November 3rd, 2023 5:00am
Week Ten in the PSAC is coming up and one week of divisional play remains in this 2023 season before teams from the West crossover to teams in the East in Week Eleven. One team from the PSAC remains ranked in the D2Football.com Top 25 poll. #6 Slippery Rock (9-0, 6-0 PSAC West) stays at the same spot in the rankings after beating Clarion (2-7, 1-5 PSAC West) last week. #6 Slippery Rock in the West and Kutztown (7-2, 6-0 PSAC East) are now confirmed to represent their division in the PSAC Championship Game on November 11, 2023 after they both won last week. All Week Eleven Crossover Games will be in the East this year which means the title game will be played at Andre Reed Stadium in Kutztown.
The second Super Region One Top 10 list for 2023 was released this week by the NCAA Football Committee. In two weeks, after the Week Eleven games are played, seven teams, from the 46 teams in the region, will be placed on the Super Region One Playoff Bracket. The Super Region Playoff Brackets reveal will be on Sunday November 12, 2023 via livestream by the NCAA sometime around 5 pm. The top ranked team in each Super Region, currently Slippery Rock in Super Region One, will get a bye week in round one. Round one starts on Saturday November 18, 2023 and the playoffs will run through Saturday December 16, 2023 when the Championship Game is played. Here is the NCAA Football Committee's list for Super Region One from this past Monday, November 30, 2023:
Last week I was correct in predicting the winners in five out of the eight divisional games played. For the season, I have predicted the winners in 60 out of 79 (76%) of the games. Below is my preview for each game this week and my prediction for who will win each contest.
PSAC EAST
*PSAC EAST GAME OF THE WEEK*
East Stroudsburg (8-1, 5-1 PSAC East) at Shepherd (7-2, 4-2 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
East Stroudsburg beat Shippensburg 41-17 last week. The Warriors have the number two ranked offense in the PSAC averaging scoring 35.6 points per game. Running back Tyriq Lewis is seventh in the PSAC averaging 74.2 yards per game rushing. He has eight touchdowns on the season. The Warriors also have the second ranked defense in the PSAC averaging only allowing 17.9 points per game. The Warriors wrap up the regular season next week at home against California (PA).
Shepherd lost 14-10 to Bloomsburg last week. Quarterback Seth Morgan is currently the second ranked quarterback in the PSAC, and highest from the East, averaging 246.7 yards per game passing. He has 16 touchdown passes. Running back Malaki Brown is currently fourth in the PSAC in rushing with an 85.3 yards per game average. He has five rushing touchdowns on the season. Shepherd’s offense is currently fourth in the PSAC averaging 29.8 points scored per game. The Rams conclude the regular season next week against Mercyhurst.
My Prediction: East Stroudsburg – Shepherd’s only two losses this season were to the number one, Kutztown, and number three, Bloomsburg, ranked defenses in the PSAC. East Stroudsburg has the number two ranked defense in the PSAC. The Warriors get the win on the road to go to 9-1 setting up a huge Week Eleven game with California (PA).
Bloomsburg (2-7, 1-5 PSAC East) at Millersville (3-6, 1-5 PSAC East) -12 Noon
Bloomsburg beat Shepherd 14-10 last week. The Huskies have the number three defense in the PSAC only allowing an average of 19 points per game but they also have the last ranked offense in the PSAC only averaging scoring 14.6 points per game. Running back Kaleb Monaco is currently third in the PSAC in rushing averaging 89.6 yards per game. He has four rushing touchdowns on the season so far.
Millersville lost 17-10 to Kutztown last week. Running back Jaheim Morris is sixth in the PSAC in rushing averaging 75.9 yards per game. Morris has three rushing touchdowns on the season. On defense, linebacker Garrett Cox continues to make a case that he is the best defensive player in the PSAC. He is first in the PSAC in tackles, averaging 10.2 per game with 92 total, first in tackles for loss, averaging 1.78 a game with 16 on the season, and leads the PSAC in sacks with 7.5.
My Prediction: Bloomsburg – The Huskies defense will be the difference is this game and Bloomsburg will prevail on the road.
Kutztown (7-2, 6-0 PSAC East) at West Chester (5-4, 3-3 PSAC East) – 12 Noon
Kutztown beat Millersville 17-12 last week and locked up their spot representing the East in the PSAC Championship Game next week. Linebacker Tyler Whary was named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week for his performance in the game. The Golden Bears have the number one defense in the PSAC averaging only giving up 14.4 points per game. Punter Nate Millard continues to lead the PSAC with a 44.1 yards per punt average and has dropped 10 inside the opponent’s 20 this season.
West Chester beat Lock Haven last week 42-27. West Chester is currently fifth in the PSAC averaging scoring 24.1 points a game but they are ranked 15 out of the 16 teams in the PSAC on defense averaging giving up 31.7 points per game. Linebacker Connor Noble is second the PSAC in tackles averaging 10.1 stops per game. He also has five sacks on the season.
My Prediction: Kutztown – The Golden Bears remain undefeated in PSAC East divisional play.
Lock Haven (4-5, 2-4 PSAC East) at Shippensburg (2-7, 2-4 PSAC East) – 1 PM
Lock Haven lost 42-27 to West Chester last week. Running back Chris Collier was named PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week for his performance last week. He rushed for 209 yards, with a touchdown, and went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season. He has amassed 1,143 yards rushing through the first nine games this year. Collier is the top rusher in the PSAC averaging 122.6 yards per game. He also has ten rushing touchdowns which is tied for first in the PSAC. Kicker Brett Zachman was named PSAC East Special teams Athlete of the Week. He set a PSAC record in the game with a 57-yard field goal.
Shippensburg lost 41-17 to East Stroudsburg.
My Prediction: Lock Haven– The Bald Eagles get the win on the road to close out divisional play.
PSAC WEST
IUP (4-5, 2-4 PSAC West) at Clarion (2-7, 1-5 PSAC West) – 12 Noon
IUP lost 16-15 to Gannon last week. The Crimson Hawks have the fifth ranked defense in the PSAC averaging allowing 21.1 points per game. Linebacker Drew Dinuzio-Biss is fourth in the PSAC in tackles averaging 8.4 stops per game with a total of 80 on the season. He also has 4.5 sacks on the season.
Clarion lost 42-14 to Slippery Rock last week. On defense, Jake Tarburton is fourth in the PSAC averaging 1.36 tackles for loss per game. He is also fifth in the PSAC with five sacks.
My Prediction: IUP – The Crimson Hawks get the win on the road to wrap up divisional play.
#6 Slippery Rock (9-0, 6-0 PSAC West) at Edinboro (2-7, 1-5 PSAC West) – 12 Noon
#6 Slippery Rock beat Clarion 42-14 last week securing their spot to represent the PSAC West in the PSAC Championship Game next week at Kutztown. The Rock has the number one ranked offense in the PSAC averaging 44.9 points per game. Quarterback Brayden Long, who was named PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week last week for his performance in the win over Clarion, is the top passer in the PSAC throwing for an average of 275.4 yards per game. He also leads the PSAC with 27 touchdown passes. Wide receiver Kyle Sheets leads the PSAC in receiving averaging 99.2 yards per game and he also leads the PSAC in touchdown catches with 13. Running back Khalid Dorsey has eight touchdowns for the Rock averaging 72.6 yards a game on the ground which is eighth best in the PSAC while teammate Isaiah Edwards is tied for the lead in the PSAC with 10 rushing touchdowns averaging 39.4 yards rushing per game. On defense, Josh Stokes is second in the PSAC in passes defended with 10 and he is tied for first in the PSAC with five interceptions. The Rock is fourth in the PSAC on defense allowing an average of 20.8 yards per game.
Edinboro lost 38-28 to Seton Hill last week. CJ Waldier is third in the PSAC in tackles averaging 9.3 stops per game. He has 84 total tackles on the season.
My Prediction: #6 Slippery Rock – The Rock goes to 10-0 on the season heading into the PSAC Championship Game next week.
*PSAC WEST GAME OF THE WEEK*
California (PA) (6-2, 5-1 PSAC West) at Gannon (5-4, 5-1 PSAC West) -12 Noon
California (PA) beat Mercyhurst 58-19 last week. The Vulcans have the third ranked offense in the PSAC averaging scoring 35.4 points per game. Davis Black is the third ranked quarterback in the PSAC averaging 245.1 yards per game. He has 17 touchdown passes on the season. Wide receiver Eric Willis III is second in the PSAC averaging 96.4 yards receiving per game. He has seven touchdown receptions on the season. On defense, linebacker Matt Tobey was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week for his performance in the win over Mercyhurst. Ibrahim Sanogo leads the PSAC in sacks with a .88 per game average, he has seven total on the season. Sanogo is second in the PSAC averaging 1.56 tackles for loss per game. Defensive back Keith Charney is third in the PSAC in interceptions, he has four on the season with one returned for a touchdown. The Vulcans travel to East Stroudsburg next week in Week Eleven crossover action. That game has huge Super Region One playoff implications for both teams.
Gannon beat IUP 16-15 last week. Quarterback Nate Mikell is now fifth in the PSAC averaging 187.6 yards per game. He has 9 touchdown passes on the season. Running back Donny Marcus is currently second in the PSAC averaging 92.1 yards per game on the ground. He has one rushing touchdown. Donell Mason is fourth in the PSAC in receiving with an average of 73.1 yards per game. He also has four touchdown catches this season. On defense, Kam Snell is the top defensive back in the PSAC in passes defended, averaging 1.22 a game with 11 on the season and is also first in interceptions with five, one going for a touchdown. On special teams, kicker Eric Scarpino continues to come up aces. Two weeks ago, in the win over Mercyhurst, he hit a 32-yard game winning field goal with six seconds left in the contest. Last week he hit a 51-yard game winner, which tied a school record for longest field goal, as time expired against IUP. He is the number one kicker in the PSAC. He is perfect on field goals and extra points this season and thrives under pressure. He was named both the PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week and D2 Football’s Special Teams Player of the Week at the national level for his performance last week against IUP.
My Prediction: California (PA) – The Vulcans come out on top in what should be a fight to the finish game.
Seton Hill (4-5, 3-3 PSAC West) at Mercyhurst (2-7, 1-5 PSAC West) – 2 PM
Seton Hill beat Edinboro 38-28 last week. Running back Ky’Ron Craggette is fifth in the PSAC in rushing averaging 82.6 yards per game. He has eight rushing touchdowns on the season. On defense, Ben Weaver has seven sacks on the season which has him third in the PSAC in that category.
Mercyhurst lost 58-19 to California (PA) last week. Mercyhurst’s defense is ranked last in the PSAC averaging giving up 44.3 points per game.
My Prediction: Seton Hill– The Griffins win on the road to conclude divisional play for the season.