BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University football team opens its 2012 season on Friday, August 31 in a non-conference matchup against Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts.  Kickoff at W.B. Mason Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
 
The game will be broadcast live on WHLM (930-AM) based out of Bloomsburg with Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny calling all of the action. In addition, listeners throughout the world can also hear the game live on BU's website at www.buhuskies.com. The pre-game show will begin 30 minutes before kickoff.
 
Bloomsburg put together a 9-2 campaign in 2011 and will look for its ninth NCAA playoff appearance.  BU will take a preseason national ranking along with it on the 6.5-hour bus trip to Stonehill.  It is ranked 25th in the 2012 preseason poll by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).   
 
Head coach Danny Hale leads the Huskies into the programs first-ever meeting against the Skyhawks.  With a win, Hale would move into 14th on the Division II all-time coaching victories list with 204.
 
Stonehill went 4-7 in 2011 and is led by sixth-year head coach Robert Talley.  Talley is the all-time leader in coaching victories at Stonehill with 23.
 
One of the many strengths Bloomsburg brings back is experience.  BU's entire offensive line is made of upperclassmen.  Heading the front line will be senior Brandon Allen (Philadelphia/Frankford), along with juniors Alex Buchert (Robesonia/Conrad Weiser), Brian Clarke (Hanover/Hanover), Matt Feiler (Strasburg/Lampeter-Strasburg), and Chris Steck (Mt. Carmel/Mt. Carmel).
 
Junior running backs Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) and Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) return after each rushing for over 1,000 yards a season ago. They were the only teammates in Division II to rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season last year, making them the most lethal running combination in all of D-II football.    
 
Quiteh gained 1,192 yards on the ground to lead the Huskies.  Entering Friday, the junior needs 122 yards to move into fourth place on the BU all-time rushing list with 3,329.
 
Redshirt freshman Tim Kelly (Camp Hill/Cedar Cliff) will take his first snap under center as a Husky on Friday.  Kelly earned the starting role in preseason camp as Hale hopes that Kelly's size and athleticism can help the Huskies bring a number of threats on the offensive side of the ball.
 
Defensively, Jarrett Pidgeon (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) returns as the leader of the defense.  The senior linebacker tallied a team-high 95 tackles last season and should give the Huskies a solid force in the middle of the field.
 
Stonehill brings back a pair of running backs who each saw triple-digit carries.  Senior Jermetrius Troy rushed for a team-high 734 yards in 2011 with seven touchdowns.  Junior Justin Willis rushed for 356 yards and a pair of TD's as both runners are expected to see significant playing time.
 
Quarterback Logan Meyer threw for 1,500 yards and 11 TD's in his sophomore season.  His main target was John Gomes who returns for his senior season.  Gomes brought in 49 catches for 668 yards last year with five scores.
 
Two Skyhawks racked up over 90 tackles and two interceptions apiece.  Jareed Gaines led SC with 97 tackles, including 10 for a loss and three sacks.  Matthew Iannucci finished with 91 tackles in the secondary.
 
Next week, Bloomsburg will make its home-debut on Saturday, Sept. 8 against Edinboro.  Kickoff at Danny  Hale Field at Redman Stadium is set for 1 p.m.  Stonehill moves into conference-play and will host Southern Connecticut State on Sept. 8 beginning at 1 p.m.