August 2, 2007 

2007 KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Golden Bears Picked to Finish 5th by Coaches in Pre-Season Poll 

KUTZTOWN, PA — Year two of the Raymond Monica era promises to be one filled with excitement and continued improvement for the 2007 Kutztown University football team.           

            Kutztown finished fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division last year, with a 2-4 record in the division and 4-6 overall.  

             Kutztown was picked to finish fifth by the PSAC East coaches in the annual pre-season poll, which was announced at Thursday’s media luncheon at KU’s Academic Forum Building. West Chester was the pre-season PSAC East favorite, followed by Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Millersville, Kutztown and Cheyney. 

            Monica’s squad returns 34 letterwinners and 11 starters from last year’s team, as well as an infusion of new talent hoping to make an impact this season.           

            The 2007 schedule features several changes from last year.  Off the schedule are Mansfield, which dropped football after 2006, and Lock Haven, which rotated off KU’s PSAC crossover slate.  Added to the schedule is new PSAC crossover foe Edinboro, and KU will take on Southern Connecticut State and American International from the Northeast 10.  It marks the first time since 2000 that KU has played two opponents from outside the PSAC.  The Golden Bears retain crossover matchups against Clarion, Shippensburg and Slippery Rock, as well as the five PSAC East contests. 

OFFENSE

            The Golden Bears have holes to fill from last year’s much improved offense.  KU ranked in the top six in the PSAC in total offense (367.2 yards/game), rushing offensive (142.3), passing offense (224.9) and scoring offense (26.7 points/game) last year.  The year before, the Golden Bears ranked in the bottom five of each category.  The offense sustained 49 drives of 50 yards or more, scoring on 34 of them.  The squad had just 25 drives of 50+ yards the year before. 

            The offense returns five starters in key positions for second-year offensive coordinator Jeff Chillot.

QUARTERBACKS

            Kyle Spotts (sr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) enters his third year as the starter under center.  The 6-3, 204 pounder had a solid season in 2006.  He completed 156-of-271 passes for 2,155 yards, throwing for 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.  His passing TDs (tie-fourth) and passing yards (fifth) ranked among KU’s all-time, single-season leaders.  Spotts also rushed for five scores. 

            Also returning is backup Shane Martin (jr. New Holland/Garden Spot).  Martin completed 6-of-12 passes for 67 yards and a TD last year.  He rushed for 132 yards and a score on 18 carries.  Third-stringer Matt Lawhorne (so. Macungie/Brandywine Heights) also returns. 

RUNNING BACKS

            With its top three rushers back in the fold, KU’s running game has experience, but previous injuries may add questions to the area. The Golden Bears return a trio of backs who combined for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns on 280 carries last year. 

            Leading rusher Maurice Adams (sr. West Chester/Henderson), a second-team All-PSAC East selection, gained 432 yards and scored twice on 131 carries.  He missed the final three games due to injury.  Still affected, Adams may miss the 2007 season.  Backup Tyler Dinnis (r-so. Doylestown/Central Bucks West) had just two carries before suffering a season-ending injury in the 2006 season opener.  Cory McFadden (so. Freemansburg/Bethlehem Catholic) came on strong at the end of the season.  He rushed 85 times for 420 yards and three touchdowns, with 50 carries for 275 yards and all three TDs coming in the final three games.  Nick Hosford (so. Slatington/Northern Lehigh) will also battle for carries.

            Joe Strauss (so. Lititz/Warwick) returns at fullback.  Strauss was the team’s third-leading rusher last year, carrying 64 times for 304 yards and three scores.  Veteran backup Travis Barron (sr. Coatesville/Bishop Shanahan) adds experience, while Bobby Checchia (r-fr. Lititz/Lancaster Catholic) also looks to contribute.

WIDE RECEIVERS

            A record-breaking senior will anchor an otherwise young receiver corps in 2007.

            Elfren Quiles (sr. New Britain, CT/New Britain) set a single-season school record with 12 touchdown catches last year.  The Merrimack transfer led the team with 54 catches for 816 yards, which ranked as the third-highest yardage output in a season at KU.  A second-team All-PSAC East receiver, Quiles was nationally ranked in catches, yards and scoring.

            No other wide receiver on KU’s roster has a collegiate reception.  Tony Braciszewski (jr. Bensalem/Bensalem) and Mike Dietrich (so. York/York Catholic) are returning letterwinners who will look to slide into a starting role.  Chris Thomas (r-fr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford), is expected to be on the depth chart, while Jason Uhlig (r-fr. Blue Bell/Wissahickon) looks to get on the field after redshirting.

            Shane Martin and Ryan Nye (jr. Bernville/Holy Name) may be called upon as receivers, switching from their roles as backup quarterback and punter, respectively.  Nye starred in the spring game, catching four passes for 125 yards and a TD. 

TIGHT ENDS

            Dan Onorato (jr. Malvern/Malvern Prep) will take over for three-time All-PSAC East tight end Jason Henley.  Onorato caught two passes for 17 yards last season. Redshirt-freshmen Nick Aspromonte (r-fr. Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) and Jake Thierjung (r-fr. Bensalem/Bensalem) will battle for the backup role.

OFFENSIVE LINE

            The offensive line returns one starter and three other letterwinners from last year’s squad.  Tyler Romberger (so. Muir/Williams Valley) (6-4, 280) will anchor the line from his right tackle position.  Romberger was named the most improved player on offense in the spring.  Three other returners gained experience last year and will move into starting roles this season.  Mike Casciano (sr. Birdsboro/Twin Valley) (6-0, 265) started three games a year ago and is expected to start at left tackle.  Evan Reese (so. Centre Hall/State College)  (6-0, 247) played in 10 games and is slated to take over at center.  Darrell Martin (jr. Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) (6-2, 309) played in nine games in 2006 and is penciled in at right guard.  The left guard spot will be manned by a redshirt freshman, either Shane Kadlac (r-fr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) (6-1, 247) or Jared Haas (r-fr. Linglestown/Central Dauphin) (6-0, 242).  Chris Chylack (r-fr. Souderton/Souderton) (6-3, 290), Mike Tombiolo (r-fr. Slatington/Northern Lehigh) (6-3, 305) and Steven Frymoyer (r-fr. West Lawn/Wilson) will back up at the tackle spots.  Brian Kutzleb (r-fr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) (6-0, 262) will be the backup center.

DEFENSE

            The 2007 Golden Bear defense returns six starters from last year and also regains the services of two starters from 2005.  The unit will look to improve upon the outcome of last year, in which it ranked among the bottom four in the PSAC in total defense (363.2 yards/game allowed), rush defense (196.8) and scoring defense (30.0 points/game). 

DEFENSIVE LINE

            Three returning starters, one from last year and two from 2005, will man the defensive line.  Defensive tackle Scott Smith (sr. New Oxford/Delone Catholic) enters his third year as a starter.  He had 40 tackles, including five for loss and a half sack last season.  Nose guard Nick Cresta (jr. Wallingford/Strath Haven) returns to defense after starting on the offensive line last year and earning second-team All-PSAC East honors.  Cresta had 44 tackles, including six for loss and 3.5 sacks, along with an interception, as a freshman in 2005.  Defensive end Leory Azubuike (sr. East Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg South), who sat out last season, had 63 hits, along with 10 for loss and four sacks, in 2005.  Kevin Branco (jr. Hellertown/Saucon Valley), who started two games last year, is slated to start at the other end.  He had 25 tackles, with a sack and three for loss a year ago. 

            Backing up the interior positions will be Craig Croman (so. Pine Grove/Pine Grove), who had 14 tackles and a sack, and Craig Moose (so. Dillsburg/Northern York), who had 13 stops and two for loss.  Dan Schwartz (so. Gilbertsville/St. Pius X) is projected to back up the ends.   Pat Healey (r-fr. Sewell, NJ/Wasington Twp.) also returns.

LINEBACKERS

            The Golden Bears return two starters at the two linebacker positions, strongside linebacker Tom Cressman (sr. Sellersville/Pennridge) and weakside linebacker Sam McKellar (jr. Allentown/Dieruff).  A two-year starter, Cressman had 38 tackles, including three for loss and a sack, last year.  McKellar notched 32 tackles, including five for loss, in his first year as a starter.

            Two second-year players who gained experience as rookies in 2006 will battle for playing time.  Sean Alboucq (so. Lehighton/Lehighton) will challenge McKellar for the starting weakside spot.  Alboucq had 19 tackles, with one for loss and a fumble recovery, last season.  David Cressman (so. Sellersville/Pennridge), will back up his older brother, Tom.  The younger Cressman had 17 hits, including two for loss, last fall. 

            Other LBs returning to the fold include Joel Irwin (r-fr. Coatesville/Bishop Shanahan), Miles Scott (r-fr. Port Matilda/State College) and Keith Massey (r-fr. Allentown/Allen).

DEFENSIVE BACKS

            The secondary will feature four full- or part-time returning starters this season.  Leading the way is All-America safety Brian Bingnear (sr. Boothwyn/Chichester).  Bingnear earned multiple honors in a break-through season last fall.  He led the team with 90 tackles, including one for loss.  He also added four interceptions and four breakups.  The safety earned third-team Football Gazette All-America honors, while earning All-Region honors from Football Gazette and Daktronics.  He also was named first-team All-PSAC East.  Returning starter Cory Porrino (sr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) and newcomer Mike Gardier (so. Dunmore/Dunmore) will start at the other two safety positions in KU’s new three-safety set.  Porrino tallied 23 tackles, an interception and four breakups in seven games last year.  He missed the final three games due to injury.  Gardier transferred to Kutztown from Mansfield, where he earned second-team All-PSAC East status as a rookie last fall.  Gardier led the Mountaineers with 84 tackles, including two for loss, two interceptions and four breakups.  Joe Iannello (r-fr. Media/Strath Haven), who redshirted last season, supplies depth at the stafety positions.

            Justin Gibbs (sr. Pottstown/Pottstown) and Cameron Parchment (so. Tannersville/Pocono Mountain East) are slated to start at the two cornerback spots.  Gibbs will enter his fourth year as a starter.  He tallied 44 tackles last season, including two for loss, while adding two interceptions and five pass breakups.  Parchment worked his way into the starting lineup last season, starting the final four games.  He tallied 18 stops, with one for loss, along with an interception and two breakups.

            Returning letterwinner Nate Rabenold (so. Lehighton/Lehighton) and redshirts Jay McKnight (r-fr. Robesonia/Conrad Weiser) and Ardee Burno (r-fr. Harrisburg/Susquehanna Twp.) will battle for the backup spots on the corners. 

SPECIAL TEAMS