[Kutztown Football] 2006 KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Wed Aug 2 16:22:16 EDT 2006

August 2, 2006

2006 KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PREVIEW

KUTZTOWN, PA -  Hoping to put a disappointing 2005 season squarely in the rear-view mirror, Kutztown University will have a new driver at the wheel to begin a fresh era of Golden Bear football in 2006.

             Raymond Monica became the 14th head coach at Kutztown University since 1927 this past spring.  He takes over a team that went 2-8 in 2005, including a 2-4 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.    

            Monica brings to Kutztown eight years of experience at the Division I-A level as the defensive coordinator at Temple, as well as National Championship experience on the coaching staff at North Alabama, which won three-straight Division II titles from 1993-95.

           Kutztown, which finished fifth in the PSAC East last year, was picked to finish fifth in this year's pre-season coaches' poll released Wednesday at the PSAC East pre-season media luncheon at Kutztown.  Bloomsburg was projected to finish first by the coaches, followed by West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Millersville, KU, Mansfield and Cheyney.

      2006 KU Football Schedule

      SEPTEMBER

      SAT    9       CLARION                      6:05 PM

      SAT    16    at Shippensburg          1:00 PM

      SAT    23    SLIPPERY ROCK        6:05 PM

      SAT    30    *MILLERSVILLE          1:05 PM

                             (Family Day)

      OCTOBER

      SAT    7       *MANSFIELD                6:05 PM

      SAT    14    *at Bloomsburg            1:00 PM

      SAT    21    *WEST CHESTER       1:05 PM

                             (Homecoming)

      SAT    28    *at Cheyney                  1:00 PM

      NOVEMBER

      SAT    4       at Lock Haven              5:00 PM

      SAT    11    *at East Stroudsburg   1:05 PM

      *PSAC East contest

      Home games in BOLD CAPS

            For the first time in 2006, Kutztown will play home night football games with the addition of lights at University Field.  Paired with the installation of artificial turf before last season, and Kutztown boasts one of the finest playing venues in the region.

            The 2006 Golden Bears will feature 15 returning starters, 35 returning letterwinners, and an infusion of new talent hoping to make an immediate impact.

OFFENSE

            The Golden Bear offense returns eight starters, who hope the experience gained last year will help improve upon an offense that struggled to find its rhythm last fall.  KU ranked in the bottom five in the PSAC in total offense (268.1 yards/game), rushing offense (114.7), passing offense (153.4) and scoring offense (19.0 points/game) last year.  

            The offensive inconsistency of last year - which included a school record 582 yards of total offense against Mansfield but also a streak of 234:59 of game time between offensive touchdowns - will be the number one project in pre-season camp this year.

            Look for some new wrinkles in the KU offense under the direction of offensive coordinator Jeff Chillot, who joined KU's staff after successfully guiding nearby Albright's potent offense.

QUARTERBACKS

            Kutztown returns its first and second string quarterbacks from last year to provide solid leadership

under center.  Kyle Spotts (jr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) started eight games last year, completing 128-of-270 passes for 1,297 yards.  He tossed 11 touchdown passes and was picked off nine times.  Spotts was injured against Millersville and missed the final two games of the season.  Shane Martin (so. New Holland/Garden Spot) filled in admirably.  He completed 20-of-34 passes for 237 yards and three scores, with one interception.  Also returning is Jim Kelly (jr. Ambler/Upper Dublin).

RUNNING BACKS

            Kutztown's running game will be anchored by two-year starter Maurice Adams (jr. West Chester/Henderson).  Adams rushed for 662 yards and two touchdowns on 151 caries last season.  In two years, the 2004 second-team All-PSAC East back has over 1,300 yards and eight scores.  Pushing

for carries will be Tyler Dinnis (so. Doylestown/Central Bucks West), who came on strong at the end of the 2005 season.  Dinnis carried the ball 26 times for 167 yards - with 93 of those yards coming in the final two games of the year.  

            The fullback position will be manned by Joe Strauss (r-fr. Lititz/Warwick), along with Travis Barron (jr. Coatesville/Bishop Shanahan), who had 67 yards and a TD on 11 carries last year, and Drew Varano (so. York/Dallastown), a converted lineman.  

WIDE RECEIVERS

            The wide receiver corps may be the most intriguing on the 2006 roster, with two returning starters and a key newcomer.

            The returning starters are Larry Baumgardner (jr. New Oxford/New Oxford) and Brett Harbach (sr. West Lawn/Wilson).  Baumgardner led the team last year with 38 catches fro 447 yards and eight touchdowns.  Four of those TD grabs came against Mansfield, tying a single-game school record.  Harbach caught 16 passes for 111 yards and a TD.  

            The key newcomer is Maurice Humphrey (so. New Britain, CT/Berlin), a transfer from Penn State.  Humphrey, who will be a sophomore this season, was the Nittany Lions' second-leading receiver in 2003 with 30 catches for 410 yards and a TD.   Humphrey should join Harbach in the starting lineup, with Baumgardner seeing plenty of time on the field as the third receiver.

            Redshirt Freshman Andrew McKeefery (r-fr. Newark, DE/St. Mark's) will look to break into the rotation, along with returners Steve Michels (r-fr. New Holland/Garden Spot) and Anthony Braciszewski (so. Southampton/William Tennent).

TIGHT ENDS

            Two-time first-team All-PSAC East (2003, 2004) tight end Jason Henley (sr. Gilbertsville/Boyertown) returns for his senior season.  Henley caught 16 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown last year, bringing his career total to 57 catches for 526 yards and seven scores.  Converted quarterback Dan Onorato (so. Malvern/Malvern Prep) will provide depth at the position.

OFFENSIVE LINE
            The offensive line returns three senior starters from last year's squad.  Center Raymond Yannuzzi (sr. Wallingford/Strath Haven) (6-2, 271) will anchor the line, entering his third year as a starter.  Dustin Woodward (sr. Lancaster/Penn Manor) (6-7, 301) started eight games last year, including six at tackle.  Brian Long (sr. Souderton/Souderton) (6-6, 269) started nine games last year, splitting time between tight end, tackle and guard.  Woodward and Long are expected to start at left and right tackle, respectively.

            Nick Cresta (so. Wallingford/Strath Haven) (6-2, 251) is penciled in at the right guard slot.  Cresta started 10 games last year on the defensive line, tallying 44 tackles.  Rick DiStefano (jr. Quarryville/Solanco) (5-11, 254) and Melvin Nusum (sr. Lancaster/McCaskey) (6-1, 250) are the front runners to start at left guard.  Darrell Martin (so. Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) (6-2, 308) also returns at guard.  Backing up the tackle spots will be Tyler Romberger (r-fr. Tower City/Williams Valley) (6-4, 266) and Randy Chilcoat (jr. Dallastown/Dallastown) (6-3, 267). 

DEFENSE

            The 2005 Golden Bear defense was a big-play unit, with 25 sacks and 19 forced fumbles.  The defenders returned 15 of those fumbles for 239 yards, including four taken back for touchdowns.  The defense returns six starters from last year, which ranked eighth in the PSAC in rush defense (170.9 yards/game), 10th in total defense (358.3), pass defense (187.4) and scoring defense (25.8 points/game).  Coach Monica will welcome new defensive coordinator Mike Silecchia to the staff as the defenders look to improve upon last year's numbers.

DEFENSIVE LINE

            KU's defensive line returns two starters from last year and another who saw starting action in 2004.  Defensive end Mike Grosso (sr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John) will headline the defense in 2006.  Grosso tallied 56 tackles, including a team-high 14 for loss and 6.5 sacks to earn 2005 All-PSAC East first-team honors.   Kevin Branco (so. Hellertown/Saucon Valley) is likely to start at the opposite end.  Branco notched 27 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks with three fumble recoveries.  Mark Irwin (so. Newtown/Council Rock North) also returns to the fold.  He had 21 tackles, including a sack last season.

            Also back is defensive tackle Scott Smith (jr. New Oxford/Delone Catholic), who tallied 42 tackles with three for loss and 1.5 sacks.  Matt Breiner (so. Lehighton/Lehighton) returns to the team this fall after sitting out in 2005.  Breiner started seven games at tackle in 2004, notching 15 tackles.  Craig Croman (fr. York/York Catholic) and Zac Lloyd (r-fr. Hershey/Lower Dauphin) are also vying for time at defensive tackle.

LINEBACKERS

            Strongside linebacker Tom Cressman (jr. Sellersville/Pennridge) is the lone returning starter from last year's linebacker corps.  Cressman was impressive in his first year as a starter, totaling 47 tackles, including seven for loss and six sacks for 37 yards.  He also forced three fumbles.  Cressman should be joined in the starting lineup by returning veteran Dan Chominski (sr. Boothwyn/Chichester).  Chominski, who is expected to fill the middle linebacker spot, had 31 tackles last fall.  Sam McKellar (so. Allentown/Dieruff) is slated to start at weakside linebacker.  He had nine stops in limited action last year.  

            Pushing for playing time will be Dan Schwartz (fr. Reading/Pius X), James Crognale (so. Boyertown/Boyertown), Dan Cresta (jr. Aston/Sun Valley) and Carl Thomas (sr. Philadelphia/Germantown).

DEFENSIVE BACKS

            The defensive secondary, a traditional strong suit for the Golden Bears, returns two starters and several veterans with playing experience in 2006.  Justin Gibbs (jr. Pottstown/Pottstown), a starting cornerback last fall, and Brian Bingnear (jr. Boothwyn/Chichester), a starting safety, lead the way.  Gibbs had 34 tackles with two interceptions and seven pass breakups.  Bingnear had 53 tackles with three breakups.  Gibbs may slide over to safety, where Lenny Brown (so. Broomall/Marple Newtown) and Brian Burke (sr. Langhorne/Neshaminy) (23 tackles) will also compete for playing time.  

            With Gibbs at safety, both starting cornerback positions will now be up for grabs.  Cory Porrino (sr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) was named the most improved player on the defense in the spring,

after tallying 17 tackles in 10 games in 2005.  Brent Howard (jr. Perkiomenville/Boyertown) switches from receiver to defensive back this year.  Nate Rabenold (r-fr. Lehighton/Lehighton) and Macus Watson (jr. Philadelphia/Harriton) will look for reps.

SPECIAL TEAMS

            Gone is Matt Scartozzi, the school's career record holder for field goals.  KU does return, however, its starting punter and a veteran placekicker who look to fill the role.  

            Ryan Nye (so. Reading/Holy Name) returns to handle the punting chores.  Nye averaged 37.0 yards on 67 punts last fall, including a long of 63 yards and 10 inside opponents 20 yardline.  Steve Sandberg (so. Quakertown/Northeast) saw some action on kickoffs last year and will challenge Nye for the field goal/PAT kicker duties in 2006.  

            Humphrey and Harbach are slated to handle the bulk of the returns.  Harbach averaged 6.6 yards on 10 punt returns last year.  Gibbs also saw time as a kick returner last year, averaging 20.5 yards per return.

            The 2006 season begins on September 9, when the Golden Bears host Clarion at 6:05 PM at University Field.  

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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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