SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – Coming off of a share of the PSAC Western Division regular season title for the second time in three seasons, the Mercyhurst University football team was predicted to finish second in the PSAC West according to the annual preseason coaches’ poll. The poll was revealed at the annual PSAC Football Media Day, held at Slippery Rock University, on Monday.
Entering 2012, the Lakers were predicted to finish fifth in the PSAC West, but after a 40-7 win over California (Pa.) last November, Mercyhurst claimed a share of the PSAC West crown with Indiana (Pa.). The Lakers and the Crimson Hawks had identical 6-1 conference marks, but, since IUP won the head-to-head matchup, Mercyhurst did not have an opportunity to win its second conference title in three seasons.
IUP, who went on to defeat Shippensburg for the 2012 PSAC Championship, was predicted to win the PSAC West, garnering seven of the eight first-place votes in the preseason poll. Mercyhurst received the other first-place vote in the West to finish second in the poll. Slippery Rock was predicted to finish third, one point ahead of fourth-place California (Pa.). Gannon advanced one slot from the 2012 preseason poll to fifth, while Edinboro dropped two spots to number six. Clarion and new PSAC member Seton Hill rounded out the poll at seventh and eighth respectively.
In the East, Shippensburg earned six of the eight first-place votes to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. Bloomsburg and West Chester each received one first-place vote and finished second and third respectively. Kutztown was predicted fourth, just ahead of East Stroudsburg in the East. Lock Haven, moving from the West to the East, was predicted sixth in the preseason poll, the highest prediction for the Bald Eagles since being predicted to finish sixth in the West in 2007. Millersville and Cheyney finished out the poll in the East.
Mercyhurst finished 9-2 overall last season, opening the season with an inauspicious 59-42 non-conference loss at Notre Dame College. However, after the loss, the Lakers rattled off six straight victories before the loss at IUP. After that contest, Mercyhurst won three straight to close the season, including a 52-45 win in the season finale against East Stroudsburg.
The nine victories tied the program-record for most regular season victories and marked the second-highest win total in program history – one shy of the ten the team won in 2010 when it captured the PSAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Over the last three seasons, the Lakers have gone 23-12.
For Mercyhurst and head coach Marty Schaetzle (55-66, eleven seasons), however, it’s been a topsy-turvy five years in the conference. Every other season has been a winning one, so the Lakers are hoping to buck that trend in 2013. Despite losing a lot of talent from last year’s squad, the Lakers return a lot of experience and a lot of depth at multiple positions – a sign that an end to the every-other-year trend could come to an end.
However, the schedule won’t be easy.
Mercyhurst’s 2013 schedule starts with a showdown against Bentley in Waltham, Massachsetts on September 7. It will be the first meeting against the Falcons, who went 8-2 last season. Mercyhurst opens at home on September 14 against Millersville and then will go back on the road the following two weeks against Clarion and Slippery Rock. October 5 will serve as Mercyhurst’s Homecoming Weekend as PSAC East for Cheyney makes the trek across the state to Tullio Field. After the game against the Wolves, the Lakers will travel to PSAC newcomer, and divisional foe, Seton Hill on October 12. Mercyhurst will then have three straight home games starting with a Thursday night, October 17 kickoff against Gannon at Veterans Stadium. The long week will then set up a showdown with visiting IUP on October 26, followed by a visit from Edinboro on November 2. The Lakers will close the season with two road games – at California (Pa.) on November 9 and at East Stroudsburg on November 16.
West Division Preseason Poll
1. Indiana (Pa.) (7)
2. Mercyhurst (1)
3. Slippery Rock
4. California (Pa.)
5. Gannon
6. Edinboro
7. Clarion
8. Seton Hill
East Division Preseason Poll
1. Shippensburg (6)
2. Bloomsburg (1)
3. West Chester (1)
4. Kutztown
5. East Stroudsburg
6. Lock Haven
7. Millersville
8. Cheyney
Additional Notes:
– Since joining the PSAC in 2008, every other year has been a winning season for the Lakers. Mercyhurst went 7-4 in 2008, followed by a 4-7 mark in 2009. The Lakers then won the PSAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2010, finishing with a 10-3 mark. However, in 2011, the Lakers again went 4-7. Last season, Mercyhurst was 9-2.
– The 2012 team established a school record with 369 points scored, breaking the previous record of 354 set in 2010. The Lakers also averaged 33.5 points per game last season, breaking the old record of 32.1 set by the 2007 Lakers.
– Redshirt sophomore running back Brandon Brown-Dukes had, arguably, the best season by a Laker running back in school history last season. He finished with 1,295 yards (19 yards shy of eclipsing Gerald Anderson’s 2010 mark of 1,313) and a school-record 16 rushing touchdowns. The 16 scores also tied the school record (Trevor Kennedy, 2011) for most touchdowns in a season. Brown-Dukes also established a school-record by averaging 117.7 rushing yards per game last season.
– Senior placekicker Steven Wakefield broke his own record of 64 points in 2010 with 69 points last season. He is now the school’s all-time leader in points by a kicker with 189. Phil Scanlon (2002-06) held the previous record with 165.
– 2013 will mark the return of 2011 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Richie Sanders, who sat out 2012 with a shoulder injury. He will join last season’s PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Brandon Brown-Dukes, and PSAC West Second Team selection, Allen Jones II, in a very deep and talented Laker backfield.
– This season will also mark the return of tight end R.J. Miller, who sat out all of last season. He was a PSAC West Second Team selection in 2011.
– Mercyhurst has had at least one individual win a PSAC postseason award (Offensive, Defensive, Freshman, Coach) in four of its five seasons in the conference.
– Mercyhurst’s overall and pass defense has ranked in the top five in the PSAC in four of its five seasons in the conference.
– Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Vendemia enters 2013 ranked seventh on the school’s all-time passing list (3,458 yards) and ranked eighth on the program’s all-time total offense list (3,425 yards).
