BLOOMSBURG – The week has arrived that fans have had circled on their calendars since last November. The Bloomsburg University football team hosts Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival Kutztown on Saturday, Sept. 15 in an Eastern Division-opening showdown. Kickoff at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m.
The game will be broadcast live on WHLM (930-AM) based out of Bloomsburg with Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny calling all the action. In addition, listeners throughout the world can listen to and watch the game live on BU's website at www.buhuskies.com. The pre-game show will begin 30 minutes before kickoff.
The Huskies (2-0) have been off to an impressive start this season, working their way up to 12th in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) national poll. However, they haven't forgotten the last time they met the 21st-ranked Golden Bears (1-1) in the Eastern-finale last season.
Bloomsburg saw its 18-year winning streak against Kutztown fall on Nov. 5, 2011 after an eye-opening 52-14 Golden Bear victory. The teams were both 8-1 at the time and were ranked in the top 15 in numerous national polls. The win catapulted KU into the playoffs and an eventual PSAC Championship, and essentially ended the Huskies chances at a playoff appearance.
“We have been looking forward to this game because it did leave a sour taste in our mouths last season,” junior running back
Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) said. “Getting to 3-0 is our motivation and Kutztown just so happens to be the team we have to beat. We just look at it as another step toward the goal: a PSAC Championship.”
The Huskies have had great success against the Golden Bears, leading the overall series 43-21-1. Bloomsburg's last win against Kutztown was a 26-point, 61-35 victory in 2010 that sealed its 18th PSAC Eastern Division Crown. Under Danny Hale, the Huskies are 18-1 against Kutztown, including a perfect 9-0 mark at home.
2012 is a new season and the Huskies look to start off on the right track in conference play. Saturday's matchup features the top two schools in the PSAC East preseason poll with Kutztown playing the favorite.
Junior kicker Dan Fisher had a record-breaking afternoon in Bloomsburg's 30-14 win over Edinboro last week. His 52-yard field goal set a school-record and was the fifth-longest in PSAC history. He is one of three Division II kickers with a 50+ yard field goal this season and is tied for the lead in field goals per game (3.00).
The rushing attack has been Bloomsburg's biggest weapon on both sides of the ball this season. It averages a PSAC-best 344 rushing yards per game, and is allowing just over 68 yards on the ground, good for third in the PSAC.
Quiteh will look to follow in Fisher's footsteps and make history of his own on Saturday. With 3,559 yards in his career, the junior needs 27 yards to tie Mike Morrucci for third all-time in BU history.
Quiteh is fourth in Division II in rushing this season at 176 per game. Him and fellow junior
Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) have remained the top duo in the country and don't show signs of slowing down. Mateo is third in the conference at 131 per clip on the ground. He leads the Huskies with three touchdowns and also gives them a threat in the return game.
“The offensive scheme and our ability to execute have really been big for us,” Quiteh commented on the success of the running game. “The offensive line and fullbacks have been doing a great job being in the right places and giving both Eddie and I seams to run through.”
Sophomore
DJ Robinson (Sinking Spring/Conrad Weiser) has made an immediate impact on defense and special teams this season. The starting cornerback leads Bloomsburg with 14 tackles and can be looked at as one of the most dangerous returners in the PSAC. Already with a punt return under his belt from last season, Robinson opened his 2012 campaign with a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown against Stonehill. He is one of five players in the PSAC with an int. for a TD.
Five Huskies have double-digit tackles through two games. Senior linebacker
Jarrett Pidgeon (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) is coming off a 10-tackle performance against Edinboro and has 13 on the season. He is followed by
Justin Shirk (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) with 11,
Ryan Feldman (Mechanicsburg/JP McCaskey) with 10, and
Dan Haverstock (York/West York) with 10.
Kutztown is coming off a heart-breaking defeat to California (PA). In a back-and-forth matchup, KU erased a 27-point deficit and scored 38-unanswered to take an 11-point lead over the Vulcans. However, Cal clawed its way back and put together the game-winning drive in the final minutes to earn the victory.
Two-time PSAC East Athlete of the Year Kevin Morton has been on a tear this season. The top quarterback in school history has thrown for 768 yards and 10 touchdowns on 61.9 percent passing. He has three receivers with over 100 yards this season (Colby Tuell - 219; Josh Mastromatto – 137; Brett Fox – 120), all of whom are threats in Morton's deep passing attack.
Defensively, sophomore defensive back English Peay has a team-leading 19 tackles on the outside. Sam Dixon-Dougan has 15 on the year, followed by linebacker Zach Greenwald with 13.
“Two things we want to focus on this week are to start fast and finish games,” Quiteh said of the team's preparation this week. “Kutztown will not quit and it showed its resilience last week against Cal. Coach has always said to win the game in practice, and that is what we are trying to do. So far we are 2-for-2.”
Following Saturday's conference-opening matchup, Bloomsburg travels to LIU Post on Saturday, Sept. 22 for a 1 p.m. kickoff in New York. Kutztown returns home to face West Chester on Sept. 22 beginning at 1:05 p.m.
