IUP Slated to Win PSAC Football Western Division
2018 PSAC Football Preseason Notes
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The IUP Crimson Hawks have been tabbed the favorite to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Football Western Division following the preseason poll as selected by the league’s head coaches, the league office announced Friday.
IUP earned seven of the eight possible first-place votes after claiming the PSAC title and advancing to the NCAA DII Football Semifinals in 2017. The Crimson Hawks posted an impressive 13-1 mark and return PSAC West Freshman of the Year Justice Evans. Coach Paul Tortorella enters his second year at the helm after tying a record for wins in a season during his inaugural season.
IUP returns 13 starters, including six on the defensive side of the ball. The Crimson Hawk defense ranked in the top three in all major statistical categories in the league. IUP boasts a pair of linebackers, Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola, who tallied 100-plus tackles each.
The California Vulcans grabbed the No. 2 spot and a first-place vote after making an appearance in the NCAA Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Coach Gary Dunn has posted the most victories ever by a Cal coach in his initial two season (20). The Vulcans are the only PSAC program to win at least seven games every year since the 2005 campaign. Dunn returns 10 starters while Cal looks to build off a 5-0 home record in 2017.
Slippery Rock claimed the No. 3 slot and will return 10 starters on defense. Coach Shawn Lutz enters his third season at the helm of The Rock. Lutz’s offense ranked second overall in the PSAC with 456.5 yards per contest. SRU will be challenged frequently throughout the season as it plays three 2017 NCAA playoff teams (IUP, Cal and Shippensburg) on the road.
Edinboro earned fourth in the poll and will return three All-Americans. The Fighting Scots boast redshirt running back Walter Fletcher and cornerback Zuril Hendrick. Hendrick led NCAA DII in interceptions with nine, including two pick-six’s. EU’s offense ranked sixth in all major statistical categories last season.
Gannon was slated fifth in the poll and return West Athlete of the Year Marcus Jones. Jones finished as the runner-up in Harlon Hill Trophy voting while being named an All-American by multiple media outlets. The Golden Knight offense posted a league-high 465.5 yards per game while averaging 278.3 rushing yards. Defensively, senior linebacker Anthony Howard needs 41 tackles to move into GU’s all-time top 10.
Mercyhurst was picked sixth and returns 15 starters. Doug Altavilla will be the signal caller for the Lakers after throwing for 2,345 yards in 2017.
Clarion was tabbed seventh and returns 15 starters while Seton Hill rounded out the poll and boasts a pair of all-conference wide recievers.
GU, IUP and Cal open their respective seasons on Thursday, August 30 while the remaining five teams being play on Saturday, September 1.
West (# of 1st place votes)
- IUP (7)
- California (1)
- Slippery Rock
- Edinboro
- Gannon
- Mercyhurst
- Clarion
- Seton Hill