Millersville (0-4, 0-2 PSAC) fell to formerly ranked Shippensburg (2-2, 2-0 PSAC) 48-10 on Saturday. PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week and 11-time 2012 award winning QB Zach Zulli put on a clinic for the crowd, including firing his 100th touchdown pass of his career to his top receiver Trevor Harman.
What a way to do it, right?
Additionally, Souderton grad Jake Metz set a Ship record for most tackles for a loss with his 2.5 scored against Millersville.
Regardless, what could be considered a rout in the media, this game was not. The Marauder defense was forcing a lot of third and long situations, but thanks to Shippensburg's offensive acumen, head coach Mark Maciejewski decided to go for it on fourth down and converted one of three chances. That one proved to be very important.
There is improvement to be had. What was a 60-70% third down conversion rate for the opposition at the beginning of the year, Millersville held Shippensburg to 56%. On the season, that number now stands at 58.49%. That will be a point of focus against two of the finest teams in Division II, #7 IUP on Saturday, and #9 Bloomsburg next week.
After a solid start in the rushing department in weeks one and two, Millersville has been held to single digit rushing yards in consecutive weeks. This discrepancy could be explained with the tackles for loss due to sacks, but Ian Sadon has slowed a bit after his electric start. He rushed for 33 yards on 14 carries on Saturday, unable to break open the offense on a big play just yet.
For the fourth straight game, both quarterbacks saw time in the saddle. Connor Casey, after coming back from an undisclosed injury against West Chester, was felled by a face mask from the aforementioned Metz. He ended the day 10/25 for 141 yards. Curtis Frye finished the game going 8/12 for for 86 yards. He also threw his first collegiate career TD pass.
As a whole, we saw several players emerge. Redshirt senior co-captain Dominic Sanders made his mark on this game with four catches for 80 yards, and the Marauders' only touchdown. Sanders has been battling injuries throughout the year, but he looked extremely dangerous last week.
Tight End Trenton Petrovich showed he can be a legitimately dangerous offensive player as well as an astute blocker. He matched his week one totals of four catches for 79 yards. He could be considered a true X-Factor throughout the rest of the season. Petrovich continues to present himself as a difficult target to cover, or even tackle.
Defensively, Marvin Gaskill made a mark on the line. Zulli scrambled all day thanks to Gaskill breaking a green offensive line on the Red Raiders. This team loves the big man. Teammate Kevin Bohl described him as quick as a cat.
Shawn Fahey, Matt Brinser and Dean May also contributed with tackles for loss.
Slow and steady wins the race this season, especially against such a gauntlet of nationally ranked teams. Just looking at the players and the coaching staff after big plays, even when the game is pretty much all but sealed up, they continue to be excited for each other. This team hasn't, and won't, quit.
Perhaps the most encouraging thing about being 0-2 in the PSAC is that they aren't out of it. Kutztown and Cheyney join them at the 0-2 mark, and Lock Haven and ESU find themselves at the 1-1 mark. It will be fun to see how this season pans out for these teams.
Look out for Kutztown, especially. They were one point away from massively upsetting now #17 West Chester last week. I doubt they will be very happy about missing out on that opportunity, but that might have catapulted them into a good finish. They will draw difficult competition with Slippery Rock next Saturday.
Off to IUP next week. Check out the broadcast on millersvilleathletics.com/msbn starting at 1:30 p.m. for the Marauder Pride Pregame Show presented by Homewood Suites by Hilton Lancaster.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
From the Booth: Week Three Edition
Millersville ran into a buzz-saw West Chester Golden Rams team that, coming into the week, hit the national rankings at #20. The final score, 48-3. The game was as sloppy as the weather. Torrential rain pounded Chryst Field, making turnovers abundant, and easy plays turn into adventures.
Nonetheless, Millersville mustered 121 total yards of offense. That number proved to be deceiving due to seven yards net rushing. 59 gained, 52 lost. Some sacks forced by the West Chester defense were quite costly in that regard. In fact, QB Connor Casey ended up with 41 yards for a loss.
Coming into the game, everyone knew star RB Rondell White would be an enormous factor not only due to his skill, but due to the weather as well. Rain kept the ball on the ground throughout so much so that WC attempted 63 running plays for a total of 456 yards. It ended up as a school record. Eight different players rushed the ball in Saturday's contest.
White ended the game with 34 carries, 227 yards, and three touchdowns.
The PSAC is chock full of immensely talented backs. West Chester's White, Mercyhurst's Brandon Brown-Dukes, Bloomsburg's Franklin Quiteh, and one player who graduated last year, Shippensburg's Mike Frenette, to name a few. All of them can break the game open, meaning defense against the run might as well be the largest point of emphasis to stay in games.
Truly the only disparity defensively is against the run. Other teams have not fared well defensively against Millersville's multivariate wide receiving core that will be good for time to come.
What continues to be positive is the body language and the exuberance that comes with this season. The game was all but over in the third quarter, but the response after big defensive stops and doing things the right way meant a ton towards turning this ship around.
There are good things happening this season, even in the shroud of being outscored 144-26. In talking with players and coaches, they aren't worried. In fact, their excitement and unwavering commitment is more than apparent. One quote from head coach Greg Breitbach said a lot after this loss.
"We're going to continue to find things that we can build on and then be man enough to look in the mirror and see what we didn't do right and fix it," he told Lancaster Online.
Last year's losses may have been ho-hum, but this year's losses have purpose. They are measuring stick games. In a sense, "this is where we are in comparison to a parity-ridden PSAC." It is not an easy conference by any stretch of the imagination. Three teams are in the top 20 in the entire nation, and Millersville will have played all three of them in the span of four weeks.
Millersville's next opponent, Shippensburg, was in the conversation at #7 before being wiped off the list due to two losses. Don't count them out of the national ranking conversation.
Punter Evan Stahl started full-time kicking duties last week against Mercyhurst and he had a sensational night booting the ball away in such horrific conditions on Saturday. Stahl averaged 46.2 yards per punt, and his longest was an absolute gem totaling 69 yards. It didn't challenge Jeff Lawson's inhuman 81 yard punt, but it was sure close.
Ville vs. Ship starts at noon on Saturday. Watch the journey continue from Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium, or listen along with yours truly at www.millersvilleathletics.com/msbn
Nonetheless, Millersville mustered 121 total yards of offense. That number proved to be deceiving due to seven yards net rushing. 59 gained, 52 lost. Some sacks forced by the West Chester defense were quite costly in that regard. In fact, QB Connor Casey ended up with 41 yards for a loss.
Coming into the game, everyone knew star RB Rondell White would be an enormous factor not only due to his skill, but due to the weather as well. Rain kept the ball on the ground throughout so much so that WC attempted 63 running plays for a total of 456 yards. It ended up as a school record. Eight different players rushed the ball in Saturday's contest.
White ended the game with 34 carries, 227 yards, and three touchdowns.
The PSAC is chock full of immensely talented backs. West Chester's White, Mercyhurst's Brandon Brown-Dukes, Bloomsburg's Franklin Quiteh, and one player who graduated last year, Shippensburg's Mike Frenette, to name a few. All of them can break the game open, meaning defense against the run might as well be the largest point of emphasis to stay in games.
Truly the only disparity defensively is against the run. Other teams have not fared well defensively against Millersville's multivariate wide receiving core that will be good for time to come.
What continues to be positive is the body language and the exuberance that comes with this season. The game was all but over in the third quarter, but the response after big defensive stops and doing things the right way meant a ton towards turning this ship around.
There are good things happening this season, even in the shroud of being outscored 144-26. In talking with players and coaches, they aren't worried. In fact, their excitement and unwavering commitment is more than apparent. One quote from head coach Greg Breitbach said a lot after this loss.
"We're going to continue to find things that we can build on and then be man enough to look in the mirror and see what we didn't do right and fix it," he told Lancaster Online.
Last year's losses may have been ho-hum, but this year's losses have purpose. They are measuring stick games. In a sense, "this is where we are in comparison to a parity-ridden PSAC." It is not an easy conference by any stretch of the imagination. Three teams are in the top 20 in the entire nation, and Millersville will have played all three of them in the span of four weeks.
Millersville's next opponent, Shippensburg, was in the conversation at #7 before being wiped off the list due to two losses. Don't count them out of the national ranking conversation.
Punter Evan Stahl started full-time kicking duties last week against Mercyhurst and he had a sensational night booting the ball away in such horrific conditions on Saturday. Stahl averaged 46.2 yards per punt, and his longest was an absolute gem totaling 69 yards. It didn't challenge Jeff Lawson's inhuman 81 yard punt, but it was sure close.
Ville vs. Ship starts at noon on Saturday. Watch the journey continue from Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium, or listen along with yours truly at www.millersvilleathletics.com/msbn
Sunday, September 15, 2013
From the Booth: Week Two Edition
Millersville took to the road in week two against a PSAC Western Division favorite in Mercyhurst, and they saw just how difficult the conference truly is on Saturday. They lost 49-7.
The first lesson that comes to mind in this game is that turnovers kill. Three interceptions and four fumbles were absolutely costly. The lost fumble and a pick six later in the contest both turned into scores for the Lakers, who rolled to a 21-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game.
The Lakers' defense saw a multitude of different looks offensively, including some audibles along the way. RB Ian Sadon and WR Brent Collins broke to another level in Saturday's tilt.
Collins had a career high 11 catches for 123 yards. Most of those yards, believe it or not, were on screens. The junior wideout regularly picked up first downs on these plays.
In Sadon's case, he will be a headache for opposing defenses all throughout this season. Sadon rushed for 108 yards, caught a critical 21 yard pass on third down for a first down, and scored the only Marauder TD of the day by vaulting over the pile on a goal line stand.
Both Connor Casey (13/18...3 INT) and Curtis Frye (6/9) saw time at the quarterback position on Saturday. Casey was victimized by FS Colin Kimball, who picked off two passes—one of them for a score. Frye showed some promise in the passing game by unleashing a 38-yard dart to Brent Collins, and passing for 95 yards total.
Defensively speaking, it was the run that did the Marauders in again. Redshirt Senior QB Anthony Vendemia only slung the ball 13 times, completing 12 of those passes.
Otherwise it was reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year Brandon Brown-Dukes who set the tone early and often with a 66-yard scamper for a score on the first play, and three scores overall in the game. Allen Jones II also had a solid day with 38 yards on six carries with a TD of his own.
Here's where it gets interesting. If you look at this game in a vacuum, score notwithstanding, there are still improvements happening on a weekly basis. First downs were about even, Millersville outgained Mercyhurst through the air, and were only outgained by about 120 yards total. Take a look at last year's box score against Mercyhurst. None of those categories were remotely close.
The issue came between midfield and the 30 yard line once the Marauders crossed into Laker territory. It was what could be considered a "dead spot" where the offense stalled. That will be a point of focus to be certain.
Up next for the Ville is #23 West Chester under the lights. Be sure to come out and experience Millersville football with the lights on at Chryst Field. Nighttime football could be considered just as fun as football when snow has covered the field. Catch the pre-game show at 6:30 p.m. and all the live action here: www.millersvilleathletics.com/msbn
The first lesson that comes to mind in this game is that turnovers kill. Three interceptions and four fumbles were absolutely costly. The lost fumble and a pick six later in the contest both turned into scores for the Lakers, who rolled to a 21-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game.
The Lakers' defense saw a multitude of different looks offensively, including some audibles along the way. RB Ian Sadon and WR Brent Collins broke to another level in Saturday's tilt.
Collins had a career high 11 catches for 123 yards. Most of those yards, believe it or not, were on screens. The junior wideout regularly picked up first downs on these plays.
In Sadon's case, he will be a headache for opposing defenses all throughout this season. Sadon rushed for 108 yards, caught a critical 21 yard pass on third down for a first down, and scored the only Marauder TD of the day by vaulting over the pile on a goal line stand.
Both Connor Casey (13/18...3 INT) and Curtis Frye (6/9) saw time at the quarterback position on Saturday. Casey was victimized by FS Colin Kimball, who picked off two passes—one of them for a score. Frye showed some promise in the passing game by unleashing a 38-yard dart to Brent Collins, and passing for 95 yards total.
Defensively speaking, it was the run that did the Marauders in again. Redshirt Senior QB Anthony Vendemia only slung the ball 13 times, completing 12 of those passes.
Otherwise it was reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year Brandon Brown-Dukes who set the tone early and often with a 66-yard scamper for a score on the first play, and three scores overall in the game. Allen Jones II also had a solid day with 38 yards on six carries with a TD of his own.
Here's where it gets interesting. If you look at this game in a vacuum, score notwithstanding, there are still improvements happening on a weekly basis. First downs were about even, Millersville outgained Mercyhurst through the air, and were only outgained by about 120 yards total. Take a look at last year's box score against Mercyhurst. None of those categories were remotely close.
The issue came between midfield and the 30 yard line once the Marauders crossed into Laker territory. It was what could be considered a "dead spot" where the offense stalled. That will be a point of focus to be certain.
Up next for the Ville is #23 West Chester under the lights. Be sure to come out and experience Millersville football with the lights on at Chryst Field. Nighttime football could be considered just as fun as football when snow has covered the field. Catch the pre-game show at 6:30 p.m. and all the live action here: www.millersvilleathletics.com/msbn
Sunday, September 8, 2013
From the Booth: Week One Edition
(Note: Every week, Jordan Kuhns will take you inside the game with the scoop from the booth. This edition will highlight the 47-16 loss to LIU Post.)
Millersville fell in week one to the LIU Post Pioneers. The margin of defeat may have looked large on the scoreboard, but consider the following:
1. The score was 20-9 at the half. Millersville was to receive the ball in the second half, and had a chance to score with over 30 seconds to go in the first half. With a little more success on just one of those drives, the score could have read 20-16.
2. Barring the two key turnovers, this game could have been remarkably closer. If those offensive drives were successful with the ball, that could have swayed the game. It could have at least made it a two score game. Manageable.
3. Millersville went 7 for 17 (41%) on third down. Last year, the Marauders only held a 34% conversion rate. However, LIU Post went 8 of 12 (75%) on Saturday. They must be better in that regard defensively in the future.
As the mysterious Marauder Football Insider tweeted, there is no reason to panic after week one. It's tough to stop a dual-threat QB (Stephen Laurino was a 2009 PSAC East Freshman of the Year). Especially one so fast, or so accurate. Laurino scored on a 48 yard run by his lonesome on Saturday, and threw for 249 yards.
Additionally, Millersville saw a lot of production out of redshirt freshman wide receiver Dante Barkley (8 rec/86 yds), redshirt junior Kevin Porter (4 rec/48 yds/TD) and junior Brent Collins (7 rec/62 yds/TD). Those players possessed key roles because of the limited participation from redshirt senior captain Dominic Sanders (ankle) in the receiving game. That was no easy hole to fix.
QB Connor Casey (24/44...232 yds) got the chance to be the surefire starter. He took some unbelievably late hits, including two consecutive roughing the passer penalties that contributed to Post's 12 flags for 111 yards. Otherwise, he looked good. Bloomsburg's former coach Danny Hale said of Casey "It looks like they found their QB," adding that Hale had been recruiting Casey as well.
Not a bad accolade coming from one of the winningest coaches in Division II history.
Body language says a lot about commitment, and in my honest opinion, this team has bought in at all positions. You can tell these players wanted to win. Rasheed Johnson set the tone with a gigantic hit on the first play from the line of scrimmage. It will be a process to institute a new system and a new way to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning, and a fun one to take part of, win or lose.
Next up for the Marauders is the Mercyhurst Lakers next Saturday up in Erie. Mercyhurst fell 17-16 to Bentley, dropping its second consecutive season opener. The Lakers came to Millersville last season, dispatching the Marauders 45-7 in a thunderstorm-delayed game in week two.
The Lakers are led by Sr. QB Anthony Vandemia, who is now fourth in career yards with 3,665. He threw for 207 yards and a touchdown during week one.
It won't be easy. Mercyhurst was picked to finish second in the PSAC Preseason Coaches Poll, with one first place vote. IUP received the other seven votes at the top.
We will see you next Saturday from Erie, Pa. at 12:30 on the Marauder Pride Pregame Show presented by Homewood Suites by Hilton Lancaster. You can listen here: www.millersvilleathletics.com/msbn
Millersville fell in week one to the LIU Post Pioneers. The margin of defeat may have looked large on the scoreboard, but consider the following:
1. The score was 20-9 at the half. Millersville was to receive the ball in the second half, and had a chance to score with over 30 seconds to go in the first half. With a little more success on just one of those drives, the score could have read 20-16.
2. Barring the two key turnovers, this game could have been remarkably closer. If those offensive drives were successful with the ball, that could have swayed the game. It could have at least made it a two score game. Manageable.
3. Millersville went 7 for 17 (41%) on third down. Last year, the Marauders only held a 34% conversion rate. However, LIU Post went 8 of 12 (75%) on Saturday. They must be better in that regard defensively in the future.
As the mysterious Marauder Football Insider tweeted, there is no reason to panic after week one. It's tough to stop a dual-threat QB (Stephen Laurino was a 2009 PSAC East Freshman of the Year). Especially one so fast, or so accurate. Laurino scored on a 48 yard run by his lonesome on Saturday, and threw for 249 yards.
Additionally, Millersville saw a lot of production out of redshirt freshman wide receiver Dante Barkley (8 rec/86 yds), redshirt junior Kevin Porter (4 rec/48 yds/TD) and junior Brent Collins (7 rec/62 yds/TD). Those players possessed key roles because of the limited participation from redshirt senior captain Dominic Sanders (ankle) in the receiving game. That was no easy hole to fix.
QB Connor Casey (24/44...232 yds) got the chance to be the surefire starter. He took some unbelievably late hits, including two consecutive roughing the passer penalties that contributed to Post's 12 flags for 111 yards. Otherwise, he looked good. Bloomsburg's former coach Danny Hale said of Casey "It looks like they found their QB," adding that Hale had been recruiting Casey as well.
Not a bad accolade coming from one of the winningest coaches in Division II history.
Body language says a lot about commitment, and in my honest opinion, this team has bought in at all positions. You can tell these players wanted to win. Rasheed Johnson set the tone with a gigantic hit on the first play from the line of scrimmage. It will be a process to institute a new system and a new way to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning, and a fun one to take part of, win or lose.
Next up for the Marauders is the Mercyhurst Lakers next Saturday up in Erie. Mercyhurst fell 17-16 to Bentley, dropping its second consecutive season opener. The Lakers came to Millersville last season, dispatching the Marauders 45-7 in a thunderstorm-delayed game in week two.
The Lakers are led by Sr. QB Anthony Vandemia, who is now fourth in career yards with 3,665. He threw for 207 yards and a touchdown during week one.
It won't be easy. Mercyhurst was picked to finish second in the PSAC Preseason Coaches Poll, with one first place vote. IUP received the other seven votes at the top.
We will see you next Saturday from Erie, Pa. at 12:30 on the Marauder Pride Pregame Show presented by Homewood Suites by Hilton Lancaster. You can listen here: www.millersvilleathletics.com/msbn
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