The
GameMOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL
2005
GAME TWO
Mansfield
VS.
California
Mounties Host California in Home Opener and Fifth Annual Josh Palmer Classic – Game Features Last Two PSAC Rushing Champions in MU’s Poohbear McNeal and Cal’s Antoine Bagwell
The
Game
The Mansfield University football team will host California University in the Fifth Annual Josh Palmer Pigskin Classic this Saturday, Sept. 10 at Karl Van Norman Field. Kickoff for the Mountaineers home opener is set for 1 p.m.
The game features the last two PSAC season rushing leaders in the Mountaineers Poohbear McNeal and the Vulcans Antoine Bagwell. McNeal won the conference rushing title in 2003 when he rushed for 1,684 yards as a freshman. Bagwell was the PSAC’s rushing leader last season with 1,765 yards after transferring to California from Joliet Junior College.
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). Pregame coverage will start at 12:45 pm with providing Darrin Denmon the play-by-play and color by Jonathon Schwab.
Last Week
The Mountaineers are 0-1 on the season after dropping a 41-33 thriller in their season opener at West Virginia Wesleyan last Saturday. California, which had a bye last Saturday, opened its season two weeks ago defeating Fairmont State (WV) by a 42-6 score.
The Coaches
Jim Shiffer is in his second season as the head coach of the Mountaineers after posting a 1-9 mark last year. A former Butsko Award winner as an offensive lineman at Mansfield in the late 1980s, Shiffer becomes the first alum to coach the Mountaineers in 74 years.
John Lockhart is in his fourth season as head coach of the Vulcans where he has posted a 17-16 mark over the span. The head coach at Washington and Jefferson College prior to coming to California, Lockhart has amassed a 154-53-2 overall record as a head coach.
The Series
It marks the 12th time the two schools have meet on the gridiron since 1982 with California holding an 8-2-1 advantage after posting a 63-6 victory last year in the season opener at Adamson Stadium. The Mountaineers last win came by a 14-7 margin at Karl Van Norman Field in 2003.
About the Mountaineers
Mansfield had its highest offensive output in two years, piling up 495 yards in total offense at West Virginia Wesleyan. Poohbear McNeal showed the quickness and elusiveness his displayed as an All-American two seasons again by rushing for 203 yards on 30 carries including touchdown runs of 1 and 25 yards.
His performance was matched by freshman John Hengehold, McNeal’s former quarterback at Lake Highlands Prep in Orlando, Fl. Hengehold, who came in relief of starter Brandon Hunt, completed 19-of-33 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those touchdown passes went to fellow freshman Rodney Davis who caught nine passes for 134 yards including two 5-yard scoring grabs. Matt Hildebrand, last year’s starting quarterback, had four catches for 46-yard including a 15-yard touchdown.
The rebuilt offense line of Jamar Foulks, Ray Dayton, Adam Aston, Troy Cobaugh and Mike Guanciale did not allow a sack on the afternoon.
The
defense was victimized on occasion by the big play against West Virginia
Wesleyan, but played tough for much of the afternoon. Senior linebackers
Rob Smiley III and Jason Zeigler who combined for 19
tackles. Fellow linebacker Andre Turner had eight stops including
one of a loss. Senior Ronnie Montgomery turned in an outstanding
all around game, piling up 162 yards on seven kickoff returns, intercepting a
pass in the endzone and recording three tackles.
About the Vulcans
The Vulcans come into the 2005 with high expectations of capturing the PSAC West title and with good reason. Cal returns nine starters on offense headed by consensus All-American Antoine Bagwell who led the conference in rushing last season while finishing second in NCAA Division II in all-purpose yardage. Bagwell was right on form in Cal’s opener two weeks ago rushing for 183 yards, including a 64-yard scoring burst.
Cal brought in a plethora of new talent including many Division I transfers to shore up its defense that feature a strong corps of All-Conference defensive backs in Jason Cook, Lloyd Price and Jared Drum.
California rolled up 398 yards in total offense against Fairmont State including 183 rushing yards by Bagwell. Quarterback Joe Ruggiero completed 14-of-29 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. The Vulcans scored on their first three possession of the game and limited Fairmont State to just 127 yards in total offense.
Lloyd Price and Gary Butler combined for 22 tackles to lead the defense while Jaison Cook and Jermaine Moye each recording an interception.