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2004 Mansfield University
Football Game Preview 

GAME SEVEN

 

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
at

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY

 

Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004 

VAN NORMAN Field * 1:00 p.m.

 

RADIO

 

The game will be broadcast live on WNTE 89.5 FM and WTZN AM 1310. Jonathan Schwab will do the play-by-play with color provided by Josh Warmer. Paul Overwise will be covering the sideline. The broadcast can also be heard live over the internet on the MSA Sports Network at http://sports.mansfield.edu.

 

THE GAME

 

This afternoon’s contest features the Mountaineers hosting the Golden Rams of West Chester University in a PSAC East match up. The game is also one of the highlights of Mansfield University’s 2004 Parents and Family Day celebration.


 THE SERIES

 

The game marks the 33rd time the two schools have meet on the gridiron with West Chester winning all 32 of the previous contest, including a 55-27 victory at Van Norman Field last year. Mansfield lost 9-7 in the last minute at West Chester in 2002 and dropped a 14-7 overtime heartbreaker in 2001.

 

THE COACHES

 

The Mountaineers are under the direction of first year head coach Jim Shiffer. The first alumnus to serve as head football coach at MU in 74 years, Shiffer was a standout offensive lineman in the late 1980s and has been an assistant coach at Yale, Pittsburgh, Millersville and Kutztown before returning to Mansfield.

 

Billy Swain is in his second year at the helm of the Golden Rams program where he has posted a 13-5 mark over that span. Swain was the successful head coach at Widener before taking over the reigns at West Chester.

 

LAST WEEK

 

Both teams are coming into the game with wins over PSAC East foes last Saturday.  The Mountaineers broke into the win column for the first time this season in last week’s thrilling come-from-behind win at Cheyney. Sophomore running back Paul Garofalo literally carried the team to victory by rushing for 124 of his 268 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter after the Mountaineers trailed 6-5 with fifteen minutes to play. Garofalo carried the ball on 13 of Mansfield’s 16 offensive plays in the fourth quarter scoring touchdowns on runs of 3, 16, and 30 yards to earn PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 268 yards were the second most in a game in school history to Poohbear McNeal’s 272-yard effort at Millersville last season. The 44 carries were also the second most in school history, surpassed only by Lee Brannon’s 46 carry effort against Cheyney in 1999.

 

Sophomore quarterback Matt Hildebrand struggled for much of the day at Cheyney, completing 4-of-17 passes for 62 yards. Senior preseason All-American Joe Bennett caught two of those passes for 37 yards while freshman Tyrone Robinson had two catches for 25 yards. Sean Hair kicked is fifth field goal of the season. Daricus Haynes blocked two punts while Joe Frick had a game high 10 tackles to lead the defense. Sophomore linebacker Andre Turner had nine tackles while Will Clarke was credited with seven and Mike Reed six.

 

West Chester hung on for a 31-16 win against Millersville behind quarterback Bob Findora, who passed for 293 yards and two touchdowns to move into the top spot in the PSAC East.  West Chester's Osagie Osunde carried the ball 15 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Millersville. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown from Bob Findora who completed 18 of 32 passes for a season-high 293 yards and two touchdowns. Williamsport native Brandon Simmons caught seven passes for 168 yards.

 

THE LAST TIME

 

West Chester ended Mansfield's record breaking season with a 55-27 victory at Van Norman Field last year.  Mike Eckmeyer rushed for 164-yards and two touchdowns and Osagie Osunde ran for 138 yards and one score to lead West Chester.  This games also marked the final game for senior record holders Travis Motley and Dan Holland.  Motley completed 10-of-24 passes for 173 yards and two TDs while Dan Holland recorded nine tackles.

 

ABOUT THE MOUNTAINEERS

 

The Mountaineers rank 12th in the PSAC in scoring (17.7 ppg) and 13th in total offense (227.3 ypg). Mansfield is 11th in rushing offense (124.5 ypg) and 13th in passing offense (102.8 ypg). One big problem Mansfield has faced all season is turnovers where the Mountaineers rank at the bottom of the PSAC with a -11 rating. Sophomore quarterback Matt Hildebrand has connected on 44-of-103 passes for 472 yards and four touchdowns since taking over the starting spot after the second game of the season. He has been intercepted seven times. For the most part, Hildebrand has received solid protection from the front line of Chris Farris, Lucas Ingersoll, Ryan McClellan, Jamar Foulks and Mike Guanciale who have allowed just six sacks on the season, second best in the PSAC.

 

Senior Joe Bennett leads the team in receptions with 25 for 287 yards and five touchdowns. In his remarkable 33 game career, Bennett has caught 154 passes for 2,673 yards and an incredible 29 touchdowns. Freshman Tyrone Robinson has 13 receptions for 78 yards while seniors Eddie Van Buren and Corey Mishura each have five grabs. Although he missed last week’s game, Poohbear McNeal still ranks 10th in the PSAC in rushing averaging 80.4 yards per game. Paul Garofalo, who had rushed for just 30 yards on 19 carries coming into the last week’s game, has rushed for 298 yards on the year.

 

Defensively the Mountaineers rank 12th in scoring (36.8 ppg) and 11th in total defense (396.3 ypg). They rank 11th against the run (206.0 ypg) and ninth against the pass (190.3 ypg).  Sophomore linebacker Andre Turner ranks fourth in the PSAC in tackles per game (9.3) while senior defensive back Joe Frick is ninth (8.0). Linebacker Will Clarke (35 tackles) and cornerback Ronnie Montgomery (34 tackles, two interceptions) rank among the conference leaders. Defensive end Keith Slezak tops the defensive line in tackles with 29, including 6.5 for a loss and a sack. Senior safety Daricus Haynes has 27 tackles with senior defensive tackle Jason Twedt right behind him with 24. Rob Smiley, Brian DeCecco and Mike Reed each have 20 or more stops.

 

ABOUT THE GOLDEN RAMS

 

West Chester has put up some big offensive numbers this season ranking second in the conference in scoring (35.3 ppg) and sixth in total offense (370.9 ypg). The Golden Rams have been equally impressive on defense ranking second in the PSAC in least points allowed (15.3 pg) and in total defense (286.7 ypg).

 

Senior quarterback Bob Findora directs the offense where he has completed 86-of-155 passes for 1,201 yards and seven touchdowns. He has been intercepted eight times. Junior Brandon Simmons has emerged as one of the top receivers in the conference with 34 receptions for 605 yards and four touchdowns. West Chester has an amazing five runners who have rushed 35 or more times this season led by Brent Steinmetz with 439 yards and Osagie Osunde 372 yards. The defense is led by Dan Faubel and Isaiah Harrison with 44 and 42 tackles respectively.

 

NEXT WEEK
 

The Mountaineers will hit the road for the final time this season when they travel to Bloomsburg next Saturday.