District College Football Preview for Saturday, September 11th

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM

Week 2 of the college football season is here, and MSA Sports has the most in-depth previews of every game and every team in the region.

Here are the previews for Week 2, which features the opening of NEC play, crossover games in the PSAC and the PAC-MAC challenge in Division III.

Slippery Rock(1-0) at Cheyney(0-1) 1pm on WISR 680-AM and the MSA Sports Network

Sophomore Akeem Satterfield started off the season with a bang, running for 240 yards on 25 carries and four touchdowns as the Rock defeated Merrimack 45-28 last Thursday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium. Satterfield was named the PSAC-West Offensive Player of the Week.

The Rock did not have a turnover in last Thursday's win, the special teams blocked a punt, which the offense turned into a touchdown two plays later.

Quarterback Ryan Sabo was only 9 of 19 for 138 yards, but he did hook up with Devin Goda five times for 103 yards and a touchdown. Sabo is expected to share playing time with Michael Bongivengo again this week.

Senior corner Robert Doiley, junior corner Andre Freeman and junior linebacker Zach Sheridan all led the defense with nine tackles.

Senior C.J. Bahr was 6-6 on conversions and hit a 43 yard field goal in the win.

Cheyney fell to Lincoln 12-0 in an all Philadelphia battle, for their 29th consecutive loss. The Wolves defense allowed only one touchdown and held on two goal line stands. Following those defensive holds, Cheyney gave up back to back safeties, the Wolves allowed three safeties in the game. James Vallery led the Wolves with nine tackles.

The Wolves had only 85 yards of offense in the game, 65 coming on the ground. It's the first of three home games for Cheyney. Dominic Crowell led the way with five carries for 23 yards. Cheyney coach Jeff Braxton is in his third year, he is still looking for his first win.

The Wolves did get into position to try and score, but kicker Tyler Wilkerson missed two field goals. Wilkerson did not have a good day punting the ball, averaging only 29.5 yards per kick.

It's the first time the teams have met since 1992-93, Slippery Rock won both of those matchups.

Washington & Jefferson (0-0) at Delaware Valley(1-0) 1pm on WJPA 1450-AM and the MSA Sports Network

It's a battle of pre-season Top 25 teams on Saturday in Doylestown. The Aggies are ranked 10th in the D3.com football poll, while the Presidents are ranked 20th.

The Presidents are expected to again compete for the PAC title, won the last two seasons by Thomas More. W& J has had 26 consecutive winning seasons. The Presidents return 24 seniors, including 11 who will be in the starting lineup. W & J has made the NCAA playoffs all three seasons with the 2011 senior class.

W & J starts the season with a very bad number triple six's in all time wins, good for third place in Division III, behind two other powers, Wittenberg with 689 and Mount Union 671. The Presidents look to get off that number as soon as possible.

Sophomore Brian Baldrige will be counted on this season. Baldrige is expected to get more carries, he rushed for 300 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in use in short yardage and goal line situations in 2009. Another sophomore, Tim McNerny is expected to see plenty of action.

Senior Gino Rometo will be the starter at quarterback, he took over as starter during the 2009 campaign. He threw for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns last season with only six interceptions. Senior Jordan Roycroft and sophomore Zach DiCicco will be the main targets.

On the defense, senior free safety Craig Sedunov returns, he has led W & J in tackles in each of the last two seasons.

The Aggies opened the season with a 27-7 win over Muhlenberg, after advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2009.

Delaware Valley shut down Muhlenberg last week, allowing just 203 yards of offense, forced two turnovers and had four sacks. Linebacker Chris James scored on a fumble recovery and return last week.

Senior quarterback Mark Hatty was 15 of 26 for 143 yards and a touchdown in his second career start. Senior running back Matt Cook added another 69 yards to his rushing total, he is just 231 yards away from becoming DVC's all-time leader. Cook scored two first half touchdowns in last week's win.

Albright(0-1) at Geneva(1-0) 7pm on WBVP 1230-AM/WMBA 1460-AM and the MSA Sports Network

These teams will meet for the first time since 1938. Albright fell last week to Ursinus 21-13. Albright made the 2010 NCAA D-3 playoffs and is coached by former Thiel assistant John Marzka.

Geneva was again led by Gerald Muschette in a 32-27 win over Frostburg State. Muschette ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns, placing him fifth on the Geneva all-time rushing list.

It wasn't pretty for the GT's last week, committing four turnovers, 10 penalties for 85 yards and a 26 yard punting average.

Geneva's defense is bolstered by the return of All-American Adam Rose on the defensive line and four returning starters at linebacker in Solomon Hejirika, Gary Walstrom, Jeremy Kiger and Chance Kelosky. Walstrom picked up ten tackles in the season opening victory at Frostburg State, while Hejirika returns in 2010 having led the team in tackles a year ago.

Geneva did not lose a home game in 2009, going a perfect 5-0. That may not be so easy this season, with two-time defending PAC champion Thomas More next Saturday and W & J headed into Reeves Field in late October.

Albright suffered a 21-13 loss to Ursinus College in the first week of the season. After putting a Scott Pillar five yard touchdown reception on the board to open the scoring, the Lions allowed 21 unanswered points in the second and third quarters. Josan Holmes led the rushing attack with 70 yards while quarterback Adam Galczynski threw for 15 yards in completing just 4-8 passes while also running for 40 yards on five carries. Galczynski and Mike Cattolico both saw time at the quarterback position but combined for three interceptions in the loss.

In 2009, the Lions lost only to Delaware Valley in the regular season and took a 9-1 record into the post-season. The season ended with a 55-3 loss to perennial powerhouse Mount Union College.

Robert Morris(0-1) at Sacred Heart(1-0) Noon
The Colonials fell at Dayton 28-14. Jeff Sinclair threw for only 146 yards, but did hit Anthony Coleman with a 33 yard strike. Sinclair added a one yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Robert Morris had 119 yards in penalties on the afternoon. Sacred Heart led 28-7 last week over Marist and held on for a 28-25 win. Marcel Archer ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns and Greg Ibe also ran for 97 yards and a pair of scores. Dale Fink threw for 229 yards, on 22 of 28.

Dayton(1-0) at Duquesne(1-0) Noon
The Flyers bested Robert Morris 28-14 last week.
Steve Valentino had 317 total yards of offense, including two touchdown passes as the Flyers held the ball for over 37 minutes in the home win. Justin Watkins had eight catches for 95 yards for Dayton. Sean Patterson threw a touchdown pass to Dave Williams and ran for another score as the Dukes open the season with the win on the Bluff, 17-13 over Bucknell. Larry McCoy carried 20 times for 81 yards to lead the Duquesne rushing attack. Senior linebacker Nathan Totino made 13 tackles for the Dukes.

St Francis(0-1) at Morehead State(0-1) 1pm
Kyle Harbridge ran for a 39 yard first quarter touchdown for a 7-0 Red Flash lead, but that was it for St. Francis in a 52-7 loss at Liberty. The Red Flash gave up 599 yards of offense in the loss. Morehead State was bombed by James Madison 48-7 last Saturday. Blake Stanley scored the only touchdown for the Eagles in the fourth quarter.

Butler(1-0) at YSU(0-1) 6pm
Butler defeated Division III Albion 29-13. Andrew Huck threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Butler racked up 519 yards of total offense. The Penguins make their season debut at the Ice Castle after falling 44-14 to 19th ranked Penn State at Happy Valley last Saturday. YSU actually led 7-3 in the first quarter on a Dominque Barnes 80 yard catch and run from Kurt Hess. Hess found Ely Ducatel for a seven yard touchdown in the game's final minute. Hess was 21 for 25 for 189 yards.

Seton Hill(1-1) at Urbana(0-1) 1pm
Seton Hill fell 34-17 to New Haven last week in Greensburg. Seton Hill quarterback D.J. Lenehan was 25 of 45 for 229 yards, but he was picked off three times by Desmond Anderson and sacked four more. R.J. Butler scored on a two yard run, Lenehan hit A. Armstead on a five yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tyler McIntosh had five catches for 68 yards for Seton Hill. Lenehan has thrown for 392 yards on 37 of 65 over the first two games. McIntosh leads the team in catches with eight and yards with 121. Danilo Bautista leads in tackles with 18, he also has an interception. Urbana dropped their season opener 17-14 to West Virginia Wesleyan last weekend.The Blue Knights reached Wesleyan territory four times in the second half, but could not dent the scoreboard. Urbana is in their first season as a full NCAA Division II member. QB Evan Gehlert has thrown for 2296 yards in a dozen career starts. LB Travis Brisco, the 2009 D-II Independent Defensive Player of the Year, earned Independent Defensive Player of the Week honors after racking up three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble against West Virginia Wesleyan.

Edinboro(1-0) at West Chester(0-1) 1pm
The Fighting Scots are now ranked 24th in the AFCA Division II coaches poll after dumping West Liberty on the road Saturday 20-19. The Hilltoppers were held scoreless in the second half. Branden Williams was named PSAC-West Defensive Player of the Week, he recording his tenth career interception, he also blocked an extra point(the eighth of his career) and made eight tackles in holding West Liberty to just 19 points, the Hilltoppers scored 84 on the Fighting Scots in their last meeting in the Division II playoffs last November. The game was sealed when James Jackson picked off a pass at the EU 5 with 79 seconds remaining. Redshirt freshman Cody Harris ran for a touchdown and threw for another as he took over the QB job from his graduated brother Trevor. West Chester was blanked by Delaware for the second straight season. Sophomore quarterback Mike Mattei will make his second collegiate start. The Golden Rams are a young team this season, 14 players played in their first NCAA game last Thursday.

Gannon(1-0) at Shippensburg(0-1) 1pm
Gannon scored 20 points off of four turnovers in a 26-20 victory over Lake Erie last Thursday. The Golden Knights have now won five straight games, dating back to last season. Senior quarterback Zach Boedicker racked up 287 yards of offense, including rushing for 109 yards and two scores. Senior safety Matthew Neal-Mink made 10 more tackles, he is now in the top ten in Gannon history in that category. Senior kicker Jeremy Ditzler converted the 29th field goal of his career, becoming the top kicker in Gannon history. Shippensburg was stunned by Shepherd in the season opener on August 28th. The Red Raiders had a bye-week for the first time since 1976. Quarterbacks Steven Adamas and Dave Chervansky will likely split time. Junior linebacker Vinnie Ranauto had two interceptions. Saturday will be the first meeting ever between the Golden Knights and Red Raiders.

Cal(1-0) at C.W. Post(1-0) 1pm
The Vulcans are ranked 4th in this week's AFCA Division II coaches poll after their win at Saginaw Valley State on Saturday. Cal rallied from a 21-3 deficit to win 42-41 in overtime. It's the tenth fourth quarter comeback under head coach John Luckhardt. Josh Portis threw for three touchdowns in the win, one to Chedrick Cherry in the fourth. The pair hooked up on a two-pointer that forced overtime. For C.W. Post , junior linebacker Billy O'Connor was named PSAC-East defensive player of the week. He made 12 tackles in the Pioneers 20-11 win over American International. The defense allowed only 85 yards on the ground last week. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, putting up 464 yards, including 273 on the ground. Senior quarterback Eric Anderwkavich was the leader with 191 yards passing and 133 yards rushing. Saturday's game is the first ever meeting between the two teams, it's also the first time Cal U. has played a game in the state of New York.

Lock Haven(0-1) at Millersville(0-1) 1pm
The Bald Eagles have dropped 22 consecutive games and have not won since the 2007 finale at Clarion. Lock Haven was rolled at VMI 48-7 last Saturday. Lock Haven has not had a winning season since 1981. It's the first time these teams have met since 1997. The Marauders were defeated by Assumption 33-28 in the final minute last week. Quarterback Bill Shirk threw for 300 yards for the second time in his career, adding three touchdowns. Defensively, Matt Sutjak made 13 tackles and Shane Gross had 11 stops, including a sack, he also forced a fumble.

Clarion(0-1) at Bloomsburg(0-1) 1pm
Turnovers killed the Golden Eagles in a home loss to Fairmont State 27-16 in week 1. Sophomore quarterback Eric Coxon threw for 285 yards in his first start. Matt Ward had 12 catches in the loss, Jacques Robinson added six more, giving him 169 for his career. One more catch will vault Robinson into second place on Clarion's alltime list. Alfonso Hoggard had another good day for the Golden Eagles, running for 143 yards. Redshirt freshman Franklyn Quiteh ran for 140 yards and a touchdown in the Huskies loss to Ashland. It's the first time Bloomsburg has dropped a season opener since 2006.

IUP(1-0) at East Stroudsburg(1-0) 6pm
IUP comes off a 16-6 win over Southern Connecticut State, going to 6-0 all-time vs. the Owls. The IUP defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions. Craig Burgess kicked three field goals, including a career long 45 yarder. Harvey Tuck rushed for 98 yards in the win, which broke a three-game losing streak at George P. Miller Stadium. East Stroudsburg is ranked 25th in this week's AFCA Division II coaches poll, coming off a 57-0 win over Pace last week. QB Matt Marshall was named PSAC-East offensive player of the week for his performance, throwing for 337 yards and five touchdowns. Marshall has gone over 300 yards passing six times in his career. The defense played well for ESU, with nine sacks and forced five turnovers. It will be interesting to see how long the Warriors stay in the Top 25, their next four games are against the top two teams in each division of the PSAC, according to the pre-season polls. Cal U. is the next opponent, followed by West Chester and Bloomsburg.

Mercyhurst(1-0) at Kutztown(1-0) 6pm
Mercyhurst heads to the road again this week, the Lakers play six of their first seven contests away from Erie. The Lakers come off a bye week, they defeated Notre Dame College 23-0 back on August 28th. Sophomore Andrew Bailey ran for two scores and freshman Steven Wakefield kicked three field goals. Kutztown rolled over St. Anselm last week, forcing four turnovers and scoring 35 second half points. The Golden Bears look for their second consecutive 2-0 start.

Waynesburg (0-0) at Wilkes(0-0) Noon
Waynesburg is 5-1 in games out of the PAC over the last three seasons. The Yellow Jackets open the season in Wilkes-Barre as part of the PAC/MAC challenge. Senior quarterback Brad Dawson returns after setting a school record for passing yards as a junior(2,718). Junior tackle Darryl Moore leads the defense, he was named second team all PAC last season. PAC first team kicker Jon Storck also returns for head coach Rick Shepas.

Bethany(0-1) at Kings College(0-1) 1pm
Kyle Arrington and Jeff Joyce led the Bison with 11 tackles each as they fell to Allegheny 28-0. Bethany's offense was held to just 202 yards, with 115 coming from running back Eric Walker. Kings fell last week to Springfield 31-7. Corey Lavin hooked up with Glenn Ford for a seven yard touchdown connection.

Grove City(0-1) at Lebanon Valley(0-1) 1pm
Junior quarterback Clayton Hall was named the PAC Offensive Player of the Week. Hall ran 30 times for 228 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-21 home loss to CMU last Saturday. He also threw for 134 yards. Senior corner Chris Korn had a career high eight tackles in the loss. The Wolverines will need to capitalize on offense, they held a 12-minute advantage in possession, but had three drives of ten plays or more come up with no points on the scoreboard. It's Grove City's first game on grass since October of 2008. Grove City will play the next three weeks on the road. Lebanon Valley fell last week to Gettysburg 42-28. It's the first time these teams will meet since 1959.

Saint Vincent(0-1) at FDU-Florham(0-0) 1pm
Junior linebacker Anthony Johnson was named the PAC Defensive Player of the Week. He made 14 tackles and returned an interception 30 yards to set up a Bearcat touchdown in a 19-14 loss to Bridgewater. WR Sheldon Loughner caught both touchdown passes for Saint Vincent. FDU-Florham was picked to finish seventh in the preseason MAC poll.

Thiel(0-1) at Widener(0-1) 1pm
The Tomcats fell to Marietta last week 28-7, allowing 21 fourth quarter points. Sophomore wideout Tyler DeJong was the offensive star for Thiel, making three catches for 98 yards. Ross Gargano scored the only touchdown for the Tomcats, who threw five picks on the afternoon. Widener has lost seven consecutive games.

Westminster(1-0) at Lycoming 1pm
Junior kicker Trevor Young was named PAC Special Teams Player of the Week. He hit a 33 yard field goal and averaged over 56 yards on his kickoffs as Westminster defeated Hiram 23-6. Sophomore running back John Proano made his first start and put up big numbers rushing for 123 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Jordan Rooney blocked a field goal before the half. Rooney looks to get untracked, he was second in the PAC last season in punt returns, averaging over 11 yards a return. Lycoming lost 24-17 at Rowen last week.

Carnegie Mellon(1-0) at Allegheny(1-0) 1pm
The Tartans gave up a ton of yardage last week, but pulled out a 28-21 win over Grove City last Saturday. Jake Nardone and Patrick Blanks staked CMU to a 14-7 lead in the first quarter. Freshman quarterback . Rob Kalkstein hit Chris Garcia with a 29 yard touchdown pass to give CMU back the lead. Grove City fumbled the kickoff, setting up a short field and Justin Pratt scored six plays later from a yard out to put CMU up 28-14. T.J. Salopek was 19 of 28 for 207 yards and four touchdowns as the Gators win their first of the season 28-0 over Bethany. Hartford had six catches, two for touchdowns for Allegheny. The Gators will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1990 National Championship. CMU leads the overall series 28-20-2.

Tags: Slippery Rock, Thiel, Washington