Sep 15, 2016 4 min read

The Presidents’ Athletic Conference title might be decided Saturday afternoon.

That’s when two of the conference’s powerhouse football teams – Washington & Jefferson and Thomas More – meet in Crestview Hills, Ky., with the winner in great position to grab the title and earn the automatic playoff berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The loser won’t have its playoff hopes dashed, but there will be no room for any more losses.

Thomas More enters the game ranked No. 20 in the d3football.com poll and the Presidents are No. 23.

“I’m sort of a rivalry guy, and I like these games at the end of the season,” said Thomas More head coach Regis Scafe. “We’ll play where they are on our schedule.”

Normally, this matchup has been a midseason highlight for the PAC.

And the outcomes of recent meetings have hinged on one stat: turnovers.

Last season, W&J quarterback Pete Coughlin threw four interceptions in a 38-20 loss. Two years ago, the Saints turned the football over five times in a 51-28 loss. In 2013, W&J won the turnover battle, 2-0, and the game, 45-21.

“This game has been evenly matched the past few years, and the team that doesn’t turn the ball over wins,” said W&J head coach Mike Sirianni. “Last year, we turned the ball over and they won. The two previous years, they turned the ball over and we won. It’s obviously going to be a turnover-tight game. We have to take care of the football.”

Both teams had two non-conference games to open the season. W&J survived both and Thomas More split the first two, losing the opening to Franklin, 43-39. Franklin is a Division III power that has won at least seven games per year over the last 10 seasons. Thomas More turned the ball over at Franklin’s goal line and the Grizzlies drove 99 yards and scored the game-winner with 32 seconds to play.

“That was a tough one to lose,” Scafe said. “It was like a playoff game.”

W&J is coming off two routs, the last a 65-13 win over Grove City in which Coughlin tossed a school-record seven touchdown passes … in the first half. Coughlin has thrown for 669 yards and 11 touchdowns and has just one interception in 53 attempts.

“Turnover (are key) in this game. It’s what it’s been in the past,” said Coughlin. “We have to get started on a good path.”

Coughlin’s counterpart, Brenan Kuntz has completed 53 percent of his passes for 498 yards and seven TDs. Daylin Garland is his favorite target. He has four of the TD receptions and 279 yards.

But the main cog of the Saints offense is tailback CT Tarrant, who averages 7.6 yards per carry. Tarrant is on track for a 1,700-yard season.

“He’s quick through the hole and he’s powerful and strong,” said Scafe. “Last year was his first year as a starter. He came in in even better shape this year.

Kickoff is noon.

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Saturday

Gary Dunn makes his home debut as Cal’s first-year head football coach after a rout of Cheyney, 79-3. Cal had a bye in Week 1. This is a PSAC cross-over game.

Mike Keir made his first start at quarterback for Cal, completing 10 of 12 passes for 215 yards and five touchdowns. Nick Grissom ran for 109 yards on six attempts and scored once.

Millersville, coming off a 2-9 season, opened the year by splitting its first two games. The Marauders defeated Pace, 28-7, then fell to Seton Hill, 38-24. Quarterback J.J. Paige is off to a good start, throwing for 527 yards and four TDs without an interception. Cornerback Jaleel Robinson has two interceptions.

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Saturday

Waynesburg is looking for its first win of the season and the road doesn’t get easier. The Yellow Jackets (0-2) are coming off a 28-7 loss to Westminster. Carnegie-Mellon (0-1), which is coming off a bye week, lost to Washington (Mo.) in Week 1.

Waynesburg’s offense has been stuck in low gear so far, scoring 23 points and rushing for just 189 yards. Quarterback Jake Dougherty has passed for 306 yards but only two touchdowns.

The Yellow Jackets defense must stop Sam Benger, the PAC Offensive Player of the Year. The junior running back, coming off a 251-yard, three-TD effort against Washington, gained 2,092 yards on the ground and scored 22 touchdowns last season.