District College Football Preview for Saturday, November 16

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 14, 2013 | 1:44 PM

Playoff berths are on the line this weekend for three Western Pennsylvania college football teams. In the PSAC, Slippery Rock can move onto the D-II playoffs with a win in the PSAC State Title Game. In the PAC, W & J advances to the D-III playoffs with a win over an old foe and Robert Morris can take a huge step towards the NEC title with a win.

In other action, the PSAC closes out play with East-West crossover games and the PAC has Rivalry Week, with Geneva and Westminster highlighting the schedule with the 118th meeting between the programs.

Here are previews of ALL the games, two of those big matchups can be heard here on the Network:

PSAC STATE TITLE GAME:
Slippery Rock (9-1) at Bloomsburg (9-1)   12:30pm on WLER 97.7-FM and msasports.net
A likely berth to the D-II playoffs is on the line for the winner. Bloomsburg is ranked third entering the game, West Chester is fourth, SRU fifth. While it is still possible that the loser could make the field, it is far from guaranteed.

Bloomsburg is ranked #12 and Slippery Rock #18 in the AFCA top 25 poll. According to D2football.com, the Rock is ranked #12 and Bloomsburg #13.

Bloomsburg leads the series between the teams 10-3 and has won the last 9 meetings. SRU’s last win was 1983.

It’s the first trip to the title game for the Rock since 2011, they fell to Kutztown 21-14. The Rock has won four state championships.

SRU defeated Seton Hill 55-20 last week in Greensburg to head back to the title game.

The Rock leads D-II at 573 offensive yards per game. SRU has averaged 46 points per game, 3rd in D-II and tops in the PSAC.

QB Nigel Barksdale is tops in the PSAC at 332 yards passing per game, that number is good for 5th in D-II. The senior has thrown 28 touchdown passes this season, also leads the PSAC.

WR John Schademan had 9 catches for 125 yards and 2 scores last week. Schademan went over 100 yards receiving in 7 of the 10 games this season. The senior also broke the SRU single season record with 14 td catches, he needs 42 yards to break the season receiving record. Schademan averages 124 yards per game, 2nd in the PSAC. He has 63 catches, 14 for touchdowns.

DB Austin Miele leads the Rock with 72 tackles. The Rock defense had 10 sacks last week, and held the Griffins to 50 rushing yards.

Bloomsburg upset #8 West Chester 31-28 to move into the title game. The Huskies swept the PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Week awards.  The Huskies are looking for their second PSAC title.

Senior RB Franklyn Quiteh ran for 154 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown. He has scored 86 career touchdowns, the most ever by a PSAC player and is second all-time in D-II with 7,084 yards. Quiteh averages 175 yards per game, 3rd in D-II, he has scored 26 touchdowns this year.

LB Justin Shirk was the defensive winner, making a career high 16 tackles. Shirk leads the Huskies with 99 stops.

Bloomsburg has not hosted the state title game since 1985.

QB Tim Kelly threw for 262 yards on 16-27 last week and ran for a touchdown. Kelly is 8th in the PSAC with 165 yards passing per game, he has 13 td passes. His top target is Glenn Hutton with 36 catches for 605 yards and 6 scores.

Geneva (5-4) at Westminster (3-6)   1pm on WBVP 1230-AM and msasports.net
It is the 116th edition of what is called the Game in Western Pennsylvania. Westminster holds a 62-25-8 advantage, but Geneva has won the last three meetings.

The Golden Tornadoes are 4-3 in the PAC. Geneva has not won in four tries this season away from Reeves Field.

Geneva lost 49-34 last week to W & J. Rocco Colavecchia scored two more touchdowns last week, setting a Geneva record for career points. The senior has 19 touchdowns this season.

QB Zach Hayward threw for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hayward is 3rd in the PAC at 281 yards passing per game, he has 13 touchdowns but 7 interceptions.

WR Lemuel Fuller had 8 catches for 100 yards last week. Fuller is 3rd in the conference in catches with 63 and 4th in receiving yards. WR Josh Guiser is also in the top 10 in catches with 52 as is Colavecchia with 49.

RB Dillon Jones is 7th in the PAC in rushing at 489 yards, the sophomore from Laurel has ran for 4 touchdowns.

LB Dillon Goodell made 9 tackles last week, he is second overall in the PAC.

Westminster is 2-5 in the PAC, falling in four overtimes to Thiel 45-37 last week. QB Dak Britt was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week, running 38 times for 245 yards and four scores and threw for 169 yards and another score.  The 245 yards rushing are the most ever for a PAC quarterback in a single game.

Britt is now 4th in the PAC in rushing at 667 yards. He is 5th in passing at 229 yards per game.

Titan WR Collin Wallace set Westminster career marks in receptions and receiving yards. His 984 yards this season is a single season record.

Waynesburg (7-2) at W & J (7-2)   1:30pm on WJPA 1450-AM and msasports.net
It is the PAC’s version of the Backyard Brawl, but it has been a one-sided brawl over the years. W & J leads 37-3, has won 9 straight and has not lost at home to the Yellow Jackets since 1954. It’s also a battle of two of the highest scoring teams in the PAC. W & J averages 38 points per game, Waynesburg 32.

The Presidents look to win the PAC title with a victory, W & J is 6-1 in the conference and would win the head-to-head tiebreaker with Thomas More and claim a berth in the NCAA D-III playoffs. 

Waynesburg is 5-2 in the PAC, the Yellow Jackets had the bye week last week. 

QB Carter Hill has racked up huge numbers this season, throwing for 2,606 yards and 26 touchdowns. Hill is among the top 10 quarterbacks in D-III at 289 yards per game.

Andrew English and Bernie Thompson are a 1-2 punch for the Yellow Jackets. English has 60 catches, Thompson 52, both in the top 10 in the PAC.

K Alex Henry could be a difference in the game, the senior has missed only one PAT this season and is 9-13 on field goals to lead the PAC.

W & J defeated Geneva 49-34 last week. RB Dion Wiegand was named PAC Special Teams Player of the Week. The senior ran for 125 yards and two scores, he also returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score. Wiegand is second in the PAC with 1,126 yards rushing.

QB Matt Bliss threw two more touchdown passes last week. Bliss has gone 116 passes without an interception.  Bliss is 4th in the PAC in passing at 249 yards per game. The senior has 17 touchdown tosses this year.

WR Alex Baroffio needs 117 yards to become the school’s all time leader. The senior went over the 3 thousand mark last week. Baroffio is second in catches with 75 and third in yardage in the PAC. Dan Lucas has also become a target for W & J with 52 catches.

The W & J defense recorded 6 sacks in last week’s win.

Wagner (2-6) at Saint Francis (4-5)   Noon
The Seahawks are 1-4 in the NEC, falling to Monmouth last week. RB Domonique Williams ran for 72 yards, putting him over 1 thousand yards for a third straight season. K David Lopez hit 2 field goals, he needs one more to tie the NEC all time record for career field goals.

The Red Flash are 2-2 in the conference, coming off a 23-20 win over Bryant that keeps the Red Flash NEC title hopes alive. RB Kyle Harbridge claimed the NEC Offensive Player of the Week award with 154 yards on 29 carries and 2 scores. Harbridge is a candidate for the Walter Payton award, given to the best player in the FCS and is second in rushing with 1,411 yards. 

Sacred Heart (9-2) at Robert Morris (5-4)   Noon
This game will likely determine the NEC title and automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. Sacred Heart is 3-2 in the NEC, Robert Morris is 3-1.

Sacred Heart defeated Duquesne 10-0. QB R J Noel was named NEC Rookie of the Week. Noel ran for 88 yards, including a 54 yard scamper that set up the only td of the game, he threw for 77 yards. Keshaudas Spence ran for 181 yards and the score, he is 2nd in the NEC with 1,34 rushing yards.

Robert Morris defeated CCSU 54-21 last week. LB Kimani Smith was named NED Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore from Erie Cathedral Prep made 5 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown that broke the game open.

K Connor Shennan was named NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Shennan hit both of his field goal attempts and neutralized a Blue Devil kick return game that was ranked 3rd in the FCS coming into the game.

Central Connecticut State (4-6) at Duquesne (5-4)  12:10pm
The Blue Devils are 2-2 in the NEC, coming off a rout by Robert Morris last week. Rob Holloman ran for 131 yards and a score last week. Holloman has 1,284 yards this season and 18 rushing touchdowns.

The Dukes are 3-2 in the NEC and were held to just 167 yards passing in a 10-0 loss to Sacred Heart that put a major crimp into any NEC title hopes.

QB Dillion Buechel still leads the NEC at 2,058 yards passing but has thrown 10 touchdowns and been picked off 14 times. Gianni Carter, Dave Thomas and Chris King all continue to be in the top 10 in the NEC in catches, Carter leads the team with 45.

Seton Hill (0-10) at Cheyney (0-10)   Noon
Something has to give in this match up. Seton Hill has lost 23 straight games, Cheyney has dropped 20 straight.

QB Nick Halfhill tossed 2 touchdown passes last week. Tyler Zimmer made 15 tackles.

Marcus Jones led the Wolves with 66 yards rushing last week.

IUP (8-2) at Shippensburg (7-3)   1pm
This matchup is a battle of two teams that thought they would be meeting in the title game this week.

IUP QB Mike Box was named PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Week. Box threw for 378 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 55-20 win over Gannon. It’s the first time since 2008 that an IUP QB had over 300 yards passing and 4 scores. The win was the third straight for IUP after back to back losses. RB De’Antwan Williams ran for 3 touchdowns.

The Red Raiders rallied from a poor start to share the PSAC East title. Shippensburg was ranked #7 to start the season. QB Zach Zulli threw for 4 touchdowns, 3 to Trevor Harmon in a 42-0 win over Cheyney. The senior has thrown 121 td passes for his career, good for 4th all time in D-II and 2nd in the PSAC.

Clarion (4-6) at West Chester (9-1)    1pm
The Golden Eagles started 3-0 and wonder what might have been if QB Ben Fiscus was not lost for the season. Clarion fell 9-7 to Edinboro last week. All-American DE Julian Howsare has racked up some great numbers this season with 76 tackles, 9 sacks, 4 blocked kicks and 2 interceptions.

The Golden Rams need a win to have any chance to make the NCAA D-II playoffs. West Chester was the top ranked team in the region before falling 31-28 to Bloomsburg last week. The loss set West Chester back to fourth, sandwiched between Bloomsburg and Slippery Rock. The winner of the PSAC title game will likely get one of the six spots.

RB Rondell White has ran for 1,504 yards this season, he needs 45 yards to pass the single season mark at West Chester, set by White in his junior year.

Gannon (5-5) at Lock Haven (3-7)    1pm
Gannon was knocked out of the PSAC West title hunt with a 55-20 loss to IUP. RB Jansen Jones is 8th in D-II with 139 yards rushing per game. Jones has scored 13 td. If Gannon wins, it will be the first winning season for the Golden Knights since 2010.

After breaking a long losing streak last year, the Bald Eagles look for a win to give Lock Haven it’s best season since 2002. RB Brandon Brader ran for over 100 yards for the second straight week. QB Dillon Mazzoni returned after missing three games and tossed his 7th td pass of the season. Freshman Caleb Walton has started in Mazzoni’s place, both are expected to play on Saturday.

Mercyhurst (6-4) at East Stroudsburg (7-3)    1:05PM
The Lakers defeated Cal 23-20, the program’s first ever win over the Vulcans. The win assures the Lakers of back to back winning seasons, that hasn’t happened since 1991-92. RB Allen Jones II ran for 154 yards in the win, he went over 2,000 yards for his career.

QB Matt Soltes leads  the PSAC with 34 touchdown passes. RB Robert Healy is 4th in the PSAC in rushing at 106 yards per game.

Edinboro (5-5) at Kutztown (3-7)    1pm
DE Dominic Principale was named PSAC Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week. The sophomore made a career high 10 tackles in a 9-7 win over Clarion. The Fighting Scots defense held the Golden Eagles to just 237 yards of offense.

Jon Girvin tossed the only td of the day to Marcus Johnson. The senior needs one more td catch to move into 4th place all time at Edinboro with 17.

RB Curtis Wortham ran for 96 yards last week in the win over Lock Haven. Wortham passed the 2,000 yard mark to become the 11th player in Kutztown history to rush for more than two thousand. WR Alex Tonnies leads Kutztown with 72 catches.

California (6-4) at Millersville (1-9)    4pm
The Vulcans fell to Mercyhurst 23-20 last week. WR Mike Williams is third in Vulcans history with 151 catches.

RB Ian Sadon needs 125 yards to become the first Millersville running back to rush for 1 thousand yards since 2005.

Grove City (4-5) at Thiel (3-6)   1pm
This is the 30th Mercer County Cup game, Grove City has an advantage, leading the series 20-9 and wines of the last 6.

The Wolverines are 2-5 in the PAC. Sophomore Steve Maskrey ran for 117 years and 3 scores in last week’s win over Saint Vincent. Grove City is the top offense in the PAC inside the red zone, at 80 percent(24-30).

The Tomcats are 3-4 in the PAC, beating Westminster 45-37 in four overtimes. LB Wes Schmidt was named PAC Defensive Player of the Week with 14 tackles and an interception. QB Andrew Smith came off the bench to toss 4 touchdown passes, three in overtime to get the Tomcats the win. Last week’s win came in the first ever night game at Alumni Stadium. 

Bethany (3-6) at Saint Vincent (0-9)    1pm
It’s the Green Game. Bethany leads the series 5-1.

The Bison are 3-4 in the PAC and have dropped three straight games. Bethany fell to Thomas More 49-14 last week. WR Eric Blinn became the second Bison receiver to go over 1 thousand yards for a season. The former Western Beaver star needs just 4 yards to pass Denny Williams for the top spot. QB Matt Grimard is currently third in passing yards in D-III with 2,684.

The Bearcats have lost 20 straight games , falling to Grove City last week. QB Andy Borgen threw for 274 yards and ran for another 63 in the loss. WR Matt Duffey needs 9 catches to break the single season record at Saint Vincent.

Case Western Reserve (4-4) at Carnegie Mellon (3-6)  6pm
It’s the 28th annual Academic Bowl, CMU leads that series 16-11. The Spartans have won the last 6 meetings. Both teams will maintain their UAA schedule next season but also become associate members of the PAC.

Case Western Reserve was shut out by Washington University 29-0. A pair of local products lead the Spartans this season. QB Erik Olson of Bethel Park has thrown for 861 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Sean Lapcevic of Char Valley is the team leader with 30 catches. Olsen is 4th on the all tie passing list and has thrown 33 career td’s.

CMU fell to University of Chicago 14-12. QB Rob Kalkstein needs 186 yards to become the all time leading passer at CMU. Kalkstein has thrown for 1,280 yards this season with 10 touchdowns, he has also been picked 10 times. Tim Swanson leads the Tartans with 23 catches, Tim Kitka has 22 and Troy Witt 18. Witt leads the Tartans in rushing with 415 yards.