ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team has been picked to finish tied for fourth place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll released Monday afternoon in conjunction with the PSAC Football Media Day hosted by Slippery Rock University.

Defending PSAC and Northeast Region champion California (Pa.) is the favorite to repeat in the West, capturing seven of the eight first-place votes. Indiana (Pa.) and Clarion were tabbed second and third, respectively. Gannon and Edinboro tied for fourth place with the Fighting Scots picking up the final first-place vote. Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst and Lock Haven rounded out the Western Division predictions.

West Chester was selected as the preseason favorite in the Eastern Division despite failing to earn a first-place vote. Bloomsburg, C.W. Post, Shippensburg, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Millersville and Cheyney completed the Eastern Division order. C.W. Post and Shippensburg received three first-place votes each while Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg took home one first-place vote apiece.

Gannon returns 45 letterwinners and 18 players who started at least six games from last year's 6-5 squad. The Golden Knights finished fourth in the PSAC Western Division with a 3-4 conference mark. The squad concluded the campaign with four consecutive victories, including a 10-7 overtime victory at nationally-ranked Bloomsburg in the season finale. The stretch run provided the program with its first winning season since 2003.

Seven starters return on the offensive side of the ball. Senior quarterback Zach Boedicker (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) and senior offensive lineman Sam Geldmaker (Bradenton, Fla./Manatee) were the only two players to start every game last season. Boedicker ranks third all-time at Gannon in total offense (3,479) while Geldmaker was named to the PSAC Western Division first team in 2009.

Ten players who started at least six games return on defense. Junior lineman Randy Colling (Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer) headlines the defensive unit after being named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Super Region One and All-PSAC Western Division first teams. Senior defensive back Matthew Neal-Mink (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) landed a spot on the All-PSAC Western Division second team. He led the Golden Knights in tackles (82) last season.

In addition, the field goal unit is in solid hands with Jeremy Ditzler (Erie, Pa./Iroquois) returning. The senior placekicker is Gannon's all-time leader in field goals made (27) and field goal accuracy (65.9).

Gannon opens the 2010 schedule Thursday, September 2 against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member Lake Erie at Gannon University Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The complete 2010 PSAC Preseason Football Coaches Poll can be found at http://www.psacsports.org.