THE MATCH-UP
• Millersville is on the road looking to put the first blemish on No. 15-ranked Kutztown's perfect season. The Golden Bears dispatched No. 22 West Chester last week to clinch the PSAC East, but they still have plenty to play for. While Slippery Rock and the PSAC Championship await in week 11, the Golden Bears are currently ranked No. 1 in Super Region 1 and home field in the NCAA playoffs is very much in play. Millersville, meanwhile, pushed Bloomsburg deep into the fourth quarter last week and had the ball with a chance to take the lead on its final offensive possession.Â
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Collin Shank returned to the lineup after a two-game absence and completed 23-of-37 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns. In his last two games, Shank has completed 47-of-66 passes (.712) for 716 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. Limited because of injuries, Shank ranks 15th in the PSAC in pass attempts, but his 147.4 efficiency rating is fifth. He ranks sixth in completion percentage. His 77-yard strike to
Kevon Newerls last week was the fifth-longest pass in the PSAC this season and the second time this year that the two have hooked up for a touchdown pass of 70-plus yards. It was also Millersville's longest pass completion since 2015.Â
• Quickly becoming Shank's top target is true freshman
Jon Haynes. Haynes caught a team-high eight passes and two touchdowns last week. He was the first Marauder true freshman to total two touchdown catches in game since 2013. His eight catches were also the most by a Marauder this season.Â
• Haynes is one of many Marauder freshmen getting valuable experience this season. A total of 16 true freshmen have played snaps and seven redshirt freshmen have also played prominent roles.
Nasir Best is slated to be the starting running back this week, and he will be the eighth true freshman to start a game this season.Â
• One of those rookies is
Isaiah Onuschak, who will certainly be in the discussion for PSAC East Freshman of the Year. Onuschak is the PSAC leader in tackles with 10.3 per game. He is just seven tackles away from becoming the fifth Marauder since 2000 to total 100 in a season. His six sacks are also tied for the most by a Marauder since 2001. He is tied for fourth in the PSAC in sacks.Â
• Last week,
Chase Alisauckas recorded a sack, giving him a partial sack in two of the last three games and a tackle for loss in six of the last seven games.Â
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Evan Morrill has been doing a bit of everything for the Marauders this season. Because of injuries, he was pressed into quarterback duty against Shepherd and he threw a 17-yard touchdown pass in addition to catching three passes for 45 yards and rushing seven times for 22. Morrill has thrown three career touchdown passes (two as a wide receiver in 2018). He is one catch away from matching his career-high for catches in a season and has already totaled career highs with 474 yards and three touchdowns. Against Bloomsburg, Morrill totaled 52 yards receiving and 27 yards rushing. He also serves as the team's long snapper, and this is all in addition to being Millersville's starting 184-pounder in wrestling season.Â
• With just 54 penalties committed this season, Millersville ranks third in the PSAC, just one penalty more than Kutztown.Â
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
• Kutztown has won each of its last five games by at least 13 points. It's a team that does everything well. It ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense (37.8) and first in scoring defense (15.6). Its 437.2 yards per game is fourth in the league in total offense, and it also ranks third in total defense. In the return game, the Golden Bears are first in the league in kick return average (26.4). On defense, they are tied for second in interceptions (14) and third in sacks (25). They have scored at least 27 points in each game while not allowing more than 28 in any game.
• Quarterback Collin DiGalbo is certainly in the discussion for PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Year. He has completed 66.9 percent of his passes and has tossed 24 touchdowns to just five interceptions. A true dual threat, DiGalbo also ranks 14th in the league in rushing with 430 yards and nine scores. The Golden Bears' lead back is Abdul-Hassan Neblett who has 715 yards on just 94 totes. His 7.6 yards per carry is second among all PSAC backs. On defense, Shawn Turber-Ortiz is tied for the PSAC lead in interceptions (4) and is fourth in tackles with 9.3 per game.Â
COACH J.C. MORGAN'S SCOUTING REPORT
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On last week's offensive performance: "It was great getting (Shank) back. I think he brought some confidence to our offense. He had some very good moments in the game.
Jon Haynes as a true freshman starting and getting some touchdowns and nice catches;Â
Kevon Newerls had a couple of big plays, bouncing back from last week's performance, and made a big improvement. Being able to respond to some adversity as a team was a big positive for us. We are making some strides toward putting a complete game together we just obviously fell short in the fourth quarter."
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On last week's defensive performance:Â "We bounced back from a rough start. We've given up first drive touchdowns in the last two games, but being able to settle in and continue to play hard was positive. "We do have a lot to clean up. It isn't major things. It is technique, alignment and assignment."
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On freshmen playing right away: "Very valuable experience. Not only for this year as we go into the last two weeks but also beyond. We are focused on finishing these last two weeks out the right way. We are working hard to get a victory in each game but we are building a foundation to move forward. The experience helps."
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On scouting Kutztown: "They play great team football. They have a great system and I respect what they do a lot. They play at a high tempo and play fast. Their quarterback is very good. Their running back can hit the home run. They are very aggressive on defense."
THE LAST TIME OUT
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 MILLERSVILLE (Bloomsburg (L, 21-26)): Two fourth-quarter field goals and special teams proved the difference as Bloomsburg came from behind to beat Millersville. Millersville quarterbackÂ
Collin Shank returned after a two-week absence and completed 23-of-37 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns--two of which went to true freshmanÂ
Jon Haynes. Bloomsburg held a 412-371 advantage in total yards. The Huskies rushed for 202 and passed for 210. Millersville threw for 307 and rushed for 64.Â
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KUTZTOWN (#22 West Chester (W, 30-7)): Quarterback Collin DiGalbo threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, Abdul-Hassan Neblett rushed for 103 yards and a pair of scores, and the defense held on a huge fourth-and-four with West Chester inside the 10 at the start of the fourth quarter.Â
SERIES HISTORY
Series: 57-32-1
Series Streak: Kutztown, 9
First Meeting: 1903 (W, 16-6)
Last Meeting: 2018 (L, 10-62)
Largest Margin of Victory: 52 (1960)
Largest Margin of Defeat: 56 (2012)
Record at KU (since 1968): 13-11
Most Millersville Points: 59 (1960)
Most KU Points: 62 (2018)
• Kutztown has won eight in a row and 10 of 11 in the series. Millersville's lone win in that stretch was in 2009 at home, 41-35 in overtime. Millersville's last win at Kutztown came in 2006 by a 45-17 score. Kutztown has scored at least 41 points in each of the last eight meetings.Â
THE LAST MEETING (KUTZTOWN 62, MILLERSVILLE 10 - NOV. 3, 2018)
• Millersville jumped out to a 10-7 lead on No. 23 Kutztown, but a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in early in the second quarter turned the tide. Kutztown scored 55 unanswered points and pulled away for a 62-10 win, improving its record to 8-1. Eric Nickel filled in admirably for starter Collin DiGalbo, who sat out with an injury. Nickel rushed 17 times for 141 yards and a touchdown while also completing 19 of 31 passes for 182 yards and four touchdowns.
THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED
• 20+ Carries:
Kobe Miranda 22) at Lock Haven - Oct. 6, 2018 (W, 24-6)
• 30+ Carries: Ian Sadon (32) vs. California (Pa.) - Nov. 16, 2013 (L, 14-48)
• 100+ Yards Rushing:
Tony Staffieri (118) vs. East Stroudsburg - Sept. 27, 2018 (W, 11-10)
• 150+ Yards Rushing:
Tyrone Gibson (183) at East Stroudsburg - Oct. 5, 2017 (W, 12-0)
• 200+ Yards Rushing: Cardoza Jacks (275) vs. Cheyney - Oct. 11, 2008 (L, 48-6)
• 300+ Yards Rushing: * Ricke Stonewall (350) vs. New Haven – 1982 (W, 36-14)
• 3+ Rushing TDs/game: Ian Sadon (3) vs. California - Nov. 10, 2012 (L, 28-56)
• 50+ Yard Run:
K.J. Cartwright (59) vs. Pace - Sept. 5, 2019 (W, 21-20)
• 75+ Yard Run: Ian Sadon (75) at LIU Post - Oct. 20, 2012 (L, 15-20)
• 20+ Pass Completions:
Collin Shank (23) vs. Bloomsburg - Nov. 2, 2019 (L, 21-26)
• 30+ Pass Completions: Connor Casey (30) vs. Bloomsburg- Oct. 6, 2012 (L, 14-38)
• 40+ Pass Attempts:
Miles Miller (41) at Shippensburg - Oct. 19, 2019 (L, 0-27)
• 50+ Pass Attempts:
Collin Shank (52) at Seton Hill - Sept. 9, 2017 (W, 45-38)
• 300+ Yards Passing:
Collin Shank (420) vs. Lock Haven - Oct. 12, 2019 (W, 48-23)
• 400+ Yards Passing:
Collin Shank (420) vs. Lock Haven - Oct. 12, 2019 (W, 48-23)
• 3+ Passing TDs/game:
Collin Shank (3) vs. Bloomsburg - Nov. 2, 2019 (L, 21-26)
• 50+ Yard Pass:
Collin Shank to
Kevon Newerls (77) vs. Bloomsburg - Nov. 2, 2019 (L, 21-26)
• 75+ Yard Pass:
Collin Shank to
Kevon Newerls (77) vs. Bloomsburg - Nov. 2, 2019 (L, 21-26)
• 8+ Receptions:
Jon Haynes (8) vs. Bloomsburg - Nov. 2, 2019 (L, 21-26)
• 10+ Receptions:
Chris Dolan (10) vs. Indiana (Pa.) - Sept. 6, 2018 (L, 7-41)
• 3+ TD receptions: Kevin Wiggins (3) vs. E. Stroudsburg - Oct. 8, 2016 (L, 23-38)
• 100+ Yards Receiving:
Kevon Newerls (144) vs. Lock Haven - Oct. 12, 2019 (W, 48-23)
• 150+ Yards Receiving: Jamal Smith (164) at Shippensburg - Oct. 30, 2010 (L, 14-19)
• 200+ Yards Receiving: * Jamal Smith (252) vs. Gannon – Sept. 18, 2010 (W, 29-26)
• 250+ All-Purpose Yards: Jamal Smith (256) vs. Kutztown - Oct. 24, 2009 (W, 41-35 2OT)
• 300+ All-Purpose Yards: Jamal Smith (340) vs. Gannon – Sept. 18, 2010 (W, 29-26)
• 2 Interception Game:
Marcel Mingo vs. Shippensburg - Oct. 13, 2018 (L, 0-37)
• 3+ Interceptions/Game: Walt Hawkins (3) vs. Slippery Rock – Oct. 18, 2003 (L, 18-28)
• Kickoff Return TD: David Coates (85) at Cheyney - Nov. 8, 2014 (W, 34-12)
• Punt Return TD:
Jhet Janis (71) vs. Gannon - Nov. 11, 2017 (L, 7-39)
• Blocked Punt Return TD: Matt Egenrieder vs. Kutztown - Oct. 24, 2009 (W, 41-35 2OT)
• Interception Return TD:
Brendan Sherman - Sept. 16, 2017 (L, 13-29)
• Fumble Return TD: Neil Moloney at Cheyney - Nov. 8, 2014 (W, 34-12)
• Defensive XP Return: Dean May at Cheyney - Oct. 19, 2013 (W, 30-12)
• 3 Field Goals/Game: Sean Hughes (3) vs. Indiana (Pa.) -2001 (W, 30-26)
• 40-Yard Field Goal:
Joey Farley (45) vs. West Chester - Nov. 4, 2017 (L, 24-27)
• Recorded a Safety: vs. East Stroudsburg – Sept. 27, 2018 (W, 11-10)
• Scored in All 4 Quarters: vs. Lock Haven - Oct. 12, 2019 (W, 48-23)
• Recorded a Shutout: at East Stroudsburg – Oct. 5, 2017 (W, 12-0)
• Was Shutout: at Shippensburg – Oct. 19, 2019 (L, 0-27)
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* Millersville record
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