ERIE, PA – The Gannon football team has been picked to finish fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division according to the league’s preseason coaches poll released Monday afternoon in conjunction with the PSAC Football Media Day hosted by Slippery Rock University.
Defending PSAC champion Indiana (Pa.) was an overwhelming favorite to repeat in the West, garnering seven of the eight first-place votes. Mercyhurst was picked second, capturing the final first-place vote. Slippery Rock, California (Pa.), Gannon, Edinboro, Clarion and Seton Hill rounded out the Western Division predictions.
Shippensburg was selected as the preseason favorite in the Eastern Division. The Raiders secured six of the eight first-place votes. Bloomsburg and West Chester finished second and third respectively with one first-place vote each. Kutztown, East Stroudsburg, Lock Haven, Millersville and Cheyney completed the Eastern Division order.
Gannon returns 43 letterwinners from last year’s 3-8 squad that finished the season strong, winning two of its last three games. The only setback during the final run was a 38-35 loss to eventual PSAC champion Indiana (Pa.) when the Crimson Hawks scored the winning touchdown on a fourth-and-one play with 3:16 to play. Sixteen of those returning letterwinners made at least five starts in 2012.
The offense brings the most experience back as nine starters return. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Liam Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) is under center for the second year after breaking school records for passing yards (2,910), pass completions (242), passing touchdowns (21) and 200-yard passing games (8) in 2012. His top targets return in juniors Abraham Ocasio (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes), Justin Caliste (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont) and Joe Sobucki (Girard, Pa./Girard). Ocasio broke the school record for receptions (64), receiving yards (911) and receiving touchdowns (10) last season. Redshirt senior Jansen Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) adds another dimension from the backfield, rushing for 692 yards and five touchdowns as a starting tailback in 2012.
The defense returns 19 letterwinners, but only six who started at least five games last season. Junior defensive back Mike Phillips (Bowie, Md./Bowie) is Gannon’s top returning tackler with 96 stops a year ago. The Golden Knights will need to replace three defensive linemen and two linebackers who started at last five games last season.
Gannon opens the 2013 season Thursday, September 5 at Lake Erie. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. The PSAC schedule begins Saturday, September 14 against West Chester at Gannon University Field. Gannon opens the conference schedule with two home games that include a September 21 date against Slippery Rock.
