Vulcans forge success California (Pa.) again the title favorite

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

August 31, 2009 Last Updated: August 31, 2009 03:55 PM College

Don't blame California (Pa.) University if the Vulcans are looking over their shoulders.

For the fourth straight year, Cal is favored to win the PSAC West championship in a poll of the conference's head coaches.

The Vulcans have a first-year starter at quarterback in University of Maryland transfer Josh Portis. Edinboro and Indiana (Pa.) are returning fourth-year starters at the position and are picked second and third, respectively.

"We've got a lot of talent coming back, but how Josh adapts to our offense and fits in will be vital," Vulcans coach John Luckhardt said. "He's our unknown going into the season.

"We've been on top and I'm sure that's why the coaches picked us for the top. Preseason polls are more a reflection on what you've already accomplished."

The Vulcans are the four-time defending PSAC West champions, won the state title game over West Chester last year and are two-time defending regional champions.

California has been ousted in the Division II semifinals by the eventual league champion each of the past two years.

Portis played sparingly in eight games as Maryland's backup quarterback a year ago. Trevor Harris at Edinboro and Andrew Krewatch at IUP have been shining brightly in the PSAC for years now.

Harris is one of the top candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy this year as the best player in Division II college football. He is a two-time PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 3,336 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2008.

Harris has completed 697 passes for 8,595 yards in his career — both Edinboro records — including 10 300-yard passing efforts in his last 24 games.

"He is a leader, one of the best I've ever seen," Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. "He's clearly one of the best players in the country."

Krewatch has thrown for 7,263 yards and 63 touchdowns in his IUP career, needing 1,147 yards and 22 TDs this year to establish school records in both categories.

"The experience factor is huge for him," Crimson Hawks coach Lou Tepper said. "If he stays healthy, Andrew will break every significant quarterback record in IUP history before he's through this year."

California has seven starters back on offense, including five linemen and receivers Josh Gumbert and A.J. Jackson.

Edinboro returns no starters among the skilled positions to go with Harris, but running back David Bostic, who sat out last year with an injury, will return to the Scots.

IUP returns seven starters on offense, including 1,200-yard rusher Tobias Robinson, wide receiver Mychal Skinner and tight end Nate Morrow.

"Mychal's got a chance to be one of the best receivers in the conference, and Tobias gives us the running game to go with Andrew's passing ability," Tepper said. "I'm excited about the potential our offense has."

California and Edinboro each have eight defensive starters back. The return of Bostick enables Browning to return running back Houston Brown to cornerback.

"We've got depth defensively, but any one of five teams could win the West," Luckhardt said. "This is the best team Edinboro's had since I've been in this league (eight years).

Mercyhurst finished 7-4 a year ago and has eight starters back on defense, led by linebacker Bryan Boyce. All four defensive backs return as well.

Gannon returns running back Jon Richardson, who rushed for 914 yards and nine TDs in 2008. The Knights have 20 of 22 starters back and look to improve upon a 4-7 season.

Former Slippery Rock University defensive coordinator Jay Foster enters his third year at Clarion with 17 starters back, including nine on offense.

Receivers Jacques Robinson (70 catches, 849 yards) and Alfonso Hoggard (41-472) form a potent one-two combination for the Golden Eagles.

"We only have four seniors on the team and this is our third recruiting class," Foster said. "My first class of recruits are now juniors or redshirt sophomores and they're ready to make their presence felt."

A pair of Karns City graduates — junior defensive tackle Kory Kusick and freshman cornerback Anthony Stimac — are poised to contribute as well.

"Kusick had a bad shoulder last year, but started for us as a sophomore," Foster said. "We recruited Stimac as an athlete and he may step in at corner and start right away."

Stimac was the starting quarterback for Karns City's District 9 Class AA championship team last year.

Lock Haven did not win a game last season, but returns 20 of 22 starters.

Overall, seven of the top 25 active Division II coaches in winning percentage reside in the PSAC. Combined, they have 62 returning all-conference players this season.