October 12th, 2023 5:15am
Week Seven in the PSAC is coming up and two teams from the PSAC remain ranked in the D2Football.com Top 25 poll. #10 Slippery Rock (6-0, 3-0 PSAC West) won last week and remains the same. #20 Shepherd (5-1, 2-1 PSAC East) moved up two spots after winning last week. My PSAC Game of Week for Week Seven is a match-up between two teams in the West who are both still undefeated in the division. #10 Slippery Rock is at Gannon (3-3, 3-0 PSAC West). These two teams, along with IUP, shared a piece of the PSAC West title last year. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 noon. As of now, #10 Slippery Rock and Kutztown (4-2, 3-0 PSAC East) control their own destinies in the quest to represent their Division in the PSAC Championship Game to be played on November 11, 2023. Here is my PSAC Power Ranking heading into Week Seven:
WEEK SEVEN - PSAC POWER RANKING
Last week I was correct in predicting the winners in seven out of the eight Divisional Games played. For the season, I have predicted the winners in 42 out of 55 (76%) of the games. Below is my preview for each game this week and my prediction for who will win each contest.
PSAC EAST
East Stroudsburg (5-1, 2-1 PSAC East) at West Chester (4-2, 2-1 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
East Stroudsburg beat Millersville 38-17 last week. The Warriors have the number two offense in the PSAC both in points scored per game, averaging 38.3, and yards per game, averaging 412.7. All of points, yards, and wins have been accomplished with three different quarterbacks at the helm so far this season. Running back Tyriq Lewis is third in the PSAC in rushing averaging 78.8 yards per game. He has six touchdowns on the season. Linebacker Sergei Felizor, who had a 13-tackle game last week, is fifth in the PSAC averaging 8.3 tackles per game.
West Chester beat Shippensburg 38-28 last week. Defensive back Maurice Beverly led the team with nine tackles. He also forced two fumbles and picked one up himself and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. His performance earned him PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week honors. Linebacker Connor Noble leads the PSAC in tackles averaging 11.5 stops per game.
My Prediction: East Stroudsburg – The Warriors get the win on the road.
Shippensburg (1-5, 1-2 PSAC East) at Kutztown (4-2, 3-0 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
Shippensburg lost 38-28 to West Chester last week. On offense, they are averaging scoring 17.5 points per game and on defense they are averaging giving up 26.5 points each game.
Kutztown beat Bloomsburg 24-3 last week. The Golden Bears offense is ranked sixth in the PSAC averaging scoring 27.5 points per game. The Golden Bears defense is first in the PSAC in both points allowed with an average of 18.2 per game and yards surrendered each game averaging only giving up 265.5. Nigel Wilson has 4.5 sacks on the season. On special teams last week, defensive back Oyame Adoga blocked a punt on Bloomsburg’s first drive and covered it up inside the opponents 20 setting up the Golden Bears first score, a field goal. Adoga was named the PSAC East Special teams Athlete of the Week. Punter Nate Millard is the number one ranked punter in the PSAC averaging 43.7 yards per punt landing eight inside the opponents 20-yard line. He also has a 44-yard field goal this season.
My Prediction: Kutztown – The Golden Bears get another win in divisional play and remain in the driver’s seat in the PSAC East.
#20 Shepherd (5-1, 2-1 PSAC East) at Millersville (3-3, 1-2 PSAC East) – 2 PM
#20 Shepherd beat Lock Haven 27-10 last week. Quarterback Seth Morgan was 25 of 36 for 301 yards and two touchdowns. His performance earned him PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week honors. Morgan is currently second in the PSAC averaging 270.3 yards passing per game. He has an efficiency rating of 155.5 with 12 touchdown passes on the season. Running back Malaki Brown is fourth in the PSAC in rushing averaging 78.2 yards per game. He has three touchdowns. Wide receiver Cameron Dorner is fourth if the PSAC with an average of 81.4 receiving yards per game. He has four touchdown receptions. Shepherd’s offense is fifth in the PSAC in both points per game, averaging 27.7, and yards per game averaging 361.7.
Millersville lost 38-17 to East Stroudsburg last week. Linebacker Garrett Cox is having a stellar season so far. He is second in the PSAC in tackles averaging 10.2 stops per game. He is first in the PSAC in tackles for loss, averaging 2.25 per game, and third in the PSAC in sacks averaging .92 per game with 5.5 on the season, five of which are solo. Cox also has two fumble recoveries to his credit.
My Prediction: #20 Shepherd – The Rams get another win in the division.
Lock Haven (3-3, 1-2 PSAC East) at Bloomsburg (1-5, 0-3 PSAC East) – 2 PM
Lock Haven lost 27-10 to Shepherd last week. Running back Chris Collier is second in the PSAC in rushing averaging 90.5 yards per game. He has seven rushing touchdowns and two receiving for a total of nine on the season so far. The Bald Eagles have the fourth ranked offense in the PSAC averaging scoring 29.5 points per game.
Bloomsburg lost 24-3 to Kutztown last week. Running back Kaleb Monaco leads the PSAC in rushing averaging 93.7 yards per game. He has three touchdowns on the season. Bloomsburg has the lowest ranked offense in the PSAC averaging only scoring 14.7 points per game. The Huskies have the third ranked defense in the PSAC averaging only giving up 19.8 yards per game.
My Prediction: Lock Haven – Lock Haven’s offense wins the battle against Bloomsburg’s defense.
PSAC WEST
Mercyhurst (1-5, 0-3 PSAC West) at Clarion (1-5, 0-3 PSAC West) – 12 Noon
Mercyhurst lost 75-31 to Slippery Rock last week. Mercyhurst is averaging scoring 22.5 points per game. They have the last ranked defense in the PSAC averaging giving up 45.8 points and 465.8 yards per game.
Clarion lost 24-17 to Seton Hill last week. Clarion is averaging scoring 16.8 points per game on offense and is giving up an average of 25.0 points per game.
My Prediction: Clarion – The Golden Eagles get the win at home.
*PSAC GAME OF THE WEEK*
#10 Slippery Rock (6-0, 3-0 PSAC West) at Gannon (3-3, 3-0 PSAC West) – 12 Noon
#10 Slippery Rock beat Mercyhurst 75–31 last week. Quarterback Brayden Long has the most touchdown passes so far this season in the PSAC with 18 while having only one interception. His 181.7 efficiency rating is also tops in the PSAC. Wide receiver Kyle Sheets is second in the PSAC in yards per game receiving averaging 110.5. He is first in touchdown receptions with eight. Cohen Russell is sixth in the PSAC receiving averaging 67.3 yards per game and he also has two touchdowns. The Rock has the number one ranked offense in the PSAC both in points scored per game, averaging 45.2, and yards per game averaging 443.5. Kyle Kudla is seventh in the PSAC averaging 7.8 tackles per game. Josh Stokes is second in the PSAC in interceptions with four and fourth in the PSAC with seven passes defended. Eddie Faulkner is third in the PSAC with three interceptions. On special teams, defensive back Ben Lane recovered three fumbles on Mercyhurst kickoff returns in last week’s game. He now ranks first in all of Division II in fumble recoveries. His performance earned him PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors.
Gannon beat Edinboro 23-12 last week. Defensive lineman Joseph Loiseau had seven tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks last week earning him PSAC West defensive Athlete of the Week honors. Defensive lineman Obi Ezeigbo is second in the PSAC in sacks with 5.5 and Kam Snell leads the PSAC in interceptions with five. On special teams, kicker Eric Scarpino is a perfect on his nine field goal attempts with a 41 yarder being his longest.
My Prediction: #10 Slippery Rock – The Rock prevails in this game between two teams entering Week Seven undefeated in the PSAC West Division.
Edinboro (2-4, 1-2 PSAC West) at IUP (3-3, 1-2 PSAC West) – 2 PM
Edinboro lost 23-12 to Gannon last week. The Boro is averaging scoring 20 points a game while giving up 29.2 per game. On special teams, kicker Reed Martin has the longest field goal in the PSAC this season with a 48 yarder.
IUP lost 30-20 to California (PA) last week. Wide receiver Quinn Zinobile is fifth in the PSAC in receiving averaging 70.5 yards per game. He has four touchdowns on the season. Linebacker Drew DiNuzio-Biss is fourth in the PSAC in tackles averaging 8.3 stops per game. He also has three sacks.
My Prediction: IUP – The Crimson Hawks get back in the win column this week.
Seton Hill (2-4, 1-2 PSAC West) at California (PA) (4-1, 3-0 PSAC West) – 3:30 PM
Seton Hill beat Clarion 24-17 last week. Defensive lineman Ben Weaver leads the PSAC in sacks, averaging one per game, with six on the season. He is also second in the PSAC in tackles for loss with 10.5 averaging 1.75 per game. Weaver’s teammates, defensive linemen Dioh Desuah and Josh Cohen are tied for fourth in the PSAC in tackles for loss averaging 1.42 per game.
California (PA) beat IUP 30-20 last week. Quarterback Davis Black is the top-rated quarterback in the PSAC with 275 yards per game average passing. He has a 158.4 efficiency rating and 10 touchdowns on the season. Running back Eric McKan III ran the ball 21 times for 101 yards and a touchdown last week. His performance earned him both The Coal Bowl MVP and PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week honors. McKan is sixth in the PSAC rushing with an average of 74.5 yards per game. He has six touchdowns on the season. Wide receiver Eric Willis III is the top receiver in the PSAC averaging 111.6 receiving yards per game. He has five touchdowns on the season. On defense, Ibrahim Sanogo is third is tackles for loss in the PSAC averaging 1.70 per game and fourth in the in sacks averaging .80 a game, four solo sacks in five games. On special teams, kicker Anthony Beitko has kicked six field goals and 19 PATs in the Vulcans five games this season. He is averaging scoring 7.4 points per game which is the highest rated kicker and fifth out of all positions in scoring in the PSAC so far this season.
My Prediction: California (PA) – The Vulcans remain undefeated in the PSAC West Division setting up a showdown with #10 Slippery Rock next week.