The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is getting crowded at the top.

Eight teams in the PSAC won at least seven games last season and 10 of the league’s 16 teams posted winning records.

Things are particularly top-heavy in the Western Division. Clarion began the year 7-0 and finished fourth. Sixth-place Meryhurst won five games and seventh-place Seton Hill upset eventual league champion Slippery Rock.

“The West is much more balanced than it was when I first got here,” sixth-year Indiana (Pa.) coach Curt Cignetti said. “There are no easy games anymore.

“Even Edinboro, which didn’t win a game last year ... Their program is better than that. They have a new coach and they will be better.”

Second-year Clarion coach Chris Weibel, an East Brady graduate, said the team that wins the West “will probably be the team that stays healthy. There’s a number of teams that feel like they can win it.”

Besides SRU coach Shawn Lutz, there are two new head coaches in the West: Gary Dunn at California (Pa.) and Justin Lustig at Edinboro. Dunn was a four-year starter on the Vulcans’ offensive line from 1991-94 and has spent the past 17 seasons as offensive coodinator at Duquesne (6) and Morehead State (11).

Lustig was an assistant coach at Ball State the past five years and was a defensive back at Bucknell, where he was coached by current Mercyhurst mentor Marty Schaetzle.

“There’s great competition in this league, but I feel like I’m inheriting a team than take a shot at it,” Dunn said.

“All we’re going to do is focus on what matters, on things we can control,” Lustig said. “That goes for the weight room, meeting room, classroom, practice field — everywhere.”

For the third time in four years, IUP is picked to win the West. The Crimson Hawks received five first-place votes in the preseason poll. SRU is picked second, followed by California, Clarion, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Edinboro.

Indiana (Pa.)

Last Year: 9-3

The Crimson Hawks return seven all-conference players. IUP brings back 10 startrers on offense, seven on defense, and was a pair of missed PATs away from winning the West last year.

“Our program always has high expectations,” Cignetti said. “We never worry about what’s being said on the outside. For us, it’s all about the process and accountability.”

Sophomore quarterback Lenny Williams broke IUP’s single-game total offense record with 504 yards against SRU last season. He rushed for 1,229 yards and 12 touchdowns, threw for 1,549 yards and nine scores. Junior running back Chris Temple ran for 1,212 yards and 17 TDs.

Williams’ top two receivers — Walt Pegues (57 catches-753 yards) and Swahneek Brown (27-357) return as well.

“I know the weapons we have on offense,” Williams said. “My goals this year are to improve my passing accuracy, decision-making and read defenses better.”

Four of IUP’s returning all-conference players are on defense — lineman Jemal Averette, linebacker Kevin Clarke, defensive backs Steve Franco and Jay Watkins.

California (Pa.)

Last Year: 8-3

The Vulcans lose the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year in quarterback James Harris, but return running back John Franklin III (861 yards, 17 TDs) and receiver Garry Brown (64 catches-1,028 yards-11 TDs) among their 16 returning starters.

“We’ve got preseason All-Americans back at safety and corner in Jordan Bowman and Aaron Terry,” Dunn said. “I like the athleticism on this team.

“We’ve got a number of quarterbacks competing for the job. That will be interesting.”

Clarion

Last Year: 7-4

The Golden Eagles return the PSAC’s leading passer in senior Connor Simmons (3,582 yards), along with top running back Delrece Williams and receivers Matt Lehman and Kevin Genevro.

Lehman caught 15 touchdown passes, most of any returning PSAC player.

“We have experience back offensively, but we’ll be young up front,” Weibel said. “Defensively, we’ll be more athletic, but much less experienced.”

Clarion returns only three starters defensively, including Seneca Valley graduate Matt Koerper on the defensive line.

Gannon

Last Year: 6-5

The Golden Knights will be a much younger unit this fall with just five starters returning on offense, four on defense.

“Eighty percent of our roster will be freshmen and sophomores,” fifth-year coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “We’re going to have to grow up fast.”

One of the four returnees on defense is junior cornerback Foster Reznor, a Grove City High product.

“Foster has developed into an outstanding cover corner,” Rzyczycki said. “We’ll be relying on him heavily as a lot of teams in our league can throw the ball well.”

Mercyhurst

Last Year: 5-6

Schaetzle is entering his 15th season and is the new dean of PSAC West coaches. He returns only three linemen to his offensive lineup, however.

“We’ve got seven back on defense and some experience up front, so we’ll be counting on physical football,” Schaetzle said. “That’s the way we like to play it.

“No matter what, we’re going to have a lot of new faces as starters. I’d prefer those guys to be sophomores and juniors, but if freshmen win the jobs, freshmen will play.”

Seton Hill

Last Year: 3-8

The Griffins struck for plenty of big plays last year and may do so again with returning quarterback Christian Strong and receivers Ardell Brown and Jarvis McClam.

Seton Hill returns nine starters on defense, but that unit allowed 37.5 points per game last year.

“We’ve got more seniors staying with the program now and that will help,” fourth-year coach Isaac Collins said. “We still have to gain the confidence that we can get it done consistently in this league.

“I like our first-team lineup, but we have to stay healthy. We have a bunch of first-year players behind them.”

Edinboro

Last Year: 0-11

Lustig inherits a team bringing back seven starters on offense — including quarterback Jake Sisson (1,960 yards, 16 TDs passing) and receiver Alex Caratelli (52 catches, 8 TDs).

The defense returns six starters, including standout noseguard Josh Kibbie (10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks).

“Step No. 1 is to become competitive,” Lustig said. “If we get guys hurt, we’re replacing them with freshmen. You don’t want to do that in this league.”