KU Football Fact Sheet #03-2007 - KU vs. Ship
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KU Home Opener vs. Shippensburg on State-Wide TV

The Game

        The Kutztown University football team hosts its 2007 home opener this Saturday, Sept. 15, when the Red Raiders of Shippensburg University come to town.  Kickoff for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) inter-division crossover is set for 3:05 PM at University Field.

        Last week, Kutztown (1-1) picked up its first win of the year with a 35-13 win at Clarion.  Kutztown fell to Southern Connecticut on Sept. 1, 52-30.  Shippensburg has suffered two road losses to start its 2007 campaign.  The Raiders fell 19-14 at Shepherd, before losing to Division I FCS Liberty, 35-14, last Saturday.  Shippensburg was 5-6 overall, 3-3 in the PSAC West last year.

Electronic Coverage

        The Game will be televised live across the state of Pennsylvania by the SPORTSfever Television Network.  Air time is scheduled for 3:00 PM.  The broadcast can be accessed via the following affiliates: WTVE (Philadelphia-Lehigh Valley), WHP My 21-2/WLYH (Harrisburg-Lancaster-York), WQMY/WSWB (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), WSCW (State College-Altoona-Johnstown), WIUP (Indiana County), WBGN (Pittsburgh) and WBEP (Erie).   Check your local listing for channel locations.

        The game will be broadcast on WEEU, AM 830, based out of Reading.  The game will be tape delayed, beginning upon the completion of the Philadelphia Phillies/New York Mets game that starts at 1:10 PM.  Mitch Gerhart and Matt Santos will call the action.  Listeners throughout the world can hear the broadcast on KU’s Web site at kubears.com. Broadcast time for the Webcast is to be determined. 

The Coaches

        Kutztown’s second-year coach, Raymond Monica (North Alabama, ’90), is 5-7 in his career, after finishing 4-6 in his inaugural season. Monica came to the Golden Bears from Division I-A Temple University, where he spent eight seasons as defensive coordinator.  Prior to Temple, Monica coached for nine seasons at the University of North Alabama, during which time the Lions won three NCAA Division II national championships from 1993-95.   He is 0-1 against Shippensburg.

        Rocky Rees (West Chester, ’71) is in his 18th season at Shippensburg.  He owns a  102-88-1 mark at SU.  In 23 seasons, Rees has a record of 138-103-2.  He is 12-5 all-time vs. KU.

The Series

        This game will mark the 60th meeting between Kutztown and Shippensburg, dating back to 1929.  The Raiders lead the series 43-14-2.  Shippensburg has won the last eight meetings, including last year’s 42-27 win at Seth Grove Stadium.  KU outgained the Raiders 439-314 and outscored Ship 20-7 in the second half, but Ship’s first half lead was too much to overcome.  Howard Chavous returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.  Two of SU’s other four first-half TDs were set up by punt returns of 40-plus yards.  Kyle Spotts completed 19-of-35 passes for a then career-high 338 yards and four touchdowns.  Elfren Quiles caught nine passes for 149 yards and a TD.  SU’s David Richards rushed for 56 yards and a TD.  Gabe Maiocco, a former Golden Bear, was 3-for-8 for 57 yards.  Shippensburg won the last meeting at University Field, 10-3, in 2005.  KU’s last win in the series was a 28-24 victory at University Field in 1998.

Notable

        After two games, KU and its opponents have identical total offense (874 yards) and point (65) totals...KU’s win over Clarion, its fourth in five years, was just its second-ever at CU’s Memorial Stadium…QB Kyle Spotts moved into second place on KU’s career chart in TD passes (38) with four against Clarion…additionally, he ranks fourth in pass attempts (521), third in completions (328) and third in passing yards (4,060)…WR Elfren Quiles had two TD grabs against Clarion, bringing his career total to 38, tied for 17^th all-time in Division II history…Quiles has a TD catch in 11 of 12 career games at KU….Quiles and Spotts have connected 14 times, third highest TD combo in KU history (17, Andy Breault-Mark Steinmeyer; 16-Breault-Dom Mele).

Tracking the Golden Bears

        OFFENSE: The Golden Bear offense tallied 306 yards against Clarion, including 219 passing and 87 rushing.  The offense was sparked by RB Ty Dinnis (so. Doylestown/Central Bucks West), who rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries and caught four passes for 45 yards.  The PSAC East Player of the Week, Dinnis compiled 239 all-purpose yards.  Kyle Spotts (sr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) tossed four touchdown strikes, two to Elfren Quiles (sr. New Britain, CT/New Britain) and one each to Alex Zukus (r-fr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) and Will Brown (fr. Trenton, NJ/Ewing).  Spotts finished 14-of-25 for 219 yards.  Quiles compiled six catches for 98 yards.  Brown had two grabs for 51 yards, while Zukus’ 18-yard catch went for a TD. 

        Through two games, Kutztown owns the PSAC’s top passing offense.  The Golden Bears average 308 yards per game through the air.  Spotts averages 304 yards per game, connecting on 44-of-80 passes for six TDs and four interceptions.  Quiles tops the league in receptions (18) and receiving yards (309).  He has three TDs.  Brown has seven catches for 105 yards and two scores.  Dinnis averages 207.0 all-purpose yards per game.  He has 91 yards and a TD on 29 rushes and six catches for 77 yards.  RB Dontay Wilson (so. Stamford, CT/Stamford) has 59 yards on 15 carries, while Cory McFadden (so. Freemansburg/Bethlehem Catholic) has 54 yards on 14 rushes.

        KU’s offensive line consists of center Evan Reese (so. Centre Hall/State College), guards Shane Kadlac (r-fr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and Darrell Martin (jr. Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg), and tackles Mike Casciano (sr. Birdsboro/Twin Valley) and Tyler Romberger (so. Muir/Williams Valley).

        DEFENSE: Kutztown’s defense, which allowed over 550 yards in week one, showed vast improvement against Clarion.  The Golden Bears allowed 316 yards, including 119 on the ground and 197 passing.  LB Tom Cressman (sr. Sellersville/Pennridge) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the game.  Cressman intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 23 yards for KU’s first touchdown.  He finished with 10 tackles, including three for loss and a sack.  The Bears had four takeaways in all, including interceptions by FS Brian Bingnear (sr. Boothwyn/Chichester) and DE Scott Smith (sr. New Oxford/Delone Catholic), and a fumble recovery by David Cressman (so. Sellersville/Pennridge).  DE Leroy Azubuike (sr. East Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg South) had 1.5 sacks among seven tackles.  Safety Mike Gardier (so. Dunmore/Dunmore) had nine tackles and two breakups.  LB Joel Irwin had five tackles, including a sack.  Justin Gibbs (sr. Pottstown/Pottstown) had seven stops. 

        Through two games, KU’s defense allows 437 yards per game, 232.5 of which has been passing with 204.5 rushing.  Tom Cressman has 19 tackles, including three for loss and a sack.  He has an interception and has recovered two fumbles.  Gibbs has 19 hits and one breakup.  Bingnear has 14 tackles and two interceptions.  Gardier has tallied 13 tackles with two breakups.  Safety Cory Porrino (sr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) leads the team with three tackles for loss.  Azubuike has 1.5 sacks. 

        SPECIAL TEAMS: Dinnis racked up 136 return yards vs. Clarion, including 127 on kickoffs.  His 56-yard return set up a KU touchdown.  Ryan Nye (jr. Bernville/Holy Name) punted four times for a 44.5 average, including a long of 50.  Matt Dineen (r-fr. Wilmington, DE/Concord) had his only field goal attempt blocked.  He was 5-for-5 on PAT kicks.

        Dinnis averages 29.6 yards on eight kickoff returns.  He has two punt returns for nine yards.  Nye averages a PSAC-best 43.0 yards per punt.  Dineen is 1-for-2 on field goals and 8-for-9 on extra points.

Scouting the Shippensburg Red Raiders

        Shippensburg brings a hard-luck 0-2 record to University Field this week.  The Raiders led Shepherd before a TD in the final two minutes causing a 19-14 defeat.  Last week, Liberty used four big plays to defeat SU 35-14.  Against Liberty, Gabe Maiocco was 17-of-33 for 172 yards and two TDs.  Mike Harris caught six passes for 57 yards and a score.  SS Jonathan Aldridge had nine tackles to lead the defense.

        Through two games, Shippensburg averages 316 yards per game, including 177.5 passing and 138.5 rushing.  Maiocco has completed 30-of-64 passes for 350 yards and two scores, with one interception.  Maiocco played in 10 games for KU from 2003-04.  Harris has 10 catches for 102 yards and a TD.  Howard Chavous has nine grabs for 139 yards.  Chris Lynch has rushed 25 times for 148 yards and two TDs. 

        Defensively, Shippensburg allows 323.5 yards per game, including 167.0 rushing and 156.5 passing.  Aldridge leads the defenders with 17 tackles.  LB Jaron Nalewak has 16 tackles, including 3.5 for loss.  LB Bill Morrison has 14 tackles.  DE Josh Emberg has 14 hits, with two for loss and a sack.

        Kyler Ford averages 42.2 yards on 16 punts.  Jamie Reder is 0-for-2 on field goals.  Chavous averages 10.5 yards on eight punt returns, along with 20.9 yards on seven kickoff returns. 

Kelly’s Sports, Ltd.

Player of the Game

Tom Cressman, is this week’s Kelly’s Sports, Ltd. Player of the Game.  Cressman returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown, and tallied 10 tackles, including three for loss and a sack.