Football | 9/25/2024 11:00:00 AM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -  The Bloomsburg football welcomes West Chester to Bloomsburg for 2:00 p.m. PSAC East showdown. During the game, the Bloomsburg department of Athletics and the National Football Foundation will host its on-campus Salute to Danny Hale for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
 
LIVE INTERNET COVERAGE
• Live Stats  |  Provided by Bloomsburg
• Live Streaming Video  |  Provided by BUSN
• Live Audio (Online and Radio)  |  Provided by Bigfoot Country 106.5
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV
• Fans can watch the game live and on-demand for free on the Bloomsburg Athletics Digital Network.
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MOBILE APP
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• The Live Streaming Video link above will also work on all mobile devices.

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GAME NOTES (PDF)

THE GAME
The Huskies come into Saturday's game looking to build momentum after an impressive 32-27 come-from-behind win over Edinboro last week. The Huskies trailed 12-0 late in the second quarter before mounting three different comebacks to take the win and improve to 2-1 on the year. The Golden Rams come into the game on a three-game losing streak to open the season. Last week, Seton Hill scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win 27-24 over WCU.

THE SERIES
The Huskies and Golden Rams renew their storied rivalry for the 83^rd time in program history. West Chester holds a 53-29 advantage in the series and are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings. The Golden Rams escaped with a 24-21 overtime win last year while the Huskies won the last meeting in Bloomsburg, 21-16, in 2022 thanks in part to an 88-yard fumble recovery touchdown by defensive lineman, Billy Martin. The Huskies are 21-21 against the Rams at Redman Stadium.
 
SCOUTING WEST CHESTER
The Golden Rams are led offensively by two-way threat, Cooper Jordan. Jordan has taken every snap under center for WCU and has 644 passing yards and is 45-for-81 with five interceptions and four touchdown passes. He has a long pass of 84 yards and is averaging 214.7 passing yards per game. Jordan is doing a lion share of the rushing as well with 198 yards on 48 carries and one touchdown.
 
Jordan's top target on the year is D'Shaun Seals with 20 catches for 314 yards and two touchdowns. He caught a long pass of 84 yards and is averaging 104.67 yards per game. Rahiem Bowens caught five passes for 87 yards and Robby Longo has six catches for 81 yards. The Golden Rams are averaging 14.31 yards per catch.
 
For the ground game, Dayshawn Jacobs is the second leading rusher for the Golden Rams with 68 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown. Jayden Williams has 60 yards on 21 carries and three of the Golden Rams' five rushing touchdowns. West Chester is averaging 4.0 yards per carry and 132.0 yards per game.
 
Defensively, Connor Noble leads West Chester with 30 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss (3 yards), and one pass breakup. Shane Mosley is second on the team with 23 tackles, 0.5 TFL, and has three pass breakups and an interception which he returned for 17 yards. Mosley also has blocked a kick this season. Luke Trunell has 20 total tackles and, 1-0 TFL (2 yards), and a fumble recovery. Abdul Stewart leads the team with four pass breakups to go with his 14 tackles (1 TLF (3 yards)).
 
As a team, the Golden Rams have allowed 420.0 total yards of offense to opponents, including 237.3 yards in the air and 182.7 yards on the ground. Teams are converting third downs at a 34.1% rate (14-for-41) and are 7-for-11 (63%) on fourth down conversions. The Golden Rams have allowed nine rushing touchdowns and just two passing.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
The Huskies' defense continues to shine on Saturdays as Bloomsburg was carried by the defense through the first three quarters for the 32-27 win over Edinboro.
 
Leading the defensive effort for Bloomsburg is redshirt sophomore Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) with 26 total tackles, 3.5 TFL (15 yards) and 0.5 sacks (3 yards). He has one forced fumble as well. Ryan D'Ambra (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood) is second on the team with 25 tackles, 1.5 TFL (8 yards), 1.0 sacks (7 yards), a quarterback hurry. Nate Capers (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) is off to a blistering start for the Huskies with 17 tackles, two pass break ups and a QB hurry. Fellow DB, Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford), is fourth on the team with 17 tackles, 1.0 TFL (4 yards), one interception and three pass break ups. He has one forced and recovered fumble as well.
 
Tom Goetz (Wenonah, N.J./Gateway Regional), John Aston (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley), and Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) all have 1.5 sacks for a combined 34 yards. Goetz has a pass break up and a QB hurry while Aston has 2.5 tackle for loss for 24 yards and a QB hurry. Donohue has two QB hurries as well.

The Huskies are allowing just 306.0 yards of offense per game to opposing teams, including just 62.3 yards per game on the ground and 243.67 passing yards. The Huskies have allowed just one rushing touchdown this season.
 
Offensively, the Huskies averaging 394.3 yards of total offense per game, split between 187.7 yards on the ground and 206.67 passing yards. Bloomsburg has eight rushing touchdowns and four passing scores.
 
Leading the rushing charge is true freshman Jake Williams (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO). Williams has 230 net yards on the ground and has lost just three yards in 44 attempts. He has one rushing touchdown. Fellow freshman Riley Parker (Canton, Pa./Canton) with 87 yards on the ground on 14 attempts. Parker has five rushing touchdowns this season and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. As a team, the Huskies are averaging 4.5 yards a carry.
 
Ben Ries (Bloomsbury, N.J./Phillipsburg) leads the team with 342 passing yards on the season behind 23-for-40 passing. Ries has two touchdown passes and has thrown four interceptions. KJ Riley (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) is 16-for-21 passing with two touchdown passes and 278 yards, all of which came against Edinboro last Saturday for a career-passing day.

The top target of the Huskies quarterbacks is Gabe Brower (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) with 219 yards on14 catches and one touchdown catch. Jerry Griffen-Batchler (Norristown, Pa./Germantown Academy) has 203 yards on 11 catches and two touchdowns while Matthew Bowes (Somerton, Pa./La Salle College HS) has four catches for 105 yards. The Husky receivers are averaging 15.9 yards per catch.
 
AS a team, the Huskies are 16-for-35 (45.71%) on third down conversions and 8-for-10 in red zone attempts with all eight scores are a touchdown.
 
ON THIS DAY – SEPTEMBER 28
 
Bloomsburg Football History, September 28, 2013
Senior running back Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) recorded another day for the record books as well – surpassing 6,000 yards for his career with a 205-yard performance on Saturday. The all-time PSAC leader in rushing yards needed just 11 carries to surpass the 200-yard plateau, also running for three touchdowns while hauling in another reception for a score. He finishes the day with 6,116 career rushing yards, moving into 13th all-time in Division II history.
 
The Huskies scored 20 or more points for the 17th consecutive game, tying the school record set between 2000-01 … Hutton's three touchdowns marked a career high while Kelly tied his career-best with four scores … Quiteh tied his personal best of four touchdowns … Quiteh also rushed for over 100 yards in the first half for the 15th time in his career and finished with over 200 yards for the ninth time … the Huskies had two 100-yard rushers for the third time this season after Quiteh and Munger did so vs. Stonehill and at Edinboro … Bloomsburg extended its home winning streak over Lock Haven to nine games and holds a 45-38-3 all-time series lead over the Bald Eagles after 87 meetings, the most games played by Bloomsburg vs. any opponent.
 
History, September 28, 1988
Discovery was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking a resumption of NASA's space shuttle program, which had been suspended following the Challenger explosion in 1986.
 
SALUTE TO DANNY HALE
NCAA DII football coaching legend of the Bloomsburg Huskies, Danny Hale, has gotten the call for his rightful enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 Induction Class, as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and ESPN on in January of 2024. The Bloomsburg department of athletics in partnership with the Husky Legacy Club is honroing Coach Hale with the Salute to Danny Hale on Saturday.
 
Hale, one of the winningest coaches in all of NCAA Division II, retired June 28, 2013, after spending 20 seasons as the head coach of the Huskies and 25 years overall as a head coach. Hale also spent five years as head coach at West Chester University (1984-1988).
 
As part of the celebration, Bloomsburg athletics is hosting A Salute to Danny Hale, sponsored by the Husky Legacy Club (HLC) on Saturday, September 28 following the Huskies home football game against West Chester which kicks off at 2:00 pm at Danny Hale Field in Redman Stadium. The event is free to all attendees and registration is encouraged for all guests. The event will be held at Monty's in the Pettit Athletic Complex on upper campus of Bloomsburg.
 
PROTECTING THE QB
The offensive line was a bright spot for the Huskies in 2023. The Bloomsburg o-line allowed the fewest sacks of all the PSAC schools, letting the quarterback get sacked just 12 times in 12 games and giving back just 87 yards on the sacks. This season, the Huskies gave up just one sack against Fairmont State but helped the rushing game to 284 yards on the ground.
 
The Huskies are seventh in the PSAC with seven sacks allowed for just 31 yards lost.
 
PLAYING A CLEAN GAME
The Huskies were the second-least penalized team in the PSAC last season. Bloomsburg was called for just 55 penalties which cost the Huskies just 522 yards, averaging just 43.5 yards per game. The least-penalized team was Kutztown with 53 flags for 453 yards and the most penalized team was Seton Hill which drew 112 flags for 1,027 yards.
 
This season, Bloomsburg is seventh in the conference in penalties with 22 for 173 yards, averaging 57.7 yards lost. The most penalized team so far is Clarion with 33 penalties for 264 yards and the least penalized team is Kutztown with 15 penalties for 160 yards and Gannon with 15 for 119 yards.
 
LET'S GO FOR IT
The Huskies went for it on 4th-down 16 times last season, converting nine of those attempts at a 56.3% clip. They were the fourth-best fourth-down conversion team in the PSAC last season behind California (Pa.) (8-13/61.5%), Slippery Rock (20-33/60.6%), and Edinboro (10-17/58.8). So far in 2024, the Huskies are just 0-1 on first downs, but are 16-for-35 on third down tries this season, which eliminated the need for fourth down tries.
 
I'M HONORED
Junior Jerry Griffen-Batchler (Norristown, Pa./Germantown Academy) earned the Huskies' first PSAC East Athlete of the Week honor as he was named the PSAC East Special Teams player of the Week after his Week 1 performance. He returned four punts for 70 yards and set the Huskies' up with short fields each time he returned the ball. The 70 punt return yards was a career single-game high for Griffen-Batchler. He finished the game with 150 all-purpose yards after pulling down four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
 
The Huskies picked up two more Athlete of the Week honors as KJ Riley (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) and Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) were named the PSAC East Offensive and Defensive Athlete of the Week, respectively.
 
Riley went 16-for-21 with a career-best 278 yards and had two touchdown passes. Riley had a long touchdown pass of 55 yards, which was also a career-high. He ran for another nine yards on four carries, engineered the first touchdown drive for the Huskies, and put together the game-winning 7-play, 75-yard drive that took 38 seconds in the fourth quarter to give the Huskies a 32-27 lead.
 
He did all the punting and one kickoff, as well. Riley had 260 punting yards, with a long of 58, averaged 43.3 yards per punt, and had two inside the 20 and 1 touchback. His punting yards, long punt, and average yards per punt were all career-highs for Riley—his one kickoff went for 35 yards.
 
Turner finished the day with 8.0 total tackles for the Huskies, along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a broken-up pass, and an interception. 
 
Turner's interception came as time expired in regulation to seal the 32-27 win for the Huskies on the Bloomsburg 1-yard line. It was Turner's first career pick and spoiled a game-winning Hail Mary attempt by the Fighting Scots. 

THEY ARE FRESHMEN 
A pair of true freshmen running backs are quickly making a name for themselves for the Huskies. Freshman Jake Williams (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO) leads the team with 230 net rushing yards and one touchdown on 44 carries in three games. Williams is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and 76.67 yards per game. Classmate Riley Parker (Canton, Pa./Canton) has 87 rushing yards on 14 carries but leads the team and is second in the PSAC with five rushing touchdowns. Parker is averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
 
THE RILEY FILE
Junior KJ Riley (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) came in the second quarter against Edinboro and led the Huskies to come-from-behind 32-27 win last Saturday. Riley is 16-for-21 with two touchdowns and 278 yards passing. For his career, Riley is 196-for-340 with 15 touchdown passes and 2,567 passing yards in 24 games.

Riley also handles the punting duties for the Huskies this season with 14 punts for 550 yards, averaging 39.3 yards per punt. He has one touchback, three fair catches, and seven landed inside the 20-yard line with one going for 50+ yards.
 
THE RIES FILE
Ben Ries (Bloomsbury, N.J./Phillipsburg) took over under center last season and finished out the year strong for the Huskies. In eight games, he went 68-for-125 with one touchdown and three interceptions. He threw for 747 yards, averaging 11.0 yards per play and 93.4 yards per game. Ries ran for another 97 yards on 47 attempts and two touchdowns. For his career, Ries is 101-for-192 with three touchdowns and seven interceptions and 1,146 yards. Ries has 284 yards on the ground on 94 rushing attempts in three seasons with the Huskies.
 
This season, Ries is 23-for-40 with 342 passing yards and two touchdowns. Ries has run for another six yards and a touchdown so far in 2024.
 
NO FLY ZONE
The Bloomsburg defensive backs made a statement last year and allowed the fewest passing yards to opponents in the PSAC and were ranked 11th in NCAA DII. The Huskies allowed just 152.55 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks and collected 10 interceptions. The longest passing play the Huskies allowed last season was just 39 yards. In total, Bloomsburg had 31 broken up passes for the year and hurried the quarterback 27 times.
 
Returning in the secondary for Bloomsburg is Ron Long (44 tackles, 2 INT, 1 QBH), Ervin Mitchell (6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU), Devin Fleming (34 tackles, 4 PBU), and Nate Capers (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) (39 tackles, 2 PBU, 2 QBH).
 
Capers showed off again in the first game of the season with seven tackles, a pair of pass break ups and a quarterback hurry. Taking on a bigger role in the secondary is Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) who turned in five tackle and a pass break up against Fairmont State. Freshman Idriz Ahmetovic had a pass break up as well in his Husky debut.
 
Turner leads the team with three pass breakups and had the game-sealing interception last Saturday against Edinboro. The redshirt sophomore has 17 total tackles, 1.0 TFL (4 yards), a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery this season.  
 
The pass game is allowing 243.67 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks but just five touchdown passes and just 6.59 yards per pass attempt.
 
STIFLE THE RUN
The Huskies are the third-best team in the PSAC against the run. Bloomsburg is allowing just 62.3 yards per game and just 2.1 yards per carry in the first three games. They have allowed just one rushing touchdown this season. A crucial part of stopping the run for the Huskies in the defensive line's ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage and make tackles in the backfield. The Huskies have 19.0 TFL for a loss of 96 yards this season. Leading that charge is Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) with 3.5 TFL (15 yards) and John Aston (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) with 2.5 TFL (24 yards).
 
Fairmont State came into the season opening game with 208 yards on the ground in their week 0 game and five touchdowns. Bloomsburg brought the boom and stopped the Falcons run game, allowing just 62 yards on the ground and no touchdowns. The Falcons had 80 yards on 20 carries, but the Huskies had 2.0 TFL for 18 yards.
 
Seton Hill was limited to just 85 yards on the ground on 40 attempts and one touchdown last week.
 
Edinboro's run game was halted by the Huskies as the Fighting Scots had just 40 net rushing yards on 27 attempts. The Huskies had collected 17 yards on tackles for loss. Bloomsburg allowed just 1.5 yards per carry.
 
LBU
The Huskies' linebackers have been a force to be reckoned with since the Frank Sheptock days, and the 2024 group is no different. Leading the way are seniors Ryan D'Ambra (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and Tom Goetz (Wenonah, N.J./Gateway Regional). D'Ambra led the Huskies with 90 total tackles last season and have 5.0 tackles for loss (19 yards) and 2.0 sacks (15 yards). He hit the quarterback four other times and blocked one kick. D'Ambra broke up four passes as well. D'Ambra has 160 tackles in his career so far.
 
Goetz, an all-PSAC linebacker, was third on the team with 76 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss (9 yards). He had two interceptions, one broken up pass, and three quarterback hurries. For his career, Goetz has 139 tackles in 26 games over the last three seasons. His 2022 season was shortened by an early-season injury. Goetz has 14 TFL (55 yards) and 6.5 sacks (38 yards). 
 
Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) made his presence known in his first season with the Huskies last year. He had 67 tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss (11 yards) and 0.5 sacks (2 yards). Thompson had three quarterback hurries to his credit and once forced fumble.
 
The Huskies brought in seven new linebackers in their 2024 recruiting class to continue the tradition – Nick Farrell, Garrett Garcia, Brady Ronan, Connor Rickabaugh, Brady Mizenko , Nahzier Booker, and Rocco Serafini
 
This season, Thompson is leading the Huskies with 26 total tackles, including a team-best 3.5 TFL (15 yards), and has 0.5 sacks for three yards. Thompson also forced one fumble this year. D'Ambra is second on the team with 25 total tackles and leads the Huskies with 11 solo stops. D'Ambra has 1.5 TFL (8 yards) and 1.0 sacks (7 yards), and a quarterback hurry. Goetz is sixth on the defense with 13 total tackles, second with 2.5 TFL (12 yards), and tied for the team lead with 1.5 sacks (11 yards). Goetz has a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
 
TUCKER HONORED BY THE GIANTS
Former All-Pro tight end Bob Tucker, a one-time Mountaineer and Bloomsburg State College football player, went undrafted and played semi-pro football before the Giants signed him as a free agent ahead of the 1970 season.
 
One year later, the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder became the first tight end in NFL history to lead the league in pass receptions in a season with 59 for 791 yards. Through 1977, Tucker also had seasons with 55, 50, 42, 41 and 40 catches on Giants teams that often found themselves looking up at the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and even the St. Louis Cardinals in the rugged NFC East.
 
In 1978, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where he was reunited with his former Giants teammate, Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. Tucker spent a few seasons with the Vikings before retiring in 1980 and ultimately returning to Hazleton.
 
Tucker finished his 11-year NFL career 422 receptions for 5,421 yards and 27 touchdowns.
 
Giants are set to honor Tucker as 43rd best player in team history.
 
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF REDMAN
Saturday, September 21 marks the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the the first football game played at Robert B. Redman Stadium. It is also the 50th season of football being played at Redman Stadium.
 
QUICK RECAP – 2023 HUSKIES
The Huskies finished the 2023 campaign 3-8 with a 2-5 record in PSAC East action under head coach Frank Sheptock. Bloomsburg picked up a 21-7 win over Clarion for the Huskies' first win of the season before handing Shepherd a 14-10 loss in at Redman Stadium. The Huskies defeated Millersville 34-31 on the road in their final road trip of the year.
 
QUICK RECAP – 2023 GOLDEN RAMS
West Chester finished last season 6-5 and 3-4 in PSAC East action. The Rams got off to a quick start with a 20-19 win over Bentley but fell to Slippery Rock 49-24. West Chester defeated Gannon 38-31 before falling to Millersville 23-14. The Golden Rams strung together two-straight wins with a 24-21 overtime win over Bloomsburg and a 38-28 win over Shippensburg. West Chester fell to East Stroudsburg (28-14) and Shepherd (59-21) before defeating Lock Haven 42-27. After a 27-17 loss to Kutztown, the Golden Rams closed out the year with a 34-7 win over Clarion.
 
COACHING STAFF UPDATES
Head coach Frank Sheptock has announced several updates to his staff ahead of the 2024 season. The Huskies welcomed Tim Landis, offensive coordinator, to Bloomsburg ahead of spring practice while Zach Martin (defensive coordinator & linebackers), Greg Kahn (defensive line), and Johnathan Pruden (defensive backs) joined the Huskies this summer. Previous student assistant Josh Bernocco was elevated to wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator following spring practices.
 
KEY LOSSES
The Huskies will take the field on Thursday without all-conference running back Kaleb Monaco. Monaco led the team with 952 yards on the ground last season and ran in six touchdowns. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 86.55 yards per game. Monaco had 1,658 all-purpose yards for the year.
 
Star defensive back Quentin Gaskill graduated last fall after a stellar career for the Huskies. Last season, he was second on the team with 76 tackles and had six broken up passes, two interceptions, and a blocked kick. For his career, Gaskill accumulated 279 tackles, 10.5 TLF (47 yards), 3.0 sacks (27 yards), six interceptions, 28 passes defended, five forced fumbles (three recoveries), and three blocked kicks. Gaskill played in 43 out of 44 possible games during his time in the maroon and gold.
 
RETURNING ALL-PSAC ATHLETES
The Huskies return a pair of all-PSAC players in senior linebacker Tom Goetz (Wenonah, N.J./Gateway Regional) and senior defensive lineman Giovanni Cancro. Cancro earned his first career postseason honor as a second-team defensive lineman. The Pequannock, N.J. native had a breakout year for the Huskies with 29 total tackles this year, including 15 solo stops. He had 5.0 tackles for a loss of 22 yards and broke up two passes. Cancro finished with one quarterback hurry and a blocked kick.
 
Goetz had an exceptional comeback season for the Huskies in 2023 after playing in just four games before a season-ending injuring in 2022. Goetz had a career-best 76 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (34 yards), and 4.5 sacks (23 yards). The Wenonah, N.J. native had a pair of interceptions and three pass breakups for the year. Both of his INTs came against Clarion – one that was recovered for a touchdown and the second to seal the win for the Huskies late in the fourth quarter. He led the team in tackles for loss and sacks.
 
WELCOME TO BLOOM
Bloomsburg added 36 newcomers to the program on National Signing Day including six defensive backs, three defensive linemen, seven linebackers, a long snapper, five offensive linemen, a kicker, four quarterbacks, three running backs, two tight ends, and four wide receivers. The Huskies brought in players from two different states, including Pennsylvania (28),  and New Jersey (8). The Huskies welcome four transfers to the roster this season. Spencer Branin (Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair Haven Regional) from Southern Connecticut State, Ben Paserk (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) from Lackawanna, Infinite Campbell (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) from Lock Haven, and Malik McLaurin (Newark, N.J./West Side) from Monroe.
 
FEATURED EVENTS ON THE SCHEDULE
The Huskies host West Chester on September 28 for the Salute to Danny Hale, sponsored by the Husky Legacy Club. Bloomsburg hosts East Stroudsburg on October 12 for the Homecoming/Hall of Fame and Parents' and Supporters Weekend. The game on October 26 against Shippensburg will serve as the Huskies' ThinkPink game. Bloomsburg will honor its football, band, and cheerleading senior student-athletes prior to the game against Millersville on November 9.
 
ONE LAST RIDE
Ron Long, Ben Ries (Bloomsbury, N.J./Phillipsburg), Ky Seesholtz, Matthew Bowes (Somerton, Pa./La Salle College HS), Nyree Ford-Cherry, Devin Fleming, Hakeem Bacon, Jaden Helton, Darnell Hightower, Nate Capers (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford), Blake Charlton, Owen Anderson, Peyton Persing, Ryan D'Ambra (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood), Neurys Ortiz, Jack Ferguson, Xavier Newman, Marlon Westcott, Tom Goetz (Wenonah, N.J./Gateway Regional), Rahmayne Jackson-Bey, and Giovanni Cancro line up for the Huskies for their final season at Bloomsburg.
 
SHEPTOCK ERA
Sheptock was named the 28th head football coach in Bloomsburg University as he returns to his alma mater to take over the Huskies' program. Sheptock was at Division III Wilkes University as the defensive coordinator from 1990-95 and then took over the Colonels' program and served as head coach from 1996-2014. While at Wilkes, Sheptock went 107-81 overall and established the program record for most wins in a season (11) and career (107) while leading the Colonels to nine postseason appearances.
 
A member of the NCAA Division II Team of the Quarter Century (1973-97), Sheptock played linebacker for head coach George Landis and holds the school records for tackles in a career (537), single-season (159), and single-game (23), as well as career fumble recoveries (12). His program record for tackles in a single game, in fact, occurred during the national semifinal contest at North Alabama.
 
HUDDLE WITH THE HUSKIES
For the fourth-straight year, head coach Frank Sheptock will host "Huddle with the Huskies" though new this year, the event will take place West End Ale Haus on Main Street in Bloomsburg on two select Thursdays this season.
 
The two Huddle with the Huskies evenings will be September 12 and October 10. The Thursday, October 10 date serves as the midseason review and preview for the Huskies Homecoming match-up with East Stroudsburg on October 12.
 
The events are open to the public, and appetizers are available as supplies last, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a short program to follow. During the program, Coach Sheptock will speak about the season, preview the upcoming game(s), and introduce members of the coaching staff and players from this year's roster.
 
The first Huddle with the Huskies will take place on Thursday, September 12 and will feature the Huskies coaching staff.
 
Those joining the team for Huddle with the Huskies are encouraged to stay following the formal programming to enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks at the West End Ale Haus.
  
42nd ANNUAL HALL OF FAME CELEBRATION
The members of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class are Jen Bryan '03, (Women's Basketball), Nicole Hartranft '04 (Field Hockey), Christine Krebs '01 (Women's Soccer '01), Pete Rinella '95 (Wrestling), and Vanessa Sterner '02 (Softball). The induction brunch and ceremony will occur on Sunday
October 13, at the Kehr Union Ballroom. Festivities will begin at 12:30 p.m. The five will bring the enshrined number to 213.
 
2024 PSAC PRESEASON POLL
The Bloomsburg football team was selected to finish eighth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division by the league's head coaches in the annual preseason poll on Thursday.
 
Last year's conference champion, Kutztown, was selected to win the East this year with six first-place votes, while Shepherd was selected second with one first places vote and East Stroudsburg grabbed a first place vote to finish third in the poll. West Chester came in fourth in the East and Lock Haven claimed the No. 5 spot. Millersville came in sixth ahead of Shippensburg at No. 7 with Bloomsburg rounding out the east at No. 8.
 
On the West, PSAC runner's up, Slippery Rock claimed the top spot with sixth first-place votes while California (PA) took the No. 2 spot. IUP had one first place vote to finish third and Gannon finished fourth in voting. Seton Hill is fifth in the poll just ahead of Edinboro at No. 6 and Clarion at No. 7.