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Stakes high for Vulcans, Shippensburg

By Brian Herman, The Valley Independent, Monessen, Pa.

Nov. 4--If the NCAA Division II football playoffs opened this weekend, California University would be taking it a little easy with a first round bye and Shippensburg would be playing a first round game at home.

The post-season, however, doesn't start until next week. And it's conceivable either the Vulcans or Red Raiders could be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs.

The reason is California and Shippensburg, which are second and third in the key Super Regional One ranking, each have two losses entering Saturday's PSAC championship game.

Saturday's winner could end up No. 1 if surprising Concord knocks off WVIAC champion West Liberty State.

The loser of the title game could possibly drop out of the six team field.

No one has to tell either California's John Luckhardt or Shippensburg's Rocky Rees that there's a lot on the line in the PSAC title contest.

"It's common sense to have a conference championship game, but there's a chance one of us won't get in if we lose," said Luckhardt.

"It puts more pressure on the game," admitted Rees. "It could knock people out of the playoffs or may not have an effect."

Last year it didn't have an effect as once-beaten California dropped twice-beaten West Chester team, 47-36, in the PSAC title contest at Adamson Stadium.

The Vulcans and Red Raiders both got off to slow starts this season.

Tabbed No. 7, the Vulcans were 0-2 for the first time in 10 years with losses to Saginaw Valley State and Bloomsburg.

"We struggled early but our kids responded well and didn't lose focus on the season," said Luckhardt.

Ship opened the campaign with a 34-23 defeat at Shepherd and went down to a 40-24 setback at C.W. Post in the sixth game before closing with four victories.

"The loss to Shepherd was devastating but we came back the following week to play a great game at Edinboro (a 24-14 win)," said Rees.

Before rolling over Cheyney, 31-10, last week, the Red Raiders pulled out close wins over Kutztown (26-22), West Chester (24-19) and Bloomsburg (28-27) on successive Saturdays.

Brian Herman can be reached at bherman@tribweb.com or 724-684-2667.

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