LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Kutztown Golden Bears were selected No. 1 in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s East Division Football Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
Kutztown earned six first-place votes and is coming off the best season in program history, advancing to the NCAA semifinals after a program-best 12 wins and its second PSAC title in the last three seasons. The Golden Bears led the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 16.7 points per game and recorded five victories against nationally-ranked teams in 2023.
 
Shepherd, voted No. 2 in the East to break a streak of three consecutive years at No. 1 in the Preseason Poll, was 9-3 overall last season (5-2 in PSAC play) and ranked fourth in the conference in scoring (31.4 points per game).
 
The No. 3 team in the poll is East Stroudsburg, which returns 16 starters from a team that qualified for the NCAA postseason and compiled a 9-3 overall record  (5-2 PSAC). The Warriors ranked third in the conference in scoring (32.3 PPG) and rushing (167.5 YPG).
 
New head coach Duke Greco comes on board to lead No. 4 West Chester this fall. The Golden Rams (6-5 overall, 3-4 in conference play in 2023) return dual threat QB Cooper Jordan, part of nine returning starters from an offense that ranked sixth in the conference in total offense (356.5 yards per game.)
 
Lock Haven, ranked No. 5 in this year’s poll, has rapidly improved and notched its first five-win season since 1982 last fall. Plenty of talent returns for third year head coach Dan Mulrooney, notably on defense, where the Bald Eagles ranked second in the conference in sacks and was fourth-best against the run, allowing just 116.3 yards per game.
 
Millersville comes in at No. 6 in this year’s poll. It was a tale of close losses for the Marauders in 2023, losing four games by one score or less. Key players QB Rob Footman and RB Jaheim Morris return for the 2024 campaign.
 
Shippensburg enters 2024 as the No. 7 ranked teaml, but boasted the No. 1-ranked overall defense in the conference with only 287.4 yards allowed per game. The Raiders also return six starters on offense and four on defense.
 
Bloomsburg ranks No. 8 and returns eight of its top-10 tacklers as well as a group of veterans on the offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the PSAC in 2023.
 
2024 PSAC Football East Division Preseason Poll

1. Kutztown (6)
2. Shepherd (1)
3. East Stroudsburg (1)
4. West Chester
5. Lock Haven
6. Millersville
7. Shippensburg
8. Bloomsburg

*number of first-place votes in parentheses



For more information, please reference:
 
2024 PSAC Preseason Notes
2024 PSAC Quick Facts (courtesy of each institution)