IUP Picked to Win PSAC Football Western Division
2017 PSAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON NOTES
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The IUP Crimson Hawks have been selected 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 conference office announced Monday.
IUP received six of the eight possible first-place votes and will return seven all-conference players. The Crimson Hawks finished with a 10-2 record and was ranked No. 12 in the final Division II Coaches’ Poll. IUP averaged 489.6 yards per contest in 2016; which was second-best in the PSAC.
IUP returns quarterback Lenny Williams Jr., who led the league with a 68.4% completion rate, along with 14 touchdowns. Williams’ top receiver, Walt Pegues, returns for his senior season after finishing fifth in the league in receiving yards per game (94.1). Defensive back Jay Watkins looks to pester offenses again after boasting a league-high seven interceptions.
The California Vulcans look to repeat as PSAC Champions after claiming their ninth crown in 2016. Cal enters the poll at No. 2 and received two first-place votes after it finished No. 7 in the country and advanced to the NCAA DII Football Quarterfinals before falling to Shepherd.
The Vulcans return 10 all-conference performers, including senior quarterback Michael Keir. Keir tied for the league lead with 41 touchdown passes while throwing for 3,222 yards. Keir and the Vulcans offense boast a strong run game with redshirt senior Nick Grissom. Grissom was one of five 1,000-yard rushers in the PSAC after averaging 84.6 yards per game. Coach Gary Dunn’s squad led the league in overall defense, allowing a measly 277.6 yards per game.
Slippery Rock grabbed No. 3 in the poll and return the Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Martin. Martin accumulated nine sacks while amassing 18.5 tackles for loss. Offensively, wide receiver Marcus Johnson looks to build off of a solid 2016 campaign after he averaged 81.6 yards per game, along with 13 touchdowns.
The Edinboro Fighting Scots landed at No. 4 after an impressive 9-2 campaign. EU’s offense will rely on senior quarterback Jake Sisson. Sisson turned in a year for the ages after he plastered his name in the PSAC record book. He led the league in passing average (337.3), yards (3,710), attempts (531) and completions (294) while tying for the league lead in touchdown passes (41). The Fighting Scots return PSAC Freshman of the Year Ta’Nauz Gregory. Gregory paced the conference in kick return average (32.5) and was one of two players to have a kick return touchdown on the season.
Gannon claimed the No. 5 slot after its rush defense allowed only 113.5 yards per game. The Golden Knights return 16 starters, including kicker Karch Holland. Holland was one of two PSAC kickers to hit a field goal longer than 50 yards in 2016.
Seton Hill, Clarion and Mercyhurst rounded out the poll.
Clarion, Cal and IUP open their respective season on Thursday, August 31. The other five teams begin play Saturday, September 2.
West (# of 1st place votes)
1) IUP (6)
2) California (2)
3) Slippery Rock
4) Edinboro
5) Gannon
6) Seton Hill
7) Clarion
8) Mercyhurst