red Raiders have struggled at times against the pass this year, having given up more than 200 yards passing five times this year, but having won all five games, including the first matchup with Cal. The Vulcans have as solid of a receiving trio as there is in A.J. Jackson, Terrance Moore and Chedrick Cherry.
These two teams have the two top kickoff return units in the PSAC, with Ship averaging 24.1 ypr and Cal averaging 24.0 ypr, as each have two playmaking kick returners in Bryan Barley and Marshall for Ship and Terrence Johnson and Cherry for Cal. The teams are also within .1 of a yard in average punt returns with Ship at 9.2 and Cal at 9.1. Cal has a slight edge in net punt return average at 34.2 to Ship’s 32.2 but the Red Raiders give up an average of 6.5 yards per punt return while Cal limits its opponents to just 3.9 ypr, so that may come into play. Both teams have solid kickers, with Ship K Kyler Ford having missed just four FGs and one PAT. Which kicker Cal puts out there could be a toss-up, however, as Marc Domonkos took over the job from Kevin Hagerman about halfway through the season but Hagerman did all of the kicking last week. They have combined for nearly the same FG numbers as Ford (9-for-14) and also have missed just one combined PAT.
Series/Game Notes
Shippensburg leads California 42-28-1 in the all-time series...Both schools played in the PSAC West up until last year when the Red Raiders moved over to the East...The teams met for 54 consecutive years from 1954-2007...Prior to Shippensburg’s 42-35 win in the PSAC championship game two weeks ago, Cal has won the last three meetings between the two teams...Prior to that, Shippensburg won 13 straight meetings from 1991-2003.