October 25th, 2024 9:00pm
PSAC Power Ranking (PPR) heading into Week Eight:
The top four teams, those who have separated themselves as the top tier in the PSAC, have a combined record of 25-3 (.916 winning percentage). The three losses of those top four teams are all to D2 Top 25 teams with current rankings of #5, #14, and #24 in this week’s D2 Top 25 Poll. East Stroudsburg’s only loss, 27-21, was to still undefeated and currently ranked #5 Kutztown. California (PA)’s only loss, 23-19, was to still undefeated and currently ranked #14 Charleston (MEC). #16 Slippery Rock’s only loss was last week, 28-7, to now #24 California (PA). In addition to PSAC Championship aspirations, these four teams are all in the mix for a spot on the Super Region One playoff bracket. My number five team, Shepherd, still has a lot of control in their own destiny with both #5 Kutztown and East Stroudsburg left to play.
PSAC Week Eight - Saturday, October 26, 2024 – Divisional Games
PSAC EAST
Lock Haven (3-4, 2-2 PSAC East) at East Stroudsburg (6-1, 3-1 PSAC East) – 12:05 PM
Lock Haven won last week beating Bloomsburg 35-32.
East Stroudsburg won last week beating West Chester 45-31.
My Prediction: East Stroudsburg - The Warriors win at home.
Millersville (0-7, 0-4 PSAC East) at West Chester (2-5, 2-2 PSAC East) – 2 PM
Millersville lost last week 35-21 to Shepherd.
West Chester lost last week 45-31 to East Stroudsburg.
My Prediction: West Chester – The Golden Rams win at home.
Shippensburg (2-5, 1-3 PSAC East) at Bloomsburg (3-4, 1-3 PSAC East) – 2 PM
Shippensburg lost last week 31-2 to Kutztown.
Bloomsburg lost last week 35-32 to Lock Haven.
My Prediction: Bloomsburg – The Huskies win at home.
PSAC EAST GAME OF THE WEEK
Shepherd (5-2, 3-1 PSAC East) at #5 Kutztown (7-0, 4-0 PSAC East) – 2PM
Shepherd won last week beating Millersville 35-21. Quarterback Lek Powell is the number five ranked passer in the PSAC averaging 212.9 yards per game. He has 12 touchdown passes on the season. Wide receiver Cameron Dorner is the fourth ranked receiver in the PSAC averaging 86.7 yards per game. He has five touchdown receptions on the season. Running back Malaki Brown is the fifth ranked rusher in the PSAC averaging 76.1 yards per game with four rushing touchdowns through the first seven weeks. Shepherd lost to now #16 Slippery Rock earlier in the season. Their other loss was to West Chester.
Offensive Rank in the PSAC: 4 (27.4 PPG)
Defensive Rank in the PSAC: 4 (17.6 PPG)
Scoring Differential Rank in the PSAC: 5 (Plus 9.8 PPG)
#5 Kutztown won last week beating Shippensburg 31-2. Quarterback Judd Novak is tied for the PSAC lead in touchdown passes with 15. Wide receivers Kurtis Ravenel Jr. and Mekhi Gibson both have five touchdown receptions this season. The Golden Bears have outscored their opponents 55-2 in their last two games and the most points they have given up in a game is 21, to the number one ranked offense in the PSAC, East Stroudsburg, the only team to score more than 20 points on Kutztown all season.
Offensive Rank in the PSAC: 3 (30.1 PPG)
Defensive Rank in the PSAC: 1 (7.6 PPG)
Scoring Differential Rank in the PSAC: 1 (Plus 22.5 PPG)
My Prediction: #5 Kutztown – The Golden Bears win at home and go 1-0 again this week. It is Kutztown’s Homecoming Game at Andre Reed Stadium.
PSAC WEST
PSAC WEST GAME OF THE WEEK – THE COAL BOWL
IUP (5-2, 2-2 PSAC West) at #24 California (PA) (6-1, 4-0 PSAC West) – 12 Noon
IUP won last week beating Seton Hill 20-13. Wide receiver Maurice Massey has five touchdowns receiving on the season. The Crimson Hawk’s defense features three of the top five tacklers in the PSAC with Garrett Cox, 10.0 tackles per game average, and Charles Ingram and Noah Johnston both averaging 8.9 tackles per game. Cox also has three sacks on the season. IUP’s two losses were decide by 5 points total, losing to now #16 Slippery Rock 33-32 and Edinboro 27-23.
Offensive Rank in the PSAC: 5 (26.7 PPG)
Defensive Rank in the PSAC: 3 (16.3 PPG)
Scoring Differential Rank in the PSAC: 4 (Plus 10.4 PPG)
#24 California (PA) won last week beating #16 Slippery Rock 28-7. Quarterback Davis Black is the second ranked passer in the PSAC averaging 261.6 yards passing per game. He is one off the league lead with touchdown passes throwing 14 so far this season. Wide receiver Eric Willis III is third in the PSAC in receiving averaging 90.1 yards per game. He has five touchdown receptions so far this season. The Vulcans only loss so far this season was way back in Week Zero to now #14 ranked Charleston, 23-19. Charleston is still undefeated and in the driver’s seat in the MEC, another conference in Super Region One.
Offensive Rank in the PSAC: 2 (31.4 PPG)
Defensive Rank in the PSAC: 6 (19.0 PPG)
Scoring Differential Rank in the PSAC: 3 (Plus 12.4 PPG)
My Prediction: #24 California (PA) – The Vulcans win the 15th playing of The Coal Bowl at home and keep control in the PSAC West.
Gannon (1-5, 1-2 PSAC West) at Edinboro (2-5, 1-2 PSAC West) – 12 Noon
Gannon was idle last week.
Edinboro lost 29-28 to Clarion last week.
My Prediction: Edinboro – The Fighting Scots win at home and get back in the win column.
Clarion (3-4, 1-2 PSAC West) at Seton Hill (2-5, 0-3 PSAC West) – 4 PM
Clarion won last week beating Edinboro 29-28.
Seton Hill lost last week 20-13 to IUP.
My Prediction: Clarion – The Golden Eagles win on the road.
#16 Slippery Rock (6-1, 3-1 PSAC West) is idle this week.
#16 Slippery Rock lost last week 28-7 to California (PA).
Next Up: #16 Slippery Rock travels to Clarion on Halloween Night for a Thursday night game on 10/31/24 at 6 PM.
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