2022 PSAC Preseason Notes | 2022 PSAC Quick Facts (Courtesy of each Institution) | Eastern Division Preview Video
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shepherd Rams were picked at the 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Eastern Division Preseason favorite in a
vote by the leagues head coaches, the league office announced Thursday.
The Rams had four first-place votes in the preseason poll, which was tied for the most preseason votes with 2021 PSAC Football Champion, Kutztown.
Shepherd returns to action coming off a strong 2021 season, where they earned a 13-2 overall record, and a second-place regular season finish on a 6-1 league record. Standout quarterback Tyson Bagent returns to headline the Rams’ conference-leading offense. In 2021, Bagent ranked first in passing completions (391), yards (5000), and touchdowns (53) throughout all of Division II. Bagent was the NCAA Division II Harlon Hill Trophy recipient after one of the top offensive seasons in DII history.
Kutztown enters the year as the reigning PSAC Football champions and was picked second in the poll. Following an 11-2 overall record and an undefeated 7-0 conference record in 2021, the Golden Bears will look to repeat previous success—particularly on the defensive end. In 2021, the Golden Bears owned the second-ranked defense in the league allowing only 14.6 points per game, as well as the top rushing defense that let up a conference-low 78 yards per game.
The West Chester Golden Rams take third place in the poll. The Golden Rams went 6-5 overall and 4-3 in league action. They will look to build on a solid offensive season in which they led the league in rushing, averaging 218 yards per game.
Ranked fourth are the Shippensburg Raiders. Their 2021 campaign saw a 9-2 overall record—their best since a 10-2 season in 2017. Ship was 5-2 in conference play and finished the year third in the Eastern Division Standings.
Placing fifth are the East Stroudsburg Warriors who went 5-6 overall. The Warriors will aim to improve upon rushing attack that was fifth in the PSAC averaging 160.8 yards per game.
The Bloomsburg Huskies have landed in the sixth spot for the PSAC East preseason poll after a 3-8 overall finish.
Rounding out the list are the Millersville Marauders and Lock Haven Bald Eagles in the seventh and eighth places, respectively.
EAST (# of 1st Place Votes)
1. Shepherd (4)
2. Kutztown (4)
3. West Chester
4. Shippensburg
5. East Stroudsburg
6. Bloomsburg
7. Millersville
8. Lock Haven
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg, California (Pa.), Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Gannon, Indiana (Pa.), Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Mercyhurst, Millersville, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill, Shepherd, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.