Stakes high for UC vs. West Liberty
By Mike Whiteford
Charleston Gazette
Dealing with West Liberty’s pass-happy offense will not be the University of Charleston’s only consideration this weekend.
When the Hilltoppers visit UC Stadium at Laidley Field to face the Golden Eagles beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, such matters as the West Virginia Conference football championship and Division II playoffs will be at issue.
In addition, West Liberty defensive back Darren Banks is within reach of the Division II record for interceptions, a record set incidentally by Shepherd’s Dan Peters last year.
If UC (7-2, 5-1) defeats West Liberty (6-3, 4-2) and closes out the regular season with a victory at home against Glenville the following week, the Golden Eagles will assure themselves of at least a tie for the WVC championship and, in all likelihood, will be headed for the NCAA Division II playoffs.
“The part of this whole saga that I like,’’ said UC coach Tony DeMeo, “is that three years ago, if I had told anyone what we’re talking about, I would have been put in a straitjacket.’’
Both UC and Shepherd, who share the WVC’s top spot, might even play host to first-round postseason games when the six-team Northeast Region playoff begins Nov. 11 at on-campus sites.
“If they both win out, the chances are very good,’’ said WVC associate commissioner Will Prewitt.
Much of UC’s and Shepherd’s fate will be determined by results in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, which is part of the Northeast Region. By beating up on one another, PSAC schools may elevate UC and Shepherd in the regional rankings, Prewitt added.
“Considering that some of the Pennsylvania schools are still in contention,’’ he said, “I think it’s reasonable that one or both schools could host [playoff games] if they win out.’’
In this week’s Northeast rankings, Shepherd (8-1, 6-1) is No. 3 and the Golden Eagles No. 6. The top six schools advance to a postseason playoff in which the top two seeds receive opening-round byes, No. 3 plays host to No. 6 and No. 4 plays host to No. 5. A week later, the top two seeds play host to the first-round winners, and the regional winner advances to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
DeMeo says he has not addressed his players on the issues of a WVC title and postseason berth.
“My goal right now is just to have a good practice,’’ he said Monday. “My focus is pretty narrow. My goal is to have a good practice tomorrow and if we have good practices, things will fall in place. We’re a team that has to practice well.’’
Against WL on Saturday, the Golden Eagles will face quarterback Zach Amedro, a former John Marshall High School player who transferred from Appalachian State and holds a comfortable lead in WVC passing.
Amedro has completed 182-of-283 passes (64.3 percent) and averages 285.6 yards a game. He’s thrown 19 touchdown passes with only six interceptions. In a 38-21 loss at Shepherd last week, Amedro hit 37-of-57 throws for 383 yards.
UC, meanwhile, ranks last in the conference in pass defense, allowing 227.3 yards a game, but is second in rushing defense at 111.9 yards a game. DeMeo said he pays little heed to statistics, other than turnover ratio.
“We want to get takeaways on defense and have good ball security on offense,’’ he said.
BRIEFLY: West Liberty’s Banks has intercepted 11 passes in nine games and is within reach of Peters’ 14, which is a Division II record. When Peters set the record last year, Prewitt thought it would be difficult to duplicate. “We were talking, and we couldn’t imagine anyone getting 14 or 15 interceptions,’’ he said, “and here’s Darren Banks sitting there with 11 with two games to play the very next year.’’ ... The Northeast is one of four regions in the 24-team Division II playoff. Shepherd was the top seed last year and in 2005, but no WVC team even qualified for postseason play from 2000 through 2004.
Charleston Gazette
Dealing with West Liberty’s pass-happy offense will not be the University of Charleston’s only consideration this weekend.
When the Hilltoppers visit UC Stadium at Laidley Field to face the Golden Eagles beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, such matters as the West Virginia Conference football championship and Division II playoffs will be at issue.
In addition, West Liberty defensive back Darren Banks is within reach of the Division II record for interceptions, a record set incidentally by Shepherd’s Dan Peters last year.
If UC (7-2, 5-1) defeats West Liberty (6-3, 4-2) and closes out the regular season with a victory at home against Glenville the following week, the Golden Eagles will assure themselves of at least a tie for the WVC championship and, in all likelihood, will be headed for the NCAA Division II playoffs.
“The part of this whole saga that I like,’’ said UC coach Tony DeMeo, “is that three years ago, if I had told anyone what we’re talking about, I would have been put in a straitjacket.’’
Both UC and Shepherd, who share the WVC’s top spot, might even play host to first-round postseason games when the six-team Northeast Region playoff begins Nov. 11 at on-campus sites.
“If they both win out, the chances are very good,’’ said WVC associate commissioner Will Prewitt.
Much of UC’s and Shepherd’s fate will be determined by results in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, which is part of the Northeast Region. By beating up on one another, PSAC schools may elevate UC and Shepherd in the regional rankings, Prewitt added.
“Considering that some of the Pennsylvania schools are still in contention,’’ he said, “I think it’s reasonable that one or both schools could host [playoff games] if they win out.’’
In this week’s Northeast rankings, Shepherd (8-1, 6-1) is No. 3 and the Golden Eagles No. 6. The top six schools advance to a postseason playoff in which the top two seeds receive opening-round byes, No. 3 plays host to No. 6 and No. 4 plays host to No. 5. A week later, the top two seeds play host to the first-round winners, and the regional winner advances to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
DeMeo says he has not addressed his players on the issues of a WVC title and postseason berth.
“My goal right now is just to have a good practice,’’ he said Monday. “My focus is pretty narrow. My goal is to have a good practice tomorrow and if we have good practices, things will fall in place. We’re a team that has to practice well.’’
Against WL on Saturday, the Golden Eagles will face quarterback Zach Amedro, a former John Marshall High School player who transferred from Appalachian State and holds a comfortable lead in WVC passing.
Amedro has completed 182-of-283 passes (64.3 percent) and averages 285.6 yards a game. He’s thrown 19 touchdown passes with only six interceptions. In a 38-21 loss at Shepherd last week, Amedro hit 37-of-57 throws for 383 yards.
UC, meanwhile, ranks last in the conference in pass defense, allowing 227.3 yards a game, but is second in rushing defense at 111.9 yards a game. DeMeo said he pays little heed to statistics, other than turnover ratio.
“We want to get takeaways on defense and have good ball security on offense,’’ he said.
BRIEFLY: West Liberty’s Banks has intercepted 11 passes in nine games and is within reach of Peters’ 14, which is a Division II record. When Peters set the record last year, Prewitt thought it would be difficult to duplicate. “We were talking, and we couldn’t imagine anyone getting 14 or 15 interceptions,’’ he said, “and here’s Darren Banks sitting there with 11 with two games to play the very next year.’’ ... The Northeast is one of four regions in the 24-team Division II playoff. Shepherd was the top seed last year and in 2005, but no WVC team even qualified for postseason play from 2000 through 2004.