LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Kutztown University football team is expected to contend for its third straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division title in 2022. The reigning PSAC champion Golden Bears received four first-place votes and were selected second in the East as the league office released its Preseason Coaches Polls Thursday afternoon.
 
Kutztown continued its recent run of excellence under head coach Jim Clements in 2021, completing a second straight unbeaten season in the PSAC East (7-0), winning the program's second overall PSAC title all-time and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Championship.
 
The Maroon and Gold sported matching 11-2 records in 2019 and 2021 (2020 season canceled due to COVID-19), both campaigns tying KU's record for wins in a season, originally set in 2011. If the Golden Bears put together another double-digit win season in 2022, it would mark the first time they've registered three straight double-digit win seasons in the program's 106-season history.
 
Despite the graduation of some key players, Kutztown's returning core should be strong on both sides of the ball. The Bears return seven all-conference players, an expected seven starters on offense and five on defense.
 
Shepherd claimed the remaining four first-place votes in the East to top the preseason poll for the second season in a row. The Rams fell to the Golden Bears during the 2021 regular season before prevailing on a last second touchdown pass when the teams met in the NCAA DII quarterfinals at Andre Reed Stadium last December. The early season battle for PSAC East supremacy comes to Kutztown Saturday, Sept. 24, with the league opener for both teams.
 
Kutztown's four first-place votes are its most since 2012 when it collected five and led that season's East poll. The Golden Bears have won 15 consecutive PSAC East games dating back to 2018 and their second-place showing in the preseason poll is their highest since 2017.
 
Perennial contender West Chester is third and can't be counted out. The Golden Rams took KU to the wire last season and will make their first trip to Andre Reed Stadium since 2018 on Nov. 5.
 
Shippensburg checked in fourth and East Stroudsburg rounded out the top five. Completing the East poll are Bloomsburg, Millersville and Lock Haven.
 
In the Western Division, IUP and three-time defending division champion Slippery Rock share top honors with three first-place votes apiece. Kutztown defeated The Rock, 38-32, in a thrilling 2021 PSAC championship game. SRU and Kutztown also played for the 2019 conference title.
 
California (Pa.) picked up two first-place votes to rank third. The Vulcans will be in Kutztown for the Bears' home opener Sept. 10.
 
Gannon is fourth, with Edinboro and Seton Hill tied for fifth. Mercyhurst and Clarion round out the poll.

 

2022 PSAC EAST FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
Rank		Team (First-Place Votes)
1.		Shepherd (4)
2.		KUTZTOWN (4)
3.		West Chester
4.		Shippensburg
5.		East Stroudsburg
6.		Bloomsburg
7.		Millersville
8.		Lock Haven

 
 

2022 PSAC WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
Rank		Team (First-Place Votes)
T1.		IUP (3)
T1.		Slippery Rock (3)
3.		Cal U (2)
4.		Gannon
T5.		Edinboro
T5.		Seton Hill
7.		Mercyhurst
8.		Clarion