PSAC Football Athletes of the Week - 5
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FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Craig Reynolds
Kutztown (Sr. / RB)
Willow Grove, Pa. / Abington
Reynolds totaled 118 rushing yards and three first-half touchdowns in undefeated KU's 44-10 victory over Bloomsburg. With his three-TD performance, Reynolds moved into second all-time at Kutztown with 29 career rushing touchdowns. The Abington-prep ranks second in the PSAC with nine rushing touchdowns in 2018 and first in all-purpose yardage, averaging 208.0 yards per game. |
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FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Luke Snyder
Kutztown (Jr. / LB)
Levittown, Pa. / Pennsbury
Snyder had a team-high 11 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in KU's 44-10 win over Bloomsburg, moving Kutztown to 4-0. Both his tackle and sack totals are career-highs for the junior, who ranks third on KU with 24 tackles in four games. With Snyder as the anchor, the Maroon and Gold defense allowed just 58 yards in the first half and kept the Huskies under 200 total yards for the game. |
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FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Brendan Paulison
West Chester (Sr. / P)
Milford, Pa. / Delaware Valley
Paulison punted four times for 170 yards, averaging 42.5 yards per punt on Saturday. He placed two of those four punts inside the 20 yard line. Paulison kicked off five times and averaged 52 yards per kickoff while serving as the holder on all four successful extra points in a 28-21 win over Shippensburg. |
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FOOTBALL WESTERN DIVISION OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Nelson Brown
California (Jr. / RB)
Salisbury, Md. / Wicomico
Brown rushed for three touchdowns (3, 20, 14) for the third-straight week, as the Vulcans claimed a 36-24 upset victory over defending-PSAC Champion and No. 2 IUP. He set a season high with 143 rushing yards on 23 attempts while matching his career high in touchdowns. Brown was limited to only 27 yards in the first half before accounting for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 14 attempts after halftime, as Cal U scored 26 second-half points to snap a 21-game regular-season winning streak by IUP. The Maryland native now leads the PSAC in attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns this season. |
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FOOTBALL WESTERN DIVISION DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Lamont McPhatter II
California (Jr. / DB)
New Castle, Pa. / New Castle
McPhatter helped seal the 36-24 upset win over No. 2 IUP on Saturday night with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He also finished with eight stops, as Cal U claimed the win over the highest ranked opponent in program history. McPhatter broke the school record for the longest interception return, as the previous mark of 94 yards stood since 2000. The Vulcans held a 30-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter before McPhatter intercepted a pass three yards deep in the end zone and returned the turnover the length of the field for a touchdown with 4:45 left to play. The New Castle native now has four interceptions this year and has scored four defensive touchdowns in 15 games with the Vulcans. |
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FOOTBALL WESTERN DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Qashah Carter
IUP (Fr. / RS)
Philadelphia, Pa. / Simon Gratz
Carter returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown in IUP's loss to rival Cal in the Coal Bowl. He finished with 163 yards on five returns, averaging 32.6 yards per return >> It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by an IUP player since Pat Brewer took one back 92 yards in 2012. It's also the third longest kickoff return in program history, behind a pair of 98 yarders in 1990 and 2000. Carter's touchdown answered a Cal touchdown and gave the Crimson Hawks a 21-17 lead in the third quarter. Through five games, Carter leads the PSAC with a 35.1 kickoff return average on 12 returns |
Game Notes:
California: The Vulcans upset No. 2 IUP in the 10th-annual Coal Bowl with a 36-24 win on Saturday night at Adamson Stadium, marking the highest ranked opponent ever defeated by Cal U. The Coal Bowl has now been won by the home team in seven-consecutive years with the Vulcans holding a 5-0 home record in the rivalry series. The Vulcans were facing its highest ranked opponent since playing No. 2 Northwest Missouri State in the 2009 NCAA Semifinals. Cal U forced three second-half turnovers after entering the break trailing 14-10. Junior DB Lamont McPhatter II was named Coal Bowl MVP after totaling eight tackles and recording a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown to help seal the victory. He broke the previous school record of a 94-yard interception return set in 2000. Senior LB Brendan Blair tallied 10 stops, 1.5 TFL, one interception, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries. Junior RB Nelson Brown set a season high with 143 rushing yards scored three rushing touchdowns for the third-consecutive week. He now leads the PSAC in attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in his first year with the program. The Vulcans and Crimson Hawks combined for 30 points in the third quarter, including 21 points in the span of 1 minute, 37 seconds.
Clarion: Clarion has won four straight games for the first time since 2015, when they opened the season on a seven-game winning streak… the Golden Eagles held Seton Hill to just 58 rushing yards, and have now allowed an average of just 8.7 yards per game in their last three contests… Clarion intercepted two more passes on Saturday, and the Golden Eagles now have 12 picks on the year… in comparison, Clarion intercepted only 13 passes as a team all of last year… Corey Wells intercepted his second pass of the year on Saturday, making him the fourth Golden Eagle player to record multiple interceptions this year… Chris Gildea picked off a pass against Seton Hill, and also blocked a Griffin punt in the first half… Clarion special teams have blocked kicks in each of the last two weeks… Dana Jackson caught a touchdown pass for the second straight week, both of which have come from more than 30 yards out… Jeff Clemens got the start at quarterback against Seton Hill and threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another… freshman Keanu Young led the team with 125 all-purpose yards against the Griffins, including a team-high 70 receiving yards.
Edinboro: Edinboro celebrated Homecoming with a 31-24 win over Gannon … the Fighting Scots rallied from a 14-point deficit for the first time since 2016, scoring with 1 minute, 43 seconds remaining in the game to take their only lead of the game. The winning touchdown came on a 16-yard TD pass from Andrew Tomko to A.J. Turner. It was the second touchdown reception of the game for Turner, who earlier caught a 19-yard TD pass for his first career touchdown … Jake Monroe kicked his first career field goal, converting from 32 yards out … Walter Fletcher had his first career 100-yard rushing, 100-yard receiving game, finishing with 111 yards rushing on 25 carries with a touchdown, along with 109 yards receiving on a career-high 7 receptions. It was his fourth 100-yard rushing effort of the season and the 14
th of his career. He also had his second career 100-yard receiving game … the Edinboro defense held Gannon to 277 total yards with a pair of interceptions. Edinboro has now forced 24 turnovers in five games … Zuril Hendrick intercepted a pass for the fourth straight game. The senior cornerback entered the game ranked fifth in Division II and first in the PSAC. He now has five for the season, giving him 19 career pickoffs, just one shy of the school record of 20 held by Chris Avery … James Clark caught 4 passes for 60 yards and a TD, He now has 187 career receptions, needing eight more to break Darren Massey’s career record of 194.
IUP: The No. 2 Crimson Hawks lost their first regular season game since 2016 with a 36-24 loss at rival Cal in the 10th annual Coal Bowl ... It broke a streak of 21 straight regular season wins for IUP ... It also extended IUP's losing streak at Cal to seven games dating back to 2008 ... The Vulcans outgained IUP 435-405 on the night … The Crimson Hawks had a season-best 236 rushing yards, although did not have a player hit the 100-yard mark for the fifth straight game … Bullock rushed 12 times for 90 yards (7.5 avg.) before leaving in the second half with an injury … Williams rushed for a season-high 76 yards on 17 carries … Williams finished 11-of-23 for 169 yards and two interceptions … It was the first game he was held without a touchdown pass since IUP's 56-28 win at Edinboro, September 24, 2016 (23 games) … IUP was held without a sack for the first time since September 23, 2017 against Edinboro (14 games) … Junior linebacker Nick Amendola had a team-high 10 tackles … Cal running back Nelson Brown had 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.
Lock Haven: For the first time in school history, the Lock Haven University football team played a game in the state of Texas, but the Bald Eagles came up short in the bid for an upset as No. 9 Texas A&M Commerce – the defending NCAA Division II national champions – won … The loss dropped Lock Haven to 1-4 overall … LHU was coming off a win over East Stroudsburg in Week 4 action after the Bald Eagles downed the Warriors in the PSAC East opener for both teams … Saturday’s game in Texas marked the second time in three games, the Bald Eagles played a team ranked in the top-10 of the AFCA Division II Top-25 national-poll … After two straight road games, the Bald Eagles will return home to host Millersville University next Saturday, October 6 in Week 6 action … The PSAC East game is set for a 12 p.m. EST start at LHU's Hubert Jack Stadium.
Mercyhurst: Running back Garrett Owens totaled 133 yards and one touchdown as Mercyhurst fell to Slippery Rock, 41-21...He had 16 carries for 82 yards and had his lone score on the ground. He also made five receptions for 51 yards…Wide receiver Clay Waldron made four catches for 73 yards and a TD, which he caught from quarterback Doug Altavilla.. Altavilla finished 15 of 31 for 171 yards…On defense, linebacker Corbin Kessler led the way with nine total tackles, including one for-loss. Fellow LBs Thomas Zacharyasz (1 TFL) and Rocky Owens were credited with eight tackles…Linebacker Chris Peluso had a sack and linemen Uwaila Omorogbe and Austin Drew combined on a sack. Another defensive lineman, Jehrod Gregory , forced a fumble…as a team, the Lakers rank first in the PSAC in punt return average (17.0) and fourth in kickoff return average (23.1)…running back Garrett Owens ranks sixth in the PSAC in rushing (85.2 yards per game)…running back Cortez Watson leads the PSAC in punt return average (18.6)…punter Brendan Cole rates second in the league with a 43.5 average…cornerback Dante’ Redwood is tied for third in the PSAC in passes defended per game (1.60).
Millersville: Millersville won its first game under the direction of J.C. Morgan and its second consecutive over East Stroudsburg. Each of the last two wins over ESU have come on a Thursday night. Millersville has held ESU to just 10 points in the last two meetings. The 10 points allowed on Thursday were the fewest scored by ESU this season and the lowest total allowed by Millersville. Millersville held the PSAC's leading rusher to 65 yards below his average. Meanwhile, Tony Staffieri, making his first start of the season, rushed for 118 yards on 21 carries, giving him two 100-yard rushing games against East Stroudsburg is his career (also in 2016). Staffieri's touchdown run was Millersville's first of the season. Staffieri's 53-yard run was Millersville's longest of the season. Millersville totaled a season high in total yards (379) and rushing yards (218). Millersville picked off three passes. Ray Lopez had his second in as many weeks. Jhet Janis' was his second of the season. Marcel Mingo's was the first of his career. Trejon Dinkins totaled 10 tackles, giving him double-digit tackles if four of the first five games. After not having any sacks in the first three games, Millersville has had five in the last two. Tommy Halloway and Morgan Faughnan have both had sacks in each of the last two games.