Football - Week 4
Week 4 Football Notes (pdf)
The fourth week of the season brings the beginning of divisional play in the PSAC as that gets underway with four PSAC East and four PSAC West games. After three weeks of 'crossover' games and non-conference games, only three PSAC teams remain with unblemished records - Bloomsburg and Kutztown in the East and Edinboro in the West - which one might expect when considering that the PSAC went 8-8 in non-conference play and the East has won eight crossover games and the West seven.
As a result, and due to the way the schedule falls, only one matchup this week will feature two teams with .500 or better records playing one another. That game will be the last of the day on Saturday (7:00 p.m.) as IUP travels to Slippery Rock in what will be the first full game that The Rock plays in the newly-named Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, which was renamed during a halftime ceremony two weeks ago. This will be the 80th all-time matchup between the PSAC West rivals and based on the statistics on paper and recent history, should not disappoint. Four of the last five games between the teams, dating back to 2006, have been decided by fewer than 10 points, including four-point wins for The Rock in 2006 and 2009, a three-point win for IUP in 2007, and a seven-point victory for the Crimson Hawks in the 2008 double-overtime thriller. IUP also shut out Slippery Rock 17-0 last season, breaking The Rock's 14-year streak of not being shut out.
All of the other matchups in the PSAC this week feature at least one team below .500 looking to even their record or get their first win. Edinboro will make its first road trip of the season, but just a very short one to Northern Erie County to face Gannon to kick off Saturday's slate of games at 12 noon. East Stroudsburg will also travel to West Chester to renew a series that has also produced some close and exciting games recently. The last three games in that series have all been decided by 10 points or fewer, including a one-point East Stroudsburg win two years ago in the Warriors' last visit to West Chester.
PSAC Football - Week Four Notes - 9/21/11
Quick Hits
- Mercyhurst dropped out of the AFCA Top 25 poll this week and the Lakers are now the top team in the ‘others receiving votes’ category, however the Lakers were replaced in the Top 25 by Edinboro, which leaves the PSAC tied for the most teams ranked of any conference in the that poll for the fourth straight week. The MIAA also has four teams ranked in the AFCA poll.
- Gannon’s Justin Caliste is one of only two punt returners in the country that has already returned two punts for touchdowns this year. He is the only one on a full-time Division II team with two TD returns, as the other individual is on a team that is currently in the reclassifying process.
- Shippensburg scored over 50 points in last week’s 54-24 win over Clarion. That marked the third straight week that at least one PSAC team scored at least 50 points as Slippery Rock did so in each of its first two games andEast Stroudsburg and Kutztown each did it once on its first three contests. This has marked the fourth time in the last five years that at least one PSAC team has scored 50 points in three consecutive weeks. It is also the first time since 2007 that at least one PSAC team has scored 50 in each of the first three weeks of a season.
- Both Trevor Kennedy of Mercyhurst and Thomas Mayo of California posted 200-yard receiving games last week. Kennedy caught for 206 yards vs. C.W. Post while Mayo amassed 201 yards vs. East Stroudsburg. That marked the first time since 1998 that two PSAC receivers had 200-yard games in the same week of the season. In 1998, West Chester’s Kevin Ingram caught for 401 yards while Clarion’s Alvin Slaughter grabbed 211 yards worth of catches. Amazingly, those two performances came in the same game between West Chester and Clarion. Ingram’s mark of 401 receiving yards is the PSAC single-game record and is one of only two single-game receiving performances in PSAC history of over 300 yards.
- Kennedy’s and Mayo’s performances marked the second straight year that at least two PSAC receivers posted 200-yard receiving games in the same season. Both Jamal Smith of Millersville and Joe Botti of C.W. Post caught for 200 yards in a game last season. Prior to last year, the PSAC’s last 200-yard receiving performance in a game was back in 2007.
- Last week in PSAC ‘crossover’ action, the Eastern and Western Divisions each won four games. That gives the East a slim 8-7 lead in crossover games with eight more remaining. The last week of crossover games will be the final week of the regular season on November 12. That day will also feature the PSAC championship game.
- With last week’s results, the West now leads the East 48-39 in crossover games since the beginning of the 2008 season, when the current divisional setup and crossover format began. The West went 15-9 in crossover games in 2008 and won 14 games to the East’s 10 last year. The divisions each won 12 games apiece in 2009.
- Kutztown has amassed over 1,700 yards of total offense in just three games, for an average of just over 575 yards per game, which ranks second in the country. The Golden Bears are on pace for over 6,300 total yards in 11 regular season games, which would place it fifth in PSAC single-season history.
- Bloomsburg RB Eddie Mateo rushed for five touchdowns in the Huskies’ win over Clarion in Week 2. That marked the 22nd five-rushing touchdown performance in PSAC history.
- In doing so, Mateo also made it the first time in PSAC history that at least one back has rushed for five touchdowns in a game and at least two quarterbacks have thrown for six touchdowns in a game in a single season after both Kutztown’s Kevin Morton and East Stroudsburg’s Ray Wagner did so in Week 1.
- Both Kutztown and East Stroudsburg scored 56 points in Week 1. That marked the first time since 1996 that two PSAC teams put up at least 55 points in the first week of the season. That year, both West Chester (62) and East Stroudsburg (56) scored at least 55 in the opening week.
- Bloomsburg sophomore RB Franklyn Quiteh has now played in 16 career games and has 14 100-yard games. The only two games he has been held below 100 yards have both been against IUP, last year and this year.
Edinboro Defense Slows Down Potent West Liberty Attack
Edinboro defeated West Liberty 30-14 to open the season, which marked the fourth straight season-opening win for the Fighting Scots over the Hilltoppers. Edinboro has been the one team that West Liberty, which has had the highest-scoring offense in the country for the last two seasons, has been unable to figure out. Since the beginning of the 2008 season, when the teams began their current series, West Liberty has averaged 40.4 point per game in all contests and 43.3 points per contest in games not against Edinboro. In its four regular season games against Edinboro, the Hilltoppers have been held to just 18.3 points per game. Although the Hilltoppers exploded for 84 points in their 84-63 win over ‘Boro in the NCAA playoffs in 2009, West Liberty is just 1-5 against PSAC teams since the beginning of the 2008 season, including 1-4 against Edinboro. The Hilltoppers are 25-10 against all other teams.
Rock Offense Opens Strong
Slippery Rock scored at least 50 points in each of its first two games this season, hanging 51 on Seton Hill in Week 1 in a 51-14 win and then putting up 54 in a 54-0 win over Cheyney in Week 2. That marked the first time since 1996 that a PSAC team has scored at least 50 points in each of its first two games of the season. East Stroudsburg was the last team to accomplish the feat, scoring 56 in its season-opening 59-56 loss to New Haven and then putting up 54 in a 54-28 win over Southern Connecticut.
Rare 200-Club Meeting Takes Place for Third Straight Season
For the second straight year, a matchup of two 200-win coaches took place in the PSAC last week when California and John Luckhardt (217 career wins) topped East Stroudsburg and Denny Douds (230 career wins), 22-19. It is believed that only three suchs meetings have taken place between a pair of 200-win coaches at the Division II level and Luckhardt has been involved in all three in each of the last three seasons. There was last year’s meeting as well with East Stroudsburg as the 2009 NCAA playoff semifinal game between California and Northwest Missouri State that matched up Luckhardt with former NMSU coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
Morton and Wagner Contribute to PSAC Rarity
Both Ray Wagner of East Stroudsburg and Kevin Morton of Kutztown threw for six touchdowns in Week 1, which marked only the second time in PSAC history that more than one QB has thrown for six TDs in a game in the same season. The only other time is happened was 1999, when Millersville’s Drew Folmar (who coincidentally is now the Kutztown offensive coordinator) and West Chester’s Mike Mitros both accomplished the feat. Even more ironic, Folmar accomplished the feat against East Stroudsburg while Mitros did it against Kutztown. However, both Folmar and Mitros did so in different weeks of the season, making Morton’s and Wagner’s accomplishment the first time in PSAC history that two different QBs have thrown for six TDs in the same week of a season.
National Leaders
Several PSAC teams and individuals are currently leading the country in various statistical categories. Those teams and individuals are listed below.
- The PSAC has the top two wide receivers in the country in receiving yards per game. Mercyhurst’s Trevor Kennedy leads at 154.33 while California’s Thomas Mayo is second at 153.67. Kennedy and Mayo are also 1-2 in the country in total receiving yards at 463 and 461, respectively.
- For the second straight week, Kutztown QB Kevin Morton is tied for the national lead in points responsible for with 30 points per game and 90 points overall by account of his 13 touchdown passes and two rushing TDs.
- James Jackson of Edinboro is tied for most passes defended per game at 2.67 and also tied with eight overall.
- Edinboro and Slippery Rock are two of 11 teams nationally that are yet to lose a fumble.
- Kutztown leads the nation in average first downs per game with 29.67. The Golden Bears’ 89 total first downs are also second in the country. Delta State has the most with 102 but the Statesmen have played four games.
- Bloomsburg (2-for-2) is one of seven teams that is perfect on fourth-down conversions this year.
- Slippery Rock is tied with two other teams for having allowed the fewest first downs in the country on defense, with just 34 for an average of 11.33 per game.
- California and IUP are two of 14 teams that are yet to allow an opponent to convert on fourth down this year.
Single Game HIghs
PSAC individuals and teams are responsible for five single-game highs in NCAA Division II so far this season. Those individuals are listed below.
- East Stroudsburg QB Ray Wagner has the highest single-game pass efficiency rating this season with a 321.5 rating vs. Pace on September 1.
- East Stroudsburg’s 97-yard touchdown pass from Ray Wagner to Robert Bleiler vs. Pace on September 3 is the longest passing play in the country this year.
- Edinboro CB James Jackson’s is one of 14 players that have four passes defended in a game this season. His came vs. West Liberty on September 3.
PSAC in Non-Conference Action
The PSAC went 8-8 in non-conference play this season, including 8-7 vs. Division II opponents. Among the conferences that this year’s non-conference opponents came from include the Northeast 10, WVIAC, CIAA, GLIAC and one independent. Listed below is the conference breakdown of each of this year’s non-conference opponents, followed by the PSAC’s record the last three years in non-conference action, since the current setup of the PSAC went into effect.
Northeast 10: 3-2 (Wins - East Stroudsburg over Pace, Edinboro over Merrimack, Kutztown vs St. Anselm; Losses - New Haven over West Chester, American International over C.W. Post)
WVIAC: 2-3: (Wins - Edinboro over West Liberty, Slippery Rock over Seton Hill; Losses - Fairmont State over Clarion, Shepherd over Shippensburg, West Virginia Wesleyan over Millersville)
GLIAC: 1-1 (Win - Bloomsburg over Ashland; Loss - Lake Erie over Gannon)
Northern Sun: 0-1 (Loss - St. Cloud State over California)
CIAA: 1-0 (Win - Cheyney over Lincoln)
Independent: 1-0 (Win - Mercyhurst over Notre Dame College)
Division I FCS (CAA): 0-1 (Loss -Delaware over West Chester)
2010 - 9-7 overall (9-5 vs. Division II)
Northeast 10: 5-1 (Wins - Slippery Rock over Merrimack, East Stroudsburg over Pace, C.W. Post over American International, Kutztown over St. Anselm, IUP over Southern Connecticut State; Losses - Assumption over Millersville)
WVIAC: 1-2 (Wins - Edinboro over West Liberty; Losses - Shepherd over Shippensburg, Fairmont State over Clarion)
GLIAC: 2-1 (Wins - Gannon over Lake Erie, California over Saginaw Valley State; Losses - Ashland over Bloomsburg)
Division I FCS: 0-2 (Losses - Delaware (CAA) over West Chester, Virginia Military Institute (Big South) over Lock Haven)
CIAA: 0-1 (Lincoln over Cheyney)
Independents: 1-0 (Mercyhurst over Notre Dame College)
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; 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 (Mich.) 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)
FCS (CAA): 0-1 (Losses - Delaware over West Chester)
Game Previews
#19 Edinboro (3-0) at Gannon (1-2)
Sept. 24 - 12:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa.
University Field (2,500)
TV: b2livetv.com
Radio/Internet: GoFightingScots.com/WFSE 88.9 FM/wergfm.com/Jet Radio 1400 AM
Conference Ranks Edinboro Gannon
Scoring Offense/Defense 40.0/3rd; 15.3/T2nd 23.3/8th; 18.0/5th
Rush Offense/Defense 190.0/5th; 77.7/3rd 110.7/12th; 126.0/7th
Pass Offense/Defense 192.0/9th; 168.7/4th 175.7/10th; 190.3/7th
Total Offense/Defense 382.0/8th; 246.3/2nd 286.3/13th; 316.3/5th
What to Expect
- Edinboro has an almost perfect balance between the run and the pass. The Scots have had a strong running game behind Drew Herrell (6.8 ypc), D’Andrea Vaughn (4.8 ypc) and Brian Davis (5.2 ypc), which has also helped ‘Boro have the second-best average time of possession in the PSAC. Additionally, “Boro has the best red zone offense in the league, scoring 93.3 percent of the time it gets there.
- Gannon’s offense has struggled but it exploded for 47 points last week on the back of punt returner Justin Caliste, who is averaging 20.9 ypr on punts. He appears to be the Knights’ best offensive threat. Part of Gannon’s problem has been its third down conversion rate, which is last in the PSAC at 19.0 percent.
- Turnovers have been a problem for Gannon as the Knights are tied for a league-high 11 turnovers. By contrast, Edinboro has league best +5 turnover margin.
Series/Game Notes
Edinboro leads Gannon 5-0 in the all-time series...The Fighting Scots shut out the Golden Knights last year, 13-0 and in the teams’ three games since Gannon joined the PSAC in 2008, Edinboro has outscored Gannon 75-23...Edinboro also won two non-conference games between the schools in 2001 and 2002.
Millersville (1-2) at #4/6 Bloomsburg (3-0)
Sept. 24 - 1:00 p.m.
Bloomsburg, Pa.
Redman Stadium (4,775)
Radio/Internet: MSBN/Millersvilleathletics.com/WHLM 930 AM/whlm.com
Conference Ranks Millersville Bloomsburg
Scoring Offense/Defense 8.0/16th; 40.7/15th 30.7/5th; 15.3/T2nd
Rush Offense/Defense 83.7/16th; 122.0/6th 241.7/2nd/ 179.7/15th
Pass Offense/Defense 75.7/15th; 263.0/13th 142.3/13th; 148.7/3rd
Total Offense/Defense 159.3/15th; 385.0/9th 384.0/7th; 328.3/6th
What to Expect
- While Millersville has given up the second-most points in the PSAC, the Marauders are actually ranked around the middle of the league in total defense and have done a respectable job stopping the run. They will need to just that against Bloomsburg, which was held to only 76 yards rushing vs. IUP last week. A big part of the Marauders’ success on defense has been on third down, where they are allowing opponents to convert only 26.3 percent of the time - second best in the PSAC.
- Bloomsburg will likely try to get back to running the ball effectively against the Marauders but the Huskies proved last week that they can be effective throwing as well as they accumulated 235 passing yards on only nine completions. Starting RB Franklyn Quiteh was limited due to injury so backup Eddie Mateo may see more time this week.
- The Marauders’ best hope on offense may be running the ball with RB Mike Jones and QB Dan Miller as Bloomsburg has uncharacteristically struggled in stopping the run this season.
Series/Game Notes
Bloomsburg leads the all-time series with Millersville, 38-30-5...The Huskies won last year’s meeting 44-7 and have won the last 11 consecutive meetings in the series...Millersville’s last win came in 1999 in Bloomsburg.
Shippensburg (2-1) at C.W. Post (0-3)
Sept. 24 - 1:00 p.m.
Brookville, N.Y.
Hickox Field (5,000)
Radio/Internet: WSYC 88.7 FM/wsyc.org
Conference Ranks Shippensburg C.W. Post
Scoring Offense/Defense 40.7/2nd; 30.0/12th 9.0/15th; 29.3/11th
Rush Offense/Defense 190.3/4th; 154.7/11th 113.3/10th; 156.7/12th
Pass Offense/Defense 269.3/5th; 244.0/10th 100.7/14th; 269.3/14th
Total Offense/Defense 459.7/4th; 398.7/T11th 214.0/14th; 426.0/14th
What to Expect
- Shippensburg has quietly put up some of the best offensive numbers in the PSAC thus far and they may continue to do so against C.W. Post, which has given up the third-most yards in the league while playing two of the best offenses in California and Mercyhurst the last two weeks.
- Ship QB Zach Zulli has emerged as one of the top passers in the league and he ranked fifth in completion percentage at 62 percent. The Raiders like to spread it out and six different receivers have caugh at least six passes while seven different players have caught a TD pass. FB Mike Frenette is a focal point of the offense as he leads the team in rushing and also has the second-most catches.
- The Red Raider defense has also given up its share of yards and points so that may be a welcome sight for the Pioneers, who have struggled on offense. While C.W. Post’s two QBs have combined to complete only 46.8 percent of their passes, the Pioneer running game, thought to be a strength heading into the season, has also struggled, gaining just 3.2 ypc.
Series/Game Notes
Shippensburg leads C.W. Post 3-2 in the all-time series...The Pioneers have won the last two games in the series, 31-14 last year and 40-24 in 2009, in what was Shippensburg’s only divisional loss of that season...The Red Raiders won at home in 2008, 27-10 and also in 1981 and 1983 contests.
Cheyney (1-2) at #12/13 Kutztown (3-0)
Sept. 24 - 1:05 p.m.
Kutztown, Pa.
University Field (5,600)
Radio/Internet: RedZoneMedia.com/KUBears.com
Conference Ranks Cheyney Kutztown
Scoring Offense/Defense 11.3/14th; 38.0/14th 46.7/1st; 21.3/T7th
Rush Offense/Defense 113.0/11th; 143.0/10th 284.7/1st; 119.0/5th
Pass Offense/Defense 44.0/16th; 255.7/12th 291.0/3rd; 281.3/16th
Total Offense/Defense 157.0/16th; 398.7/T11th 575.7/1st; 400.3/13th
What to Expect
- No one has been able to stop Kutztown’s offense yet, and it currently ranks second in the country in total yards. While QB Kevin Morton has maintained his lofty passing numbers from last year, the Golden Bears’ running game has also taken off behind Robbie Frey (7.0 ypc), Josh Mastromatto (7.9 ypc) and Curtis Wortham (7.7 ypc). Cheyney’s defense started the year out well against Lincoln, especially against the run, limiting the Lions to just eight yards, but the Wolves have given up a combined 421 yards on the ground to Slippery Rock and Edinboro, two teams that also have strong running games.
- Cheyney’s passing offense has greatly struggled, as the Wolves’ two QBs have combined to complete only 25.6 percent of their passes. While Kutztown has given up the most passing yards in the PSAC, the Golden Bears have made eight interceptions, which has helped keep down its points allowed despite giving up the fourth-most yards in the PSAC. By comparison, the Golden Bears combined for just 16 picks over the last two seasons.
Series/Game Notes
Kutztown leads Cheyney 50-10-1 in the all-time series...The Golden Bears won by a 52-14 score last season and have won 17 straight in the series and 20 of the last 21...Cheyney’s last win the series came in 1993.
Mercyhurst (2-1) at Lock Haven (0-2)
Sept. 24 - 3:00 p.m.
Lock Haven, Pa.
Jack Stadium (3,500)
TV: HAVENcast/GoLHU.com
Conference Ranks Mercyhurst Lock Haven
Scoring Offense/Defense 28.7/7th; 21.7/9th 13.0/13th; 35.0/13th
Rush Offense/Defense 107.7/13th; 131.7/8th 90.5/15th; 176.5/13th
Pass Offense/Defense 354.3/1st; 171.0/5th 218.5/7th; 215.0/9th
Total Offense/Defense 462.0/3rd; 302.7/3rd 309.0/12th; 391.5/10th
What to Expect
- Lock Haven’s offense is much improved from last year, as RB Brandon Brader has run for over 100 yards in the team’s first two games, the first time an LHU back has gained over 100 yards in back-to-back games since 2004. However, the Bald Eagles will be going up against the best defense they have faced so far this year in Mercyhurst. How effective Brader is with running the ball could be a key, as a longer time of possession for LHU could help slow down Mercyhurst’s potent passing game behind QB Travis Rearick and WR Trevor Kennedy, who are ranked first and second, respectively, in the country in passing yard and receiving yards.
- The LHU defense is also improved but the Eagles’ biggest problem so far has been getting off the field on third down. Lock Haven has allowed opponents to convert on 57.1 percent of third downs, the worst in the PSAC.
- Both teams are averaging 30.6 net yards per punt but Lock Haven is the only team in the PSAC that is yet to allow a punt return for positive yardage.
Series/Game Notes
Mercyhurst leads Lock Haven 3-0 in the all-time series, with the teams meeting in each of the last three seasons ever since the Lakers joined the PSAC in 2008...Mercyhurst shut out the Bald Eagles 41-0 last year, won 19-7 in 2009 and topped Lock Haven 49-14 in 2008...Mercyhurst is receiving votes in the AFCA poll.
Clarion (0-3) at #17/16 California (2-1)
Sept. 24 - 3:30 p.m.
California, Pa.
Adamson Stadium (6,500)
TV: b2livetv.com/Fox College Sports
Radio/Internet: WCCR 92.7 FM/WKQW 96.3 FM/RedZoneMedia.com/WCAL 91.9 FM/WCAL.cup.edu
Conference Ranks Clarion California
Scoring Offense/Defense 17.0/12th; 43.3/16th 22.0/T10th; 19.3/6th
Rush Offense/Defense 182.7/6th; 353.0/16th 129.3/8th; 141.0/9th
Pass Offense/Defense 166.3/12th; 118.7/2nd 271.7/4th; 189.0/6th
Total Offense/Defense 349.0/10th; 471.7/16th 401.0/5th; 330.0/7th
What to Expect
- While Clarion’s offense has displayed some positive signs with RB Brandon Akins averaging 6.5 ypc and QB Ben Fiscus being a solid dual threat, the Golden Eagles’ defense has been the primary reason for the team’s 0-3 start. They have given up at least 250 rushing yards in all three games, and over 350 in two of them. Because their opponents have been able to run the ball at will, the Eagles’ pass defense has only given up just over 100 ypg and is one of the best in the country. Although Cal has thrown more than it has passed so far and is only averaging 3.5 ypc as a team, look for the Vulcans to run heavily with Lamont Smith and Edwin Gowins.
- Akins has been Clarion’s biggest threat not only on offense but also special teams as he is averaging 16.0 ypr on punts while Pat Graham-Murphy is averaging 32.0 ypr on kickoffs, including one for a TD last week.
Series/Game Notes
California leads the all-time series with Clarion 41-37-3...The Vulcans have won the last six consecutive games in the series, including last year’s 24-9 win...Clarion’s last win the series came in 2004.
East Stroudsburg (1-2) at West Chester (1-2)
Sept. 24 - 6:00 p.m.
West Chester, Pa.
Farrell Stadium (7,500)
Radio/Internet: WVPO 840 AM/RedZoneMedia.com/WCUR 91.7 FM/BrandywineRadio.com
Conference Ranks East Stroudsburg West Chester
Scoring Offense/Defense 29.3/6th; 21.3/T7th 23.0/9th; 25.3/10th
Rush Offense/Defense 118.7/9th; 178.7/14th 98.3/14th; 107.7/4th
Pass Offense/Defense 347.3/2nd; 249.3/11th 250.3/6th; 203.0/8th
Total Offense/Defense 466.0/2nd; 428.0/15th 348.7/11th; 310.7/4th
What to Expect
- West Chester appears to be better than its record would indicate as the Golden Rams knocked off a previously unbeaten Slippery Rock squad last week after losing narrow contests to both New Haven and Delaware. The Golden Rams’ strength so far has been their defense, which has been particularly tough against the run. They may find the need to run against East Stroudsburg, however, as the Warriors have given up the third-most rushing yards in the PSAC.
- That has the potential to be an air show as both teams’ offensive strength is throwing the ball, however, East Stroudsburg has proven to be the better team in that area as the Warriors average almost 100 yards more passing than WCU.
- One area where a close game could turn might be the penalty department, as East Stroudsburg averages the fewest penalty yards per contest in PSAC. There is a difference of 60 ypg of penalties between ESU and WCU.
Series/Game Notes
West Chester leads East Stroudsburg 53-21 in the all-time series...West Chester won last year, 35-31 while the Warriors won 21-20 in 2009, which snapped a six-game losing streak in the series...Prior to that, ESU hadn’t beat the Golden Rams since 2003.
IUP (1-1) at Slippery Rock (2-1)
Sept. 24 - 7:00 p.m.
Slippery Rock, Pa.
Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (10,000)
Radio/Internet: WISR 680 AM/msasports.net/U 92.5 FM/RedZoneMedia.com
Conference Ranks IUP Slippery Rock
Scoring Offense/Defense 22.0/T10th; 16.5/4th 39.3/4th; 11.3/1st
Rush Offense/Defense 198.5/3rd; 55.5/1st 176.7/7th; 61.3/2nd
Pass Offense/Defense 174.0/11th; 279.0/15th 208.0/8th; 112.0/1st
Total Offense/Defense 372.5/9th; 334.5/8th 384.7/6th; 173.3/1st
What to Expect
- Both teams run the ball well, while Slippery Rock has added a decent passing game to its offense this year as well. Both teams have also held all of their opponents to under 100 yards rushing as well. Judging by the numbers, the offensive key to this game may be how well The Rock can attack IUP through the air, where the Crimson Hawks have been burned for over 550 yards in two games. By the same token, if one team can run the ball better than the other and gain an advantage in time of possession, that should give it an edge in the game.
- Another area where a team could gain an edge is on kickoffs, where Slippery Rock leads and IUP is third in the PSAC in kickoff returns. However, The Rock is averaging over 10 yards more on net kickoffs, something that could shift the battle for field position.
Series/Game Notes
IUP leads Slippery Rock 44-33-2 in the all-time series...The Crimson Hawks blanked The Rock 17-0 last year, while Rock’s last win in the series came in 2009 by a 7-3 count...That shutout last year marked the first time since 1996 that The Rock had been shut out, breaking the PSAC’s longest shutout-less streak at the time...IUP has won 10 of the last 12 meetings in the series dating back to a win in the 1999 NCAA playoffs...Rock’s other win in the last 11 meetings came in 2006.