PSAC title is SRU's gateway to NCAA playoffs

No. 24 Slippery Rock will look to win its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game since 1974 and will face the No. 8 ranked Kutztown Golden Bears who look for their first title.

The Rock fell to No. 9 in the NCAA Super Region One after its loss to Gannon and will need to win the PSAC title to move into contention for the NCAA playoffs, because only the top six teams in the region make the playoffs.

The Rock defense will have to contend with a high-power Golden Bears offense that averages 490.9 yards per game, 366.8 passing, 224.1 rushing. The Golden Bears also score an average of 41.2 points per game.

Rock head coach George Mihalik believes Kutztown will be the toughest opponent they have faced all year.

"They're a very good football team," Mihalik said. "They have great balance between the run and the pass. They have outstanding special teams. They're the total package. That's why they're ranked eighth in the country."

Kutztown quarterback Kevin Morton comes into the contest totaling 2,620 passing yards along with 31 touchdowns. Morton has thrown 10 interceptions on the year.

"Morton is a very good decision maker," Mihalik said. "His efficiency is impressive. He's elusive to where he can also run the football. He makes their offense go. He hasn't thrown an interception in five games."

Senior linebacker Zach Sheridan has led the defense all year and will play a key role in stopping Morton and the Golden Bears offense.

"They're an explosive offense," Sheridan said. "The talk around town is that Morton is supposedly the best quarterback in the nation in Division II, but, we are the best defense in the nation in Division II. I think we can take away the past this week and force them to run the ball."

Kutztown receiving game is led by Erik Frazier who has 683 yards and five touchdowns on the year. Josh Smith has caught 10 touchdowns and racked up 487 yards.

"Their receivers are very productive," Mihalik said. "They force our defense to cover the entire field. It presents a big challenge for us. They aren't a one man team."

Leading the way for the secondary is senior safety Brandon Watters. He has seven interceptions on the year to lead the Rock in that category. Watters will be looking for more Saturday against Kutztown.

"We are going to go back to what we do well," Watters said. "It's the No. 1 defense versus the best offense Saturday. That's motivation in itself."

Kutztown, on the ground, is led by Robbie Frey who has rushed for 928 yards and has 10 touchdowns on the year. He is complimented by Josh Mastromatto who has 577 yards and four touchdowns.

"Frey is a little more of that strong downhill power runner," Mihalik said. Mastromatto is more of a quicker running back and better in changing direction. He is elusive. They complement each other well with their different styles."

Kutztown, defensively, creates a lot of turnovers. On the year, they have 29 turnovers, 21 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.

Eight of the 21 interceptions have come from defensive back Alex DiNolfi.

"Their offense is getting most of the attention because of the 490 yards a game and 41 points a game," Mihalik said. "But when you look at their defense, they have 21 interceptions. Brett Moss has 12.5 sacks. They're a very productive team on both sides of the ball."

Senior quarterback Cody Endres will make his first appearance in a PSAC championship Saturday and will have to contend with a tough Kutztown defense that has 64 tackles for loss on the year.

"We aren't going to revolutionize our offense," Endres said. "They like to take away the deep ball. I'm going to take what the defense is going to give me. They like to make you beat them on 10-play drives."

Endres will look to continue his great chemistry with senior leading receiver Devin Goda.

"I've been watching a lot of film and I think we can expose them," Goda said. "I catch a lot of short balls and I feel they can't defend that. I feel like our offense is better than their defense."

Next week is undetermined right now as the Rock will need to win on Saturday in order to secure a birth in the NCAA playoffs.