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Fighting Scots picked to...
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced today the 2011 PSAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll, with Edinboro finding itself playing the role of underdog entering its sixth season under head coach Scott Browning. The Fighting Scots are sixth in the Western Division, picked ahead of only Clarion and Lock Haven. The announcement was made at the annual PSAC Football Media Day, with the Western Division held at Slippery Rock University. PSAC commissioner Steve Murray made the announecement.
“It is what it is,” related Browning. “Obviously it’s something that we can use for motivation and I’m sure it will fire the players up, but at the end of the day you still have to get it done on the field.
“We have a young team and I feel we have a chance to be very good,” Browning continued. “But a lot of things have to break the right way. We’re very young in several spots, and we really need to come out of camp healthy.”
Edinboro finished in a tie for fourth in the PSAC West a year ago with a 3-4 record, and was 7-4 overall. That came after back-to-back nine win seasons, tying the school record for wins.
California(Pa.), a perennial PSAC power since the arrival of head coach John Luckhardt, are the favorites in the Western Division, with Mercyhurst a close second. The two teams split the eight first place votes after finishing 6-1 in the West a year ago. Mercyhurst would go on to claim the PSAC Championship and advance to the Super Regional One championship game.
Indiana(Pa.) and Slippery Rock are tied for third in the preseason poll. Both teams finished at 6-5 a year ago, but IUP is energized with the hiring of former Alabama assistant Curt Cignetti as head coach. Slippery Rock has a veteran team returning along with a transfer from Connecticut at quarterback to go with 1,000-yard rusher Akeem Satterfield. Local rival Gannon was picked fifth.
Bloomsburg is the prohibitive favorite in the PSAC East, claiming all eight first place votes. The Huskies will still receive a strong challenge from a much-improved Kutztown team which won ten games last year. West Chester, a traditional power in the East, was picked third.
Browning realizes the landscape of the conference has changed. “There’s no question that Cal’s commitment to be a national power has impacted the PSAC, and the addition of Gannon and Mercyhurst further strengthened the league,” he pointed out. “You throw in traditionally-strong programs like IUP and Slippery Rock, and this division is tough. Let’s not forget that just two years ago Clarion was the surprise team and won eight games.”
EDINBORO PICKED SIXTH IN PSAC WEST PRESEASON POLL – add 111
Edinboro returns ten starters on offense, including former All-PSASC West performer Rob Stoner, who missed all but one game a year ago due to injury. The defense has seven starters back, including two-time All-PSAC West choice Branden Williams. Like Stoner, Williams was lost for the year with an injury in the season opener.
The Fighting Scots had featured one of the top offenses in the country in recent years, but it sputtered at times last year. Edinboro ranked just 14th in the PSAC in scoring offense (18.2 ppg.) and was also just 14th in total offense (291.8 ypg.).
Cody Harris returns at quarterback after an efficient first campaign. The sophomore completed 176 of 268 passes for 1,811 yards with 11 TDs and just 5 INTs. He added 159 yards and 2 TDs rushing.
Harris loses two of his top three receivers, but will no doubt target David Bostic quite a bit. The senior has settled in at wide receiver after bouncing between running back and receiver. Bostic caught 34 passes for 373 yards and 2 TDs.
If Marcus Johnson can regain his form of 2009 he could be a huge addition. The sophomore sat out the 2010 campaign after catching 31 passes for 401 yards and 3 TDs. D’mar Jeter (13 rec.-190 yards-3 TDs) and Nick Marino (29 rec.-431 yards-4 TDs in ’09) are other experienced wideouts.
Tight end Shawn Walker earned second team All-PSAC West honors a year ago after catching 19 passes for 180 yards. Walker is a 6’3”, 245 lb. junior.
Edinboro actually has six returning starters on the offensive line when you factor in Stoner. Stoner (6’2”, 295 lbs.) was a first team All-PSAC West pick in 2009 and has started 36 games at left guard. Right tackle Shane Hess (6’5”, 280 lbs.) has started 28 games and was a 2010 first team All-PSAC West selection.
The Boro defense ranked second in the PSAC in scoring defense (18.8 ppg.) and was sixth in total defense (323.2 ypg.). While seven starters return, the concern is that the interior line starters are gone, along with Mike linebacker Greg Sondag and safeties Dan Skelton and Ben Swank.
The line showcases bookend seniors Keir Jeter (6’3”, 240 lbs.) and James Thomas (5’11”, 230 lbs.) at defensive end. Both ranked among the national leaders in tackles for losses. Jeter earned second team All-PSAC West honors after finishing with 54 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. Thomas added 32 stops, with 13 for losses and a team-high 6 sacks.
Though just 5’8” and 185 lbs., Ryan Skelton is likely one of the top defenders in the PSAC pound-for-pound. The senior Will linebacker was a second team All-PSAC West choice and finished second on the team in tackles with 75 stops.
The secondary will have a different look to it with Skelton and Swank gone, and will also miss Mike Perillo. Williams’ return at cornerback will greatly help. The junior was a preseason All-American pick heading into 2010 and has ten career interceptions, along with eight blocked kicks.
He’ll be joined by sophomore James Jackson, who started the final ten games as a true freshman after Williams went down. Jackson tied for the PSAC lead with five interceptions and had 40 tackles.
Kenny Pettis moves from cornerback to free safety. The junior totaled 55 stops with a pair of interceptions.
EDINBORO PICKED SIXTH IN PSAC WEST PRESEASON POLL – add 222
Browning has great confidence in his kicking game. Seniors Alex Romanias and Ryan Genco return at placekicker and punter, respectively. Romanias made just 6 of 15 field goals and was 20 of 21 on extra points, but Browning noted he enjoyed an outstanding spring. Genco averaged 37.5 yards on 51 punts, good for fifth in the PSAC.
Edinboro opens the season with three straight home games, beginning with a Saturday, September 3 contest against West Liberty. Kickoff at Sox Harrison Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m. The Fighting Scots will open fall preseason drills on Thursday, August 11.
2011 PSAC COACHES PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL
Western Division
Rank Team PSAC Record Overall Record
1. California(Pa.) (4) 6-1 10-2
2. Mercyhurst (4) 6-1 10-3
3. Indiana(Pa.) 3-4 6-5
Slippery Rock 3-4 6-5
5. Gannon 4-3 6-5
6. EDINBORO 3-4 7-4
7. Clarion 3-4 4-7
8. Lock Haven 0-7 0-11
Eastern Division
Rank Team PSAC Record Overall Record
1. Bloomsburg (8) 7-0 10-3
2. Kutztown 6-1 10-2
3. West Chester 4-3 4-7
4. C.W. Post 5-2 7-4
5. East Stroudsburg 2-5 3-8
6. Shippensburg 3-4 5-6
7. Millersville 0-7 2-9
8. Cheyney 1-6 1-10
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