KUTZTOWN, PA (October 18, 2009) – The Kutztown University football team visits Millersville University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game on Saturday, October 24 in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff on Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium. (GAME NOTES)
The game will be broadcast on WEEU-830 AM based out of Reading beginning at 1:15 p.m. with the pregame show. Fans throughout the world can listen to game at www.kubears.com.
Kutztown (3-5 overall, 1-4 PSAC East) lost a 27-20 overtime decision to East Stroudsburg despite rallying from a 13-point halftime deficit last week. Meanwhile, Millersville (2-6, 1-4) suffered a 35-3 setback to C.W. Post.
This will be the 83rd meeting between the two teams. Millersville leads the all-time series, 56-23-3. Kutztown has won the last two matchups including, 26-17, last season at Kutztown. This year's contest matches two of the top wide receivers in the PSAC in Millersville's Jamal Smith and Kutztown freshman Chris McCormick (West Chester/West Chester East) (West Chester/East).
McCormick along with freshman redshirt quarterback Kevin Morton (Abington, PA/Abington) (Abington/Abington) registered career high totals against East Stroudsburg. McCormick finished with four catches for a career best 107 yards. Two of his catches went for touchdowns, a career best 79 yarder in the third quarter and a 13-yarder with 19 seconds remaining that forced overtime. It was the first time in his college career; McCormick has caught two touchdown passes in the same game. McCormick leads Kutztown with 35 catches and five touchdowns. He is also eighth in the PSAC in receptions per game (4.4) and 10th in receiving yards per game (58.4).
Morton completed 22-of-41 passes for a career best 281 yards and three touchdown passes. He also ran for a career high 89 yards. Senior running back Dontay Wilson (Stamford, CT/Stamford) (Stamford, CT/Stamford) has 2,047 yards and with 12 yards, he will move into seventh on the Kutztown all-time rushing list. He is sixth in the conference in rushing yards per game (76.0).
The Golden Bears have been strong on special teams with junior kick and punt returner Kendell Coleman (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King) (Philadelphia/Martin Luther King) and junior kicker and punter Matt Dineen (Wilmington, De/Concord) (Wilmington, DE/Concord) leading the Golden Bears. Coleman is third in the PSAC in punt return yards (9.2) and sixth in kickoff return yardage (26.1). Dineen leads the conference in field goals (13), third in kick scoring (6.8) and punting (39.3). Dineen needs one made field goal to establish a single season record for most field goals made.
Defensively, Kutztown has been paced by junior Kevin Bolinsky (Ashland, PA/North Schuykill) (Ashland/North Schuylkill), who leads the conference with 7.5 sacks. Bolinsky had 1.5 sacks against East Stroudsburg. Senior Chris Medina (Kennett Square/Kennett) had a strong game against ESU by registering a team-high 12 tackles, forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble and finishing with 1.5 sacks. Junior Joel Irwin (Coatesville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) (Coatesville/Bishop Shanahan) is sixth in the PSAC in tackles per game (8.6). Kutztown has the conference's fifth-best rushing defense (105.8).
Millersville has allowed 35 or more points in all five of its conference games this year. The Marauders' two victories this season were over Cheyney (47-36) and Assumption (31-28). It was the only time this season; Millersville has scored 30 or more points. Millersville's top player this season has been Smith, who is seventh in receptions per game (4.5), eighth in all-purpose yards (104.8), and ninth in receiving yards per game (58.9). Smith has caught six touchdown passes and averages 13.1 yards per catch.
Millersville quarterback Bill Shirk is eighth in passing average (157.2) and 10th in total offense (153.4). Brad Lantz leads Millersville in rushing with 447 yards and five touchdowns. Millersville is 14th in total offense (263.6). The Marauders have scored 14 or fewer points five times this season. Kicker John Banzhof accounted for Millersville's only points against C.W. Post with a 38-yard field goal.
Defensively, Millersville is last in the conference in total defense (461.1), rushing defense (260.9) and scoring defense (39.8). However, the Marauders are second in the PSAC in turnover margin (plus 7). Six different players have recorded at least one interception. Julius Carter is tied for seventh in tackles per game (8.4) and third in forced fumbles. Carter leads the Marauders with 67 tackles. Matt Sutjak has 62 tackles. Chad Miller leads MU with 11 tackles for losses.
Next Saturday, Kutztown plays its final road game of the season when it visits C.W. Post for a 1 p.m. start. Millersville travels to East Stroudsburg for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
--KU--
