District College Football Preview – 11/17/2011

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 17, 2011 | 9:27 AM

The playoffs are here in Division II and III, while a pair of local teams are honored with ECAC bowl appearances. Plus the NEC and MVC wind down the regular season, with Duquesne and Youngstown State trying to obtain berths to the Division I FCS playoff field.

Here are previews of all the game for this weekend:

NCAA Division II Playoffs/Super Region 1
Elizabeth City State (8-3) at California (9-2)  Noon
The Vikings were the runners-up in the CIAA to top seed Winston-Salem State, who defeated Elizabeth City State 38-13 in their conference championship game on Saturday.

Elizabeth City State ran 1-2 with Winston Salem State in the CIAA stats, finishing second in both scoring offense at 30 points per game and defense at 20 points.

The Vikings are led by Daronte McNeil, who ran for 1,580 yards and 23 touchdowns, both led the CIAA. QB Creven Powell threw for 1,058 yards and just six touchdowns, he also threw six picks. Powell missed two games this season.

The Vulcans shared the PSAC-West title with Slippery Rock. It’s the fifth straight NCAA berth for Cal.

Cal defensive back Rontez Miles was named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year this week. Miles made 59 tackles and picked off four passes to lead the Vulcans.

The Vulcans placed eight players on the PSAC West First Team. Quarterback Peter Lalich is the second straight Vulcan signal caller to be named the first team quarterback and it marks the seventh straight year that a Vulcan quarterback has been named either the first or second team quarterback on the all-conference team. Running back Lamont Smith earns his second straight first team honor while tight end Blake Williamson is also on the first team for the second straight year. Guard Rishaw Johnson and wide receiver Thomas Mayo are the Vulcans other offensive representatives on the first team.

Miles is one of three defensive selections on the first team for the Vulcans. Defensive linemen Thomas Mulabah and Steve Santia are the other two

The Vulcans defeated Cheyney 43-3 last week. Lalich threw for 252 yards and five touchdowns. Chedrick Cherry went over 100 yards receiving for the sixth time in his career, he has 22 touchdown catches in his four seasons at Cal.

The defense came up huge last week, forcing six turnovers last week vs. the Wolves.

Smith ended up sixth in the PSAC in rushing at 995 yards, Lalich was second in passing with 2,987, he threw for 26 touchdowns. Thomas Mayo was third in receiving with 66 catches for 1,141 yards. Cherry added 44 catches.

The winner of Saturday’s game will travel to North Carolina to meet Winston-Salem State on November 26th.

ECAC Division III Southwest Bowl
Saint Vincent (6-4) at Lebanon Valley (7-3)  Noon
It’s the third meeting between these teams, the first since Saint Vincent restored football in 2007, the Bearcats have won both previous.

Head Coach Bob Colbert was named PAC Coach of the Year in balloting released Monday. Saint Vincent placed three members on the first team offense, quarterback Aaron Smetanka and offensive linemen Darius McGhee and Taofik Amokomoko.

Linebacker Armando Fortunato made the first team PAC defense. Another linebacker, Anthony Johnson, was named the PAC Defensive Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season. Johnson made fifteen tackles and forced a fumble in the Bethany victory, he received the honor for the second time this season. A third linebacker, David Ribero picked off a pass last week and took it 38 yards for a Pick 6.

The Bearcats defeated Bethany 20-14 last week in the Green Game. RB Huey Ehredt ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the win. It’s the third straight win for Saint Vincent, that hadn’t happened since 1957. It’s the first winning season since 1961 and the first six win season since 1949.

The bowl nomination was the first since the 49 season when Saint Vincent went to the Tangerine Bowl, that team went 10-0.

Lebanon Valley had a blow out win over King’s last week in Annville. Ben Guiles ran for 140 yards to become Lebanon Valley’s all time leading rusher. QB Colt Zarilla threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns, setting school marks for single season passing yards at 2,283 and touchdown passes with 22. WR Tim Picerno had five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Guiles leads the MAC in rushing at 1,114 yards and in scoring with twenty touchdowns. Zarilla is second in passing.

ECAC Division III South Atlantic Bowl
Waynesburg (5-4) at Widener (8-2)  1pm
The teams will meet for the first time ever in Chester this Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets had two players named to the PAC first team offense, tight end Adam Moses and lineman Nick Hanley.

Waynesburg placed three players on the PAC first team defense, lineman Darryl Moore Jr. and backs Bryan Gary and Shawn Hunt. Moore recorded eleven tackles, a sack and forced a fumble last week.

The Yellow Jackets fell again to W & J 24-21, trailing 21-0 at the half. QB Josh Graham threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. WR Christian Jackson had seven catches for 103 yards. Moses caught five passes for 71 yards and a score.

Widener finished 6-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference, they fell 56-28 to Delaware Valley last week. QB Chris Haupt was 29 of 52 for 267 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Cedric Clayton had ten catches for 112 yards and a score.

Widener leads the MAC in scoring offense, averaging 47 points per game. Haupt leads the conference in passing with 2,555, he has thrown 28 touchdowns.

Robert Morris (2-8) at Duquesne (8-2)  Noon
Robert Morris fell at home to Wagner last week 38-17. The Colonials played without starting quarterback Jeff Sinclair, who suffered a season ending knee injury vs. Central Connecticut State. Matt Layton got the start and threw for just seventy yards, he was knocked out of the game in the third quarter, replaced by former Laurel star, Tyler Forbes.

Forbes was able to lead the Colonials into the end zone, but also fumbled and threw an interception. TE Shadrae King had eight catches for 76 yards, he has caught at least one pass in 29 straight games. RB Deontae Howard scored his first NCAA touchdown on a one yard run.

The Dukes defeated Sacred Heart last week 29-15. Duquesne is tied with Albany at 6-1 in the NEC, if Duquesne defeats Robert Morris and Albany loses at home to Sacred Heart, then the Dukes will get the automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.

Larry McCoy ran for 149 yards last week and two touchdowns, McCoy has gone over the 100 yard mark in eight straight games. Connor Dixon caught a pair of touchdown passes. Dixon has caught a pass in 25 straight games since moving from quarterback to wide receiver. The grad student from South Park has 35 catches this season, 13 for touchdowns.  

LB Dorian Bell was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week. The former Gateway star is in his first season with the Dukes after transferring from Ohio State. Bell made eight tackles in the win and helped shut down the league’s top passing offense.

Missouri State (1-9) at Youngstown State (6-4)  1pm
The Bears defeated Western Illinois for their only win of the season, however two of their losses came to Oregon and Arkansas. Missouri State fell at home to Indiana State 28-20 last week.

Four of their seven losses have come by eight points or less.

The Penguins, fresh off an upset of #1 ranked North Dakota State 27-24 last week, close out their home schedule at the Ice Castle and hope with a win to make the NCAA Division I FCS playoff field. QB Kurt Hess has thrown a touchdown pass in ten straight games. RB Jamaine Cook ran for 147 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win. Cook is fifth in the FCS in rushing at 128 yards per game.

Hess was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week, going 20 of 24 for 237 and a pair of touchdowns, he also ran for a score. Kicker David Brown was the MVC Special Teams Player of the Week. He hit two field goals, including the game winner in last week’s victory.

King’s College (1-8) at Bethany (4-5)  1pm
This game was postponed from week two of the season due to flooding in the Wilkes-Barre area. Bethany won the only meeting between the teams last season 31-29.

King’s was blown out by Wilkes 54-7. Bryant Klein threw a six yard touchdown pass to Jay Torres for the only score. King’s allowed 542 yards of total offense for their seventh straight loss.

Teams have been jumping on King’s early, they have been outscored 210 to 50 in the first half this season.

KR Ed Holmes had one of the few highlights for the Bison, taking a kickoff back 82 yards for a touchdown. Holmes also made eight catches. Matt Grimard connected with Darryl Powell for a 51 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

RB Erie Walker needs 31 yards to become the all-time leading rusher at Bethany, he already leads the Bisons in scoring with 45 career touchdowns.