MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL

2005

Game 9

Mansfield

at

Millersville

The Game

The Mountaineers will travel to Millersville University to take on the Marauders in a PSAC East matchup Saturday afternoon. The kickoff is slated for 1:30 pm at Biemesderfer Stadium in Millersville.

The game serves as Millersville University's homecoming game as well as senior game.

The Broadcast

 The game will be broadcast live on the Mountaineer Sports Network by WNTE 89.5 FM. The broadcast will also be carried live on the internet on both the Mansfield University sports homepage (sports.mansfield.edu, or www.mansfield.edu and go to sports) and MSA Sports Network (www.msasportsnetwork.com). Pre-game coverage will start at 1:15 pm with Darrin Denmon providing the play-by-play and color by Toby Motyka.

Last Week

The Mountaineers are 1-7 overall and 1-3 in the PSAC East after a 40-12 setback last week against the #1 Regionally ranked and #4 Nationally ranked squad from Bloomsburg University.

At Mansfield, freshman quarterback John Hengehold had another impressive outing, completing 19-of-29 attempts for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Hengehold set school freshman records for passing yards (1,757) and touchdowns (17) already this season. Rodney Davis had an impressive game receiving, pulling in eight catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. It marked the third time this season that Davis, also a freshman, has surpassed the 100 yard mark in receiving yards in a game and the fifth game he has caught a TD pass. Poohbear McNeal, who rushed for 54 yards, caught five passes for 33 yards and a touchdown. Jeff Tanner had three catches for 45 yards.

Junior linebacker Andre Turner led the defense with 12 tackles while senior defensive end Keith Slezak added nine stops including six solo. Jason Zeigler and Rob Smiley, who returned to the lineup for the first time since the second game of the season, each were credited with nine tackles with Ryan Kassak recording seven tackles.

Millersville defeated Kutztown University by a score of 23-20 at Kutztown last week. Juan Jones rushed for a school game-record 40 times for 163 yards and a season-high three scores (TD runs of 2, 15 and 19 yards).

The Series

Millersville and Mansfield will compete for the 66th time on the gridiron in the Marauders' final 2005 home contest Saturday. Millersville holds a 40-21-4 series lead dating to 1931. Mansfield has won two of the last three meetings (12-6 at Mansfield in 2002, 39-27 at Millersville in 2003) and Millersville prevailed last fall, 35-14.

The Coaches

Jim Shiffer is in his second year at the helm of his alma mater where he has posted a 2-16 overall record. Shiffer was an outstanding offensive lineman for the Mountaineers in the last 1980s where he earned the coveted Frank Butsko Award. Shiffer was an assistant coach at Millersville University from 1989-91, and again from 1994-2001. Joe Trainer is in his first season at Millersville where he has posted a 4-5 record. He served eight seasons on the Villanova University coaching staff, including the past five as defensive coordinator, before taking over the head coaching position for the Marauders.

 About the Mountaineers

Current PSAC Rankings   

Offense -- Scoring (8th, 19.6 ppg), Total Offense (7th, 357.1 ypg), Passing Offense (2nd, 239.1 ypg), Rushing Offense (11th, 118.0 ypg) 

 Defense -- Scoring (14th, 41.6 ppg), Total Defense (14th, 515.1 ypg), Passing Defense (14th, 234.2 ypg), Rushing Defense (14th, 280.9 ypg)

The Mountaineers have been solid on offense through their first eight games of the season, but have struggled defensively over much of the season. Mansfield ranks second in the 14 team PSAC in passing offense averaging 239.1 yards per game and eighth in the conference in total offense (357.1 ypg). Defensively, the team ranks 14^th in total defense giving up an average of 515.1 yards including 280.9 yards on the ground per game.

Poohbear McNeal continues to be one of the top offensive threats in the nation, ranking fifth in the PSAC in rushing (103.5 ypg) and fourth in all-purpose yardage (157.0 ypg). John Hengehold is second in the conference in passing averaging 219.6 yards per game and second in touchdown passes (17). He ranks fourth in passing percentage (57.1). Freshman Rodney Davis is second in the PSAC in receptions per game and fourth in reception yards. Davis now has 43 catches for 573 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Tyrone Robinson has caught 27 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns while Ozzie Mathis has 22 receptions for 330 yards and five TD’s. Jeff Tanner has caught 19 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns on the season.

Andre Turner leads the defense and ranks in the top ten in the PSAC in tackles with 70. Ryan Kassak (63), Keith Slezak (58), and Marc Hunsberger (55) also rank among the conference leaders in tackles. Jason Zeigler has 54 stops along with a team high five sacks. C.J. Okogeri has 43 tackles on the year.

Junior punter Brandon Fields is ranked fifth in the PSAC in punting, averaging 38.2 yards per boot.

Records Watch

McNeal now has 3,335 rushing yards in his career and has surpassed Lee Brannon (1996-99, 3268) as MU’s all-time rushing leader. He currently ranks fourth in the PSAC in rushing averaging 103.5 yards per game.

McNeal has also moved into second in the record books for all purpose yardage. He currently has 4,613 all purpose yards in his career and trails Mike Kemp (1973 - 1976) by 667 yards. Kemp holds the record with 5,280 yards.

About the Marauders

Current PSAC Rankings   

Offense -- Scoring (11th, 17.9 ppg), Total Offense (11th, 264.6 ypg), Passing Offense (11th, 144.6 ypg), Rushing Offense (9th, 120.0 ypg) 

 Defense -- Scoring (4th, 20.2 ppg), Total Defense (6th, 316.9 ypg), Passing Defense (6th, 164.3 ypg), Rushing Defense (6th, 152.6 ypg)

Millersville ranks solidly in the middle of all defensive categories in the PSAC. The Marauders have the sixth ranked total defense in the PSAC, giving up an average of 316.9 yards per game. The Marauder offense has struggled, ranking in the bottom half of the PSAC in all offensive categories.

Millersville brings the fourth leading rusher in the PSAC into this game, Juan Jones, who is averaging 110.8 yards per game this season. Jones was named PSAC east offensive player of the week last week for his efforts against Kutztown. Randall Eggleton ranks fifth in the PSAC in receptions per game (4.56) and receiving yards per game (61.9). Omar Sanders ranks among the PSAC leaders in kick returns averaging 21.1 yards per return. Kicker Doug Ruhl has made 7 of 8 field goal attempts this season.

The Marauders defense is led by Chris Donati who has 70 stops on the season and ranks eighth in the PSAC in tackles. Marcus Banks (66), Mike Cunningham (57), and Eric Marshall (52) are also among the conference leaders in tackles. Walt Hawkins ranks among the PSAC leaders in interceptions with four on the season.