[Kutztown Football] Golden Bears to Start 2005 Campaign vs. Shippensburg

[Josh Leiboff]

 KU Football Fact Sheet #01-2005 - KU vs. Shippensburg
Golden Bears to Start 2005 Campaign vs. Shippensburg 

The Game

         The Kutztown University football team will kickoff the 2005 season this Saturday, August 27, with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference inter-division matchup vs. Shippensburg.  Kickoff is set for 3:05 PM at Kutztown's newly renovated University Field.  

Last year, Kutztown finished the year 4-6 overall, 2-4 in the PSAC East.  Shippensburg was 10-2 overall last year, advancing to the NCAA playoffs, where it lost to West Chester in the second round. 

Electronic Coverage

The game will be broadcast on WEEU, AM 830, based out of Reading.  Mitch Gerhart and Bob McCool will call the action.  Listeners throughout the world can also hear the broadcast on KU's Website at kubears.com.  The broadcast will begin 15 minutes before kickoff. 

University Field Renovation

University Field, the home of the Golden Bears, received a facelift over the summer.  Kutztown installed a state-of-the-art artificial surface to replace the natural grass.  The new surface, by A-Turf, features a sand and rubber infill mixed with the synthetic grass, designed for long-term durability and to reduce the effects of impact on the body.  In addition, lights are being installed this fall, but will not be activated until completion of the student recreation center, being built near the stadium, in 2006. 

The Coaches

Dave Keeny (Kutztown, '82) enters his eighth season as head coach of the Golden Bear football program.  Keeny has a 36-37 career record.  He has the third-most coaching victories in school history.  Keeny is 1-6 all-time vs. Shippensburg.

Rocky Rees (West Chester, '71) is in his 16th season at Shippensburg.  He owns a 93-73-1 mark at SU.  In 21 overall seasons, Rees has a record of 129-88-2.  He is 10-5 all-time vs. KU. 

The Series

This game will mark the 58th meeting between Kutztown and Shippensburg, dating back to 1929.  The Raiders lead the series 41-14-2.  Shippensburg has won the last six meetings, including last year's 35-0 victory at Shippensburg.  It was Kutztown's first season-opening loss since 2000 and the first time the Golden Bears had been shutout by a Division II opponent since 1982.  Ship's Tony Gomez completed 5-of-10 passes for 153 yards and two TDs.  KU was led by Stephen Gammage, who rushed for 69 yards on 11 carries, and Brett Harbach, who had five catches for 45 yards.  KU's last win in the series was a 28-24 victory at University Field in 1998. 

Scouting the Shippensburg Red Raiders

Shippensburg comes into the 2005 season hoping to repeat last year's 10-win regular season. However, they will have to do so with a predominantly new starting offensive lineup with most of the starters not returning from last year's senior-laden offense. The Red Raiders defense was also hit hard by graduation, with four starters returning.  Last year they allowed a conference low 22 touchdowns and only 255.2 yards per game.

Tony Gomez returns as the starting quarterback. In 2004, Gomez threw 15 touchdowns for 1,564 yards. Gomez threw two touchdowns of 48 and 40 yards against the Golden Bears in last seasons opening game.

With John Kuhn lost to graduation, Walter Crump is expected to handle the primary rushing duties in the Raiders' wing-T offense.  Last year, Crump rushed for 681 yards and six touchdowns. Crump also led the team in yards per carry (7.5). The only returning receiver for the Red Raiders is Howard Chavous who caught one pass last year. Dave Tucker and David Green are competing at tight end, while the offensive line will feature five new starters.

The defense will be led by cornerback Brent Grimes, linebacker Frank Duffy, defensive end Kirsten Gamber and safety John Sharbaugh.  Grimes had seven interceptions last year, tied for first for the Red Raiders.  Sharbaugh is the top returning tackler with 70 hits last season.  He also had three picks.  Duffy had 53 tackles last year, with eight for loss and 3.4 sacks.  Gamber tallied 17 tackles.

Kicker Jamie Reder and punter Denver Brydon return. Reder connected on 10-of-13 field goals last season. Brydon averaged 37.5 yards per punt.  Grimes will handle the primary return duties.  He averaged 21.1 yards on kickoff returns and 11.1 yards on punt returns. 

Tracking the Golden Bears

QUARTERBACKS

Quarterback has been the top question mark on offense heading into the season.  With last year's starter lost to graduation, the job this year is up for grabs.  Newcomers Kyle Spotts (so. Tamaqua/Tamaqua), a transfer from Division I Colgate, and Shane Martin (fr. New Holland/Garden Spot) are the front runners.  Fellow rookie Joe McMonagle (fr. Chalfont/Central Bucks West) is also in the mix.   

RUNNING BACKS

The Golden Bears have three players on the roster with All-PSAC East running back honors on their resumes.  Maurice Adams (so. West Chester/Henderson), a second-team All-PSAC East pick in 2004, came on strong at the end of his rookie season and is expected to be the starter in '05.  Adams rushed for 702 yards and six touchdowns on 125 carries.  His 5.9 yards per carry were the most by a KU running back since 1997.  All but 11 of his 702 yards came after he became the primary running back in the final seven games.  Tony Bria (sr. Warminster/William Tennent), who earned All-PSAC East honors in 2003, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game last year.  He had 253 yards and three TDs on 63 carries to that point.  A team captain, Bria is expected to share the main running back duties with Adams.  Also returning is Stephen Gammage (sr. Phoenix, AZ/Brophy), an All-PSAC East second team selection in 2002 and 2003.  Gammage started all 10 games at fullback last season, rushing for 530 yards with  six scores on 107 carries.  He has 2,056 yards in his career, eighth all time at KU.  Gammage also ranks among the program's career leaders in rushes (508, fifth) and rushing touchdowns (25, third).  Gammage, who has bulked up to 252 pounds, is expected to handle short-yardage duties. 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Mike Zulkowski (jr. Shenandoah/Shenandoah Valley) and Justin Gibbs (so. Pottstown/Pottstown) are penciled in at the starting positions.  Zulkowski had two catches, both for touchdowns, last year.  Gibbs started at cornerback in 2004, but made the switch to offense during pre-season camp.  Brett Harbach (jr. West Lawn/Wilson) was limited to just one game at receiver last year, catching five passes for 45 yards against Shippensburg.  After serving as an emergency punter in the next game, a leg injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.  Harbach, received a hardship waiver to remain a junior in eligibility, may still be slowed by the injury in the early going.  Last year's top receiver, James Brooks (jr. Lancaster/McCaskey) caught a team-high 38 passes for 519 yards and two TDs in 2004.  His status for the first game is questionable (academic reasons).  Larry Baumgardner (so. New Oxford/New Oxford), who had three catches for 58 yards last fall, also returns. 

TIGHT ENDS

Two-time first-team All-PSAC East tight end Jason Henley (jr. Gilbertsville/Boyertown) returns at one starting tight end spot.  He caught 20 passes for 202 yards last year.  As a rookie in 2003, Henley caught six touchdown passes.   Back starting at the other tight end position this season will be Brian Long (jr. Souderton/Souderton).  Long spent last season at offensive tackle after starting at tight end in 2003.  Also returning are Andre Coles (sr. Philadelphia/Abraham Lincoln), Mike Costello (sr. Yardville, NJ/Steinert) and Melvin Nusum (jr. Lancaster/McCaskey). 

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line returns several veterans with starting experience.  Center Raymond Yannuzzi (jr. Wallingford/Strath Haven) and left tackle Charlie Kehs (sr. Gilbertsville/Boyertown) are slated to be back in the starting lineup to begin the season.  Adam Ogorek (sr. West Chester/Henderson), a team captain, will fill the left guard position after starting for two seasons at defensive tackle.  At right guard, either Don Keen (sr. Lancaster/McCaskey) or Eric Barr (jr. Orefield/Northwestern Lehigh), last year's starter, will get the nod.  Dustin Woodward (jr. Lancaster/Penn Manor) is expected to start at right tackle.  Last year's starting left tackle, Eric Newell (sr. Bethlehem/Bethlehem) will miss some time at the beginning of the season due to an off-season injury. Center Ryan Contento (jr. Levittown/Neshaminy) adds depth with previous starting experience. 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Golden Bears' defensive line returns three players who started last year.  Defensive end Mike Grosso (jr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John) looks to return from a leg injury that sidelined him for the final seven games.  He had 16 tackles and two sacks before the injury.  On the opposite end will be either Leroy Azubuike (so. East Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg South), who had five tackles last year, or redshirt freshman Kevin Branco (r-fr. Hellertown/Saucon Valley).  Projected to start at the defensive tackle positions are Scott Smith (so. New Oxford/Delone Catholic) and Nick Cresta (r-fr. Wallingford/Strath Haven).  Smith had 19 tackles last year as a defensive end.  Two D-line starters in '04, Tony Garipoli (sr. Reading/Antietem) and Chris Branco (sr. Hellertown/Saucon Valley) add depth at the tackles.  Garipoli had 20 tackles last year, while Brando notched 16 hits with a pair of sacks.   

LINEBACKERS

Kutztown's top two leading tacklers from 2004 return at two of the starting linebacker positions.  Outside linebacker Drew Hicks (sr. Allentown/William Allen) led the team with 85 tackles, including 10 for loss and a sack last season.  He also had four pass breakups.  Greg Mitchell (sr. Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic) returns for his fourth season at starting middle linebacker.  Mitchell, who has twice been named to the All-PSAC East second team, had 80 hits last fall, including five for loss and two sacks.  He added two forced and three recovered fumbles.  Tom Cressman (so. Sellersville/Pennridge) is slated to move into the starting lineup at the other outside position.  Cressman had 12 tackles and a sack as a rookie last year.  Vying for time will be Brian Burke (jr. Langhorne/Neshaminy) (15 tackles in '04), James Crognale (r-fr. Boyertown/Boyertown) and  Keith Fox (fr. Perkasie/Pennridge), who joined the team in the spring. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Three-year starting safety Michael Baldwin (sr. Philadelphia/Dobbins Tech), a first-team All-PSAC East pick and captain, anchors the defensive secondary.  He had 59 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.  Matt Millard (sr. Ridley/Ridley Twp.) also returns, but will switch from safety to cornerback.  He had 33 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups last fall.  Brian Bingnear (so. Boothwyn/Chichester) will take Millard's spot as free safety.  Bingnear had 15 tackles a year ago.  At the other corner will be Cory Porrino (jr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain).  Newcomers expected to contribute are Brent Howard (fr. Perkiomenville/Boyertown), Lenny Brown (fr. Broomall/Marple Newtown) and Louie Gibbs (jr. Pottstown/Pottstown). 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Matt Scartozzi (sr. Malvern/Bishop Shanahan) returns for the place kicking duties.  Scartozzi, a second-team All-PSAC East selection in 2003, connected on 4-of-7 field goals and 16-of-26 PAT attempts last season.  Steve Sandberg (r-fr. Quakertown/Northeast) will handle the kickoff chores.  Ryan Nye (fr. Reading/Holy Name) is slated to handle the punting duties.  

The Golden Bears' special teams played a big part in the scoring efforts in 2004.  KU scored three touchdowns on special teams last year.  Millard returned two punts blocked by teammates for touchdowns, and Brooks returned a kickoff for a TD.  Baldwin had two blocked kicks.  

Bria, Harbach and Justin Gibbs and are expected to share the return duties.  Bria averaged 16.8 yards on kick returns and 5.2 yards on punt returns last year.  Harbach averaged 6.5 yards/punt return in 2003.  Gibbs netted 16.6 yards on kick returns in '04. 

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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
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