Football | 8/10/2023 1:20:00 PM
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg University football was selected to finish seventh in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division by the league's coaches in the 2023 Preseason Poll.
Last year's runner's up, Shepherd, was selected to win the East this year with five first-place votes, while Kutztown was selected second with two first places votes and West Chester was picked third with one top-place vote. East Stroudsburg came in fourth in the East and Millersville claimed the No. 5 spot. Shippensburg took sixth, just ahead of Bloomsburg, while Lock Haven rounded out the East with the eighth spot.
On the West, reigning PSAC champion, IUP claimed the top spot with sixth first-place votes while Slippery Rock grabbed the other two and finished second in voting. California (Pa.) grabbed the No. 3 spot and Gannon took the No. 4 spot. Edinboro, Seton Hill, and Clarion finished fifth through seventh in the voting while Mercyhurst rounded out the poll with the No. 8 spot.
The Huskies finished the 2022 campaign 4-7 with a 2-5 record in PSAC East action under head coach
Frank Sheptock. Bloomsburg picked up a 42-3 win over Clarion for the Huskies' first win of the season before out-lasting West Chester 21-16 under the lights. The Huskies defeated Lock Haven 17-9 on the road last year before rounding out the year with a 16-13 win over Mercyhurst.
KEY RETURNERS
The Huskies return three All-PSAC East performers from last year in senior
Quentin Gaskill (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) and junior
Kaleb Monaco (Pocono Pines, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) and
Matthew Bowes (Somerton, Pa./La Salle College HS). Gaskill led the Huskies with 92 total tackles as he started and played in 10 games this season, missing just one due to injury. He finished the regular season 11th in the NCAA and first in the PSAC with 1.4 passes defended per game, as he collected 14 total. Monaco played in 10 games for Bloomsburg and collected 513 yards on the ground on 139 carries, caught 12 passes for 175 yards and two scores, and handled the lion's share of the kick return duties and had 397 yards on 18 returns. Bowes had 249 receiving yards on 18 catches and three touchdowns. He averaged 13.8 yards per catch and was the team-leader in in catches, yards, and touchdowns from the tight end spot in a run-heavy offense.
Sophomore
KJ Riley (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) returns to lead the Huskies' offense after finishing his freshman campaign with 1,320 yards and went 102-for-184 with 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Riley also ran for 216 yards on 69 carries and one touchdown. His core receivers are back which include
Matthew Bowes (Somerton, Pa./La Salle College HS),
Nas Jones (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area), and
Owen Anderson (Cogan Station, Pa./Jersey Shore Area).
Joining Gaskill returning on defense is junior
Ryan D'Ambra (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood). D'Ambra was second on the team last season with 67 total tackles, including 45 solo stops. He broke up a pair of passes and forced a pair of fumbles. D'Ambra blocked one kick.
Ron Long (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) returns after finishing 2022 with 56 total tackles, including 5.0 TFL-8 yards and forced one fumble.
Kenny Yurkonis (Minersville, Pa./Minersville Area) is back to lead the defensive line after finishing last year with a team-best 4.5 sacks for 36 yards. He finished the year with 47 total tackles and had one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick.
Bloomsburg added 20 newcomers to the program on National Signing Day including seven o linemen, four running backs, four wide receivers, two tight ends, two defensive ends, two defensive tackles and a safety. The Huskies brought in players from four different states Pennsylvania (13), New Jersey (3), Maryland (2), and New York (2).
SCHEDULE INFORMATION
The Huskies open the season on Thursday, August 31, as they travel to Fairmont State University for just the second meeting between the two programs. The first meeting came in 2005 when the Huskies won 33-0 in Fairmont, W. Va.
Bloomsburg is on the road for the first PSAC East/West crossover game as the Huskies head to Clarion for a 1:00 p.m. kick-off on September 9. The Huskies come home for the first time during the season on September 16 when they host Edinboro at 2:00 p.m. in the final PSAC crossover game.
The Huskies hit the road to open their PSAC East Schedule with a visit to Shippensburg on September 23 for a 1:00 p.m. contest and a trip to West Chester on September 30 for a 2:00 p.m. game. The Huskies face the Golden Rams on their annual Homecoming and Parents' Weekend.
Bloomsburg will spend the next two weekends in the friendly confines of Redman Stadium as the Huskies host Kutztown at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, and Lock Haven on Saturday, October 14, at 2:00 p.m. The Huskies and Bald Eagles square off during the Huskies' Homecoming, Parents' and Supporters, and Hall of Fame Weekend. Bloomsburg will induct
six new members during the 41st Annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Sunday, October 15 including Franklyn Quiteh. During the football game on Saturday, the Huskies will honor the number of former Bloomsburg great, Brian Clarke, and the 2013 national runner-up team.
The Huskies hit the road again for the fifth time during the season as they make the short trip to East Stroudsburg, Pa., to face the Warriors on October 21 before returning home on October 28 to host Shepherd at 2:00 p.m.
Bloomsburg takes on Millersville in its final road game of the season on November 4 for a 12:00 p.m. PSAC East contest.
The Huskies wrap up the regular season at Redman Stadium on Saturday, November 11. Bloomsburg is scheduled to host IUP for a 12:00 p.m. kick-off, but the opponent may change based on the PSAC Championship game opponents.
TICKETS, TAILGATES, FOLLOW ALONG
All Husky home games will be streamed on the
Bloomsburg Digital Network in partnership with Bloomsburg University Sports Network (BUSN) and Blue Frame.
Live stats will be provided through SIDEARM Sports and NCAA Live Stats. Fans can tune into every game on
106.5 Big Foot Country and listen to Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny on the call.
Tickets and tailgate passes for single games and season packages are still available. Single-game ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students (5 and older) and senior citizens (62 and older). All Bloomsburg University students receive free admission to each game with their valid student ID. Children under the age of five are also admitted free of charge. Season-ticket packages are also available: $50 for adults and $20 for students and senior citizens. To purchase advanced single-game tickets or season-ticket packages, please visit
buhuskies.com/tickets.
Tickets will also be sold at the gate before each home game during the regular season.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Husky Tailgate Zone passes, sponsored by the Army National Guard, can be ordered by clicking
here. A full-season pass, including a pair of season tickets, costs $200, with each game priced at $50. For students, a full-season pass is $150, with every contest marked at $30.
For additional information on tickets or the Husky Tailgate Zone, please contact Sarah Zbierski at 570-389-3907 or e-mail at
szbierski@bloomu.edu.
Huddle with the Huskies returns this year with two dates set for the 2023 season. Plan to join the Huskies at Quaker Steak & Lube on September 7 and October 12.
The Huskies officially reported to campus last Sunday, August 6, with practices underway this week.
