Slippery Rock vs. Bloomsburg Preview

The 2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship heads to Mihalik Thompson Stadium this afternoon. Slippery Rock will play host to the undefeated and top 10 ranked Bloomsburg Huskies. If the match-up seems familiar, it indeed is. These two teams met last year in the championship game, which the Huskies won 42-38 with a touchdown in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Coach Mihalik and company look to reverse their fortune as they bring their 8-2 Rock team into the championship game this year.

Senior QB Jared Buck will command the Rock offense
for the 6th week and the PSAC Championship Game

QB Jared Buck, who replaced Zack Newsock five weeks ago, will handle the duties of the Rock's high paced offense. Coach Mihalik said on Thursday nights Sports Soundoff with Matt Clement, the team is shooting to run 80 to 90 plays on offense, which will allow them to control the clock.

Meanwhile on the Bloomsburg side of the ball, it's an offense that ran the ball last year, and will run the ball this year. Their defense also has a +20 turnover ratio,allowing their offense to set up in close field position.

Slippery Rock color analyst Glenn Thompson expects this game to be a back-forth match-up that will feel like new age old time football. Both teams are run-oriented and rely on their defense. However, it's not "huddle up, under center, and two men backfield" offense. Instead it's a no huddle, quick to the line, run as many plays as you can offense.

Preivew
Site: Mihalik-Thompson Stadium
Kickoff: 12:30 PM
TV: PCN
Radio: 97.7 WLER

Sizing Up the MVP Race

Kershaw's ERA for 2014 was 1.77

The Baseball Writers of America will crown a Most Valuable Player for the 2014 season on Thursday night (both American and National Leagues). The Pirates have the defending NL MVP in Andrew McCutchen. He is also up for the award this year. Joining him is Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

What are McCutchen's chances of taking home the award in back to back years? Unfortunately not likely. Clayton Kershaw has thrown for numbers that have not been seen in years before. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kershcl01.shtml?redir) It's hard to compete with numbers along those lines. What does McCutchen have going for him? Kershaw is a pitcher though. They don't win these awards too often. Justin Verlander won the MVP in the AL in 2011. The last NL pitcher to win was Bob Gibson back in the 1960s.

McCutchen's worth is easily measured. When he was injured in August, the team went into a tailspin that included 10 consecutive losses. He was worth that much to this team.

My guess: Clayton Kershaw is the 2014 NL MVP. He was just that good.