[Kutztown Football] Golden Bears Begin Monica Era vs. Clarion

[Josh Leiboff]

KU Football Fact Sheet #01-2006 - KU vs. Clarion 
(CLICK HERE FOR A PDF VERSION OF THIS RELEASE)
Golden Bears Begin Monica Era vs. Clarion

The Game

         The Kutztown University football team will kickoff the 2006 season this Saturday, September 9, with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) inter-divisional matchup vs. Clarion University.  Kickoff is set for 6:05 PM at Kutztown's University Field.

         Last year, Kutztown finished the season 2-8 overall, including a 2-4 mark in the PSAC East.  Clarion opened its 2006 season this past Saturday, falling at Tiffin by the score of 23-16.  Clarion was 3-7 overall, 1-5 in the PSAC West, last season.   

Electronic Coverage

The game will be broadcast on WEEU, AM 830, based out of Reading.  Mitch Gerhart and Matt Santos 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. 

First Home Night Game/Dixon Trophy/Golden Bear Honors

Several presentations are scheduled around Saturday's game.  The game itself will be historic, as it marks the first-ever home night game in Kutztown football history.  The lights, which were installed last year, were activated this fall in conjunction with the opening of the nearby student recreation center.  Last year, the Golden Bears debuted their new artificial turf surface.  The 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, Kutztown will recognize numerous accomplishments from the 2005-06 school year.  The highlight will be the pre-game presentation of the 2005-06 PSAC Dixon Trophy to KU's student-athletes and coaches.  The trophy is the league's all-sport award for the top athletic program in the conference.  At halftime will be Golden Bear Honors Night, when Kutztown's all-star athletes and teams from the winter and spring 2006 seasons will be recognized.   

The Coaches

Both teams will be under the direction of new head coaches.  

Kutztown's new mentor, Raymond Monica (North Alabama, '90), comes to the Golden Bears from Division I-A Temple University, where he spent the last eight seasons as defensive coordinator.  During his tenure at Temple, Monica also guided the inside linebackers and defensive line.  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. 

Jay Foster (Plymouth State '85) takes over at Clarion after 18 years at Slippery Rock, including the last 17 as defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.   

The Series

This game will mark the 18th meeting between Kutztown and Clarion, dating back to 1941.  The Eagles lead the series 13-4, including last year's quadruple-overtime barnburner.  Clarion QB Brandon Dando's 3-yard run in the fourth overtime proved to be the difference, as KU failed to score on its final possession.  The third overtime featured a pair of blocked field goals, while KU also had a 50-yard fumble return by Justin Gibbs fall short of the end zone in the first OT.  Maurice Adams rushed for 62 yards on 19 carries.  Kyle Spotts was 21-of-41 for 152 yards, with a TD and interception.  Tyrone Bruckner rushed for 106 yards and a TD for Clarion.  LB Matt Morris had 15 tackles, including four for loss and a sack.  

KU won two-straight meetings prior to last year.  In 2004, Kutztown picked up a 25-14 victory at home against the Eagles behind strong play by the defense and special teams.  Three of Kutztown's four scores came off a blocked punt, a fumble and an interception, all returned for touchdowns.  In 2003, Kutztown escaped Clarion with a 20-19 victory.   Kutztown was out-gained, 449-216, but recovered six Golden Eagle fumbles.  CU's last win at University Field came in 2002 (31-7).  Kutztown lost to Clarion in the 1980 PSAC "State Game" following KU's only East Division title in school history.  

Notable

Kutztown's head coaches are 7-10-2 all time in their debut for the Golden Bears...the last two head coaches, Al Leonzi (1984) and Dave Keeny (1998) won in their debuts...Clarion's Dwaon Woodard had a defensive PAT return vs. KU last year, the first time that has happened against the Golden Bears since 1988...now KU's running backs coach, Michael Baldwin set a single-play record with a 98 yard fumble return for a touchdown vs. Clarion in 2005. 

Tracking the Golden Bears

The Golden Bear offense returns seven starters, who hope the experience gained last year will help improve upon a unit that struggled to find its rhythm.  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.  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, 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.

RUNNING BACKS: Kutztown's running game will be anchored by two-year starter Maurice Adams (jr. West Chester/Henderson), who 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), backed up by Drew Varano (so. York/Dallastown), a converted lineman.  

WIDE RECEIVERS:  Two starters return in Larry Baumgardner (sr. New Oxford/New Oxford) and Brett Harbach (sr. West Lawn/Wilson).  Baumgardner led the team last year with 38 catches for 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.  Pushing for time on the field is newcomer Elfren Quiles (jr. New Britain, CT/New Britain), who transferred from Merrimack after leading the Warriors with 44 catches for 672 yards and nine touchdowns last fall.  Tony Braciszewski (so. Southampton/William Tennent) and Andrew McKeefery (r-fr. Newark, DE/St. Mark's) will look to break into the rotation

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 two senior starters from last year's squad.  Center Raymond Yannuzzi (sr. Wallingford/Strath Haven) will anchor the line, entering his third year as a starter.  Dustin Woodward (sr. Lancaster/Penn Manor) started eight games last year, including six at tackle, where he will start this season on the left side.  Nick Cresta (so. Wallingford/Strath Haven), a converted defensive tackle, will get the nod at right guard.  Rick DiStefano (sr. Quarryville/Solanco) is slated to start at left guard.  Newcomer Mike Casciano (jr. Birdsboro/Twin Valley) is expected to start at right tackle. 

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.  Six starters return from that defense, 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).  Monica will welcome new defensive coordinator Mike Silecchia to the staff as the defenders look to improve upon last year's numbers.

DEFENSIVE LINE:  Two starters return from last year, along with 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.  Starting at defensive tackle is 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 (r-fr. York/York Catholic), Craig Moose (fr. Dillsburg/Northern York) and Nick Aspromonte (fr. Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) will see time on the line.

LINEBACKERS: Strongside linebacker Tom Cressman (jr. Sellersville/Pennridge) is the lone returner from last year's starting 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 will 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 David Cressman (fr. Sellersville/Pennridge), Tom's younger brother, Sean Alboucq (fr. Lehighton/Lehighton) 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.  Both safety positions will be manned by returning starters, Justin Gibbs (jr. Pottstown/Pottstown), a cornerback last fall, and Brian Bingnear (jr. Boothwyn/Chichester).  Gibbs had 34 tackles with two interceptions and seven pass breakups.  Bingnear had 53 tackles with three breakups.  Starting at cornerback will be Cory Porrino (jr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) and Brent Howard (jr. Perkiomenville/Boyertown).  Porrino was named most improved player on the defense in the spring, after tallying 17 tackles in 10 games in 2005.  Howard switches from receiver to defensive back this year.  Cameron Parchment (r-fr. Tannersville/Pocono Mountain East) and Marcus Watson (jr. Philadelphia/Harriton) will look for reps. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

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 take over the place kicking duties this season.  

Harbach, Adams and Dinnis are slated to handle the bulk of the returns.  Harbach averaged 6.6 yards on 10 punt returns last year.  Dinnis netted 6.0 yards on three punt returns.

Scouting the Clarion Golden Eagles

Clarion will have the advantage of having a game under its belt when it gets to Kutztown, having faced Tiffin on September 2.  The Eagles fell by the 23-16 score, tallying 169 yards rushing and 25 passing.  RB Eddie Emanuel rushed 29 times for 136 yards.  Redshirt-freshman quarterback Mark Rupert rushed nine times for 32 yards and a TD, while completing 3-of-10 passes for 25 yards and a score.  Receiver Pierre Odom, a 2004 starter who sat out last year, had one catch for 11 yards and a TD.  Two-time all-region center Zach Snyder anchors the line.  

CU's defense allowed 116 yards rushing and 156 passing vs. Tiffin. LB Zack Gourley led with eight tackles.  All-America LB Matt Morris had seven and DT Jimmy Simmons had five tackles, including three for loss.  All-region CB Dwaon Woodard, who had three stops vs. Tiffin, had two picks and four blocked kicks last year.  

Kyle Snoke, who was 6-of-7 on field goals last season, did not attempt a three-pointer last week. All-PSAC West punter Nick Perla averaged 38.9 yards on seven punts on Saturday.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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/20060905/2f1080b3/attachment.html