The PSAC title game highlights College Preview this week as play in that conference comes to an end with playoff hopes on the line for three area teams. In Division III, a couple of more weeks in the season, with one area team trying to make the post-season after a hard loss last week.

Here are previews of all the games.

PSAC TITLE GAME:
California (8-2) at Shippensburg (8-2) @ 1pm on WJPA-AM 1450 and msasports.net

A pair of bitter former rivals meet for the PSAC title in Shippensburg. The Red Raiders were in the West Division until the expansion of the conference to 16 teams in 2008 and moved over to the East. This game matches the two highest scoring teams in the PSAC.

With the win over Mercyhurst last week, the Vulcans won their 5th straight West title, putting them into the PSAC title game for the second year since it was brought back in 2008. Cal has won 8 straight games since starting 0-2.

California is ranked 18th in the county this week in the AFCA coaches poll. Most importantly, Cal is ranked number 2 this week in the regional rankings and is likely to make the playoff field.

QB Josh Portis is 5th in the conference in passing with 2,063 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions.

A.J. Jackson leads the conference with 64 catches for 894 yards, he has 12 td catches.

The Cal defense gave up their first 100 yard rusher last week as Mercyhurst’s Ben Jennings was able to top the century mark.

The Red Raiders earned their first conference title since 2004, they were the last team to win the West before Cal started their streak. It’s the first trip to the PSAC title game in 28 years for Shippensburg. It’s the 10th time in school history and the first since 2004 that Shippensburg has won 8 games in a season.

The Red Raiders have won 4 straight coming into this week, they are a perfect 4-0 at home this season. Shippensburg is ranked number 23 this week in the coaches poll and 3rd in the regional rankings.

RB Kevin Herod ran for 112 yards on 27 carries, scoring once last week.

QB Chad DiFebbo has thrown for 1,987 yards, good for 6th in the conference with 22 touchdowns.

TE Mark Rossi is a weapon near the goal line, he has 17 catches all season but 8 for touchdowns. Mike Harris is 4th in the conference with 48 catches and 7 touchdowns.

If it comes down to a kicking battle, Shippensburg has the advantage as Kyler Ford has hit 10 of 14 field goals this season.

Shippensburg leads the all-time series 41-28-1, but California has won the last 3. In a twist, California was scheduled to play at Shippensburg this week as all 16 teams will play in the conference, so no changes in the PSAC schedule were required.

Slippery Rock (6-4) at East Stroudsburg (7-3) @ 1pm on WISR 680-AM and msasports.net

Akeem Satterfield rushed for a career high 107 yards on 19 carries and scored the first two touchdowns of his college career.

True freshman QB Ryan O’Rourke made his first start and threw for 124 yards and a touchdown.

SayQuan Scott-Mitchell is 5th in the conference in rushing with 744 yards.

The Rock defense forced 11 fumbles last week against Lock Haven. Andre Freeman blocked two punts in last week’s game. Robert Doiley, Brandon Watters and Jayson Nickson are all tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions.

ESU could be playing for a playoff spot as the Warriors are 6th in the regional rankings entering this week.

The Warriors put up 504 yards in last week’s 44-3 win over Millersville. QB Matt Marshall has thrown for over 23 hundred yards and 20 touchdowns on the season.

Jeff Giglio leads the team with 37 catches. Ed Kiser has 36 catches and 5 touchdowns.

The ESU defense forced 4 turnovers last week, they lead the conference with 26 takeaways. Nick Artinger is tied for the conference lead in interceptions with 5.

ESU head coach Denny Douds graduated from Slippery Rock and has not fared well against his alma mater, going 2-8 vs. the Rock, but the Warriors came away with a 38-21 win at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium last year. Coach Douds is in the SRU Hall of Fame with his plaque on display at Morrow Field House for all to see.

Geneva (7-1) at Thomas More (8-0) @ 1:45pm on WBVP 1230 AM and WMBA 1460 AM and msasports.net

The Saints are ranked 10th this week in the AFCA Division III coaches poll and have clinched the PAC title and are the first team in the nation to clinch a spot in the Division III playoffs with their 14-7 win over W & J last week.

Cordario Collier ran for 80 yards and a touchdown last week. Collier is 3rd in the conference in rushing with 679 yards for the season, and is 4th in scoring with 10 td’s.

QB Trevor Stellman threw for only 96 yards but did connect on a td pass. Stellman is 6th in the conference in passing with 1,305 yards, but has 15 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. Stellman is 7th in the conference in rushing with 413 yards.

DB Zach Autenreib picked off two passes last week.

Geneva has won 4 straight since a loss to W & J.

A pair of former Neshannock running backs were on fire last week as Matt Dean ran for 3 touchdowns and Matt Barge added 2 more for the GT’s. Gerald Muschette leads the conference in rushing with 894 yards. He scored a td last week. Dean is 2nd in the conference with 12 touchdowns, Muschette has 11.

David Girardi is 5th in the conference with 1,542 yards passing with 8 touchdown passes.

Jake Delmonico set a new school record with a 93 yard punt return for a score in last week’s blowout win over Bethany.

Geneva has won 2 straight vs. Thomas More.

Washington & Jefferson (7-1) at Bethany (2-6) @ 1pm on WJPA 1450 AM and msasports.net

The Presidents fell to 15th in the coaches poll this week after last week’s loss to Thomas More. W & J is 3-1 in the PAC.

W & J struggled with the offense last week as they were held to just 155 yards for the game and only 2 first downs in the second half.

QB Gino Rometo threw for 106 yards and a td to Jordan Roycroft. W & J’s QB’s were picked off 3 times in the second half. Rometo is 8th in the conference with 1,168 yards for the season.

W & J has a 2-headed rushing attack with Terrance McAlister running for 466 yards and Derek Taylor rushing for 355.

Craig Besong is 2nd in the conference with 65 catches.

The W & J defense has only allowed 85 points all season.

Bethany is 1-4 in the PAC. QB Dan Pegg threw for 300 yards last week but the Bisons were blown out by Geneva 54-21. Pegg hit Ed Holmes for one score.

Eric Walker ran for only 65 yards last week and a score. Walker is 2nd in the conference with 804 yards rushing, he leads with 14 td’s.

The Bisons blocked a punt, Matt Cruse got the block and Marcus D’Aguiar ran it in from 33 yards out.

W & J has a big lead in the series 66-20, with the Presidents winning the last 26 games in a row, with the last Bethany win coming in 1982.

Urbana (4-5) at Seton Hill (1-9) @ 3pm on WGSM 107.1 FM and msasports.net

The Blue Knights have dropped 2 straight, including last week’s 21-12 loss to Ohio Dominican.

QB Evan Gehlert has thrown for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ian Iler is his main target with 74 catches for 712 yards and 4 td’s. Iler caught 13 passes last week.

Nick Monteleone will start again at QB for the Griffins, who have dropped 9 straight.
Monteleone has thrown for 729 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.

Tyler Roby has come on with 32 catches for 519 yards and 9 td’s.

Antwarn Jones is now 3rd on the WVIAC all-time rushing list with 4,130 for his career.

Clarion (7-3) at Cheyney (0-10) @ Noon
The Golden Eagles swept the PSAC West player of the week honors with their win over Edinboro last week. QB Tyler Huether was the offensive player of the week, throwing for 169 and running for 91 yards and 3 touchdowns. Linebacker Reggie Robinson was the defensive player of the week, making 8 tackles and blocked a punt for a safety. The Golden Eagles have an outside chance of making the Division II playoff field, ranked 9th in the regional rankings this week, should someone in the top 8 falter, the Golden Eagles with a win could slip in. Cheyney has lost 26 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the PSAC

Gannon (5-5) at Bloomsburg (8-2) @ Noon
Gannon has won 3 straight games after a 29-3 win last week over IUP. TB Jon Richardson needs 134 yards to hit the 1 thousand yard mark for the season. Bloomsburg is ranked 19th in the country in the AFCA poll and 5th in the regional rankings. The Huskies have now lost 2 straight and fell out of the PSAC title game contention. QB Dan Lattore threw for 350 yards last week in the loss to West Chester, that put him over the 7 thousand yard mark for his career. A win would almost assure the Huskies of making the regional field of 8 for the Division II playoffs.

Edinboro (7-3) at Millersville (3-7) @ Noon
Edinboro saw a 17-6 halftime lead slip away last week against Clarion, a 30-17 win for the Golden Eagles. The loss may not have hurt the Fighting Scots playoff chances, as Edinboro only fell to 7th in the regional rankings, which would put it into the field if the playoffs started this week. Edinboro played without 4 defensive starters and lost QB Trevor Harris late in the first half to a shoulder injury. Millersville has had success running the football with 6 consecutive games with over 100 yards rushing as a team.

Robert Morris (2-6) at Albany (6-3) @ 1pm
Albany is 4-1 in the NEC. The three-time defending league champions saw their NEC run likely come to an end with last week’s 31-29 loss to Central Connecticut State. David McCarty has ran for 881 yards and 9 touchdowns to lead the Great Danes this season. McCarty has been battling several injuries. Robert Morris is 2-2 in the league. Garret Clawson kicked 3 field goals as Robert Morris defeated Sacred Heart 9-7 last weekend at Joe Walton Stadium. Myles Russ continues to lead the team in rushing with 725 yards, Russ has only scored 1 touchdown this season.

Monmouth (4-4) at St. Francis (2-6) @ 1pm
Monmouth is 2-2 in the NEC. David Sinisi ran for 139 yards as the Hawks defeated Bryant 10-6 last week. St. Francis is 1-4 in conference play. St. Francis had the bye last week, the Red Flash is coming off a 31-14 win over Duquense. St. Francis ran for 409 yards vs. the Dukes, the most since the Red Flash joined Division 1. QB John Kelly has thrown for 1,112 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Red Flash.

Mercyhurst (4-6) at West Chester (6-4) @ 1pm
It’s the first ever meeting between the Lakers and the Golden Rams, last year’s scheduled game was changed when West Chester upset Bloomsburg to go to the 2008 PSAC title game. West Chester’s Mike Dell was named the PSAC East defensive player of the week with his 9 tackles in a win over Bloomsburg last week. The Golden Rams defeated the Huskies for the 3rd straight year, holding Bloomsburg to just 47 yards rushing.

IUP (4-6) at Kutztown (3-7) @ 1:05pm
IUP will travel to Kutztown for the first time since 1986. IUP will have it’s first losing season since 1982. Kutztown has allowed 42 points in consecutive games, the Golden Bears are 1-3 at home this season.

Westminster (3-5) at Grove City (3-5) @ 1pm
Westminster is 2-3 in the PAC, the Titans had the bye week. Kevin Franz is 7th in the conference with 1,184 yards passing, Shawn Lehocky is 10th with 649 yards. The Titans have a conference leader as Union’s Jordan Rooney leads in returning punts. Rooney has a 11.2 average per return, just one of two players in the conference averaging over 10 yards a return. Rooney also has one interception on the season. Grove City is 2-2 in the PAC. James Jennings was named the PAC special teams player of the week, he recovered a blocked punt for a td in last week’s win over Waynesburg. TB Blaine Miller ran for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns in last week’s win. Westminster leads the all-time series 49-32-8.

Thiel (3-5) at Waynesburg (4-4) @ 1:30pm
Both teams are 1-3 in PAC play. QB Willie Bova was named the PAC offensive player of the week, he racked up 5 touchdowns last week in the Tomcats 38-14 win over St. Vincent. Bova threw for 373 yards and 4 td’s and ran for a 5th. Freshman wideout Tyler DeJong caught his first two career td passes. Malcolm Kennedy had 2 interceptions last week for Thiel. Waynesburg leads the conference with 305 points scored. RB Justin Falcon ran for 119 yards and 3 touchdowns last week. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series 22-8-1. LB Troy Cree was named PAC defensive player of the week, he made 16 tackles and recovered a fumble in last week’s 35-24 loss to Grove City.

Allegheny (7-1) at Wittenburg (8-0) @ 1pm
A share of the NCAC title is on the line. Allegheny is 4-1 in the NCAC, Wittenberg is 5-0, should Wittenberg win, it would clinch the conference title. T.J. Salopek ran for 2 touchdowns last week to bring the Gators back from a 14 point deficit to defeat Wooster 24-21. Salopek threw for 312 yards and a touchdown as well. Wittenburg is ranked #12 this week in the AFCA coaches poll in Division III. The Tigers defeated Denison last week 41-7, no opponent has scored 10 or more points on the Tigers this season.

Case Western Reserve (8-0) at Carnegie Mellon (5-3) @ 2pm
A battle for the UAA title in the Academic Bowl at Geisling Stadium on Saturday. Case Western Reserve is ranked 9th in the country coming into the game, with a 38-24 win over the University of Chicago last week. The Tartans rallied from a 13-0 deficit to defeat Washington University 21-13 last week. Justin Pratt leads the team wit 581 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Brendan Howe leads with 34 catches.