FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LUKE HARRIS NAMED OFFENSIVE LINE
COACH AT MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY
MANSFIELD – Luke Harris has joined the
Mansfield University football staff as a full-time assistant where he will serve
as the offensive line coach for the Mountaineers. The announcement was made
today by head coach Chris Woods.
“We’re really pleased to have Luke join our
staff,” Woods said. “We think he’s a perfect fit for us. He has a strong
background in coaching the offense line at the Division I and III levels and is
an excellent recruiter.”
Harris served as a full-time assistant coach at Mt. Ida
College (MA) for the past three seasons where he was the Offensive Coordinator
and Recruiting Coordinator. In addition, Harris was responsible for the
offensive line during the 2000 and 2001 seasons while overseeing the
quarterbacks in 2002.
Prior to Mt. Ida, Harris was a full-time assistant
coach at Frostburg State University (MD) where he was responsible for the
offensive line and tight ends. Harris was a graduate assistant coach at Temple
University in 1999, working with the offensive line. He started his coaching
career as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Dickinson College, from
1996-98.
A 1996 graduate of Dickinson with a degree in English,
Harris had a stellar career for the Red Devils as a four-year starter on the
offensive line. A three-time All Centennial Conference selection at center,
Harris helped his team win three-conference championships and earn three NCAA
Division II berths during his career.
In 1998, Harris was awarded a masters degree in
communication from Shippensburg University.
A native of Philadelphia, Harris graduated from
Germantown Academy where he was a football and baseball standout.
The Mountaineers are current in the middle of spring
practice where concludes with the annual Red & Black Spring Game on
Saturday, April 26.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JOHNSTOWN LINEBACER JOSH WATSON
FIRST DAY SIGNING FOR MOUNTAINEERS
MANSFIELD
– Ferndale Area High School standout Josh Watson (Johnstown) has
signed a letter of intent to play football for the Mansfield University
Mountaineers. Today is the first day football high school student-athletes may
sign a letter of intent.
Watson
is a four-year starter at linebacker for Ferndale. He was named to the
Pennsylvania Football News All-State Team this season and was also named to the
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat All-Area Team.
Watson
is expected to play at a linebacker spot at Mansfield where he will join Dan
Holland, the NCAA Division II Linebacker of the Year.
An
NCAA Division II program and member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC), Mansfield competes in the PSAC Eastern Division and posted a
3-7 mark last season. Three of those six losses came by a total of eight points.
###
RELEASE DATE:
1/16/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN
HOLLAND NAMED PSAC FALL TOP TEN SCHOLAR-ATHLETE
Mansfield -- Mansfield University’s
standout linebacker Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) has been named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference’s group of outstanding student-athletes as the league’s Fall Top
Ten Awards winners. The group included five All-Americans, four conference
athletes of the year and three repeat selections from a year ago.
The Top Ten Awards,
selected by the PSAC’s sports information directors, recognize
student-athletes who distinguish themselves in the classroom, as well as in the
arena of competition. The conference designates Top Ten Award winners after each
of the sports seasons: fall, winter and spring.
To be a candidate
for the Top Ten Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.25
cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or key reserve with
legitimate athletic credentials. Only student-athletes from the fall sports
season are eligible for the Fall Top Ten Awards. Those sports are: men’s and
women’s soccer, football, field hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s and
women’s cross country.
Holland
carries a 3.42 GPA as a special education major. The Eastern Division Defensive
Player of the Year from his linebacker spot, Holland led the country with 14.1
tackles/gm and 8.5 solo tackles/gm. He was also second in the conference with
1.7 tackles for loss/gm. In addition to being named All-PSAC East for the second
straight season, Holland earned All-America accolades from Daktronics and
Football Gazette (1st team), D2Football.com (2nd team) and Associated Press (3rd
team). Football Gazette named Holland their “Linebacker of the Year.”
At the end of the academic year, the league announces the Scholar-Athlete
Awards, which recognize student-athletes on all PSAC squads with 3.25 cumulative
GPAs or better. Additionally, the PSAC names the top Male and Female
Scholar-Athlete of Year.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN
HOLLAND NAMED NCAA DIVISION II LINEBACKER OF THE YEAR – BECOMES FIRST FOOTBALL
PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO EARN CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
MANSFIELD – Mansfield University junior linebacker Dan
Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) capped off his extraordinary season
by being named the NCAA Division II National Linebacker of the Year by the
Football Gazette.
Holland also become the
first football player in Mountaineer history to become a consensus All-American
when he was named to First Team NCAA Division II honors by the Football Gazette.
“It’s a great and well deserved honor for Dan”, said
Mountaineer head coach Chris Woods. “But it doesn’t surprise
me. Nothing about Dan surprises me anymore. I considered him the best defensive
player in the nation before the season started and he justified that high
opinion. What you need to understand about Dan is that not only is he a great
instinctive football player, he just does everything right. He trains right, he
eats right, he practices right and he does academics right – and the best part
of it all is that he is just a junior.”
The Football Gazette All-American team is the last of the
four major NCAA Division II All-American Football teams to be announced. Holland
had already been named to Third Team AP Little All-American, Second Team
D2football.com All-American, First Team Daktronics All-American and now First
Team Football Gazette All-American honors.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern
Division Defensive Player of the Year, Holland led the nation in tackles (141)
and solo tackles (85) this season. In addition, he racked up 15.5 tackles for a
loss, six sacks and recovered three fumbles.
Holland, who has a 3.42 GPA in special education, also earned
All-PSAC Scholar-Athle. He is the son of Donna and Joe Holland of Scranton.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN HOLLAND NAMED TO FIRST TEAM
DAKTRONICS DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN FOOTBALL TEAM – TOP VOTE GETTER FOR
LINEBACKERS
MANSFIELD – Mansfield University standout Dan Holland
(Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) made history again this afternoon when he
became the first Mansfield University football player to earn first team
Daktronics Division II All-American Football team honors.
The Daktronics All-American team is the third of the four
NCAA Division II All-American football teams and is selected by the 150 NCAA
Division II sports information directors. Holland was the top vote getter on the
team at the linebacker position.
Holland was named earlier to second team honors by
D2football.com and third team honors by Associated Press on their Little
All-American team.
Holland was the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year this
season after leading NCAA Division II in tackles (145, 14.5 p/g) and in solo
tackles (85, 8.5 p/g). He became the first player in MU history to earn All-PSAC
East first team honors in each of his first three seasons. The junior has also
earned first team All-ECAC honors in each of his first three seasons.
Holland shattered the Mansfield University single season
record for tackles and solo tackles in a
season this year and has record more
than 100 tackles in each of his first three seasons.
So far this season, Holland has been named the Football
Gazette NCAA Division II National Defensive Player of the Week, PSAC East
Defensive Player of the Week, first team All-PSAC East, first team All-ECAC
South and first team All Northeast Regional in addition to his All-American
honors.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MU’S DAN HOLLAND NAMED TO AP
LITTLE ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Mansfield – The honors continue to pour in for Mansfield
University football standout Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara)
who was named to the AP Little All-American Football Team.
Holland,
a junior, was one of only nine linebackers to be named to the team earning third
team honors.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN HOLLAND NAMED TO D2Football.com
ALL-AMERICAN HONORS – ONE OF JUST SIX LINEBACKERS IN THE NATION TO EARN FIRST
OR SECOND TEAM RECOGNITION
Mansfield – Mansfield University standout Dan Holland
(Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) continued his run of post-season honors by
being named to the 2002 D2Football.com All-American team. Holland was named to
second team honors at linebacker. The team was released this afternoon.
D2Football.com
is the first of the four major All-American teams in NCAA Division II. The AP
Little All-American, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-American and Don Hansen
Football Gazette Division II All-American teams will be released later this
month.
“I can’t believe there is a better linebacker in the
nation than Dan,” said head coach Chris Woods. “It’s just
the first of what I’m sure is going to be a clean sweep of All-American honors
for him. I’ve never coached a player that works harder and prepares more than
Dan Holland. He is truly an exceptional football player and human being.”
Holland was the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year this
season after leading NCAA Division II in tackles (145, 14.5 p/g) and in solo
tackles (85, 8.5 p/g). He became the first player in MU history to earn All-PSAC
East first team honors in each of his first three seasons. The junior has also
earned first team All-ECAC honors in each of his first three seasons.
Holland shattered the Mansfield University single season
record for tackles and solo tackles in a season. He also earned the Football
Gazette NCAA Division II National Player of the Week honors during the season.
Only three players are chosen at linebacker on each of the
first and second team D2Football.com All-American teams. Holland is the only
linebacker from the East selected. He is just one of two juniors to earn first
or second team honors.
NCAA Division II consists of 157 teams from around the
nation.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN HOLLAND NAMED ALL-ECAC FOR
THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
MANSFIELD – Mansfield University standout Dan Holland
(Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) has been named to the 2002 ECAC Division II
All-Star team released today.
Holland was one of just 27 players honored by the ECAC
Division II head coaches and the only player who earned All ECAC honors in each
of his first three seasons.
The junior linebacker led the nation in tackles (145) and
solo tackles (85) this season while ranking second in the PSAC in tackles for a
loss (15.5) and sixth in sacks (6.0).
The 2002 PSAC East Defense Player of the Year, Holland is also a three-time All-PSAC East first team selection.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN HOLLAND NAMED PSAC EAST
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – HOLLAND BROTHERS, BRIAN DeCECCO AND RYAN
McCLELLAN EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
MANSFIELD – Mansfield University junior linebacker Dan
Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) became the first player in school
history to be named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern
Division Defensive Player of the Year. His brother Joe Holland
(Scranton/Bishop O’Hara), along with sophomores Brian DeCecco
(McKeesport/South Allegheny) and Ryan McClellan (Tyrone,
PA/Bellwood Antis) were selected to All-PSAC East second team honors.
The All-PSAC Football Team was
selected by the PSAC head coaches and released today.
“Dan certainly earned this honor”, said Mountaineer head
coach Chris Woods. “Because he is such a skilled player, it
sometimes get overlooked that his greatness comes from determination. Dan works
harder than anyone, both on and off the field. He is the complete package – a
great athlete, great student, and great person.”
Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara), who also earned first-team All-PSAC
East honors for the third straight season, led the nation in tackles (141) and
solo tackles (85) while ranking among the top five in the PSAC in tackles for a
loss (15.5-63) and sacks (6.0-38). He also recovered three fumbles and blocked a
kick.
The first player in school history to
earn first-team All-PSAC East honors in each of his first three seasons, Holland
has racked up 365 tackles in his career, including 239 solos. He holds the
school career record for tackles for a loss with 47.5 while also recording 16
sacks.
Dan’s older brother Joe Holland (Scranton/Bishop
O’Hara) earned second-team All-PSAC East honors at defensive end. Joe
recorded 26 tackles on the season including 18 solo’s. He also had seven
tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
It marks the first time in school history a pair of brothers
have earned All-PSAC East honors in the same season.
Sophomore Brian DeCecco (McKeesport/South Allegheny)
earned second team honors at noseguard. The 5-10, 283 pound sophomore led the
defensive line in tackles this season with 34, including 18 solo’s. He also
had a tackle for a loss and forced a fumble.
Ryan McClellan (Tyrone, PA/Bellwood Antis)
anchored the offensive line at his left tackle spot. Despite playing much of the
season with a broken hand, McClellan’s protection of quarterback Travis Motley
resulted in the PSAC’s second best passing attack.
WEST CHESTER, PA – Ten seconds – that’s all that separated Mansfield from defeating West Chester for the first time in school history in a 9-7 loss in the mud and rain at West Chester’s Farrell Saturday afternoon in the 2002 season finale.
Mansfield held a 7-6 lead with 2:18 seconds to play and had West Chester at their own 43-yard line before West Chester quarterback Bob Findora put up a wounded duck throw that was pulled down by Cory DeForest to put the Golden Rams on the Mansfield 11-yard line.
With fifteen seconds left, on fourth down, West Chester elected to attempt an 18-yard field goal after missing two earlier in the day. Dan Welbourne’s kick split the uprights to give West Chester the 9-7 decision. Welbourne, who had one kick blocked and missed a 28-yard attempt minutes earlier gave the Golden Rams their fifth win of the season.
“It’s an incredibly tough loss,” said Mounties head coach Chris Woods following the loss. “It’s been a season of big plays and we just couldn’t contain West Chester on that final pass play.
Both teams were bound by a scoreless tie at halftime until Fidora connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter. West Chester failed to convert the extra point leaving the Mounties to within six.
Mansfield capped off a five play, 37-yard drive four seconds into the fourth quarter when John Loiselle found the end zone on a second effort from two-yards out.
Mansfield quarterback Travis Motley threw for 125 yards while completing 12 of 25 pass attempts in driving rain and wind all day.
Steve Smith came out in the second half and quickly became
Motley’s favorite target, pulling in three catches for 71 yards. Smith became
only the ninth Mountaineer in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard career
receiving mark. Smith came into the game needing only 11-yards to reach the
milestone.
In the first quarter, after a bizarre turn of events, West
Chester running back Mike Eckmeyer was ejected from the game after officials
measured his cleats and found them to be longer than the legal limit ½ inch.
Eckmeyer rushed for 69 yards in the first quarter, on ¾ inch cleats, and
accounted for 70% of the total offense in the first half for West Chester.
Mansfield would hold the lead until the final ten seconds
of the game when West Chester connected on the game winning 18-yard field goal.
With seven seconds left, Mansfield had one shot to go 57-yards and used a hook and lateral play from freshman Mike Zulkowski to Steve Smith. Smith and Zulkowski went 15-yards to the West Chester 43-yard line to end the game.
Mountie linebacker Dan Holland set a new school
record for single season tackles surpassing Steve Radocaj and Ricki Kimball
(133) as he recorded a game-high 16 tackles to finish the season with 141 stops.
Red-shirt freshman Randy Reinert added seven tackles including six solo.
The Mountaineers end the season at 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the PSAC East. Three of Mansfield’s losses came by a combined total of eight points with six of the seven losses have been by 11 or less points.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES FALL TO BLOOMSBURG TO END PSAC TITLE HOPES – MOTLEY PASSES FOR 196 YARDS
MANSFIELD
– The Mountaineer seniors came to play in their final home game at Karl Van
Norman field; however, it was not enough to overcome the 23rd ranked
huskies from Bloomsburg University, 17-6.
Rocco
Forgione caught seven passes for 117 yards including a 45-yard touchdown to lead
Bloomsburg University to a 17-6 win over Mansfield University in PSAC East
football at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.
The
win clinches at least a tie for the PSAC East title for Bloomsburg. The Huskies
have now won at their third straight PSAC East title.
Bloomsburg
open the scoring when Tim Oliver capped off a 76-yard drive with a 21-yard field
goal at the 14:45 mark of the second quarter.
Forgione
scored on a 45-yard pass from quarterback Andrew Hermann nine minutes later to
give Bloomsburg a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Bloomsburg
would increase its lead to 17-0 late in the third quarter on a 22-yard run by
Mike Ceroli. Mansfield would cu the score to17-6 with eight minutes to play when
Mike Zulkowski caught an 18-yard pass from quarterback Travis Motley.
Mansfield
missed two field goals, including a 32-yard attempt that was blocked early in
the third quarter.
Herrmann
completed 14 of 29 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown for Bloomsburg. Travis
Motley led Mansfield completing 18 of 39 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown.
Arnaldo Santiago had eight catches for 104 yards for Mansfield.
Dan
Holland had a game high 18 tackles and sack to lead the Mountaineer defense with
Chemell Hampton ranking up a season high 11 tackles including 3 ½ for a loss
and a sack. Daricus Haynes was credited with eight tackles and Canton’s Guy
Kapichok with seven.
Bloomsburg
ends the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and 5-1 in the PSAC East.
Mansfield falls to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC East and will close the
season at West Chester next Saturday.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: RYAN GEISHAUSER NAMED PSAC EAST
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – SOPHOMORE RUNS FOR 104-YARDS AND SCORES THREE
TD’S IN WIN OVER CHEYNEY
MANSFIELD – Ryan Geishauser (Altoona/Bishop Guilfoyle)
has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division
Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in a 49-17 win over
Cheyney University Saturday afternoon.
A
sophomore, Geishauser had the most productive day of his collegiate career at
Cheyney running for 104 yards on 23 carries including touchdown runs of 4, 7,
and 2 yards. In addition, he caught
a team high four passes for 59.
Although limited by injuries early in the season, Geishauser
has rushed for 225 yards on 67 carries this season while catching 22 passes for
183 yards and two touchdowns.
The son of Beth and George Geishauser of Altoona, Ryan is
majoring in business at Mansfield.
It marks a school record fourth time a Mountaineer has been
chosen as PSAC East Player of the Week this year with Travis Motley and Mike
Zulkowski earning Offensive Player of the Week and Dan Holland earning Defensive
Player of the Week by the PSAC earlier in the season.
Mansfield is 3-5 overall on the season and 2-2 in the PSAC
East. It marks the most wins for the Mountaineers since 1996 and most conference
victories since 1994. Mansfield will host Bloomsburg University this Saturday.
###
MANSFIELD DEFEATS CHEYNEY, 49-17
CHEYNEY – Sophomore Ryan Geishauser (Altoona/Bishop Guilfoyle) ran for a career best 104 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mansfield University to a 49-17 win over Cheyney University (0-9;0-4) at O’Shields-Stevenson Stadium Saturday afternoon in PSAC East action.
The win gives the Mountaineers a 3-5 overall record and 2-2 in the PSAC East. It is the most wins for Mansfield since the 1996 season and the most conference wins since 1994.
“We knew coming in that we’d have to score early and protect the ball,” said Mansfield head coach Chris Woods. “For the most part, we were able to do that and control the tempo of the game. Ryan Geishauser had a strong all around game for us and Travis Motley continues to show why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the PSAC East.”
The Mountaineers scored on the opening series of the game capping off a 60-yard, four minute drive that was sustained by a 17-yard scramble by Motley on a third and 16. Three plays later Motley took a quarterback draw five yard up the middle for the score. The extra point attempt failed.
Mansfield would score again on their next series set up by a 40-yard pass by Motley over the shoulder of Geishauser to the Cheyney four-yard line. The next play Geishauser found the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.
In the first quarter, Mansfield gained 126 yards in total offense while holding Cheyney to only one total yard of offense.
The Mounties would increase their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter on and eight-yard run by Geishauser.
Cheyney cut the margin to 21-7 when Diore Paire scored on a one-yard run.
The Mountaineers would retaliate when freshman Mike Zulkowski pulled down a 42-yard pass from Motley in the end zone, increasing their lead to 28-7 and would score again before halftime when Motley connected with Quame Patterson on a 38-yard pass to give the Mounties a 35-7 lead going into the half.
Cheyney came out of the half and went 63-yards in seven plays to cut the score to 35-14 when Lacy Lancaster connected with Ed Giddings for a 17-yard touchdown.
Geishauser continued his career day with a two-yard run into the end zone with 9:47 left in the third quarter.
Cheyney could not find the first down and was forced to attempt a 27-yard field goal, which was good.
Mansfield capitalized on a botched Cheyney punt when the Wolves punter was downed on the Cheyney 28 yard line. Three plays later freshman Jason Brobst scored his first career touchdown on a 10-yard run giving the Mountaineers the 49-17 final.
Motley, who played the first three quarters, finished the day completing 17 of 28 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. He becomes only the second player in Mountaineer history to surpass the 5,000-yard milestone in career passing. He now has 5,262 yards.
In addition to his 104 yards rushing, Geishauser caught four passes for 59 yards.
Tight end Eddie Van Buren had four receptions for 52 yards. Senior Steve Smith finished the day with three receptions for 30 yards. Zulkowski had two for 66 yards including a touchdown. Patterson pulled in two passes for 56 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception.
The Mountaineer defense limited Cheyney to 60 yards on the ground. Junior Dan Holland had eight tackles and a sack for the Mountaineers. Joe Frick had seven tackles including one for a loss and an interception. Daricus Haynes had five tackles along with Joe Holland. Holland added two sacks. Drew Grieshober had four tackles including two sacks and a forced fumble.
Dan Holland becomes the first player in school history to record three 100-tackle seasons in his first three seasons as a Mountaineer.
The Mountaineers improve to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the conference. Cheyney falls to 0-9 overall and 0-4 in the conference. Mansfield, which still has an outside shot to tie for the PSAC East crown, will host division leaders Bloomsburg next Saturday, and travel to West Chester to end the season.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES JOE BENNETT WILL MISS THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON
– MEDICAL REDSHIRT WILL GIVE HIM TWO MORE YEARS
MANSFIELD
– Mansfield University wide receiver Joe Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Notre
Dame) will not play for the Mountaineers the rest of this season and
apply for a medical red-shirt.
Bennett,
who has been sidelined since suffering an injury in practice after the first
game of the season, decided it would be better to miss the final three games of
the season and allow his injury to fully heal.
An
All-PSAC East selection last season when he caught 53 passes for 819 yards,
Bennett had two catches for 36 yards in the season opener against East
Stroudsburg.
By
applying for a medical red shirt, Bennett will have two full seasons of
eligibility remaining.
In
his career at Mansfield, Bennett has 76 catches for 1,200 yards and seven
touchdowns in 16 games.
The
Mountaineers will travel to Cheyney University this Saturday for a PSAC East
matchup against the Wolves.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES FALL SHORT TO CALIFORNIA (PA) 17-9
MANSFIELD 9 CALIFORNIA (PA) 17
CALIFORNIA, PA – California's RJ Abercrombie returned a kickoff 83 yards early in the 4th quarter and California held on to the lead to beat Mansfield 17-9 in late night football action at Adamson Stadium.
California opened the scoring when Mike Dalicandro kicked a 38-yard field goal at the 8:15 mark of the first quarter.
Mansfield took the kickoff and drove to the California one-yard line, but
Mike Zulkowski had the ball stripped out of his hands going into the endzone and Cal returned it to their own 37. The Mountaineers had another scoring opportunity dashed when a 27-yard field goal by Keefe Richards was blocked with 7:52 remaining in the half.
California mounted a 80-yard drive capped off by a seven yard pass from quarterback Brandon LeDonne to Gravin Graves with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
Mansfield cut the lead to 10-3 after Joe Frick intercepted a pass at the six-yard line and returned to the California 20. Keefe Richards kicked a 27-yard field goal for Mansfield.
But California would come right back with R.J. Abercrombie retuned the ensuing kickoff 83-yards for at touchdown with 10:59 in the fourth quarter to give the Vulcans a 17-3 lead.
Mansfield came right back on an 84 yard drive with Ryan Geishauser pulling in a 31-yard touchdown pass with 9:02 to play, but the extra point attempt was blocked cutting the score to 17-9.
The Mountaineers got one last chance starting from their own 35 with 2:07 to play and moved to the California 16-yard. An incompletion, sack and incompletion put Mansfield in a fourth and 18 with 1:02 remaining. But Motley was sacked to end the Mountaineers chances.
Travis Motley passed for 291 yards and a touchdown while Dan Holland led the defense with 15 tackles. Mansfield's Joe Frick had two interceptions for 86 yards while on offence Mike Zulkowski had six catches for 102 yards.
The Mounties next game is Saturday against the Wolves of Cheney University at 1p.m.
###
RELEASE DATE: 10/12/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KUTZTOWN STAGES SECOND HALF RALLY TO DOWN MANSFIELD 32-22 IN PSAC EAST FOOTBALL – MOTLEY PASSES FOR THREE TOUCHDOWNS AND DAN HOLLAND RACKS UP 16 TACKLES IN LOSS
MANSFIELD – Kutztown won the game of comebacks rallying from a 22-15 halftime deficit with 17-second half points to down Mansfield 32-22 in a PSAC East showdown at University Field Saturday afternoon.
The Mountaineers fell behind 15-0 at the end of the first quarter with Kutztown taking advantage of MU turnovers and penalties to hit a 25-yard field goal a minute and a half into the game before scoring on a pair of one-yard touchdown runs.
But Mansfield would storm back in the second quarter with senior Quame Patterson capping off an 18-play, 80 yard drive by catching a three-yard touchdown pass from Travis Motley with 9:23 left in the second quarter.
The Mountaineers scored again less than two minutes later, after Luke Alex recovered a Kutztown fumble at the 32-yard line, with Steve Smith hauling in a 21-yard strike from Motley to cut the score to 15-13.
Mansfield would take the lead on its next series when Motley threw his third touchdown pass of the quarter, this time for nine-yards to Mike Zulkowksi and a 19-15 lead after the extra point was missed.
Mansfield would increase its lead to 22-15 when Jeff Mimm hit a 29-yard field goal with: 44 remaining in the half.
Kutztown would stage its own rally in the third quarter scoring with quarterback Rob Flowers hitting Trevor Smith with a 50-scoring pass to tie the score at 22-22.
Mansfield drove to the Kutztown 27-yard line on their next series before turning the ball over on downs. Flowers then found Tony Bria with a 37-yard TD pass to give Kutztown a 29-22 advantage. A 27-yard field goal by Matt Scartozzi midway through the fourth quarter sealed the win for Kutztown.
Travis Motley connected on 27 of 43 passes for 217 yards and three touchdown passes while John Loiselle rushed for 62 yards and accounted for another 62-yards with six catches for Mansfield. Steve Smith caught four passes for 43 yards with Quame Patterson grabbing four catches for 37 yards.
Dan Holland led the Mountaineer defense with 16 tackles and forced a fumble with Chamell Hampton was credited with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and two pass breakups. Joe Frick had seven tackles.
Mansfield falls to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC East. Kutztown improves to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC East.
The Mountaineers have a bye next Saturday before traveling to California (PA) University on Oct. 26.
###
Football Game Preview
GAME SIX
MOUNTAINEERS at Kutztown
|
PSAC East Standings |
PSAC |
OVERALL |
|
E. Stroudsburg |
2-0 |
3-1 |
|
West Chester |
1-0 |
2-3 |
|
Mansfield |
1-1 |
2-3 |
|
Cheyney |
0-0 |
0-5 |
|
Bloomsburg |
0-1 |
3-2 |
|
Kutztown |
0-1 |
1-4 |
|
Millersville |
0-1 |
0-4 |
Saturday, October 12, 2002
1:05 p.m.
University Field – Kutztown, PA
RADIO
The game will broadcast live to the Twin Tiers by Wiggle 100. Mike Powers will handle the play-by-play. The pregame show will start at 12:45 p.m. The broadcast can be heard around the world over the Internet at www.mansfield.edu or www.wiggle.com.
|
|
2002 Schedule |
|
|
Sept. 7 |
E. Stroudsburg |
L 31-14 |
|
Sept. 14 |
@ Buffalo State |
W 20-19 |
|
Sept. 21 |
Westminster |
L 24-21 |
|
Sept. 28 |
Lock Haven |
L 33-30 |
|
Oct. 5 |
Millersville |
W 12-6 |
|
Oct 12 |
@ Kutztown |
1:05 p.m. |
|
Oct. 19 |
Open |
|
|
Oct. 26 |
@ California (Pa.) |
7 p.m. |
|
Nov. 2 |
@ Cheyney |
1 p.m. |
|
Nov. 9 |
Bloomsburg |
1 p.m. |
|
Nov. 16 |
@ West Chester |
1 p.m. |
THE GAME
The Mountaineers hit the road after a thrilling 12-6 homecoming victory over Millersville. The win ups the Mountaineers record to 1-1 in the PSAC and 2-3 overall. Kutztown lost last weekend to division rival West Chester 31-24. The loss drops Kutztown to 0-1 in the PSAC and 1-4 overall.
THE SERIES
The contest marks the 57th meeting between the two rival schools. Kutztown holds a narrow 29-24-3 series advantage. The last meeting was on October 28, 2001, with Kutztown winning 28-7.
THE COACHES
Chris Woods is
in his second season as head coach of the Mountaineers. His record at Mansfield
is 4-11. Before coming to Mansfield, Woods was one of the top defensive
coordinators in Division III at Wittenberg University.
Dave Keeny enters
his fifth season as the Golden Bears head coach. His record at Kutztown is
23-23. Prior to taking over the reins as head coach, Keeny served as
KU’s offensive coordinator for five seasons. He was the associate head coach
from 1996 to 1997.
LAST WEEK
It was a great day to be a Mountaineer. Mansfield rallied
to defeat Millersville 12-6. It marked the first time since 1968 that Mansfield
had beaten Millersville at Karl Van Norman Field.
Freshman Mike Zulkowski caught a seven-yard pass from Travis Motley with 4:42 remaining in the game to lift Mansfield to a 12-6 win over Millersville as part of Homecoming at Karl Van Norman Field. Millersville took a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter on a one-yard plunge by Chris Meyers following a 25-yard interception return by Braden Steffy. The extra point attempt failed.
Mansfield got on the board on the next series on a safety by Chamell Hampton and closed the gap to 6-5 when Jeff Mimm kicked a 34-yard field goal with no time remaining at the end of the first quarter. Although they trailed 6-5 at halftime, the Mountaineers dominated the first half statistically racking up 144 yards in total offense while holding Millersville to just 34 total yards.
The two teams played a scoreless second half until Zulkowski caught Motley’s pass for the win.
Travis Motley completed 17 of 33 passes for 222 yards while John Loiselle rushed for 92 yards on 33 carries. Zulkowski had five catches for 59 yards with Arnaldo Santiago pulling down four catches for 82 yards. Steve Smith had three grabs for 35 yards and Kody Crispell two for 25 yards and 33 yards returning punts and kickoffs.
The
Mountaineer defense answered the call all afternoon limiting Millersville to a
season low 153 yards in total offense. Dan Holland led Mansfield with 15
tackles. Ricky Woods had seven stops followed by Randy Reinert and Conway Brown
with five each.
ABOUT THE
MOUNTAINEERS
During the 2001 football season, coach Woods had to play inexperienced underclassmen. That experience is paying off in 2002, as evident in the strong performances against Buffalo State, Lock Haven, and Millersville. The Mountaineers are still young but are very experienced. Of the 22 starters last Saturday, 17 were underclassman. If they can avoid the big plays and turnovers, the Mountaineers will make some noise in the PSAC eastern division.
Junior quarterback Travis Motley leads the potent aerial attack. Motley passed for 222 yards against Millersville giving him 1278 yards on the season. With all the injuries to the Mountaineers receiving, Motley has to spread the wealth to 12 different receivers. Senior Steve Smith (23 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns) has become the go-to receiver. Also making big receptions are sophomore Arnaldo Santiago (22 grabs for 313 yards and two touchdowns), freshman Mike Zulkowski (16 catches for 308 yards and four touchdowns)
Since the injury to Ryan Geishauser, the Mountie running attack has fallen on the shoulders of John Loiselle (95 carries for 354 yards). Loiselle looks forward to the challenge. Opening up holes and protecting Motley’s back are offensive linemen Ryan McClellan, Chris Ferris, Steve Pozella, Al Gulitus and Lucas Ingersoll.
The defense should be the heart of 2002 football team. With only two senior starters Bob Evans and Conway Brown, the Mountaineer defense must avoid costly mistakes and continue to swarm to the ball. Linebackers Dan Holland (68 tackles, 42 solo, 8.5 TLF), Chamell Hampton (24 tackles), Ricky Woods (27 tackles) and Randy Reinart (36 tackles, 8.5 TLF, 3.5 sacks) lead the charge. Evans (11 tackles, three sacks, one blocked FG), sophomore Brian DeCecco (15 tackles) and freshman Mike Donati (17 tackles, 3 TLF, one sack) anchor the defensive line. Senior cornerback Brown leads the secondary with two interceptions. Sophomore strong safety Joe Frick has 24 tackles, two fumble recoveries and three pass break-ups.
ABOUT KUTZTOWN
UNIVERSITY
Kutztown enters the game on a four game losing skid since defeating Elizabeth City (NC) opening day. The Golden Bears enter the game with a balanced offensive attack, averaging 124 yards on the ground and 156 through the air. The ground game is led by freshman running back Stephen Gammage (84 carries for 292 yards, four TD’s), sophomore Atiba Kenyatta (46 carries for 248 yards). The passing attack is led by sophomore Rob Flowers (completed 73 out of 143 passes for six TD’s and eight interceptions). Flowers’ favorite receivers are freshman Trevor Smith (24 catches for 295 yards and two TD’s) and sophomore Mike Conner (13 catches for 203 yards and one TD). The Golden Bear defensive is led by senior linebacker Earl Thorton (36 tackles). Junior cornerback Andre Brown has four interceptions. Senior defensive lineman Corey Benson has recorded 6.5 sacks in five games.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Mansfield will be looking to cut down on giving up big plays and reduce turnovers. The Mountaineers hope to put more points on the board, especially inside the redzone. Quarterback Travis Motley makes the offense run and John Loiselle has proven to be a punishing runner.
QUOTES FROM CHRIS
WOODS
On last week’s
game with Millersville
“I’ve
been part of some very big wins in my coaching career,” Mountaineers head
coach Chris Woods said after the game, “But that maybe the biggest ever. It
wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t easy, but this team and coach staff has worked
very hard to turn things around here and today’s game was a big step for
us.”
On
the Kutztown Game
“They are a much better program than their record indicates with some big play guys on both sides of the ball. This game will be a big challenge for us and we will need to play our best to win.”
Notes – The Mountaineers last four games have been
decided by a total of 13 points combined … Dan Holland broke the school record
for tackles for a loss and now has 40.5 in his career … Holland is also second
in the nation in total tackles and solo tackles … Travis Motley has 33 career
touchdown passes second to Bill Bair’s 56.
###
Release Date: 10/05/02
For Immediate Release: Travis Motley hits Mike Zulkowski with 4:42 Remaining To Lift Mansfield to 12-6 Win In Homecoming Thriller – First Win Over Millersville at Karl Van Norman Field Since 1968
Mansfield
University
12
Millersville 6
Mansfield – Mike Zulkowski caught a seven-yard pass from Travis Motley with 4:42 remaining in the game to lift Mansfield to a 12-6 win over Millersville in PSAC East football action Saturday afternoon as part of Homecoming at Karl Van Norman Field.
It
was the first time since 1968, Mansfield had defeated Millersville at Karl Van
Norman Field.
“I’ve
been part of some very big wins in my coaching career,” Mountaineers head
coach Chris Woods said after the game, “But that maybe the biggest ever. It
wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t easy, but this team and coach staff has worked
very hard to turn things around here an today’s game was a big step for us.”
Millersville
took a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter on a one-yard plunge by Chris Meyers
following a 25-yard interception return by Braden Steffy. The extra point
attempt failed.
Mansfield
got on the board on the next series on a safety by Chamell Hampton and closed
the gap to 6-5 when Jeff Mimm kicked a 34-yard field goal with no time remaining
at the end of the first quarter.
Although
they trailed 6-5 at halftime, the Mountaineers dominated the first half
statistically racking up 144 yards in total offense while holding Millersville
to just 34 total yards.
The
two teams played a scoreless second half until Zulkowski caught Motley’s pass
for the win.
“That
was a designed play,” Motley said after the game. “It was as much a jump
shot to Mike (6-7, Mike Zulkowski) who just outreached two defenders for the
catch and ran it in.”
“We
knew that if we hung in there something would final break our way,” Motley
said. “We have been so close the last two weeks (three points losses to
Westminster and Lock Haven) that we just believed in our selves and believed we
could win today. It was great to do it not only for us, but for the former
players who came back for homecoming.”
Travis
Motley completed 17 of 33 passes for 222 yards while John Loiselle rushed for 92
yards on 33 carries. Zulkowski had five catches for 59 yards with Arnaldo
Santiago pulling down four catches for 82 yards. Steve Smith had three grabs for
35 yards and Kody Crispell (Ithaca,NY/Ithaca) two for 25 yards.
The Mountaineer defense
answered the call all afternoon limiting Millersville to a season low 153 yards
in total offense. Dan Holland led Mansfield with 15 tackles. Ricky Woods had
seven stops followed by Randy Reinert and Conway Brown with five each.
Mansfield improves to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the PSAC while Millersville goes to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the PSA
Mansfield
– The Mansfield University Mountaineers dominated the game statistically, but
a fourth quarter comeback came up just short in a 33-30 loss to PSAC West rival
Lock Haven University at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.
The
Mountaineers out gained Lock Haven 453-286 in total offense and racked up 23
first downs to Lock Haven’s 12 while holding a nine minute possession time
advantage.
But
turnovers and big plays hurt the Mountaineers all day long.
Senior
Steve Smith (Welland, ONT/Notre Dame) had the best game of his career
catching seven passes for 127-yards and three touchdowns for the Mountaineers.
Junior quarterback Travis Motley survived a shaky start to compete 25 of
56 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns, but was intercepted four times.
John
Loiselle
picked up 66-yards on 11 carries while tailback Ryan Geishauser had
65-yards on 13 carries.
Dan
Holland led
the defense with 12 tackles, including eight solo and three for a loss. Freshman
Randy Reinert had seven tackles with fellow linebacker Chamell Hampton
in on seven stops.
It
marks the second week in a row the Mountaineers have lost by three points.
Marcus
Burkley caught his first TD pass from Tim Storina on Lock Haven’s first
possess and Carey 80-yard punt return gave Lock Haven a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Steve
Smith caught a 15-yard pass from Travis Motley in the second quarter to put the
Mountaineers on the board and cut the score to 14-7 at halftime.
Marcus
Walker scored on a 10-yard run following an interception early in the third
quarter to put Lock Haven on top 21-7. Mansfield came right back and scored on a
22-yard field goal by Keefe Richards to cut the score to 21-10 going into
the fourth quarter.
Burkley
then caught a 60-yard pass from Rob Kristiniak early in the fourth quarter to
put Lock Haven up 27-10. Mansfield came right back with Steve Smith catching a
23-yard pass from Motley to cut the score to 27-17.
Justin
Marshall would then score on a three-yard run after a failed on side attempt to
put Lock Haven up 33-17.
But
Mansfield would storm back scoring two touchdowns in the final 3:09 of the game
with Arnaldo Santiago catching a four-yard touchdown and Steve Smith a 34-yard
TD pass both from Motley.
Lock
Haven improves to 2-2 on the season while Mansfield falls to 1-3.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES MIKE ZULKOWSKI NAMED PSAC
EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MANSFIELD – Freshman Mike Zulkowski
(Shenandoah/Shenandoah) has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week for his
outstanding performance against Westminster College last Saturday.
Zulkowski, starting for the first time in his collegiate
career because of injuries to the Mountaineers top three receivers, caught eight
passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns against Westminster.
Zulkowski tied the school record for touchdown catches in a
game while the 214 yards were the second most in school history. He becomes the
first Mountaineer freshman to earn All PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week
honors since Dean Stewart last accomplished the feat in 1989.
Mansfield is 1-2 overall and host Lock Haven University this
Saturday.
-MU
2002-
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES DROP 24-21 HEARTBREAKER TO WESTMINSTER IN JOSH
PALMER FUND PIGSKIN CLASSIC – FRESHMAN MIKE ZULKOWSKI CATCHES EIGHT PASSES FOR
214 YARDS AND THREE TOUCHDOWNS
MANSFIELD – Westminster College rallied for 10 points in the final eight minutes of the game to down Mansfield University 24-21 victory in the Josh Palmer Fund Pigskin Classic at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.
After
Westminster took the lead on a 25-yard field goal, the Mountaineers drove down
to the Westminster nine-yard line with just over a minute to play, but a 27-yard
field goal attempt went wide right.
“I’ll
take the responsibly for the loss,” said head coach Chris Woods. “It
wasn’t the field goal attempt or anything else. The game should not have been
that close.”
The
loss threw a damper on an outstanding performance by freshman wide receiver Mike
Zulkowski (Shenandoah/Shenandoah). The 6-7, wideout, who started his first
collegiate game after starters Joe Bennett, Arnaldo Santiago and Quame Patterson
missed the game with injuries, caught eight passes for 214 yards and tied the
school record with three touchdown catches. The 214 yards are the second most in
a single game in school history and a freshman record.
“Mike
really stepped up for us this afternoon and put us in a position to win the
game,” said Woods.
Quarterback
Travis Motley connected on 21 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns as
the Mountaineers held a 348-270 advantage in total offense.
Mansfield
got on the board first when freshman Mike Zulkowski caught a 17-yard pass from
Motley on the first series of the game.
Westminster
came right back with Scott Froelich capping off a 74-yard drive with a 15-yard
touchdown run. Mansfield would retake the lead when Zulkowski and Motley hooked
up again, this time for a seven-yard score. Froelich then tied up the score
14-14 at half scoring on a 25-yard run.
Mansfield
would retake the lead when Zulkowski caught an 87-yard pass from Motley with
9:22 to go in the third quarter.
With
7:55 to play, Westminster tied the game when Steve Scott caught a six-yard pass
from Kevin Huber. The touchdown came after the Mountaineers were flagged for
running into the kicker on a field goal attempt. Westminster got the ball back
following a recovery on the kickoff. Josh Simpson hit a 25-yard field goal to
put the Titans ahead 24-21.
Mansfield
would drive to the Westminster nine-yard line, but a 27-yard field goal with
1:10 to play went wide right.
Ryan
Geishauser had four catches for 28 yards and also ran for 16 yards. Steve Smith
had three catches for 20 yards.
Dan
Holland led the defense with 14 tackles while freshman Randy Reinert added 13
tackles with 1.5 sacks.
The
Mountaineers fall to 1-2 on the season while Westminster improves to 1-1.
Mansfield University will host Lock Haven next Saturday.
Today’s Game
RELEASE
DATE: 9/17/02
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN HOLLAND NAMED NCAA DIVISION II DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF
THE WEEK – JUNIOR FIRST PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO EARN NATIONAL DEFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
MANSFIELD
– Junior linebacker Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara)
become the first football player in school history to be named the NCAA Division
II Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in the
Mountaineers 20-19 victory over Buffalo State last Saturday.
Holland,
who was also named PSAC East Player of the Week, shared the National
Weekly Football Gazette NCAA Division II Defensive Player
of the Week award with Freddy Del Villar of Shepherd (WV) College and William
Moody of Carson-Newman (TN) College. There are 149 football programs in NCAA
Division II.
Holland
racked up a game high 15 tackles, including 10 solo’s and three for a loss. He
also had a sack for 11-yards, recovered a fumble and blocked what would have
been the tying extra point kick with less than four minutes remaining in the
game.
For
the season, Holland has a team best 27 tackles, 16 of them solo, with two sacks,
a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and blocked kick.
A
two-time All-PSAC East selecting and All-American, Holland earned PSAC East
Defensive Player of the Week honors for a school record third time in his
career. The son of Donna and Joe Holland of Scranton, Dan is majoring in
criminal justice administration at Mansfield.
-MU
2002-
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES DAN HOLLAND AND TRAVIS MOTLEY NAMED PSAC EAST
DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MANSFIELD
– Mansfield University juniors Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara)
and Travis Motley (York/Central York) were named the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week for
their outstanding performances in a 20-19 win over Buffalo State last Saturday.
Holland
racked up a game high 15 tackles, including 10 solo’s and three for a loss. He
also had a sack for 11-yards, recovered a fumble and blocked what would have
been the tying extra point kick with less than four minutes remaining in the
game.
For
the season, Holland has a team best 27 tackles, 16 of them solo, with two sacks,
a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and blocked kick.
A
two-time All-PSAC East selecting and All-American, Holland earned PSAC East
Defensive Player of the Week honors for a school record third time in his
career. The son of Donna and Joe Holland of Scranton, Dan is majoring in
criminal justice administration at Mansfield.
Motley
was exceptional in the win over Buffalo State, completing 22 of 35 passes for
234 yards including two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown to help account
for all three Mansfield touchdowns in the game and did not throw an
interception. For the season, Motley has completed 43 of 72 passes for 436 yards
and three touchdowns.
The
son of Sue and George Motley of York, Travis is majoring in business at
Mansfield.
The
Mountaineers are 1-1 on the season and host Westminster College this Saturday.
-MU
2002-
MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY 20 BUFFALO STATE 19
Buffalo, NY – John Loiselle (Norwich,NY/Norwich) ran for a career high 145 yards and Travis Motley connected on 22 of 35 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns to lead Mansfield University to a 20-19 win over Buffalo State College at Coyer Field Saturday afternoon.
“We had some guys step up today and John Loiselle was one of them,” head coach Chris Woods said. “John had the opportunity to be the man after our starting tailback was out with an injury and he took full advantage of that opportunity. That was one of the deciding differences in the game.”
Although holding a deciding difference in total offense (379-257 in total offensive yards), the game wasn’t decided until Buffalo State missed a 21-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock.
Mansfield broke a 13-13 halftime tie when Travis Motley scored from one yard out early in the third quarter.
Buffalo State would rally to cut the score to 20-19 on a 1-yard run by Felix Joyner, but the extra point attempt was blocked by Mansfield’s Dan Holland.
“Dan Holland IS a football player and one of the best in the country,” said Woods about the junior middle linebacker. “When you really need a big play, Dan always seems to be there.”
Holland racked up a game high 15 tackles, including 10 solo, with three tackles for a loss, a sack, fumble recovery and blocked the tying extra point attempt.
Buffalo State drew first blood late in the first quarter after recovering a MU fumble at the Mountaineer 23 yard line. Five plays later Felix Joyner carried it in from three yards out to give Buffalo State a 7-0 advantage with :23 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Mountaineers came right back the next series keyed by a big 35-yard catch by Arnaldo Santiago from Travis Motley. Two plays later, Motley again found Santiago for a 10-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good giving Buffalo State a 7-6 lead.
Buffalo State would scored again on their next possession on a 20 yard pass from quarterback to Marc Hoppy for a 13-6 lead after a missed extra point.
Mansfield would tie the score after Jason Zigler blocked a punt at the Buffalo State 15. Two plays later on a 3rd and one from the one-yard line, Motley rolled out and hit Steve Smith for a touchdown.
After holding Buffalo State to three-and-out to start the second half, the Mountaineers mounted a 45-yard drive keyed by runs by John Loiselle with Travis Motley scoring from one yard out giving the Mountaineers at 20-13 lead with 10:19 remaining in the third quarter.
DeCecco with a two-yard stop for a loss followed by an 11-yard sack and incomplete forced a 70-yard punt by Ryan Cox giving the Mountaineers a 1-10 from their own four with 1:37 to play.
Mansfield went three and out giving Buffalo State a first down at the MU 27 with :32 seconds remaining and no time outs.
With :22 seconds left, Buffalo State hit a 23-yard pass to the Mountaineer four-yard line. A running play resulted in a fumble recovered by Buffalo State who then spike the ball to set up the winning field. However the field goal went wide right giving Mansfield its first win of the season.
###
RELEASE DATE: 9/7/02
EAST STROUDSBURG 31 MANSFIELD 14
MANSFIELD – Big Plays and turnovers hurt the Mansfield University Mountaineers in 31-14 loss to East Stroudsburg in the opening game of the season for both teams Saturday afternoon at Karl Van Norman Field.
Mike Yanocha returned the opening kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown and East Stroudsburg scored all 31 of its points in the first 23 minutes of the game. Mansfield turned the ball over four times in the first half leading to 21 East Stroudsburg points.
“Nobody expected that type of 1st quarter,” Mansfield University head coach Chris Woods said. “It’s is tough to come back from something like that, but I will give our kids credit for not quitting and coming out to outplay them in the second half.”
East Stroudsburg would score again in the first quarter on a 52-yard reception by John Jeffries from Jeremy Palm. A three-yard run gave East Stroudsburg a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. East Stroudsburg would score again on a 10-yard run by Greg Vaughn before Mark Brubaker hit a 38-yard field goal.
Mansfield would battle back scoring on a 1-yard run by John Loiselle (Norwich, NY/Norwich) with :44 left in the first half and cut the score to 31-14 with Ryan Geishauser (Altoona/Bishop Guifoyle) caught a 16-yard pass from Travis Motley (York/Central York) at the 11:00 mark of the third quarter.
Motley completed 21-37 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Geishauser caught nine of those passes for 54 yards. Quame Patterson (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta High) had four catches for 37 yards with Steve Smith (Welland, ONT/ Notre Dame, ONT) pulling down three for 44 yards. Arnaldo Santiago (Utica, NY/Proctor) also had three catches for 31 yards and Joe Bennett (Horseheads, NY/Notre Dame) with two catches for 36 yards.
The Mountaineers limited East Strousburg to 100 yards of total offense in the second half with junior Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) recording 12 tackles and a sack. Freshman Randy Reinert (Boyertown/Boyertown) had nine stops and a sack as Mansfield racked up four sacks on the day. Conway Brown (Carisle/Carisle) had an interception.
Mike Reed (Berwick/Berwick) averaged 37.0 yards per punt and put three inside the 20 for Mansfield.
The Mountaineers fall to 0-1 on the season and will travel to Buffalo State next Saturday.
Release
Date: 9/03/02
MOUNTAINEER
FOOTBALL KICKS OFF 111TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY IN EARLY SEASON CONFERENCE
SHOWDOWN WITH EAST STROUDSBURG
The
Mansfield University Mountaineers mark the 111th anniversary of the
football program this Saturday afternoon when the host the Warriors of East
Stroudsburg University in an early season PSAC East matchup. Kickoff is set for
1 p.m. at Karl Van Norman Field.
The
game marks the 65th meeting between the two schools dating back to
1930. East Stroudsburg holds a 56-8 advantage in the series after posting a 35-7
win in the next to last game of the season in 2001. In that game, the two teams
battled to a 7-7 halftime tie with Mansfield scoring first on a 71-yard
touchdown catch by Joe Bennett from quarterback Travis Motley.
East Stroudsburg tied the score on the last play of the half on a one-yard run
by A.J. Oliveri. Just 10 yards in total offense separated the teams.
Chris
Woods is in
his second season as the head coach of the Mountaineers. Last year his
Mountaineers posted a 2-8 overall record. Three of the losses were by a
touchdown or less.
Denny
Douds is the
senior member of the PSAC East head coaches entering his 29th season
at the helm at East Stroudsburg. His Warriors posted a 7-3 mark last season,
finishing second in the PSAC East.
Saturday’s
opener features two of the top quarterbacks in the PSAC East last season.
Mountaineer junior signal caller Travis Motley led the PSAC East in
passing yards per game (213.2 ypg) and total offense (210.3 ypg) last season and
recorded the two top passing games in the conference in 2001. He also threw for
14 touchdowns while being intercepted eight times. ESU’s fifth year senior Jeremy
Palm threw for a conference high 22 touchdowns with a PSAC low five
interceptions last year.
Motley
will work behind an offensive line that includes four starters from last season
in senior center Steve Pozella, and sophomores Chris Farris, Lucas
Ingersoll and Ryan McClellan. Senior Al Gulitus is expected to
start on the front line with sophomore Nick DeSantis also trying to break
into the starting lineup. Sophomore Justin Ross will back up Motley again
this season.
Sophomore
Ryan Geishauser earned the starting nod at running back after an
effective spring and preseason camp. Junior John Loiselle and freshman Keith
Slezak will see time at fullback.
Junior
Joe Bennett, who led the PSAC East in total reception yardage last year,
heads a talented group of receivers including returning starter Steve Smith
and veterans Quame Patterson and Arnaldo Santiago. Freshman Mike
Zulkowski is also expected to see action. Sophomore Eddie Van Buren
will start at tight end.
Although
young, the Mountaineers expect to be much improved on defense. Sophomore
noseguard Brian DeCecco, who took every snap of every defensive play last
season, will anchor the defensive front along with senior Bob Evans.
Juniors Joe Holland, who led the team in sacks last season, and Broderic
Warner return at ends with Luke Alex, Mike Donati, Drew
Grieshober and Jeff Sankowich providing experienced backup.
Junior
Dan Holland, who earned All-PSAC East and All-American honors in each of
his first two seasons, heads the linebacking corps. Holland is the only current
player in NCAA Division II football to record 100 or more tackles in each of his
first two seasons. Sophomore Ricky Woods returns to the fold after
missing all of last season with an injury. Woods started as a freshman.
Red-shirt freshman Randy Reinert will start at the other outside spot.
Senior Chamell Hampton, along with freshmen Greg Renker and Rob
Smiley, will see action.
Senior
Conway Brown returns to his starting spot at cornerback where he ranked
among the conference leaders in pass deflections. Rookies Jon Byrd and Ronnie
Montgomery are locked in a battle for the other corner slot. Sophomores Joe
Frick and Mike Reed both started as freshmen and will start at strong
and free safety respectively. Reed
is also expected to handle the punting chores with freshman Jeff Mimm
doing the kicking.
East Stroudsburg has plenty of speed and depth returning
at the skill positions. Beside Palm at quarterback, the Warriors return
four-year starter A.J. Oliveri at fullback with veterans Greg Vaughn and Nate
Pendry at running back. Justin Kondikoff had 34 catches last season for 482
yards.
The
defensive backfield will be the Warriors strength on defense. Last year’s unit
ranked among the best in the nation in pass efficiency and return both
cornerbacks Michael Glover and Nick Beisker.
The
Mountaineers travel to Buffalo State next Saturday before returning home to face
Westminster College Sept. 21, in the Josh Palmer Fund Pigskin Classic.
RELEASE
DATE: 9/03/02
MANSFIELD – Former Mansfield University standout Mark
Bristol will be a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars 53-man roster when the
team opens the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts.
Bristol
will be one of five players on the Jaguars practice squad for the opener,
allowing him to be added to the 48-man game roster at anytime.
Bristol,
a 2000 graduate, started in 29 straight games at left tackle for the
Mountaineers from 1997-99. He was a two-time 1st Team All-PSAC East
selection before signing as a free agent with the New York Jets after the 2000
draft.
After
being cut in training camp late that summer, Bristol was resigned by the Jets in
December and allocated to NFL Europe where he played for the Amsterdam Admirals
in the spring of 2001. After the completion of the NFL Europe, Bristol returned
to the Jets where he was among the final players cut prior to the start of the
season.
Twelve
days later, Bristol was signed by the Oakland Raiders’ to their practice
squad. He was also signed to practice squads by the Green Bay Packers and San
Francisco 49ers during the course of the 2001 season. He signed with the Jaguars
in March of 2002.
Bristol spent much of the offseason at Mansfield where he
was often at Mountaineer basketball games.
Listed
at 6-6, 267 by the Jaguars, Bristol can play both tackle and guard. Jacksonville
plays at Baltimore and New York this season.
###
Release Date: 8/28/02
Immediate Release: Mansfield’s Dan Holland named Pre-season All-American
MANSFIELD - Dan
Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) has been named to the 2002 Football
Gazette NCAA Division II Pre-Season All-American Team. Holland, entering his
third year for the Mountaineers, is the only Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) linebacker named to the team.
Last
season Holland earned All-ECAC honors and became the first player in MU history
to earn first team All-PSAC East and All-ECAC South honors in each of his first
two seasons.
He
led PSAC in solo tackles with 68, and topped the PSAC East in total tackles with
102 during the 2001 season. He also
ranked among the conference leaders in tackles for a loss (14), recorded three
sacks and had one
interception.
The
son of Donna and Joe Holland of Scranton, Holland is majoring in criminal
justice administration.
--MU--
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MORE THAN 100 PLAYERS REPORT TO OPEN MU FOOTBALL CAMP
MANSFIELD
– More than 100 players reported this afternoon for the Mansfield University
2002 preseason football camp. It marks the first time in recent memory the
Mountaineers opened camp with more than 100 players.
“For
the most part, I’m very pleased with the condition our players are in” said
second year head coach Chris Woods. “We’re still a little young, but we are
a more experienced team than we have been the last two seasons.”
The
players settled into their rooms and had dinner with their parents, the coaching
staff and President John Halstead before breaking for evening meetings. After
testing on Thursday, the squad will start three-a-day sessions.
The
Mountaineers were one of the most improved teams in the PSAC last season. They
open the 2002 campaign when they host East Stroudsburg University on Sept. 7.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TYRONE’S RYAN McCLELLAN NAMED 2002 FRANK BUTSKO AWARD
WINNER
MANSFIELD
– Ryan McClellan (Tyrone/Bellwood Antis) was recognized as the
top offensive lineman on the Mansfield University football team when he was
presented with the Frank A. Butsko Award prior to the Mountaineers Red &
Black Spring Football game this past Saturday.
McClellan,
who will be a sophomore when Mansfield opens the 2002, started all ten games for
the Mountaineers as a freshman last season and will play the key left tackle
position in the upcoming season.
###
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TRAVIS MOTLEY PASSES FOR THREE TOUCHDOWNS TO LEAD RED TEAM
TO 24-21 VICTORY IN ANNUAL RED & BLACK SPRING FOOTBALL GAME
MANSFIELD
– Quarterback Travis Motley (York/Central York) threw three
touchdown passes to lead the Red offensive team to a 24-21 win over the Black
defensive team in the annual Mansfield University Red & Black Spring
Football game at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday.
Motley
connected on 11 of 22 passes for 145 yards including touchdowns of 33, 25 and 14
yards. Senior Steve Smith (Welland,ONT/Notre Dame) and Arnaldo Santiago
(Utica,NY/Proctor) had TD catches while Santiago had
three catches for 68 yards. Ryan Andres (Oil City/Oil City) caught
four passes for 20 yards.
Running
back Ryan Geishauser (Altoona/Bishop Guilfoyle)
rushed for 26 yards on four carries and also caught two passes for 21
yards including a 14-yard touchdown.
Red-shirt
freshman Randy Reinert (Boyertown/Boyertown) led the defense with
five tackles including four solos. Mike Reed (Berwick/Berwick)
recorded six stops including three solo while linebackers Chamel Hampton (Vestal,NY/Vestal)
and Ricky Woods (Syracuse,NY/Corcoran) were each credited with
four tackles. Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) had the only
interception of the game.
The
game was played between the offensive and defense teams with each team awarded
seven points for a touchdown and minus one point for a penalty. The offense was
also awarded a point of a pass completion of 20 or more yards, a run of 15 yards
or better and a first down. The defense could also score three points on a
turnover, and one point each for a third down stop and tackle for a loss.
The
Mountaineers will open the 2002 campaign when they host East Stroudsburg on
Sept. 7.
###
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD TO HOST FOOTBALL RED & BLACK SPRING FOOTBALL
GAME SATURDAY MORNING – FREE ADMISSION
MANSFIELD
– The Mansfield University football team will hold it’s annual Spring Red
& Black Football game this Saturday, Apr. 27, starting at 10 a.m. at Karl
Van Norman Field.
The
event is free and open to the public.
The
game will feature the offense as the Red team and the defense as the Black team.
The
Mountaineers are coming off a 2-8 season in 2001 and will open the 2002 campaign
when the host East Stroudsburg University of Sept. 7.
###
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FORMER MOUNTIE STANDOUT MARK BRISTOL SIGNS FREE AGENT
CONTRACT WITH JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
MANSFIELD
– Mark Bristol, a four-year starter for the Mountaineers on the
offensive line from 1997-2000, has signed a free-agent contract with the
Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.
Bristol
had stints with the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers and San
Francisco 49ers of the NFL last season as well as with the Amsterdam Admirals of
NFL Europe League.
A
6-6, 300 pound offensive tackle at Mansfield, Bristol twice earned 1st
Team All-PSAC East honors and was named to the All-ECAC Division II South team
as a senior.
-2002-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES PEN THREE ON FIRST DAY
OF 2002 FOOTBALL SIGNING SEASON
MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University football program
signed six players to letters of intent on the first day of the 2002 football
signing period Wednesday.
“Three players on the first day is a good number for a NCAA
Division II school,” said head coach Chris Woods. “We expect
to have a large incoming class and still have student-athletes visiting campus.
Most Division II schools don’t get into the heart of their signings until the
Division I and Division I-AA schools are finished.”
“We had three letters faxed on the first day and we’re
expecting more this week by mail,” added Woods.
Coach Woods was pleased with his offensive first day
signings, which included two quarterbacks and a fullback.
The young and vastly improved Mountaineers finished 2-8 in
Woods first season as head coach in 2001, the most wins for the program since
posting a 3-8 mark in 1996.
David
Fetzer
QB 5-11
180 Johnstown/Westmont
Hilltop HS
Matt Hildebrand QB
6-3 190
York/Dallastown HS
Keith
Slezak FB
6-2 240
Windber/Windber HS
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAN HOLLAND AND KRISTI SWARTZ NAMED MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY
2001 FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
MANSFIELD
– Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara), a standout on the
football team, and Kristi Swartz (Fairfield/Fairfield), who helped
lead the Mountaineers to their first ever ECAC Field Hockey Championship, have
been named the 2001 Mansfield University Fall Male and Female Athletes of the
Year.
A
sophomore linebacker, Holland became the first male athlete to earn the honor in
each of his first two seasons.
After
recording the most productive freshman season for a defensive player in
Mountaineer history, Holland repeated that degree of excellence as a sophomore
this year.
For
the second straight season, Holland led the team in tackles compiling102 during
the campaign while racking up 10 or more tackles on five different occasions.
Not
only were Holland’s 102 tackles the most in the PSAC East, he also lead the
division in tackles for a loss with 14. In addition, Dan was credited with three
sacks, an interception, and four pass breakups while forcing and recovering two
fumbles.
Holland,
who was named to both 1st All-PSAC East and ECAC Division II South
honors this season, becomes the first player in school history to be selected to
PSAC East and ECAC South 1st Team honors each of his first two
seasons.
The
son of Donna and Joe Holland of Scranton, Holland is majoring in special
education at Mansfield.
A
junior, Kristi Swartz proved to be the most consistent performer
for the Mountaineer offense during the entire course of the 2001 ECAC
Championship campaign.
The team leader in goals scored for the second straight
season, Swartz recorded four multi goal games and played some of her best hockey
when facing national ranked programs. She scored the team’s only goals against
national ranked IUP and Bloomsburg while scoring the game winner in overtime
against national ranked Bryant College.
The
only Mountaineer to be ranked in the Top 10 in the PSAC in both goals (12) and
points (28) this season, Kristi became just the eighth player in school history
to earn All-PSAC honors.
An
All-PSAC 2nd team selection earlier this year, Swartz is the daughter
of Walter Swartz of Fairfield and is a communications major at Mansfield.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES AARON FIACCONI AND DAN
HOLLAND NAMED TO 1ST TEAM ECAC SOUTH ALL-STAR HONORS
MANSFIELD – Mansfield University standouts Aaron
Fiacconi (Saul St. Marie, ONT/St. Marie) and Dan Holland
(Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) were named to 2001 All-ECAC Division II South
honors. The All-Star team was announced this afternoon by the ECAC and voted on
by the head coaches.
A
senior, Fiacconi started all 10 games at tackle where he anchored
the offense line that produced the top passing offense in the PSAC East this
year. Fiacconi recorded 73 pancake blocks while giving up no sacks on the
season. Fiacconi, a three-year starter who attracted the attention of NFL scouts
over the course of the season, is the son of Roberta and Ken Fiacconi of Saul
St. Marie and will graduate with a degree in human resources.
Holland
repeated as an All-ECAC selection at linebacker and became the first player in
school history to earn 1st Team All-PSAC East and All-ECAC South
honors in each of his first two seasons. The sophomore led the PSAC in solo
tackles this season with 68 and topped the PSAC East in total tackles with 102.
Holland also ranked among the conference leaders in tackles for a loss (14) and
recorded three sacks with one interception. The son of Donna and Joe Holland of
Scranton, Dan is majoring in criminal justice administration.
Both
were named to All-PSAC East honors last month.
The
ECAC Division II South Football team is made up of 12 selections on defense and
12 on offense along with three special team selections.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES PLACE SIX ON ALL-PSAC EAST
FOOTBALL TEAM – AARON FIACCONI AND DAN HOLLAND NAMED TO 1ST TEAM
HONORS – JOE BENNETT, JASON COLEMAN, SCOTT GROCHOWSKI AND JAMES TILLMAN NAMED
TO SECOND TEAM
MANSFIELD – Aaron Fiacconi (Saul St. Marie,ONT/St.
Marie) and Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) earned 1st
Team All-PSAC East honors while Joe Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Elmira Notre
Dame), Jason Coleman (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia), Scott
Grochowski (Shenandoah/Shenandoah Valley), and James Tillman (Los
Angles,CA/Fremont) earn All-PSAC East 2nd Team in voting
conducted among the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference head football coaches
and released today.
Fiacconi started all 10 games at tackle
where he anchored the offense line that produced the top passing offense in the
PSAC East this year. Fiacconi recorded 73 pancake blocks while giving up no
sacks on the season. Fiacconi, a three-year starter who attracted the attention
of NFL scouts over the course of the season, is the son of Roberta and Ken
Fiacconi of Saul St. Marie and will graduate with a degree in human resources.
Holland repeated as a first team selection
at linebacker and became the first player in school history to earn 1st
Team All-PSAC East in each of his first two seasons. The sophomore led the PSAC
in solo tackles this season with 68 and topped the PSAC East in total tackles
with 102. Holland also ranked among the conference leaders in tackles for a loss
(14) and recorded three sacks with one interception. The son of Donna and Joe
Holland of Scranton, Dan is majoring in criminal justice administration.
Bennett produced the third most productive
season for a wide receiver in school history. A sophomore, Bennett caught 53
passes for 819 yards and six touchdowns. He ranked first in the PSAC East in
reception yardage and second in the PSAC in receptions per game.
The son of Cindy Bennett, Joe has yet to declare a major.
Coleman has been a four-year starter for
the Mountaineers on the defensive line. In 10 games this season, Coleman was
fourth on the team with 51 tackles including 11 tackles for a loss and three
sacks. Over the course of his career at Mansfield, Coleman has racked up 134
tackles including 30 for a loss. He ranks fourth on the MU all-time sack list
with 17. The son of Wallace Coleman
of Bloomsburg, Jason will graduate with a degree in criminal justice
administration.
Grochowski started all 10 games at tight end
this season where he topped the
PSAC in pass receptions for a tight end with 23 for 213 yards and two
touchdowns. The son of Anne Grochowski of Shenandoah, Scott will graduate with a
degree in criminal justice administration.
Tillman, despite being hampered by injures
all season long, became just the second player in MU history to rush for more
than 1,000 yards in a season. The junior running back was second in the PSAC
East in rushing this season with 1,039 yards on 228 carries. He also led the
team in touchdowns (7) and caught 18 passes for 115 yards on the year and set a
single game rushing record with 241 yards in a win over Cheyney. The son of Alma
Williams of Los Angles, James is majoring in sociology.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES DROP 22-13 HEARTBREAKER TO
LOCK HAVEN IN SEASON FINALE – TRAVIS MOTLEY BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD WITH 32
COMPLETION – JAMES TILLMAN BECOMES SECOND PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO SURPASS
1,000 YARDS IN A SEASON
Lock Haven University
22
Mansfield University
13
But Robert Carey returned an
interception and kickoff for touchdowns in the second quarter to
Mansfield answered right back with Quame Patterson
capping off a 12-play, 80 yard drive by pulling in a 12-yard touchdown pass from
Travis Motley. Steve Smith kicked the PAT to give Mansfield a 7-6
lead with 7:01 remaining in the first half.
Lock Haven retook the lead when Derrick Shields caught a
58-yard touchdown pass from Bill Witmer with 3:06 to play.
Mansfield took the kickoff and marched down the field
retaking the lead on a nine play, 74-yard drive when Quame Patterson
caught his second touchdown of the game -- this one a six-yarder from Motley
with :14 left in the half.
Carey then took the ensuing kickoff and raced 80-yards down
the left sideline for what proved to be the winning touchdown with :03 to play
before halftime.
Statistically Mansfield dominated the first half racking up
272 yards in total offense of 54 plays to Lock Haven’s 101 yards on 17 plays.
Jonathan Miller booted a 27-yard field goal with a minute left in the third quarter to wrap up the scoring.
Dan Holland racked up a game high 14 tackles
with Ian Cooper credited with eight stops and Josh Frick seven. Will
Jones, Mike Reed, Joe Holland and Mike Lord all had
five tackles with Lord also credited with an interception.
Motley finished the season completing 164 of 316 passes for
1,919 yards and 14 touchdowns in just nine games. Joe Bennett had the
third best season in MU history with 53 receptions for 819 yards and six
touchdowns.
EAST
STROUDSBURG 35 MANSFIELD
7
MANSFIELD
– In a game that was much closer than the final score, the Mansfield
University Mountaineers fell to East Stroudsburg 35-7 in PSAC East football
action at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.
East
Stroudsburg would break a 7-7 halftime tie with 28 second half points in
recording the win and twice stopped Mansfield inside the 10 yard line.
On
their opening drive of the game, the Mountaineers drove 79-yards down to the
East Stroudsburg one-yard line, but could not break the plane of the goal line
and turned the ball over on downs.
After
a scoreless first quarter, the Mountaineers would get on the board first on a
71-yard reception down the right sideline by Joe Bennett (Horsehead,NY/Elmira
Notre Dame) from Travis Motley. Bennett caught the ball at the 50 and outraced
the secondary for the score.
East
Stroudsburg tied the score at 7-7 on a 1-yard plunge by A.J. Oliveri as time
expired in the first half.
East
Stroudsburg took the lead at 14-7 on Kotarsky’s three yard touchdown catch
from Palm early in the third quarter.
The
Mountaineers would come right back behind the running of James Tillman to drive
to the ESU four-yard line before a Steve Smith 26-yard field goal missed wide
left.
Kotarsky
and Palm would hook up again on a 42-yard scoring pass with 1:09 remaining the
third quarter
The
duo added another touchdown with 7:36 to play in the game, this one for
four-yards.
Andre
Castiglioni scored the final touchdown of the game on a four-yard run following
a blocked punt.
Travis
Motley connected on 16 of 30 passes for 215 yards including eight passes to Joe
Bennett for 156 yards for the Mountaineers. James Tillman rushed for a game high
139 yards on 27 carries for Mansfield.
Dan
Holland racked up a game high 13 tackles with Jason Coleman recording seven
stops including two sacks. Will Jones and Mike Lord (Covington/North Penn) each
had six tackles.
East
Stroudsburg held just a 10-yard advantage in total offense (367-357), but the
Mountaineers were penalized 12 times for 90 yards.
East
Stroudsburg improves to 6-3 overall and finishes second in the PSAC East with a
5-1 mark. Mansfield falls to 2-7 and 1-5 in the PSAC East.
Mansfield
will close out the 2001 season by hosting Lock Haven next Saturday at Karl Van
Norman Field.
KUTZTOWN
28
MANSFIELD
7
Kutztown, PA – Rob Flowers ran for one touchdown and threw for two more to lead Kutztown to a 28-7 over Mansfield University in a PSAC East contest at University Field Saturday afternoon.
The injury decimated Mountaineers, playing without five defensive starters and without injured starting quarterback Travis Motley, struggled both offensively and defensively in the first half.
Kutztown used big plays by Flowers in building a 21-0 halftime lead.
Flowers capped off a 69-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown scramble with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter and then scrambled to find Phil Washington on a 24-yard pass a little over four minutes later.
Kutztown added another score on a 3-yard run by Yorel Prosser with 6:45 left in the second quarter.
Kutztown, which gained 252 of their 356 yards in total offense in the first half, were held in check for most of the second half.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Kutztown scored again on a 14-yard pass from Flowers to David Borden for a 28-0 lead with 14:53 to play.
But the Mountaineers refused to give up and capped off a 16 play 99-yard scoring drive on a Chris Hudak one-yard plunge with 1:06 to play.
James Tillman, who has been hampered with injures over the past four weeks, showed flashes of his old self, running for 131 yards on 30 carries. Hudak completed eight of 21 passes for 127 yards while Joe Bennett had three catches for 36 yards and Quame Patterson two catches for 57 yards.
RELEASE DATE: 10/20/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-MOUNTAINEERS FALL TO BLOOMSBURG, 41-6
BLOOMSBURG – An injury riddled
Mansfield University defense was victimized by Bloomsburg University quarterback
Chris Thompson for 34 first half points as Bloomsburg rolled to a 41-6 win over
Mansfield University in the Huskies Homecoming at Redman Field Saturday
afternoon.
Thompson who completed 17 of 20 passes
for 247 yards and four touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter,
connected on 14 of 16 passes in the first half for 184 yards including three
touchdowns.
The Mountaineers were playing without
the services of injured starting defensive linemen Bob Evans and David
Huth while starting strong safety Mike Sostaric went down with an
injury on the opening kickoff. Cornerback Victor Dei went out of the game
with an injury in the second quarter.
Mansfield had allowed just six first
quarter points this season before Bloomsburg erupted for 21 in the first period.
Tierell Johnson scored on a 30-yard toss by Thompson five minutes into the game
before Marques Glaze rumbled for a 67-yard score two minutes later.
The Mountaineers capped off a 15 play,
83 drive on an eight-yard pass to Joe Bennett from Travis Motley cutting the
score to 14-6 after the point after attempt failed.
Bloomsburg came right back scoring on a
22-yard pass from Thompson to Johnson with :10 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Huskies would add two more touchdowns in the second quarter on a 63-yard run
by Glaze and seven-yard pass from Thompson to Rocco Forgione for a 34-6 halftime
advantag
Bloomsburg would add another touchdown
in the third quarter on a 37-yard pass from Thompson to Johnson.
Just when things couldn’t seem to get
any worse for the Mountaineers – they did when quarterback Travis Motley
was helped off the field with an injury midway through the third quarter.
Motley, who was leading the PSAC in
passing yardage coming into the game, connected on 12 of 27 attempts for 111
yards before leaving the game. He was replaced by senior Chris Hudak who
completed three of eight passes for 24 yards
Senior tight end Scott Grochowski
had four catches for 47 yards with Joe Bennett catching four passes for
27 yards including a touchdown. His brother Dan Bennett had three catches
for 29 yards.
James Tillman had 36 yards
rushing on 15 carries while John Loiselle had 28 yards on eight carries.
Jason Coleman led the defense
with 12 tackles with Dan Holland and Ian Cooper each recording si
The Mountaineers fall to 2-5 overall and
1-3 in the PSAC East while Bloomsburg improves 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the PSAC
East.
Mansfield will travel to Kutztown this Saturday.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MANSFIELD FALLS TO MILLERSVILLE 32-30 IN A
HEARTBREAKING HOMECOMING LOSS IN PSAC FOOTBALL ACTION – TRAVIS MOTLEY PASSES
FOR 364-YARDS AND JOE BENNETT HAS 11 CATCHES FOR 187-YARDS FOR THE MOUNTAINEERS
– MOUNTIES LAST SECONDS PASS IN END ZONE INTERCEPTED
MANSFIELD
– It shouldn’t happen to any team two weeks in a row.
Deprived of it’s leading rusher and top scorer, the
Mansfield University football team saw a thrilling second half rally come up
just short in the final five seconds of play in a heartbreaking 32-30 loss to
Millersville in PSAC East football action Saturday afternoon at Karl Van Norman
Field.
“As
hard as we play -- we’re getting a little tired of moral victories,” said a
drained head coach Chris Woods after the game. “To come this close two
weeks in a row is tough for everyone.”
The
Mountaineers had dropped a 14-7 overtime decision at West Chester last week.
A
Homecoming crowd of 3,606 gave the Mountaineers a long round of applause as they
left the field after the emotional loss.
Forced
to play without star running back James Tillman (Los Angles, CA/Fremont),
who entered the afternoon ranked 11th in NCAA Division II averaging
136.0 yards per game, Mansfield turned to sophomore quarterback Travis Motley
(York/Central York), and Motley didn’t disappoint as he completed 30 of 53
passes for 364 yards to rally the Mountaineers throughout the game.
“Coach
Woods kept telling us all week that big time players come up with big time plays
and that’s what we tried to do this week,” said Motley. “We just came up
one play short and that hurts. But we’ll come back – we have some great
players and we’re developing strong team character.”
Most
of those Motley passes went to sophomore wideout Joe Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Elmira
Notre Dame) who pulled down 11 catches for 187 yards including a 20-yard
touchdown.
Mansfield
scored first on a 27-yard field goal by Steve Smith before Millersville
got on the board on an eight-yard TD reception by Craig Austin from Chuck
Andrew. The extra point attempt failed.
Millersville
upped the score to 12-3 on a two-yard run by Terrance Trogdon with 5:05
to go in the second quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Mansfield
would answer back when Joe Bennett capped off a 64-yard scoring drive on
a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Travis Motley cutting the score
to 12-10. Millersville scored again with: 40 second remaining in the half on a
four-yard run by Trogdon for a 19-10 halftime lead.
Millersville
would extend the lead to 25-10 when Trogdon scored on a 15-yard pass from Andrew
at the 11:01 mark of the third quarter.
Mansfield
came right back on the next possession with John Loiselle
(Norwich/NY/Norwich) running it in from five-yards out, but the two-point
conversion failed.
Millersville
would extend the score to 32-16 on a 56-yard touchdown reception by Calvin
Everett from Andrew with 6:30 to play in the third quarter.
But
Mansfield came storming back scoring on a two-yard run by John Loiselle
with 4:34 to play in the third quarter.
Loiselle
would add another two-yard touchdown with 4:16 to play in the game to cut the
score to 32-30, but Mansfield’s two-point conversion pass from Motley to
Bennett was ruled out of bounds.
Mansfield
had one last chance starting at their own 17-yard line with: 50 seconds to play
and drove down to the Millersville 28 yard line but a pass into the end zone
with five seconds remaining was intercepted.
Travis Motley completed 30 of 53 passes for Mansfield for
364 yards with Joe Bennett catching 11 passes for 187-yards and a touchdown.
Motley’s 364 yard performance was the third most passing yards in a game in
school history while Joe Bennett’s 11 catches was the second most in a single
game. His 187-yards in receiving yards was the third best in school history.
Junior Steve Smith (Welland,ONT/Notre Dame)
had seven catches for 80 yards while senior tight end Scott Grochowski
also had seven catches for 58-yards.
Dan Holland led the defense with a game high 13 tackes
including three for a loss along with two pass breakups and two sacks. Ian
Cooper had nine tackles with Victor Dei and Joe Holland each recording eight
stops.
The two teams combined for 883 yards in total offense,
including 661 yards in the air. Without Tillman the Mountaineers were held to 37
yards rushing.
RELEASE DATE: 10/06/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MANSFIELD FALLS TO WEST
CHESTER IN OVERTIME 14-7 IN PSAC EAST FOOTBALL ACTION TODAY
WEST CHESTER – It was as close as it’s ever been.
For 60 minutes the Mansfield University Mountaineers and
West Chester battled to a 7-7 tie – the closest it’s been in the 30-year
history of the series.
But in the end, West Chester scored on a 25-yard touchdown
pass from Robert Findora to Brian Bradley on the first play of overtime that
gave West Chester a 14-7 victory.
“My hats off to West Chester, they made the plays when
they needed to," said head coach Chris Woods. “I’m still really proud of my
kids, we took a big step forward today.”
West Chester took a 7-0 lead into half with a second
quarter touchdown before the Mountaineers capped off a 80 yard scoring drive
with a 20-yard touchdown catch by Joe Bennett from Travis Motley on the first
play of the fourth quarter.
The two teams battled back in forth in the fourth quarter
with the Mountaineers twice holding West Chester on 4th down
attempts.
West Chester then scored on the first play of overtime. The
Mountaineers had a chance to tie the score again, but a fourth down pass fell
beyond the diving reach of a receiver in the end zone.
Mansfield struggled at times offensively, hampered by the loss of running back James Tillman, who -- plagued with nagging injures--, was limited to just nine carries for 17 yards -- almost all coming in the first half.
Quarterback Travis Motley completed 12 of 29 passes
for 152 yards with freshman running back Ryan Geishauser rushed for 32 yards on
15 carries. Joe Bennett had three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown
while his brother Dan had three catches for 25 yards.
Senior linebacker Josh Frick had 10 tackles as well
as an interception and sack to lead the defense with fellow linebacker Dan
Holland also recording10 stops. Senior Ian Cooper had his fourth
interception of the season.
Mansfield falls to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC East while West Chester goes to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC East.
RELEASE DATE: 10/1/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES JAMES TILLMAN NAMED PSAC
EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SEASON – JUNIOR
RUNNING BACK SETS NEW SCHOOL RUSHING RECORD IN WIN OVER CHEYNEY
MANSFIELD – James Tillman (Los Angles,CA/Fremont)
was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Offensive
Player of the Week for his record setting performance in a 46-28 win over
Cheyney University Saturday afternoon.
Tillman carried the ball 36 times for a school record 241
yards while tying the school mark with four touchdowns of 1, 1, 2, and 44 yards
in the win over Cheyney.
His 241-yard effort broke Dean Stewart’s school record of
230 yards rushing set against California University of Pennsylvania in 1989,
while the four touchdowns ties Jeff Benoit’s record for rushing touchdowns set
against the University of Buffalo in 1994. In addition, Tillman also set a new
school record for 200-yard games in a season with two.
It marks the second time this season Tillman has been
selected PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week. He also earned the honor by
running for 205 yards and two touchdowns in a season opening win over Buffalo
State.
Tillman ranks second in the PSAC in rushing, averaging 164.3
yards per game. In four games this season, Tillman has carried the ball 126
times for 657 yards and ranks third in the conference in touchdowns with seven.
Mansfield is 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC East and travels
to West Chester this Saturday.
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JAMES TILLMAN RUSHES FOR A SCHOOL RECORD 241 YARDS AND
FOUR TOUCHDOWNS TO LEAD MANSFIELD TO 46-28
IN PSAC FOOTBALL ACTION
MANSFIELD
– James Tillman (Los Angles, CA/Fremont) rushed for a school
record 241 yards and tied the school record with four touchdowns to lead
Mansfield University to a 46-28 win over Cheyney in PSAC East football action at
Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.
###
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MANSFIELD FALLS TO CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA 35-20 – TRAVIS
MOTLEY THROWS 20 COMPLETIONS FOR 258 YARDS
CALIFORNIA,
P.A. – Mansfield University fell to California University of Pennsylvania
35-20 in PSAC football action Saturday night.
Mansfield
struck first as Travis Motley connected with Joe Bennett for a 10-yard touchdown
pass with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter. Bennett would end the night with
10 receptions for 143 yards.
James
Tillman stretched Mansfield’s lead to 13-0 by scoring on a two-yard run with
6:38 left in the second quarter. Tillman rushed for 82 yards on 30 carries with
a cast on his hand.
California
scored 28 straight points until the fourth quarter, when Motley connected with
Joe Bennett for his second TD reception of the night, putting Mansfield within
eight and the score 28-20. Motley finished the night completing 20 of 43 pass
attempts for 258 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions.
The
Mountaineers defense limited California’s Wesley Cates to 43 yards in the
first half but Cates would end the game with 27 rushes for 168 yards and one
touchdown.
California
quarterback Brandon LeDonne threw three completions for 36 yards but had 13
rushes for 107 yards.
Ian
Cooper and Dan Holland both had an interception. Cooper finished the game with
10 tackles and now has three interceptions in three games. Holland’s
interception set up Mansfield’s first touchdown.
“I’m not happy with the final score, but I’m
pleased with the effort we gave today,” said Mountaineers head coach Chris
Woods. “On an emotional day, those guys never gave up and put themselves in a
position to tie the game in the final minute.”
Played
in front of 3,269 fans on Parent’s Day, the game was emotional from the start
with both teams on the field for a moving pregame program that included a moment
of silence for the victims and heroes of Sept. 11.
After
a scoreless first quarter, Ian Cooper (Reading/Reading) recovered a
fumble on a Ithaca punt return at the Ithaca 24-yard line. After two carries by James
Tillman (Los Angeles,CA/Fremont) put the ball on the Ithaca 11,
Travis Motley (York/Central York) hit Dan Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Horseheads)
on 3rd and 8 for the touchdown with 13:34 to play in the second
quarter.
Ithaca opened the second half by mounting a 66-yard
drive to take a 13-7 led after the conversion failed.
Mansfield
came right back with Tillman taking
the first handoff after the kickoff and breaking away for a 55-yard gain and Dan
Bennett capping off the 87-yard drive with a 20 yard TD grab from Motley. The
conversion was good giving Mansfield a 14-13 lead.
But
Ithaca would score twice more in the third quarter first of a 46-yard touchdown
run by Tommy Kenney on a fake punt and again when Jeff Welch caught a 13-yard
pass from Young as time expired in the third quarter giving Ithaca 26-14 lead.
The
Mountaineers again came right back with Dan Bennett returning the kickoff 25
yards and then catching a 16-yard pass from Motley on a 3rd and seven
from the MU 39. Two plays later Motley would hook up with Steve Smith (Welland,ONT/Notre
Dame) for a 34 yard pass before Motley would find Dan Bennett for a school
record tying third time – this time for seven yards with Bennett bullying
himself into the end zone on a 4th and goal.
Ithaca
took the kickoff and used its ground game to run of 6:16 before a
22-yard field goal by Chris Pride give Ithaca a 29-21 lead with 2:14 to
play.
Dan
Bennett returned the kickoff 40-yards giving the Mountaineers good field postion
on the 45. Motley hooked up with Quame Patterson (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) for
two quick strikes for 18 and nine yards to give the Mountaineers a 2n
and 1 on the Ithaca 25 but a carry by Tillman gained no yards and a bobbled pass
in the end zone ended the Mountaineers hopes with :51 to play.
“There
were a lot of big plays in this game, not just the one at the end,” Woods
said. “Ithaca was more physical than we were up front and that and the failure
to be able to stop their options were hurt us more than any play."
For Mansfield, Travis Motley completed 17 of 34 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns with Dan Bennett catching six passes for 67 yards and a record tying three scores. Bennett also had 84 yards on four kickoff returns. James Tillman continued to be impressive, running for 129 yards on 26 carries.
Josh Frick (Montrose/Montrose) and Victor Dei (Montreal,QUE/Vanier) led the defense with 11 tackles each. Brothers Joe and Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) had nine tackles apiece. Corning East’s David Huth five stops with North Penn’s Mike Lord four.
Mansfield
falls to 1-1 on the season while Ithaca improves to 2-0. The Mountaineers travel
to California (PA) University next Saturday night.
RELEASE DATE: 9/12/01
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC EVENTS TO CONTINUE AS
SCHEDULED – MOMENT OF SILENCE TO PRECEDE EVERY ATHLETIC EVENT FOR ONE WEEK
MANSFIELD
– Mansfield University’s athletic events for the remainder of this week will
be played as scheduled. The announcement was made today by Joe Maresco
vice-president of Student Affairs.
“In accordance with the wishes of President Bush that a return to normalcy is the best response to terrorism, Mansfield University has decided to adhere to the original schedule of athletic events this week,”Maresco said.
“We
are all very sensitive to the great loss experienced by this country, including
by some of our Mansfield family, and will honor their memories with a moment of
silence before the start of all home events.”
The
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has issued a statement that
includes:
Institutions
may continue their scheduled contests except in the case
of
special circumstances. If a
president feels his/her institution is
not
capable of meeting its schedule, he/she should contact the
conference
office. This will be evaluated on a
day-to-day basis.
The
PSAC cancelled all athletic contests on Tuesday, however Mansfield did not have
an athletic event scheduled.
The
Mansfield University field hockey team has games schedule for Thursday, Saturday
and Sunday.
The
football team will host Ithaca College on Saturday and the cross-country team is
scheduled to travel to Penn State on Saturday.
###
RELEASE DATE: 9/10/01
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES JAMES TILLMAN NAMED PSAC EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK –
JUNIOR RUNNING BACK RUNS FOR 205 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN NCAA DIVISION II
DEBUT
MANSFIELD
– James Tillman (Los Angles,CA/Fremont)
has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern
Division Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in
Mansfield University’s 22-12 win over Buffalo State College Saturday.
Tillman,
who transferred to Mansfield from Division I Fresno State, ran for 205 yards and
two touchdowns to lead Mansfield to its first opening season win since 1996.
Tillman
carried the ball 34 times and scored on runs of five and 76 yards. It was the most single game yardage by a
Mountaineer running back since Lee Brannon rushed for 222 yards against Cheyney
University in 1999.
Mansfield
will host Ithaca College this Saturday at Karl Van Norman Field starting at 1
p.m.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MANSFIELD OPENS
FOOTBALL SEASON WITH 22-12 WIN OVER BUFFALO STATE – JAMES TILLMAN RUSHES FOR
205 YARDS AND TWO TD'S – CHRIS WOODS DIRECTS MOUNTIES TO VICTORY IN HEAD
COACHING DEBUT
MANSFIELD – It was a day of firsts at Mansfield University Saturday afternoon.
“I
was so pumped to start the game, that I actually got dehydrated in the first
half,” Tillman said. “I was so
excited to be here and it took a little while to get into a flow. I just got
into the secondary on that second touchdown run and once I got there, I knew
they weren’t going to be able to stop me.”
Tillman had 129 yards in the first half alone.
Sophomore
linebacker Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop
O’Hara) recovered a fumble at the Buffalo State 21-yard line late in the
third quarter to set up Mansfield’s third touchdown.
Mountaineer
quarterback Travis Motley (York/Central
York) connected with Dan Bennett on a third and nine from the Buffalo State
20 after Bennett fought off two defenders who batted the ball in the air twice
for the score.
Buffalo State would rally with two scores early in the fourth quarter with Billy Edwards catching a 20-yard pass from Ryan Henry and Sterling Anderson sweeping the right end for a 12-yard touchdown with 9:45 to play.
Mansfield
quarterback Travis Motley (York/Central
York) connected on 15-23 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown while Tillman
had his 205 yards on 34 carries.
Junior Steve Smith (Welland,ONT/Notre Dame) led the MU receivers with seven catches for 67 yards with Dan Bennett pulling down three catches for 28 yards. Scott Grochowski (Shenandoah/Shenandoah) also had three catches for 15 yards while freshman Jonathan Wiltraut (Whitehall/Whitehall) had one for nine yards and Joe Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Notre Dame) one for seven.
Senior
Mike Lord (Covington/North Penn) had
12 solo tackles to top the defense including three for a loss and forced a
fumble. Sophomore Dan Holland had
seven solo tackles including two for a loss. Freshman defensive lineman David
Huth (Corning,NY/East) racked up six tackles, all solo’s, in his first
collegiate game while Ian Cooper
(Reading/Reading) had an interception.
Ryan
Henry completed 9 of 24 passes for Buffalo for 100 yards and a touchdown for
Buffalo State.
Mansfield
is 1-0 on the season while Buffalo State falls to 1-1.
The
Mountaineers will host Ithaca College next Saturday in the Josh Palmer Pigskin
Classic.
###
RELEASE DATE: 8/22/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES DAN HOLLAND NAMED TO SECOND TEAM NCAA
DIVISION II PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN – JUST ONE OF TWO SOPHOMORE TO EARN
DEFENSIVE ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
MANSFIELD –
Mansfield University sophomore Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara) has
been named to Second Team NCAA Division II Preseason All-American by the Football
Gazette.
Just one of
two defensive sophomores selected on the three Preseason All-American teams,
Holland had the most productive defensive freshman season in Mansfield’s
109-year football history in 2000.
Last season Holland
was the top NCAA Division II tackler in the nation with 122 stops. In addition,
he ranked first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in solo
tackles with 81 while being the first player in school history to earn PSAC East
Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.
Named both the
PSAC East and ECAC South Rookie of the Year, Holland also earned First Team All-PSAC
East honors while leading the Mountaineers in tackles, sacks and tackles for a
loss.
The son of Joe
and Donna Holland of Scranton, Dan is a special education major at Mansfield.
The
Mountaineers close out their two-week preseason camp this Sunday and open the
2001 season when they host Buffalo State on Sept. 8.
RELEASE DATE: 7/19/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES
SELECT RALPH ISERNIA AS NEW OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR – FORMER DAVIDSON STANDOUT
COMES TO MU FROM DEFIANCE (OH) COLLEGE
MANSFIELD – Ralph Isernia, who helped direct Defiance (OH) College to a 7-3 record in 2000 as offensive coordinator, has been named as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for Mansfield University.
The announcement was
made today by MU head coach Chris Woods.
“I’ve
known Ralph for many years and I’m excited he’s joining us at Mansfield,”
said Woods of his former college roommate. “Ralph’s been the offensive
coordinator for the last five years for two successful programs and I know
he’s going to bring success to Mansfield.”
Ralph
Isernia joins the Mountaineer staff, and rejoins college teammate Chris Woods.
Isernia
comes to Mansfield from Defiance (OH) College where he served as the offensive
coordinator for the Yellow Jackets helping them to a 7-3 mark in 2000. His
offense averaging 22.4 points and 354.4 yards in total offense per game last
year.
Isernia
began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western
Connecticut State University in 1991 where he was responsible for tight ends and
wide receivers as well as the special teams coordinator. Promoted to assistant
coach in 1993, Isernia was quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.
In
1994, Isernia was hired as a full-time assistant coach at Methodist College as
quarterbacks and running backs coach as well as special teams coordinator. He
was promoted to offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 1996 and
remained in that capacity until taking a position at Defiance College as the
assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2000.
A
two-sport standout at NCAA Division I-AA Davidson College, Isernia was a
four-year starter in baseball and football. As a running back, Isernia was the
team offensive MVP his junior season and was the team leader in rushing,
receiving and scoring. A team captain his senior year, he ranked among the
national leaders in punt return and all-purpose yardage.
Isernia
was selected at the Thomas D. Sparrow Award winner his senior season for
outstanding sportsmanship, athletic and academic excellence at Davidson College.
He
was a four-year teammate and roommate of Mountaineer head coach Chris Woods, who
was a standout on the offensive line at Davidson.
Isernia
graduated from Davidson with a BA in sociology in 1991 and earned a master’s
degree in education from Western Connecticut State University in 1993. In
addition to his coaching responsibilities, Isernia served as an assistant
professor of physical education at both Defiance College and Methodist College.
He
replaces Mike Cerasuolo, who left to take the position of offensive coordinator
at his alma mater Springfield College.
Isernia
lives in Mansfield with his wife Lynn and son Rett.
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