PSAC Football Athletes of the Week - 9
Football: Eastern Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
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John Ford
Lock Haven (So. / RB)
Etters, Pa. / Red Land
Ford led the offensive charge on Saturday in the Bald Eagles historic win over local-rival and PSAC East perennial power Bloomsburg. LHU beat BU 26-18 thanks to Ford’s career-high 144 yards on the ground. Ford carried the ball a career-high 35 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush. Ford scored one TD helping Lock Haven snap a six-game losing streak to the Huskies and it marked LHU's first win over local-rival BU since 2003. |
Football: Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
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Kevin Taylor
Shippensburg (Jr. / DB)
East Orange, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep
Taylor II was named the Shippensburg VFW Defensive MVP of SU's Homecoming game for intercepting two passes, returning one for a 40-yard touchdown, and totaling five tackles with one pass break-up in a 24-21 double-OT loss to Kutztown...Taylor's "pick-six" gave SU its 14-0 lead in the third quarter.
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Football: Eastern Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
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Brandon Keffer
Kutztown (So. / K)
Lancaster, Pa. / Cocalico
Keffer's first field goal attempt of the season went through for a game-winner in double-overtime on Saturday as the Kutztown University football team won 24-21 at Shippensburg University and Seth Grove Stadium, clinching KU at least a share of the PSAC Eastern Division title and securing its place in the PSAC Championship game on Nov. 12. Keffer didn't join the team until mid-season, as KU was in need of kickers due to injuries. He had not attempted a field goal all season. |
Football: Western Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
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Garry Brown
California (Sr. / WR)
Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South
Brown posted the second-most single-game receiving yards in school history and finished just one catch shy of tying single-game school record, as the Vulcans cruised to a 55-14 victory at Mercyhurst on Saturday. He registered 265 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 12 receptions against the Lakers on Saturday, which ranks as the third-most, single-game receiving yards in NCAA Division II this season. Brown also now holds the top-two receiving games in school history, as he set the record of 282 yards at Mercyhurst in 2014. The Ohio native totaled 119 yards on his three touchdown catches (56, 27, 36) on Saturday, including a score on the final play of the first half .
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Football: Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
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Victor Hudson
Edinboro (Sr. / DE)
Northfield, Ohio / Nordonia
Hudson finished with seven tackles, with 2 tackles for losses of 12 yards (both sacks) ... also recovered a fumble to stop a drive at the EU 5 ... was a part of all three Edinboro sacks, with a half sack early in the 4th qtr, a full sack midway through the fourth, and a half sack on a fourth down play on final play for Seton Hill ... played key role in Edinboro defense that held Seton Hill to 168 yards in second half, including just 15 yards and no first downs in fourth quarter.
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Football: Western Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
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Scott Ayers
Clarion (Sr. / P)
Bethesda, Md. / Thomas Wooten
Ayers had a solid day against The Rock, punting five times for an average of 46.6 yards per kick. His long punt of the day sailed 52 yards, and he was also successful in pinning The Rock inside their own 20-yard line once on the day.
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Game Notes:
Clarion: Clarion is now 3-6 overall, 2-4 against PSAC West opponents… the win over Slippery Rock was Clarion’s first over The Rock since the 2010 season… Connor Simmons returned to the starting lineup after missing three straight games due to injury and threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns against The Rock… He became just the second player in program history to crack 60 career touchdown passes, as well as the second player to break 7,000 passing yards in a career… Delrece Williams became just the 10
th player in program history to rush for 2,000 career yards, reaching the milestone in the second half…
Matt Lehman finished with four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, giving him 24 career receiving scores. With one more, he'll tie Terry McFetridge for the program record… He also surpassed Pierre Odom for fourth place in program history in career reception yards, with 2,342 yards in his career… Saif Khan blocked a Slippery Rock extra point attempt in the second half, the second blocked kick for the Golden Eagles this year… Tyrone Archie recorded a sack against Slippery Rock, marking the third straight game he’s had at least one… Archie has had four sacks in the past three games… Kevin Genevro ran wild over The Rock on Saturday, posting 11 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:05 to play… he is now tied for second in the PSAC in touchdown catches…
East Stroudsburg: ESU (4-5, 2-4) fell 41-14 vs West Chester on Saturday after trailing just 13-7 at halftime. R-Sr. TB Robert Healy, ranked 2nd in DII in yards from scrimmage (186.0 ypg), suffered an injury on the final play of the first half and did not return. Healy ran for 57 yards to tie ESU's single-season rushing record (1,160 - tied with Andre Castiglioni, 2000). He is 10 yards from becoming the 14th PSAC player with 4,000 career rushing yards. Healy extended his ESU single-season rushing TD record (18), and moved into a tie for 2nd at ESU in career rushing TD (32 - tied with Toby Barkman, 1960-63). He ranks 4th at ESU in career total TD (44). Healy finished the afternoon with 3,990 career rushing yards and 1,915 receiving yards. He can become the 2nd player in PSAC history with 4,000 career rushing yards and 2,000 receiving yards, joining Rondell White (West Chester, 2010-13). R-Jr. QB Tim DiGiorgio was 21-for-37 for 292 yards, a TD and an Int. in his 2nd start. Jr. WR Tim Wilson had 6 catches for a career-high 111 yards, and Fr. WR Javier Buffalo had 2 catches for 88 yards, including a 46-yard TD. ESU head coach Denny Douds will become the 8th coach in NCAA history (all divisions) to coach 450 career games on Saturday vs. Lock Haven (1:05 p.m.). Douds has a career record of 260-186-3 in 43 seasons, holding the PSAC record and ranking 16th in NCAA history (all divisions) in career wins.
Edinboro: After being picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West following an 0-11 finish in 2015, Edinboro plays at sixth-ranked California(Pa.) with first place on the line. The Fighting Scots are 8-1 after scoring the final 21 points for a 42-34 win over Seton Hill. It marked the fifth time this year Edinboro has rallied for a win in the fourth quarter or overtime … the eight victories and five straight wins are both the most since the 2009 season … Edinboro entered the game ranked seventh in Super Region One … Edinboro would finish with 572 yards, matching their season high, compared to Seton Hill’s 545. However, the Fighting Scots defense limited the Griffins to 15 yards in the decisive fourth quarter … for the first time in nine games, Edinboro held an advantage in time of possession, 31:04 to 28:56 … Jake Sisson threw for 400-or-more yards for the fourth time this season. The junior completed 38 of 62 passes for 463 yards with 5 TDs and 3 INTs. The 463 yards is the third-highest single-game total, and his 474 yards in total offense is also tied for third. The 62 attempts matches his career high he set a week ago at Slippery Rock and the second-highest single-game total, and the 38 completions is the third-highest single-game total. He has now thrown for 2,945 yards, the third-highest season total, while moving into sixth place in career passing yards with 5,383. Sisson has 3,309 yards in total offense, which ranks third in a season. He needs 360 yards to break the season record for passing yards and 366 yards for the record for total offense. Both are held by Trevor Harris … after breaking Harris’ season touchdown passes record last week, Sisson boosted his total to 37 and has thrown five-or-more touchdowns in a game four times. He came into the game ranked second in Division II in touchdown passes. The 37 TD passes is tied for ninth in a season in the PSAC … for the second time in the last three games, three receivers caught passes for 100-or-more yards. It had never been done before prior to the Mercyhurst game. James Clark caught 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, while Ta’Nauz Gregory had 8 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown, and Alex Caratelli 7 receptions for 119 yards and a score … with 60 receptions, Clark now ranks fourth in a season, with Caratelli adding 56 (sixth) and Gregory 54 (tied for seventh). Clark has 874 yards receiving, good for sixth in a season … Zuril Hendrick had two interceptions against Seton Hill, and Victor Hudson had a pair of sacks. That gives him 11 sacks on the season, moving into fourth place in a season … Austin Reese made six extra points against Seton Hill to boost his season total to 48, a new school record. The senior has attempted 49, which is third in a season.
Gannon: Gannon fell to No. 12 Indiana (Pa.) last Saturday at McConnell Family Stadium, suffering a loss to a nationally-ranked team for the second consecutive week … Gannon dropped its ninth consecutive game against a nationally-ranked opponent … the Golden Knights' last victory against a top-25 team came November 5, 2011 with a 33-27 home victory against then 14th-ranked Slippery Rock … junior Karch Holland broke a school record with a 51-yard field goal during the first quarter, eclipsing the previous mark of 50 yards set by Jeremy Ditzler against Clarion in 2010 and Adam Foust against Thomas More in 1998 … true freshman Jarcardi Brooks entered the game with four receptions for 51 yards, before setting season-highs in both categories against IUP with six for 70 … redshirt senior Christian Carpenter led both sides with 17 tackles, shattering his previous career-high duplicated in back-to-back weeks against Mercyhurst and Edinboro by five … sophomore Anthony Howard set a new season-high in tackles (15), surpassing his previous mark of 12 at Slippery Rock in week four … redshirt freshman Dorian Jones entered the game with 12 career tackles, before posting a career-high eight against IUP … redshirt senior Quad Law moved past Jesstin Hamm (2011-15) and into third place all-time at Gannon with his 154th career reception … senior Mike Zanders II closed within three tackles of K.J. Heider's (1989-92) program record of 341 career tackles … Law jumped past Sam Culberth (2002-06) into eighth place all-time at Gannon with 3,187 career all-purpose yards … Gannon will need to win its final two games against Clarion and Millersville to secure its fourth consecutive winning season which has been accomplished only once (1992-95) in school history.
IUP: 12th-ranked IUP improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the PSAC West with a 48-3 blowout win at Gannon. The Crimson Hawks scored 42 points in the first half and finished with 508 total yards, including 284 on the ground. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Lenny Williams finished with 334 total yards and three touchdowns, despite playing just five offensive drives for IUP. He finished 7-of-7 passing for 224 yards and two scores, adding 110 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Redshirt senior linebacker Nick Dubowski had seven tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery, and sophomore corner Mikale Makle returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown. IUP is now 3-0 this year - and 14-1 since 2011 - when scoring a defensive touchdown. The Crimson Hawks will host Mercyhurst on Saturday.
Lock Haven: On Saturday (Oct. 29), the LHU football team recorded a historic victory, downing local-rival Bloomsburg 26-18 thanks to a dominating defensive effort (3 INTs, 3 sacks) and a career-day from John Ford (career-high 35 careers, career-high 144 yards, 1 TD), the Bald Eagles newly appointed starting running back … LHU’s win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Huskies and it marked LHU's first win over local-rival BU since 2003 … Bloomsburg was picked third in the PSAC East preseason coaches' poll and just two seasons ago played in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals … Lock Haven is now 3-6 overall and has won three of its last four games … The Bald Eagles leveled their PSAC East record to 3-3 … LHU’s three wins mark the most in a single season since Lock Haven won three in 2013 (finished season at 3-8) … Next week when the Bald Eagles head to East Stroudsburg, the Bald Eagles will be looking for their first four-win season since 2002 … QB Caleb Walton had another big game for Lock Haven and further cemented himself as one of the school's all-time greatest players … Walton threw for 242 yards and two TDs. He entered the game tied for the all-time record for career passing records and total touchdowns accounted for, but Walton now stands alone atop both lists. Walton now has 62 career passing touchdowns and 73 total TDs in his remarkable career.
Mercyhurst: The Lakers suffered a 55-14 loss to sixth-ranked California (Pa.) – the first of two straight games against ranked opponents. Redshirt-senior running back Richie Sanders had rushing touchdown. The other Mercyhurst TD occurred on a blocked-punt return. A block by running back E’Andre Smith set the stage for defensive back Kyle Briggs, who picked up the loose ball and ran it eight yards into the Vulcan end zone.
Millersville: J.J. Paige threw for a career-high 313 yards--the most since last season's game against Cheyney. Eight different players made a catch. Paige now ranks fifth in Millersville history in career completions and is ninth in yards, seventh in touchdowns passes. Three different players rushed for a touchdown. Tyrone Gibson now has one rushing and one receiving this season. Sheldon Snell's was the first of his career. Zac Slonac caught his first career touchdown pass. Evan Stahl went 2-for-2 in field goals and averaged 45 yards per punt, keeping him on pace to set the single season school record. He also leads the league in average.
Seton Hill: Seton Hill's first chance at their first winning season since 2008 came up short at Edinboro on Saturday afternoon. The Griffins surrendered the game's final 21 points in the 42-34 loss. SHU led 34-21 with 7:46 to play in the third quarter after a Christian Strong to Norman Darden 30 yard touchdown pass. Edinboro had 30 first downs to 25 for the Griffins. SHU finished with 545 total yards including 219 on the ground. Strong finished 24-43 for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns with 3 interceptions.
Khalil Howard rushed for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Michael Elardo had 6 receptions for 121 yards.
Tim Johnson finished with 13 total tackles. SHU returns to action next weekend at Slippery Rock as they close out PSAC West play.
Shippensburg: SHIP was thwarted Saturday in its bid for an Eastern Division title, as visiting Kutztown blocked a potential game-winning field goal on the final play of regulation and later kicked its first field goal of the season to defeat the Red Raiders in double overtime, 24-21, in a madcap Homecoming and Senior Day affair from SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium... Junior Cole Chiappialle was named the Shippensburg VFW Offensive MVP of the Homecoming game for totaling 97 all-purpose yards (44 receiving, 27 rushing, 26 on returns) and scoring the only touchdown of the first half on a one-yard touchdown run...Junior Kevin Taylor II was named the Shippensburg VFW Defensive MVP of the Homecoming game for intercepting two passes, returning one for a 40-yard touchdown, and totaling five tackles with one pass break-up. Taylor's "pick-six" gave SU its 14-0 lead in the third quarter...Linebacker Allen Holman, one of 15 Red Raider seniors playing for the final time at home, had the most tackles in a game by an SU player in 11 years...Holman finished with a career-high 17 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, with one pass break-up...it is the most tackles in a game by a Red Raider since safety John Sharbaugh had the same amount versus Shepherd on Sept. 3, 2005...SU picked off Kutztown's Collin DiGalbo four times - matching the redshirt-freshman's total through his first six games...Shippensburg also managed to hold Kutztown scoreless in the first half for the first time all season...SU's second-half scoreless streak ended at six consecutive games on Saturday, as the Golden Bears totaled 14 second-half points to force overtime...the Red Raiders had allowed just 10 second-half points through the first eight games of the season.
Slippery Rock: Slippery Rock has four losses on the year for the first time since 2012 and has lost three games in a row for the first time since the midway point of the 2012 season ... The Rock have been ravaged by injuries this season and are limping into the homestretch of the season ... SRU played last week without All-Americans Shamar Greene and Joe LoSchiavo on offense and without starting QB Don King III ... SRU also played without starting safety Kevin Green ... Marcus Martin recorded 1.5 tackles for loss to increase his school record to 63.0 tackles for loss ... Drew Scales had one 25-yard kickoff return and now has 1,651 career kick return yards, just three yards shy of the all-time SRU record of 1,654 ... Marcus Johnson caught his eighth TD of the year, moving him up to seventh in single-season TD catches at SRU ... Cornelius Rayecaught his 15th career TD pass, moving him up to eighth all-time at SRU ... Isiah Neely rushed for a career-high 170 yards, marking the first time an SRU player has rushed for more than 150 yards since Shamar Greene went for 162 in the opener against New Haven Sept. 3 ... Jake Chapla kicked his 10th field goal of the year, moving him up to fifth in single-season history at SRU ... The Rock will close the year with a pair of home games where the current senior class owns a 20-1 record over the last four years.