September 22nd, 2024 4:00am
Week Three of PSAC Football is in the books. Four of the 15 teams in the PSAC remain undefeated. #8 Kutztown (3-0, 0-0 PSAC East) dominated again this week and #10 Slippery Rock (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West) kept rolling. East Stroudsburg, who was idle, and IUP who won, round out the field of unbeatens. On the flip side, Millersville (0-3, 0-0 PSAC East), West Chester (0-3, 0-0 PSAC East), and Gannon (0-3, 0-0 PSAC West) are all still looking for their first wins of the season. I predicted six of the winners correctly out of the seven contests played in Week Three. Keep reading below to see the outcome of each game and the backstory of some of the teams so far this season.
PSAC Power Ranking heading into Week Three and Week Three Result:
PSAC Week Three - Saturday, September 21, 2024 – Crossover Week
Bloomsburg (2-1, 0-0 PSAC East) at Edinboro (1-3, 0-0 PSAC West)
My Prediction: Edinboro – After the 26-0 loss on the road at Kutztown last week, the Fighting Scots get back in the win column at home.
The Outcome: Bloomsburg won 32-27. This is the only game I predicted wrong in Week Three. The Huskies had a 19-point fourth quarter including a touchdown with 34 seconds left in the game to come out on top in this one. Edinboro’s lone win so far this season is against DI FCS Robert Morris (NEC).
West Chester (0-3, 0-0 PSAC East) at Seton Hill (2-2, 0-0 PSAC West)
My Prediction: Seton Hill – The Griffins beat Bloomsburg 15-14 on the road last week. This week they will get the win at home against another team from the PSAC East.
The Outcome: Seton Hill won 27-24. The Griffins scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to secure the 27-24 win. West Chester lost on a field goal to Bentley (NE10), who is now 3-0 on the season, at the end of the game in their opener and let this one against Seton Hill slip away in the fourth quarter as well.
Clarion (2-2, 0-0 PSAC West) at Shepherd (2-1, 0-0 PSAC East)
My Prediction: Shepherd – After a 20-10 loss at home last week to #10 Slippery Rock, the Rams win this one at home in a decisive fashion.
The Outcome: Shepherd won 27-9. The Rams were up 7-3 at the half and scored seven more in the third quarter and 13 more in the fourth to win this one at home. Clarion won it’s first two games of the season and has dropped the last two.
#8 Kutztown (3-0, 0-0 PSAC East) at Gannon (0-3, 0-0 PSAC West)
My Prediction: #8 Kutztown - The Golden Bears keep dominating to go to 3-0 on the season setting up next week’s showdown when they visit 3-0 East Stroudsburg.
The Outcome: Kutztown won 37-14. The Golden Bears dominated again this week and were up 37-0 at the end of the third quarter before Gannon scored 14 points in the fourth. Gannon’s losses have come against three opponents who currently have an 8-1 record on the season.
#10 Slippery Rock (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West) at Shippensburg (1-2, 0-0 PSAC East)
My Prediction: #10 Slippery Rock - The Rock keeps rolling on the road in this one after earning two wins to start the season over teams that were both in the playoffs a year ago.
The Outcome: #10 Slippery Rock won 33-7. The Rock has been playing tough on defense and they scored 16 points in the first quarter and 17 in the fourth to win this one on the road. Shippensburg went 1-1 in these last two weeks of Crossover games, beating Clarion last week before falling to #10 Slippery Rock in this one.
GAME OF THE WEEK
California (PA) (2-1, 0-0 PSAC West) at Lock Haven (1-2, 0-0 PSAC East)
My Prediction: California (PA) - The Vulcans edge the Bald Eagles in what should be a great game.
The Outcome: California (PA) won 27-20. As I predicted, the Vulcans edged the Bald Eagles in what ended up being a one score game. The score in this one was 17-17 at the half and heading into the fourth quarter after neither team put points on the board in the third. California (PA) is clicking after a Week One loss to Charleston (WV), who was picked to win the MEC in the conference’s preseason poll, who is now 3-0 on the season. Lock Haven is a deceiving 1-2 with one score losses to traditional PSAC West powers IUP, 20-17 in Week Two, and California (PA) 27-20 here in Week Three.
IUP (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West) at Millersville (0-3, 0-0 PSAC East)
My Prediction: IUP - The Crimson Hawks get the win on the road and go to 3-0 heading into divisional play next week.
The Outcome: IUP won 42-14. I had IUP as my number two team in the PSAC West, behind number #10 Slippery Rock, heading into this season. The Crimson Hawks are taking care of business thus far. Millersville has been outscored 101-27 in their three losses.
East Stroudsburg (3-0, 0-0 PSAC East) was idle this week. The Warriors have a huge one coming up at home next week in Week Four when #8 Kutztown rolls into town for a night game.
Early season Non-League Games and PSAC Crossover Games are now over. We will be heading into Divisional Games in Week Four as the quest to become the 2024 PSCA Champion begins.
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