2008 Woodie Awards
Homecoming 2005
Football welcomes Marauders on special day
By Adam Brewer
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 10/14/05 Section: Sports Extra
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"It was a down atmosphere right after the loss in the locker room, but we are starting to recover this week," coach George Mihalik said. "I said at the beginning of the season that the conference champs will not be undefeated in the conference, and we must get on the winning track in order to be in this close playoff race."
The Rock (2-4 overall, 2-1 PSAC West) did get good news last Saturday as the California Vulcans (4-2 overall, 2-1 PSAC West) defeated Edinboro (4-2 overall, 2-1 PSAC West) 36-26. Those three teams are all tied for second place in the division. IUP (3-3 overall, 2-0 PSAC West) sets at the top of the division.
The Rock will take a break from PSAC West action this week as it will play a PSAC crossover game with PSAC East opponent Millersville (3-4 overall, 1-2 PSAC East).
"Both divisions are similar is some ways," Mihalik said. "Some of the Eastern teams tend to pass more, but Millersville has a balanced offense with a physical defense."
Millersville won its first two games of the season by scores of 28-9 against IUP and 21-20 against Glenville State. Millersville dropped its next three games, losing to Delaware State, Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg. Millersville then picked up its first PSAC East win against Cheyney, but followed that with a 27-7 loss to West Chester last week at home.
The Millersville offensive attack this season is lead by senior running back Juan Jones. Jones is ranked seventh in the PSAC with 86.1 yards rushing per game. Jones averaged 3.8 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns this season.
Millersville started the season with veteran junior quarterback Dan Csencsitz, but he has suffered through an injury plagued 2005 season. Csencsitz has 726 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions. Freshman Derek Pope has played at quarterback three games this season and has compiled 350 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Millersville's main receiving threat is junior Randall Eggleton. It doesn't matter who is throwing him the ball because Eggleton ranks sixth in the PSAC with 66.3 receiving yards per game. Eggleton has 32 catches for 450 yards and two touchdowns.
"We must stop the big plays on defense and we must be physical with Millersville rush attack," Mihalik said.
Millersville is averaging 17.6 points per game with 111.9 rushing yards and 153.7 passing yards this season. The Rock defense is allowing 29 points per game with 190.8 rushing yards per game. SRU is ranked first in the PSAC in pass defense as they give up only 146.3 passing yards per game.
On defense, Millersville is allowing 20.1 points per game and has allowed the opposition 151.6 rushing yards and 191.4 passing yards per game this season. The Rock offense is averaging 24.2 points per game and has a balance attack, as it averages 197.3 rushing yards and 189.3 passing yards per game this season.
"We have been moving the ball, but we need to get points and get into the endzone more often," Mihalik said. "If the defense or special teams set us up for points, we must convert them into scores."
The Rock offense has been paced by senior running back Josh Kniess, who is ranked eighth in the PSAC with 82.5 rushing yards per game. Kniess has rushed for 495 yards with seven touchdowns and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Kniess is just 61 yards away from second place in SRU's career all-purpose yards category.
Quarterback Nate Crookshank ranks sixth in the PSAC in passing this year. Crookshank has been able to spread the ball around to his receivers and has amassed 1,078 passing yards this season. Crookshank also has five touchdowns with eight interceptions.
To put even more pressure on the Rock, this game is on Homecoming weekend. Last year's 38-26 loss to Edinboro was only the third SRU Homecoming game loss under Mihalik. Since 1959, the Rock is 32-11-3 in SRU Homecoming games.
"The Homecoming game is always an exciting time for players and coaches," Mihalik said. "I enjoy Rock Homecoming because there is a certain energy and excitement around campus that you cannot match."
Mihalik is 5-2 against Millersville in the short rivalry. Millersville snapped a four-game losing streak in the series when it won 17-14 last year at Millersville. Millersville drove the ball 90 yards on 15 plays to get the game-winning 20-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the game.
The Millersville victory was only the third time in the seven-game series history that the home team won. This year's game marks the fifth successive season the teams have met.
Both teams will be trying to get divisional bragging rights in this pivotal PSAC crossover match-up. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.
"You can consider this a must-win game for us," Mihalik said. "Over the past two weeks we have experience winning and losing, and we want to win badly so that we can have some momentum heading into the rest of the PSAC West schedule."
