District College Football Preview – 10/06/2011

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 6, 2011 | 9:03 PM

Saturday is another busy day of district college football featuring three game here on The Network. Here is a preview of all of the district college football action on the second Saturday in October.

Slippery Rock(4-1) at Edinboro(4-1)  2pm on WISR 680-AM and the MSA Sports Network
Slippery Rock is 2-0 in the PSAC West, tied with Cal for the top spot.  The Rock defeated Clarion 27-13 last week.

QB Cody Endres was named the PSAC West Co-Offensive Player of the Week. The graduate of Trinity threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Endres is sixth in the conference in passing with 1,076 yards.

WR Devin Goda had his third consecutive game with 100 receiving yards. Goda moved into third place on the Rock all-time list for catches, he is fifth all-time in receiving yards. For the season, Goda is third in the PSAC with 34 catches.

Akeem Satterfield is seventh in the conference in rushing at 90 yards per game.

The Rock defense leads Division II, having only allowed 977 yards in five games. SRU has not allowed a offensive touchdown in ten straight quarters. With those numbers, the Rock leads the PSAC in every major defensive category.

Edinboro is 1-1 in divisional play, after being shut down last week vs. IUP in a 19-0 loss. The Fighting Scots remain in the top 25 in the AFCA poll, occupying the bottom spot.

Edinboro turned the ball over five times last week, after committing just two turnovers in the first four games.

WR David Bostic moved into 11th place all-time at Edinboro with 1,385 receiving yards.

Drew Harrell is eighth in the conference in rushing at 75 yards per game.

QB Cody Harris left last week’s game with an injury, if he doesn’t play that is a huge advantage for the Rock. Harris has thrown for 739 yards and seven touchdowns this season. 

K Alex Romanias is eighth in the country, having kicked seven field goals this season. Romanias is also 18 for 18 on extra points, he has not missed a field goal this season.

The Fighting Scots are second in the PSAC in scoring, passing and total defense, they are fourth in rush defense.

The Rock leads the series 46-24-1, SRU knocked off a ranked Edinboro squad last year 28-14 at SRU.

W & J(3-2) at Saint Vincent(2-2)  1pm on WJPA 1450-AM and the MSA Sports Network
W & J stands at 2-1 in the PAC, trailing both Thomas More and Waynesburg. 

The Presidents held on to defeat the Titans 20-16 in New Wilmington. RB Tim McNerney ran for 141 yards and a touchdown on 30 touches. McNerney has scored in eleven straight games he has played in.

QB Matt Bliss threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, Bliss has thrown for 245 yards or more in every game this season.

W & J did turn the ball over five times vs. Westminster and had three drives stopped on downs.

DT Frank Gigler made six stops against Westminster, all were behind the line of scrimmage, with four for loss and two sacks.

The Bearcats come in at 1-1 in the PAC, coming off a 23-20 overtime loss at Geneva. Saint Vincent scored on the final play of regulation to force the extra session.  QB Aaron Smetanka connected with DB Dan Wirkowski on a 24 yard pass play for the score.

Running back Huey Ehredt was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week. Ehredt, making his first start for the Bearcats, ran for 155 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Ehredt transferred to Saint Vincent from Saint Francis. 

LB Armando Fortunato made 11 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown last week.

W & J leads the series 4-0. The Presidents are 3-0 on the road this season.

Geneva(1-4) at Waynesburg(3-1)  1:30pm on WBVP 1230-AM and the MSA Sports Network
The Golden Tornadoes picked up their first PAC win last week in a 23-20 overtime decision over Saint Vincent. Geneva is now 1-2 in the conference.

Kicker Bryan Visengardi was named PAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Visengardi kicked three field goals, including the game winner.

WR Corey O’Patchen had a huge day last week, with five catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Geneva used both Rocco Colavecchia and Zach Hayward at quarterback last week, the pair combined to throw for over 300 yards.

Waynesburg is tied with Thomas More for the PAC lead at 3-0. The Yellow Jackets defeated Bethany last week 23-7.

RB Bertrand Ngampa led the Yellow Jackets with 79 yards rushing and a touchdown. Jamelle Bowers also ran for 64 yards, the Yellow Jackets posted 210 yards on the ground.

S Brandon Myers made six tackles and forced a fumble in last week’s win.

Waynesburg leads the all-time series 40-29-4. Since Geneva joined the PAC in 2007, the home team has not won a game in the last four meetings.

Duquesne(4-1) at Albany(2-2)  1pm
The Dukes are 2-0 in the NEC and have won four straight games. Duquesne defeated Bryant last week 31-28. Sixth year receiver Connor Dixon caught three touchdown passes from Sean Patterson. Dixon has 17 catches for 422 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Dixon has caught at least one pass in twenty consecutive games. Patterson leads the NEC with 13 touchdown passes. Larry McCoy had 153 yards rushing, his fourteenth 100 yard game of his career.

Albany won their NEC opener last week 41-20 at Saint Francis. The Danes have won back to back games. QB Dan Di Lella threw three passes and Andrew Smith posted his second straight 100 yard game. WR Cole King had five catches for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

Saint Francis(1-4) at Robert Morris(1-3) 7pm
The lights will be turned on for the first time in Moon Township at Joe Walton Stadium.

The Red Flash are 0-3 in the NEC. DB Austin Miele of Mars leads the NEC with three interceptions, he picked off a pair of passes in the loss to Albany last week. RB Kyle Harbridge is second in the FCS with 640 yards rushing.

The defending NEC champions won their conference opener last week 23-20 at Monmouth. TE Shadrae King was named NEC Offensive Player of the Week. The senior from McKeesport caught nine passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead points in the fourth quarter. King has made one catch in 23 consecutive games, with the nine catches last week, he moved into first place all-time at RMU. 

South Dakota State(1-4) at Youngstown State(2-2)  4pm
The Jackrabbits are 1-1 in the MVC. SDSU trailed Indiana State 17-15 in the fourth quarter last week but could not get any closer in a 38-28 loss. Austin Summer threw for 305 yards in the game.

The Penguins had a bye last week, YSU is 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. YSU has won six times in seven games coming off of a bye week. 

South Dakota State leads the series 7-5 and has won all three meetings since YSU moved into the MVC.

IUP(2-2) at Mercyhurst(3-2)  Noon
Both teams are 1-1 in West Division play. IUP blanked previously unbeaten Edinboro last week 19-0. S Andre Henderson was named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week. Henderson, an Erie native, made eight tackles, picked off a pass and forced a fumble as the defense held the Fighting Scots to just 115 yards of offense.

Harvie Tuck ran for 121 yards last week, the eighth consecutive game that Tuck has gone over the 100 yard mark. The junior leads the PSAC in rushing with 127 yards per game

Mercyhurst looks to rebound from the loss to Gannon last week. WR Trevor Kennedy is now third in the nation, averaging 139 yards receiving per game. Kennedy leads the NCAA with 10 touchdown catches.

Both teams are facing iffy quarterback situations. IUP has used both Pat Smith and Mike Box over the past couple of weeks. Mercyhurst saw starter Travis Rearick leave with an injury in the second half last week, Anthony Vendemia was the replacement.

Mercyhurst leads the short series between the teams 2-1, winning the last two meetings.

Lock Haven(0-4) at Clarion(0-5)  2pm
Something has got to give here. Both teams are 0-2 in divisional play. Lock Haven has lost 36 consecutive games, they return to the site of their last win, Memorial Stadium. That last win came in the final game of the 2007 season, 17-14 in overtime. TB Brandon Brader did rush for 80 yards in last week’s loss to Cal.

Clarion lost 27-13 at Slippery Rock last week. The Golden Eagles did not score on offense, the points came off interception and punt returns. Clarion leads the series 43-16-1.

Gannon(2-3) at California(4-1) 3:30pm
The Golden Knights are 1-1 in the West Division. Gannon knocked off the defending West Division champion and crosstown rival Mercyhurst last week 30-27. WR Lawrence Coleman was named PSAC West Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Coleman caught seven passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns, all coming from freshman quarterback Daniel Tapscott. Another freshman, North Allegheny’s Alex Papson, had a season high 25 carries. Gannon also has one of the best punt returners in freshman Justin Caliste, who has taken two back for touchdowns this season.

Cal is tied with SRU for the top spot at 2-0 in the West. The Vulcans are ranked 15th this week in the AFCA Top 25.  WR Thomas Mayo is fourth in the nation, averaging 138 yards receiving per game, he had three touchdown catches last week in the win over Lock Haven. Cal scored on five straight possessions in the 54-13 win. California has won all three meetings in the series.

Charleston(0-5) at Seton Hill(0-5)  3pm
Both teams are 0-3 in the WVIAC. Charleston dropped a 19-14 to Fairmont State last week, the Golden Eagles missed two field goals. QB Maurice Leak threw for just 53 yards but did toss two touchdown passes. Leak also led the team with 75 yards rushing.

The Griffins lost 27-21 to West Virginia State. Seton Hill was just 4 of 18 on third down conversions in the game. Daniel Butler ran for 141 yards. Ryan Morris threw for 152 yards and a score.

Grove City(0-4) at Thomas More(4-0)  1:30 pm
The Wolverines had the bye last week, they are 0-2 in the PAC. Grove City is 3-1 in games coming off the bye week. This will be the first road game for the Wolverines since the season opener at CMU. Grove City does not return home until October 22nd, vs. Saint Vincent.

Grove City is the least penalized team in the conference having been flagged just twelve times all season. Jimmy Bailey leads the PAC in return yardage with 424.

Thomas More is tied with Waynesburg for first place in the conference at 3-0. The Saints have moved up two spots to number 6 in the AFCA Division III poll this week, their highest ranking ever.

LB Kenny Orloff had five tackles for the Saints in the easy 50-7 win over Thiel. RB Kendall Owens ran for two scores and caught a td pass from Robert Kues, who threw for three touchdowns. Thomas More scored 35 points in the second quarter and led 42-0 at the half. RB Landon Savoy ran 15 times for 103 yards, his first time over the 100 yard mark in NCAA play.

Thomas More leads the series 5-1, including wins in the last three meetings.

Westminster(2-2) at Bethany(2-2)  2pm
The Titans come in at 1-1 in the PAC, off a 20-16 home loss to W & J. LB Alex Kernicky was named PAC Defensive Player of the Week. The junior, from Greensburg Salem, made 15 tackles, the highest in the PAC this season and had a sack. The Westminster defense forced five turnovers and had three stops on fourth down. CB J.J. Nalesnik from Blackhawk had two picks last week.

QB Shawn Lehocky returned to the lineup and had a big day, throwing for 253 yards on 16 of 30 and two scores.

Bethany is 1-2 in conference play, the Bearcats fell 23-7 to Waynesburg last week. WR Ed Holmes caught five passes for 115 yards in the loss. Bethany trailed 20-0 at the half, the Bison failed to score in five red zone trips and allowed 210 yards rushing. 

RB Eric Walker needs 146 yards to become the all-time leading rusher at Bethany, he is the Bison’s all time leading scorer.

Westminster leads the series 36-11-2.

Allegheny(2-3) at Kenyon(0-4)  1pm
The Gators are 1-1 in the NCAC, but have dropped back to back games. Allegheny lost 17-10 to Case Western Reserve last week when the Gators fumbled while trying to run out the clock. QB Jordan Fowler has thrown for 689 yards and four touchdowns this season. Sean Griffin has three touchdown catches. The Gators have struggled to run the ball, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry.

The Lords are 0-1 in the NCAC, losing 49-0 to #12 Wabash last week. QB Dan Shannon was 20 of 35 for 189 yards in the loss. Shannon has thrown for 763 yards, good for fifth in the NCAC. Charles Small had ten catches for 101 yards. Small is also fifth in the conference with 260 yards receiving.

Ohio Wesleyan(1-4) at Carnegie Mellon(3-2)  6pm
The Battling Bishops led 10-7 at the half but fell to Chicago University 21-10 last week. LB Tyler Sheetz of Peters Township led OWU with 13 tackles last week. QB Mason Espinosa has thrown five touchdown passes this season, but has been picked off nine times and sacked twelve more. OWU averages just 1.4 yards per rushing attempt.

The Tartan defense forced six turnovers in a 24-7 win over Hiram last week. Rob Kalkstein threw two touchdown passes to Alexander Lum and Nathan Cheek recovered a fumble for a touchdown for CMU. Kalkstein was 6 of 13 for 72 yards, Patrick Blanks carried 20 times for 116 yards. Jake Nardone added 82 yards on eleven carries.

Blanks leads CMU with 503 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Nardone has 399 yards and four scores.
 

Tags: Geneva, Slippery Rock, Washington