District College Football Preview for September 26th

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | 9:05 PM

Week 4 of the local college football season sees conference play open in the PSAC. League games also take place in the PAC, while NEC teams wait one more week.

Four teams in the PSAC West enter conference play unbeaten, only one can advance to to State Title Game. This week is step one of a tough road ahead for all eight teams.

Here are capsules of ALL the games:

Clarion(3-0) at Gannon(3-0)   Noon
QB Connor Simmons has thrown for 10 scores in the first 3 games. Simons also leads the West Division inpassing at 288 yards per game. Clarion defeated 59-6 last week. The Golden Eagles defense forced 14 turnovers, including 5 last week. 

QB Liam Nadler was named PSAC Offensive Athlete of the Week after the 66-31 win over Kutztown last week. The senior threw for 412 yards and 5 touchdowns. Nadler has thrown 265 passes without an interception. RB Brock jones posted his 14th career 100 yard game, running for 191 yards and three scores last week. Jones leads the PSAC with 404 yards rushing. WR Jesstin Hamm leads the PSAC with 8 touchdowns.

California(2-1) at Edinboro(0-3)   Noon
Cal defeated Shippensburg 34-26 last week. Aaron Terry was named West Division Special Trams Athlete of the Week. The junior returned apunt 97yards for a score on the final play of the first half. Sophomore RB James Franklin ran for 114 yards and 2 scores.

The Fighting Scots are winless entering league play for the second straight year.

IUP(1-1) at Mercyhurst(3-0)   1pm
The Crimson Hawks ran for 372 yards vs. Lock Haven, the most rushing yards for IUP since 2012. Walt Pegues is 9th in the conference in receiving at 82 yards per game. Pegueshas posted 13 catches and a td for IUP.

Mercyhurst is 3-0 for the first time since 1989. Senior LB Joe Dever was named West Division Defensive Athlete of the Week in the win over bloomsburg last week. Dever made 12 tackles and had 2 interceptions, helping to lead the Lakers to the 20-14 victory.

The Lakers have now won 10 straight games.

Slippery Rock(3-0) at Seton Hill(1-2)   3pm
The Rock is now ranked at #18 this week. SRU leads the PSAC in both scoring at 49 and defense a 7 points per game. RB ShamarGreene(West Mifflin) is second in the PSAC in rushing at 123 yards pergame, he did not play last week. The Rock is averaging 319 yards rushing per game.

The Griffins allow 40 points per game, which is 14th in the PSAC. Cheyney at 44 and Kutztown at 46 are worst.

Case Western Reserve(1-1) at Thiel(1-2)   1pm
Case Western scored their highest total in 6 years, posting 49 points in the win over Saint Vincent. Sophomore QB Rob Cuda threw for 4 scores and ran 145 yards. The sophomore was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week. Cuda has posted 575 yards passing and seven scores on the year. The Spartans lead the PAC in rushing defense at 53 yards per game.

QB Ryan Radke figured in on both scores during a blowout loss to Thomas More, running for six points and throwing for another score. Freshman Paul Jones(New Castle) is fourth in the conference with 122 all purpose yards per game.

Thiel leads the series 9-8, Case Western has won the last 3 meetings.

Thomas More(3-0) at Westminster(2-1)   1pm
Senior WR Goose Cohorn set a Saints record with 216 receiving yards in last week’s win. The Saints are ranked 13th in the D3.com top 25, up two spots. Thomas More is #14 in the initial AFCA top 25 poll. The Saints average 64 points per game. The Saints 20-21 with 17 touchdowns in the red zone this year.

Senior WR Michael Frankowski posted two scores in last week’s win over Bethany.  Junior DB Gator Phillips was named PAC Defensive Player of the Week with 2 interceptions, one an 89 yard Pick 6. Sophomore RB Kimu Kim has 3 touchdowns on the year to lead the Titans. Westminster is the most penalized team in the conference. Another sophomore RB Dominique McKinley is third in the PAC with 342 rushing yards.

Thomas More leads the series 12=1 and has won 10 straight.

Bethany(1-2) at Waynesburg(1-2)   1:30pm
WR Eric Blinn(Western Beaver) is the PAC all-time leader in catches 273, breaking the mark in last week’s loss to Westminster. RB JalenHolmes(New Castle) led the Bison in rushing for the second traight week.

RB Jerry Lawman averages 92 yards per game. Waynesburg leads the series 29-16, Bethany has won the last 2 games.

Saint Vincent(1-2) at Grove City(0-2)   2pm
Sophomore WR Damon Black had 6 catches last week, including 2 touchdowns. Senior QB Evan Shimensky has thrown 4 td passes and has no interceptions on the year. 

The Wolverines are only averaging 14 points per game, last in the PAC. Grove City is also minus 6 in turnover ratio. Sophomore QB Andrew Carroscia is third with 248 yards passing per game. Josh Peach and Brett Pinson are both among the conference receiving leaders.

Grove City leads the series 6-4.

Carnegie Mellon(0-2) at Geneva(2-1)   3pm
RB Sam Benger broke the school record for rushing yards with 303 in last week’s 38-14 loss to W & J. CMU is the least penalized team in the PAC.

A pair of former Riverside Panthers shined bright in Geneva’s 41-24 victory over Waynesburg. WR Devin Kelosky had 6 catches for 110 yards and 2 scores, while freshman Brent Mulneix made 12 tackles. QB Aaron Channing has 7 touchdowns with just 1 pick on the year.

The Tartans lead the series 14-8-1 and have won 5 straight.

University of Faith at Saint Francis(1-2)   1pm
The Red Flash are perfect in red zone offense, scoring on all 9 tries this year with 6 touchdowns. Terrell Smith is third at 84 yards receiving a contest. Saturday’s is consideredan exhibition as The Glory Eagles are not a NCAA member. 

Duquesne(2-1) at Albany(1-2)    3:30pm
The Dukes are first in the NEC in pass defense. Duquesne is also plus four in turnovers this year.
Freshman PJ Fulmore(Cardinal Wurhl North Catholic) is 2nd in the NEC at 87 rushing yards per game. Fulmore is averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Junior Wayne Capers(Char Valley) is averaging 62 receiving yards per game to lead the Dukes.

The Great Danes fell to James Madison 42-28 last week. The score was tied at the half at 14. Elliot Croskey ran for 102 yards and a score. DJ Crook has thrown for 462 yards and 4 touchdowns. Josh Gontarek and Zee Roberson are tied for team lead with 14 catches.

Robert Morris(1-2) at South Dakota State(2-0)    6pm
Warren Robinson was named NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. The freshman returned a punt 66 yards for a score in the first quarter of a 35-24 win over Notre Dame College. Robinson is the first Colonials freshman to return a punt for a score.

Sophomore Rameses Owens leads the conference at 92 yards per game. Another sophomore, Junior Richards leads the NEC with 3 picks. QB Matthew Barr has ran for 3 scores.

The #7 Jackrabbits had a bye after defeating Kansas 41-38 and Southern Utah 55-10. QB Zach Lujan has thrown for 607 yards and 5 touchdowns this year. Jake Wieneke has 19 catches, 4 for touchdowns