[Kutztown Football] Golden Bears Finish 4-6, 2-4 in PSAC East

[Josh Leiboff]

KU Football Fact Sheet #11-2006 - Season Review
(CLICK HERE FOR A PDF VERSION OF THIS RELEASE) 

Golden Bears Finish 4-6, 2-4 in PSAC East

 The Season

         The Kutztown University Football team was 4-6 overall, 2-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division in 2006.  The Golden Bears finished fifth of seven teams in the PSAC East.  KU was 2-2 against teams from the PSAC West, 2-3 at home and 2-3 on the road.  

         The Golden Bears began the season with a 27-10 over Clarion, before falling at Shippensburg (42-27).  A loss to Slippery Rock (34-10) was followed with a loss vs. Millersville (45-17).  KU bounced back with a win over Mansfield (51-7) before losing to Bloomsburg (41-14) and West Chester (49-47).  KU started a three-game road trip with wins at Cheyney (28-6) and Lock Haven (30-10), before wrapping up the season with a 56-16 loss at East Stroudsburg.

The Coach

Kutztown's first-year coach, Raymond Monica (North Alabama, '90), was 4-6 in his inaugural season. Monica came to the Golden Bears from Division I-A Temple University, where he spent eight seasons as defensive coordinator.  Prior to Temple, Monica coached for nine seasons at the University of North Alabama, during which time the Lions won three NCAA Division II national championships from 1993-95. 

The Seniors

         Kutztown bid farewell to 12 seniors this season.  They are WR Larry Baumgardner (New Oxford/New Oxford), who had 63 receptions for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons; DB Akil Boucard (Orange, NJ/Orange), who tallied 12 tackles after transferring to KU this season; LB Brian Burke (Langhorne/Neshaminy), who notched 63 tackles, including three for loss, over four years at KU; OL Randy Chilcoat (York/Dallastown), a three-year letterwinner; LB Dan Chominski (Boothwyn/Chichester) recorded 123 tackles, including eight for loss and a an interception in four seasons; OL Rick DiStefano (Quarryville/Solanco), a three-year letterwinner and 10-game starter in 2006; DE Mike Grosso (Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John) had 179 tackles, including 32 for loss and 11.5 sacks in four years; WR Brett Harbach (Sinking Spring/Wilson), who had 92 receptions for 946 yards and four TDs, along with 207 yards on 23 punt returns over four seasons; TE Jason Henley (Gilbertsville/Boyertown) caught 94 passes for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns as a four-year starter; LB Carl Thomas (Philadelphia/Germantown), who had two tackles over two seasons as a reserve; OL Dustin Woodward (Lancaster/Penn Manor), a two-year starter who played in 32 games over four years; and OL Raymond Yannuzzi (Wallinford/Strath Haven), who started the final 30 games of his career.

Notable

KU scored in the final minute of the first half in seven of 10 games this season...after being shutout in the first quarter in the first four games of the season, KU scored on its first drive the last four games...KU played three straight games on the road for the first time since 1987 to end the season, after playing three-straight at home for the first time since 1990.  

East Stroudsburg Recap: ESU 56, Kutztown 16

Kutztown lost to East Stroudsburg, 56-16, falling victim to a stellar offensive display by the Warriors outgoing senior all-stars.  ESU racked up 525 yards of total offense and eight touchdown passes.  

Kutztown countered with 396 yards of its own, including 241 passing and 155 rushing.  The Bears, however, turned the ball over four times (3 int., 1 fumble) and gave ESU another short field on an errant punt snap.  WR Elfren Quiles (jr. New Britain, CT/New Britain) caught seven passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns.  He upped his season total to 12 touchdown catches, a single-season Golden Bear record.  QB Kyle Spotts (jr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) completed 14-of-20 passes for 174 yards and a TD before leaving the game in the second half due to injury.  His replacement, Shane Martin (so. New Holland/Garden Spot), was 5-of-10 for 67 yards and a TD.  He also rushed for 67 yards.  TE Jason Henley (sr. Gilbertsville/Boyertown) had four catches for 75 yards, while Brett Harbach (sr. Sinking Spring/Wilson) had five grabs for 46 yards.  RB Cory McFadden (fr. Freemansburg/Bethlehem Catholic) rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries.  FB Joe Strauss (r-fr. Lititz/Warwick) added 40 yards on 12 carries.  

DT Scott Smith (jr. New Oxford/Delone Catholic) and DE Mike Grosso (sr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John) had seven tackles apiece to pace the defense.  LB Dan Chominski (sr. Boothwyn/Chichester) had six tackles.  Safety Brian Bingnear (jr. Boothwyn/Chichester) had four unassisted tackles.  DL Craig Moose (fr. Dillsburg/Northern York) and DE Kevin Branco (so. Hellertown/Saucon Valley) each had a tackle for loss, while CB Brent Howard (so. Gilbertsville/Boyertown) and safety Justin Gibbs (jr. Pottstown/Pottstown) broke up a pass apiece.

Gibbs had 144 yards on eight kickoff returns.  Steve Sandberg (jr. Quakertown/Northeast Philadelphia) hit a 25-yard field goal and was 1-for-2 on PAT kicks. 

2006 Season Review

OFFENSE: Kutztown's offense was much improved from the year before.  The Golden Bears averaged 367.2 yards per game, including 224.9 passing and 142.3 rushing.  On the season, KU compiled 40 drives of 50 yards or more, scoring on 34 of them.  The Bears had just 25 drives over 50 yards in 2005, scoring on 15.  Spotts had a solid season under center.  The junior signal caller completed 156-of-271 passes for 2,155 yards.  He threw 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.  The passing yards are the fifth-most in a season at KU, while the passing TDs are tied for fourth best on KU's single-season chart.  Spotts also rushed for five TDs.  Quiles was 

Spotts' top receiver.  The junior transfer caught 54 passes for 816 yards and the school-record 12 TDs.  The yardage total is the third-best in a season in Kutztown history.  Harbach established career highs with 45 catches for 541 yards and three touchdown catches.  Henley also had a career season, with 27 receptions for 416 yards and three scores.  Larry Baumgardner (sr. New Oxford/New Oxford) led the team in yards per catch (16.2), tallying 22 receptions for 357 yards and two TDs.  

         RB Maurice Adams (jr. West Chester/Henderson) led the ground attack for seven games until missing the final three due to injury.  Adams had 432 yards and two touchdowns on 131 carries.  McFadden took over after Adams' injury, finishing with 420 yards and three TDs on 85 carries.  He had 275 yards in KU's final three games, including a season-high 146 against Lock Haven.  McFadden's 79-yard TD scamper vs. LHU was the longest run from scrimmage for KU since 1998.  Strauss ended with 304 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries.  The redshirt freshman fullback also picked up carries late in the season, with 201 yards over the final three games.  

KU's offensive line consisted of four of the five same starters for all 10 games.  After allowing 12 sacks in the first three games, the linemen allowed just 12 more over the remainder of the season.  KU will have to replace three seniors, center Raymond Yannuzzi (sr. Wallingford/Strath Haven), guard Rick DiStefano (sr. Quarryville/Solanco) and tackle Dustin Woodward (sr. Lancaster Penn Manor).  That trio, along with guard Nick Cresta (so. Wallingford/Strath Haven), started all 10 games.  Tyler Romberger (r-fr. Muir/Williams Valley) and Mike Casciano (jr. Birdsboro/Twin Valley) split time at the other tackle.  Evan Reese (fr. Centre Hall/State College) also saw time on the line.

DEFENSE: The Golden Bear defense had a handful of fine performances, but also struggled at times in 2006.  KU allowed an average of 363.2 yards to its opponents, including 196.8 rushing and 166.4 passing.  In KU's four wins, the Bears allowed an average of 8.3 points, while allowing an average of 44.5 in the six losses.  

Bingnear led the unit with 90 tackles, including 58 solos.  He had a team-high four interceptions and broke up four other passes.  Grosso notched 70 tackles, the most by a KU lineman since 1990.  He added 14 tackles for loss (-44 yards) and 3.5 sacks (-26), along with two breakups, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.  Chominski had 68 tackles, with three for loss and an interception.  Gibbs recorded 44 tackles, including two for loss.  He broke up five passes and intercepted two others.  Smith had 40 tackles, with five for loss and a half sack.  LBs Tom Cressman (jr. Sellersville/Pennridge) and Sam McKellar (so. Allentown/Dieruff) missed a combined five games due to injury.  Cressman had 38 tackles, with three for loss and a sack, in eight games.  McKellar had 32 tackles with five for loss in seven contests.  DEs Mark Irwin (so. Newtown/Council Rock North) and Branco had 30 and 26 tackles, respectively.  Both had three tackles for loss, while Branco added a sack and two breakups.  Howard led the team with seven pass breakups and had two picks, along with 25 tackles.  CB Cory Porrino (jr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) had 23 tackles, an interception and four breakups before missing the final three games due to injury. Rookies Sean Alboucq (fr. Lehighton/Lehighton) (19 tackles, 1 TFL), Cameron Parchment (r-fr. Tannersville/Pocono Mountain East) (18 tackles, 1 TFL, int, 2 breakups) and David Cressman (fr. Sellersville/Pennridge) (17 tackles, 2 TFL) all saw starting time.  

SPECIAL TEAMS: Kutztown ranked among the PSAC's leaders in punt returns, averaging 11.1 yards per return.   Harbach returned nine punts for an average of 12.8 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown return vs. Mansfield.  Adams handled the kick returns prior to his injury.  He tallied 455 yards on 21 kick returns, including an 85 yarder for a TD against Clarion.  Gibbs finished with nine kick returns for 168 yards.  

Ryan Nye (so. Bernville/Holy Name) was among the top punters in the PSAC.  Nye averaged 39.5 yards on 34 punts, third in the PSAC.  He had a long of 56 yards and placed five kicks inside his opponents' 20 yardline.

Sandberg was 4-for-8 on field goals, with a long of 42.  He also connected on 31-of-35 PAT kicks.  

Kelly's Sports, Ltd. 
Player of the Game

Elfren Quiles is the final Kelly's Sports Player of the Game for 2006.  Quiles caught seven passes for 99 yards and two TDs against East Stroudsburg.  He set KU's single-season record for touchdown catches with 12.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.kutztown.edu/pipermail/footballreleases/attachments/20061113/ee5ee943/attachment.html