2009 PAC Football Preview

    Bethany Bison (3-7 Overall, 1-5 PAC in 2008)

Numbers will be the main theme for the Bethany football team in the 2009 season, as the Bison enter preseason camp with the largest roster in school history and try to maintain a potent offense while attempting to improve on the defensive side of the ball.

Last year in their third season under head coach Tim Weaver, the Bison finished 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the PAC. Those numbers are deceiving however, as BC lost three games in the final two minutes, including two on the final snap. The offense continued to surge, as that unit set single-season school records for points scored (280) and passing yards (2,548), but the defense ranked ninth in the conference in points allowed, rushing and total defense.

Perhaps the biggest number for Weaver and his staff is the number of players who will suit up. The 50 returning upperclassmen will be joined by more than 100 newcomers in camp, by far the largest roster in Bethany’s history. According to Weaver, the numbers are due to the hard work of many, as well as the recognition that Bison football is on the rise.

“When you have this successful of a year recruiting, the credit goes to a bunch of people,” said Weaver, who has an 11-19 record in his three years at the helm. “This was not due to mass recruiting. Every kid that’s coming was a target who we sat down with and got to know. Credit first goes to the assistant coaches, who do the leg work, meet the families and sell the product, which we think is very, very good. Our current players also played a role because whether they’re helping with campus visits or talking with their former high school coaches and teammates back home, they are very positive about what’s going on with the entire program.

“We also had a lot of help with people not directly tied in the program, like our admissions staff, who did a great job getting all the processes done and helping families through the financial aid process,” said Weaver. “And this isn’t possible without help at the top. (Bethany President) Dr. Scott Miller’s commitment to change is evident by the drastic improvement in our facilities. This place looks a lot different than it did when I was hired. That commitment at the institutional level starts this whole process.”

Perhaps the only thing bigger than the number of incoming players to the Bison program was the amount of points they posted on the scoreboard last fall. Bethany scored 31 or more points in six different games last season and the record book was under siege throughout the campaign. Rising sophomore QB Chad Smith was instrumental in the attack, as he threw for 2,302 yards, second-most in BC single-season history, and 16 touchdowns and his return this year marks the first time in Coach Weaver’s tenure that the Bison will have the same starting signal caller for a second consecutive season.

“This is the first time as a staff we have any semblance of order at that position coming into camp and we feel very good about Chad,” said Weaver. “He is on pace to write a whole new record book for passing at Bethany. He has natural leadership abilities, a great arm and is very good to coach. There will be a strong competition in camp to see who the back-ups are behind him.”

Smith is joined in the backfield by a bevy of talented runners. Sophomore Eric Walker ran for 714 yards and tied the BC single-season record with 10 rushing TDs, while junior Marcus Santini turned in a second straight strong campaign with 398 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and 260 receiving yards and four scores through the air. Coupled with some freshmen that bring game-breaking ability to the field, Weaver says the running back situation is strong.

“We have two good ones in Walker and Santini, who will finish at or near the top of rushing categories by the time they’re finished,” said Weaver. “They both have good balance and run hard, but their strength isn’t breaking too may long ones. We were able to recruit a couple exciting backs who can be home run hitters and add another dimension to our rushing attack.”

Bethany already boasts one of the conference’s top deep threats at wide receiver in senior Matt Cruse (left). Despite missing three games because of injury last season, the three-time All-PAC selection caught 42 balls for 721 yards and five TDs, which gives him 21 scoring receptions in his career to set a new Bethany record. Other upperclassmen in the mix for time include junior Randy Rankin, who had 13 catches for 146 yards and two scores last year, and sophomore Jeff Joyce, who completed a change from QB in the spring. Weaver added that a talented group of freshmen will make the receiving corps deep and talented.

“Cruse is one of the top playmakers in the PAC and he has a good chance at some more records,” said Weaver. “We feel like we have to get touches for Joyce, who has a ton of upside after completing a switch from quarterback in the spring. Rankin has shown flashes, but needs to become much more consistent. We also have quite a few freshmen who have a lot of skills and we’re anxious to see how they develop.”

Supplying the power for the offense is the line, where Bethany returns four players who started much of last season. The bookends are senior LT Chad Sedlacek, who is also a captain this year, and junior RT Bob Rovnanik, while a pair of sophomores saw a lot of time at guard in Brandyn Frey and Cory Potter. Senior Chris Bailey has started more than 25 games at center in his career.

“The offensive line is one of the anchors we wanted to build on from our first day,” said Weaver. “In the last three years, we’ve gone from allowing nearly 50 sacks to just 20 and tripled our rushing output in the last two years. We bring a lot of experience back this year and we feel real good about where we are. Sedlacek is a four-year starter and captain this year. Rovnanik has been a consistent player at right tackle. Bailey has started a bunch of games over his career. And Frey and Potter are big, tough, athletic guys who could be better than anyone we’ve had.”

Bethany’s defensive problems last year started up front, as injuries to projected starting tackles Brad Hartley and Matt Swartling kept them out either all (Hartley) or the majority (Swartling) of the season. However, they are healthy now and with seniors Dan Gigler and Tim Stefanizzi and sophomores Bobby McConnell and Kasib Tallib-Din manning the ends, Weaver expects more from the front line.

“We are cautiously optimistic about the defensive line,” said Weaver. “Missing Hartley, who is a captain this year, and Swartling for almost all of last year was a big blow we never really recovered from. But they appear healthy now and we recruited some depth, so we think we’re in good shape.

“At the ends, McConnell showed flashes at times as a freshman, but also battled through injuries and Tallib-Din had a really good spring and stayed here this summer to keep working for the season,” said Weaver. “We also have steady vets in Gigler and Stefanizzi who have played a lot of football in their careers.”

Quality play will be needed from the linebacker position this season if Bethany is to show improvement defensively. After three years and two All-PAC selections at defensive tackle, senior John Gyure makes the position change, which comes after he led the Bison with 8.5 sacks last year. The other positions will be decided in camp, with Weaver really liking the freshmen class’ size and ability.

“There isn’t a nice way to say this, but our production must improve at linebacker because we were not good there last year,” said Weaver. “Moving Gyure off the defensive line appears to have worked and he took to it better than expected in the spring. The rest of the returning players will compete with a big, tough group of freshmen.”

Senior CB Michael Salters, a three-year starter who broke up 11 passes last season, and senior FS Nelson Mitzen, a Second Team All-PAC choice a year ago after leading BC with 91 tackles and three interceptions, will be expected to lead the secondary. However, Weaver says more production will be needed, not just from them, but from the entire defensive backfield.

“This is another area we have to be better,” said Weaver. “We have two steady seniors in Salters and Mitzen who have proven they can succeed, but we will challenge them to be better, provide more leadership and make more plays. Other than those two, there will be a lot of open reps in camp. We’ll let the recruiting class battle with the returners and get the best 4-6 guys out there, depending on the situation.”

The special teams will be filled mostly by returning players, with the exception of kicker. Smith will do double-duty again, as he’ll handle punting duties again unless a freshman steps up in camp. The kicker spot is wide open, with as many as four in the mix for that position. And the return game looks solid with Joyce and Cruse back to return punts and Joyce and Walker to bring back kickoffs.

“Smith is back at punter, although we would like to take it off his plate,” said Weaver. “Like every year, we’ll have auditions and try to find one. If Chad does punt again, even though it’s not easy to do both, we’ll challenge him to do a better job. Kicker is an open competition. We’ll have three or four players going for it and if we need one to handle kicks and another to kickoff, that’s what we’ll do.

“We have a lot of veterans who returned last year in Joyce, Cruse, Rankin and Walker and they did ok,” said Weaver. But we’re excited about some of the young guys and there’s enough skill and talent coming in that we should be able to find someone to do it well.”

Even though the PAC produced two NCAA playoff teams a year ago in champ Thomas More and Washington & Jefferson, Weaver says the league may be more competitive this year than in recent history and that includes his Bison possibly staying in the race this season under the right circumstances.

“This should be a great year in the conference because Thomas More is at the top, although they aren’t as clear a favorite as the league has had in the past,” said Weaver. “They have a lot of talent back, including a veteran quarterback, so they’ll be a tough team to beat. And you know W&J is always a good team, but they had some steep graduation losses. Even though they have talent in the pipeline to just plug in, losing a quarterback like (Bobby) Swallow will not be easy to overcome.

“But including W&J, I don’t think there is a big separation between anyone else,” said Weaver. “And I believe we’re right in the mix. We were very competitive last year and if we catch a couple breaks, last year looks very different. If those breaks go our way this year, there’s no reason we can’t take the next step and make this our big turnaround year.”

Geneva Golden Tornadoes (5-5 Overall in 2008)

It is not how you start, but how you finish. This could have easily been the motto for the 2008 Geneva College football team. After limping to a 1-5 start against a rigorous early season schedule, the Golden Tornadoes quickly turned their fortunes around in winning their final four games, including a victory over eventual PAC champion Thomas More.

The Golden Tornadoes dropped early season games to NCAA Division II national qualifier Seton Hill and top ten Division III programs Salisbury and Washington & Jefferson in the first four weeks of the season. That tough stretch only made Geneva stronger and the Golden Tornadoes were able to take advantage with a final season stretch that saw them outscore opponents by a combined 45 points in the final four games.

The question for Geneva and head coach Geno DeMarco heading into 2009 is whether they can maintain that momentum and get off to a better start in September and October? That question will be answered soon enough, but with the firepower returning on the offensive side of the ball and a solid core returning on defense, the prospects for a special season in 2009 are already in place.

Offense

Many football experts will say that a college football player makes his greatest improvements from his first to his second year. That theory couldn’t have been truer than in describing the play of quarterback David Girardi. Girardi took great strides in becoming one of the finest quarterbacks in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Girardi is set for his third stint as Geneva’s offensive leader after completing close to 54% of his passes for 1474 yards and ten touchdowns. “David certainly came of age a bit last year,” said DeMarco. “He has worked extremely hard on and off the field to be the best quarterback he can be and to be the leader that we need on the offensive side of the ball.”

While the quarterback position seems to be in good hands with an experienced signal caller, the running back position is almost overflowing with experience. In 2009, Geneva will return three starting backs, all of which made significant contributions in 2008. Gerard Muschette (719 yds), Matt Barge (633 yds) and Matt Dean (426 yds) combined for close to 1800 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns last year. All three backs will return in 2009 looking to improve upon an already impressive resume. “We are blessed to have so much talent in the backfield,” said DeMarco. “At times it seems there are not enough footballs to go around, but I certainly am looking forward to watching these guys get after it this year.” Dean and Barge will be playing in their final season, while Muschette, who ran for two of the programs five longest touchdowns in school history last year, is only a junior.

The receiving core will look different in 2009 after the graduation of Luke Duriancik and Brian Dvorsak. But even with those departures, DeMarco is optimistic about his wideouts. “We still have some weapons out there,” he said. “Parker (Neutzel) has enjoyed an outstanding off season and AJ (Delmonico) will only continue to get better. We also have some new faces that may surprise some people.”

The offensive line will also have a new look after the graduation of some key members in 2008. But like the receiving core, it appears that group won’t miss a beat. “Nothing can happen on offense without a solid group up front,” said DeMarco. “We feel like we have the personnel to get it done, but we will be looking for several guys to step up early in the season.”

It could be a fun year at Reeves Field for the offense and for the fans, but maybe not so much for the scoreboard operator.
 

Defense

While the Geneva offense will enjoy the return of many of its key components from 2008, the defense will be looking to fill some very big shoes on the other side of the ball. Most notably, the Golden Tornadoes will be without 3/4 of a starting linebacking core that included three-time All-Conference selection Zach Feltrop.
 

Additionally, starters Dan Terracciano and Greg Pfeifer will also need replaced.

The Golden Tornadoes will look to simply reload in the middle of their defense and surround four-year starter Aaron Tommelleo in what should be a very athletic group on the defensive side of the ball. Chance Kelosky and Javon Moody should see significant time at the linebacker spot, while key returners up front on defense include Adam Rose (right) (11.5 TFL), Dan Dillman (24 tackles) and Brian Wilson (3 sacks). In the secondary, Matt Curry and Marcus Costanza will return for their second stint while four-year starter Rich Kolesar will be looking to put an exclamation point on the end of his career.

 “Clearly the defense will have much less experience going into the season than does our offensive group,” said DeMarco. “We are still very excited about the athletes we have on defense and feel this could develop into a very strong group.”

Along with the rest of the football team, the defensive unit struggled early in 2008, but came on late in the season to help contribute to four straight victories to end the year. In those four wins, the defense yielded an average of less than 20 points per game. “The guys returning from last year certainly know what it takes to be successful,” said DeMarco. “We need to simply build on those positive experiences at the end of the year and take them into 2009. It will be fun to watch this group grow together throughout the season.”
 

The Coach

Being consistent is one of the main ingredients to success on the football field. Nothing could be more accurate when it comes to a coach. Geneva College has been blessed to have plenty of consistency on its coaching staff with only two head coaches in the past 33 years. Geno DeMarco begins his 17th season as Geneva’s head coach, which will match his predecessor Gene Sullivan for the longest head coaching tenure in 120 years of Geneva College football.

“It is really quite overwhelming to understand all that we have accomplished in 17 years,” said DeMarco. “It takes a lot of people to make this thing go in the right direction and I have been very blessed to have some of the best coaches around me during these years. Coach Sullivan has remained an inspiration in my life and will continue to be a person that I will try to pattern my coaching and personal life after.”

DeMarco has guided the Geneva College football ship for a long time and has seen his program take off in ways that never seemed possible. As the Golden Tornadoes prepare for another chapter in 2009, coach DeMarco and his staff will look to continue the great tradition that has already been built on College Hill. “Everyday we try to maintain a standard that was set long before me or any of these players stepped foot on this campus. It is our job to put a product on the field that makes everyone proud and to put a group of young men in the classroom and in the community that makes us even prouder.”

At last count, nearly 100 former Geneva players under DeMarco had themselves entered the coaching ranks. That number in itself proves what kind of impact that Geneva College and Golden Tornadoes football is having on our community. In 2009, DeMarco and the Golden Tornadoes will continue to provide excitement for the fans and alumni on the field. Off the field, he will continue emphasize a teachable spirit aimed at servant leadership.



Grove City Wolverines (6-4 Overall, 3-3 PAC in 2008)

Saint Vincent Bearcats (1-9 Overall in 2008)

 

Though accumulating just a 1-19 record over the past two seasons, hopes are high at Saint Vincent College as the Bearcats enter their third season as a varsity football program.

Over the past two seasons, the Bearcats, composed almost solely of freshmen and sophomores, took their lumps against PAC foes, but head coach Bob Colbert says the time of his team using youth as an excuse is over.

“We’re out of excuses in terms of being young,” Colbert said.  “I just feel we’ve had a built-in excuse for losing because we were so young, and I just don’t want our players to rely on that anymore.”

Entering the 2009 preseason, the Bearcats are slated to return over 80 players from 2008, including 21 of last season’s 22 regular starters.  While the returnees are all a year older, Colbert also believes they are also much better.

“Our kids are grown up now,” he said.  “We’re not a new team.  We have the same number of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors as anybody else in the league.  We’ll be better, and we will be more competitive.”

Offense

Ten starters are set to return on the offensive side of the ball, including a trio of two-year starters on the line and a pair of sophomore quarterbacks who split playing time a year ago.

The offensive front will be led by junior center Kelly Knepshield.  A 2008 PAC Coaches Award recipient, Knepshield has started all 20 games over his first two seasons in a Bearcat uniform, including the past 17 at center.   He will be flanked by a pair of junior tackles, Joe Mylant and Steve Shore, who have 33 career starts between them.  At right guard, junior Shane Smith (Richmond, VA/Moacan) returns, after starting all 10 games a season ago.  

Juniors JR Creese and sophomores Jeff Achezinski and Sean Sieg all saw significant time at the varsity level a season ago, while sophomore Jeremy Shultz is slated to make the switch to the offensive front after seeing time in six games at defensive tackle in 2008.

Under center, strong-armed sophomores Kevin Corona and Jake Smith return, as each saw time in all 10 games in 2008, with Corona making five starts and Smith three.  Corona led the team in passing, completing 74 throws for 871 yards and six touchdowns, while Smith, a classic drop-back passer, notched 49 completions for 422 yards. 

In the backfield, the Bearcats return the one-two punch of tailbacks Jairus Marlow (right) and Zach Mihalko.  Arguably the PAC’s most explosive player in 2008, Marlow, a PAC Coaches Honors recipient, finished with 458 yards on just 59 carries, good for a conference-leading 7.8 yards per carry.  Marlow also is the owner of the longest play from scrimmage in the PAC last year, scampering for a 93-yard touchdown against Waynesburg in week three.   Also a pass-catching threat, the speedy Florida native made nine receptions for 150 yards, with a pair of touchdowns.

Mihalko saw extensive time in all 10 games a year ago, gaining 285 yards on the ground.  Also the team’s primary kick returner, he averaged 22.7 yards per return, including an 89-yard touchdown scamper against Washington & Jefferson in week seven.  He finished the year with 1,131 all-purpose yards, good for fifth in the PAC.

Sophomore Chris Brown saw time in six varsity contests a season ago, while junior Jim Rockovich, who served as the team’s main punter in 2008, will also fight for an increased role on offense.

Leading the way for Marlow and Mihalko looks to be second-year fullback Joe Yezovich.   The bruiser started all 10 games, gaining 113 yards on 33 carries while also making nine receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown.  Senior Marc Gonzales, who started all 10 games in 2007, returns after an injury-riddle ’08 campaign, while a pair of third-year fullbacks in Joe Strickland and Scott Miller have also seen extensive varsity time at the position.

The Bearcat receiving corps also returns virtually in tact from a year ago, and is arguably the squad’s deepest position.  Senior Dan Blaszkowski has appeared in 19 of SVC’s 20 games over the past two seasons, and again looks to have a big role in the team’s offense after making 15 receptions in 2008.

Junior Phil Masciantonio made the move from the Bearcat basketball team onto the gridiron last year, and immediately impressed, grabbing 12 balls for 158 yards.  Masciantonio’s classmate, sure-handed Rob Minjock, saw time in nine games last season, making 11 receptions, while sophomore Jeremy Drischler is coming off of an impressive freshman campaign, as he led the squad with 183 receiving yards on 12 catches.  Drischler’s classmate Marvin Daney appeared in nine games a season ago, averaging 16 yards on five catches, while 6-3 senior Jeff Woodring and 6-5 junior Mike Wampler each bring size to the receiving corps and will battle for increased roles.  

The Bearcats also return a pair of gifted tight ends in senior Jake Gabelt and junior Sheldon Loughner.  Gabelt earned PAC Coaches Honors a season ago, and evolved into a primary target for Bearcat signal callers, as he hauled in 14 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.  Loughner, a 2007 PAC Coaches Honors awardee, made nine grabs for 115 yards and a touchdown, and may also see time at wide out.

Defense

All 11 starters return from a 2008 season in which the Bearcats made marked improvement, surrendering an average of 70 fewer yards and 14 fewer points per game from the ’07 campaign.

The Bearcat defensive line returns eight players who appeared in every game a year ago, including all four starters.  Junior tackle John Jackson started ever game in ’08, tallying 38 tackles, including eight for a loss, en-route to receiving PAC Coaches Award honors.  Six-foot-two, 300 pound sophomore nose tackle Taofik Amokomowo started nine games, finishing with 22 tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

Junior end Joe Titler made a home in the opponents’ backfield, leading the Bearcats with 8.5 tackles for loss while adding 3.5 sacks.  Titler’s classmate Calvin Demillion has appeared in all 20 games over the past two seasons, making 15 starts at defensive end, and finished 2008 with 27 tackles, including two sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Sophomore end Mike Nadeau proved to be extremely effective in the Bearcats’ blitz schemes, leading the squad with 4.5 sacks to go with a total of 19 tackles.  Sophomores Alan Wolfe and Evan Lucas both saw extensive time in all 10 games a season ago, combining for 19 tackles and three sacks, while senior Nick Burgo brings experience to the line, as he has made 16 appearances over the past two years.

Junior Jeff Graham, who has appeared in all 20 games over the past two years, making 93 career tackles, is slated to rotate between linebacker and defensive end in the upcoming season.  In addition to Graham, three other starters return at the linebacker spot. 

Senior Mike Speal made the successful switch to the defense after quarterbacking the 2007 squad, finishing 2008 with 57 tackles, including 5 TFL’s and one sack.  Juniors Alex Rowan and Tom Quirin also made the switch to defense a year ago after spending their inaugural seasons at receiver.  Rowan, one of the fastest players on the roster, made nine starts at linebacker, finishing with 54 tackles, two sacks, and 9.5 TFL’s.  Quirin started all 10 games in the middle, and ended the year with 32 tackles.

 Junior Jacob Kiefer has appeared in 19 of 20 games over the past two years, bringing 75 career tackles and 10.5 TFL’s into the new year.  Sophomore Armando Fortunato will also see extensive time in 2009 after posting impressive an impressive freshman campaign, battling through injuries early to finish the season with 16 tackles (three for loss) over the final five games.  

Junior Quillian Reid, a two-time PAC Coaches Honors recipient, will lead the Bearcat cornerbacks.  He has started every game over his two-year career, bringing 82 career tackles and four career interceptions into the upcoming season.  Sophomore Roscoe Barber, a Coaches Honors pick as a freshman, will man the other corner spot after a breakout year in which he recorded 60 tackles and a team-high three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

Senior Rob James, the team’s leading receiver over the past two seasons, is slated to make the move to the defensive backfield, a spot at which he starred during his high school career at perennial powerhouse Jeannette.   Sophomores Drew Owusu and Chaz Coleman appeared in all 10 games at corner a season ago, combining for 30 tackles.

Junior Josh Diamond, who finished fifth in the PAC with 82 tackles while adding an interception, returns at free safety, as does classmate Sean Hufgard, who posted 18 tackles through the first two games of 2008 before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.

Sophomores Mike Kale, Terry Kernan, Matt Lomire, Josh Walters, and Zara Wallace all put together solid JV seasons a year ago, and look for increased roles in the defensive backfield in 2009.

Special Teams

Junior Aaron Jones returns for his third season as SVC’s placekicker, after converting six of nine field goal attempts in 2008, including three over 30 yards.  Nadeau, who served as kickoff specialist in 2008, also returns.

Rockovich, who doubles as running back, returns as the team’s incumbent punter, after an impressive 2008 campaign in which he averaged 35.1 yards on 68 kicks, placing 14 inside the opponent’s 20-yard-line.  He also blasted the longest punt in the PAC a season ago, booming a 68-yarder at Thomas More in week five.  Sophomore Ben Pastorek also has varsity experience, appearing in three varsity contests and averaging just under 27 yards on four punts.

In addition to the numerous returnees, the Bearcats also have their deepest recruiting class, as the team’s preseason roster includes 65 first-year players, and Colbert feels that being able to attract so many newcomers is a testament to the direction of his team.

“Right now,” he said, “we’re coming off of a 1-19 record over the past two years, and we were still able to recruit more than 60 players.  We’re up to more than 140 players total, so I think the program is healthy in that regard.  It shows that the players believe in what we’re trying to do, and in where the program is headed.”

The Bearcats begin the 2009 season on September 5^th, traveling to non-conference foe McDaniel College for a 1pm kickoff.   The team’s schedule also includes an anomaly, as the Bearcats will face fellow NCAA provisional member Geneva College twice in a unique home-and-home series,  hosting the Golden Tornadoes on September 12^th before traveling to Beaver Falls for an October 24^th night contest.

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Thiel Tomcats (2-8 Overall, 1-5 PAC in 2008)

 

Eight returning starters on both sides of the ball combined with an enthusiastic first-year head coach promise to make the Thiel Tomcats’ 2009 campaign a memorable one.

Kurt Reiser (Allegheny, ’92) replaces Jack Leipheimer who, after eight years as head coach, stepped aside to become Thiel College’s athletic director. Reiser enters his ninth season with the program; having spent his first six years coaching the offensive line and the past two as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The Tomcats are looking to rebound from an unexpected 2-8 season a year ago. Costly injuries at key positions contributed heavily to their disappointment. Yet with previously untested players gaining experience -coupled with the return of seasoned veterans- expectations are high for a strong finish among the elite teams of the Presidents Athletic Conference.

“We have 13 seniors returning,” said Reiser. “They will provide good leadership with valuable playing experience. All of them they have a very good work ethic and will set the example in practice.”

Offensively the Tomcats will feature a conservative, ball-control oriented attack led by senior quarterback Willie Bova (left). Described by his coach as a smart, talented player and strong leader, Bova ranks among Thiel’s all-time top quarterbacks in several categories. His solid 2008 performance -194 completions on 363 attempts, 17 touchdowns, and 2,227 passing yards- merited an All-PAC honorable mention.

“Willie did a good job for us last year,” said Reiser. “He grew tremendously throughout the season. He has a strong arm and has worked on his delivery and touch in the off-season. We’re looking for good things from him.”

Returning to the tailback position after missing all of last season due to injury will be senior Dan Hess. “We’re very excited to have him back,” said Reiser. In 2007, Hess rushed for 865 yards, averaged 4.9 yards per carry, and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. A strong senior season could make him Thiel’s all-time leading rusher.

Transfer Ross Gargano will complicate things for defenses as an all purpose back. Reiser says he will line up in the backfield, slot, and as a receiver. Fullback Mark Dzubak –a senior- will fulfill blocking duties in the backfield.

The offensive line boasts both size and experience. On the left side are returning starters, senior tackle Nick Goettman (6-4, 293) and junior guard Gary Petrucci (6-0, 240). Joining them are center Vince Palmiere (6-0, 255) and senior right guard J. R. Kenna (6-0, 240) – a 2008 all-conference honorable mention. Junior Adam Troup (6-5, 274) and Sophomore David Mossa will vie for the fifth starting job on the line.

“We’re a physical football team,” Reiser said, noting that the line will set the tone for the rest of the offense. “We want to beat people on the line of scrimmage. I’m really counting on those guys to do that.”

Lining up at tight end will be senior Dan Mackall. Reiser describes him as “a big kid who moves very well and has soft hands.” Moreover, he feels Mackall should compete with the best tight ends in the conference.

Justin Sadler and sophomore E. J.  Kruse also will see time at the end position. Kruse’s height and running ability make him a passing target for Bova, while Sadler’s blocking skills make him an asset in short yardage and goal line situations.

Senior wideout Brendan Taylor – with 684 receiving yards and six touchdown catches in 2008 - is a speedy deep threat, whose 40-yard dash time has been clocked at 4.4 seconds. A football and track athlete earlier in his first three years at the collegiate level, Taylor opted instead to spend last spring concentrating on training for the 2009 football season. He, in tandem with junior receiver K. J. Smith, gives Reiser and Bova confidence in the Tomcats’ passing game.

“(Taylor) is going to be a go-to guy for us,” Reiser said. “We’re going to lean on him. K. J. is a good fundamental receiver. He runs good routes and finds ways to make plays for us.”

Defensively, Thiel figures to be strong up front. Featured among its returning veterans is junior tackle William Haase, who has been selected as a pre-season second team All-American by Consensus Draft Services. He was also a 2008 All-PAC second team selection after tallying 49 tackles and 8.5 sacks.

“He’s been a tremendous player for us,” says Reiser of his junior, who set a team record with 19.5 tackles-for-loss in 2008. “He could be the best defensive lineman in the conference.”

Big things also are expected from the other tackle, junior Zack Woody, as well as junior end Matt Shields. Senior Aaron Grill and junior Jason Joens will compete for time on the other end of the line.

The linebacker corps may be the deepest and strongest part of the Thiel defense. Sam Swartzfager returns for a fifth year of eligibility after having been injured last season. Senior inside backer Mike Clemens, as well as senior Clint Walker and junior Bobby Shew on the outside are all returning starters. Sophomores Ryan Dawes and Nick Gargaro will see playing time.

Expectations are high for junior free safety Bryan Villegas who, according to Reiser, had a tremendous showing in spring drills. Cody Sirgey will start at cornerback after moving over from tailback last season. Reiser noted Sirgey’s vast improvement and says he is looking for him to shut down opposing receivers this year. Sophomore David Urey, at strong safety, and junior corner Joe Stenger will be counted on heavily to provide much-needed pass defense.

Sophomore John Madeline – second team All-PAC- returns as place-kicker. Last season he led the conference by converting 22 of 23 PAT attempts. He also made six of eight field goals. Reiser may look to Bova or an incoming freshman to fill a hole at punter. Brendan Taylor, Bryan Villegas, and Ross Gargaro are all strong options to return punts and kickoffs.

“We’re going to improve,” said Reiser. “I’m looking for marked improvement.

“I’m not going to throw out a record, but I’m looking for consistency and for us to compete within the conference. Our goal, of course, is a conference championship.”

The Tomcats –playing all of the same opponents as last year- kick off their season with a visit to Marietta. They dropped last years’ opener –at home -to the Pioneers by a score of 21-18.

“I’d like to go to Marietta and start out on the right foot with a win,” said Reiser. “It’s a game that will be a battle, but I believe we can win.  I know they’re going to be better than they were last year.”

Thiel’s home opener comes in week two, when it plays host to the Albion Britons. Last year’s result was a 16-0 road loss.

In week three, the conference schedule starts with a road game –under the lights- at Washington & Jefferson. The Tomcats have played the Presidents tough over the years, though they’ve not come away with a victory since 2005. Reiser hopes that this is the year things change.

“We’ve had great efforts against them recently,” he said. “W&J is definitely a game we look forward to on our schedule. Because of their tradition, our players get excited to play them.  We’ve been close in the past, but would like this to be the year that we turn the corner on them.”

Game four is on the road at Geneva, to whom Thiel fell 31-17 last year. Homecoming is the week five match up against Westminster, which took last year’s contest by a 16-10 margin in New Wilmington.

The first Tomcat victory of 2008 came at home against Bethany in a 50-44 offensive battle. This year’s game six road match up will again be a test and perhaps an indicator of where the Tomcats will stand among the PAC.

Games seven and eight are both at home against Thomas Moore and Saint Vincent, respectively. Last year the Tomcats fell to the Saints, 45-14, while picking up a big 36-22 win against the Bearcats. Game nine is at Waynesburg. Last year the Yellow Jackets outlasted Thiel, winning by a score of 50-35.

The final game of the season is another big one, as Grove City visits Greenville for the Mercer County Cup Game. The Wolverines have won the past two contests, including last year’s by a score of 20-14. But the Tomcats plan to make sure the trophy stays in town this year.

“Grove City has won the Mercer Cup the past two years,” said Reiser. “We want it back.”

To realize their season goals, Reiser says, the Tomcats will have to “compete on a daily basis.  Compete to be better than we were the day before, to push each other to get better, and to compete against our opponents week-in and week-out.  If we do that, we’ll get to where we want to be.”

Thomas More Saints (8-3 Overall, 6-0 PAC in 2008)
 

The 2009 edition of the Thomas More College football team will look to defend its Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship and make a deep run into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Football Playoffs.

A season ago, Thomas More finished with an 8-3 overall record, a 6-0 record in the PAC, and made its third appearance in the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. The Saints clinched the PAC title with a 35-29 win over then fifth-ranked Washington & Jefferson College. Thomas More was a perfect 5-0 in its games at the new The Bank of Kentucky Field.
       
This season Saint head coach Jim Hilvert, 12-9 in two seasons at Thomas More, welcomes back 35 letterwinners and 18 starters, including nine on defense and seven on offense.
      
“It is nice to have an experienced group coming back for the 2009 season,” said Hilvert. “The guys coming back know that we have to be better this year because of the X that is on our back. We will not sneak up on anybody this season.”
       
Offensively, senior quarterback Trevor Stellman will be back to lead the offense after being named second team All-PAC last season. In 2008, Stellman completed 148-of-242 passes (61.2 percent) for 1,856 yards with 11 touchdowns. A solid all-around athlete, he was third on the team in rushing with 463 yards and nine touchdowns. Look for junior Joey Zerhusen to be the back-up quarterback. In 2007, he was the Saints’ starter after Stellman suffered a season-ending injury and finished with 864 yards on 76-of-171 passing with nine touchdowns.

Stellman will have a host of solid receivers at his disposal including senior Chris Farley, sophomore Nick Olthaus and sophomore Mercier Doucette. Farley caught 18 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns, Olthaus caught 12 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown and Doucette caught four passes for 22 yards. Doucette and Olthaus are both key to the Saints’ return game as Doucette returned three punts for 73 yards and a touchdown and 11 kickoffs for 315 yards and a touchdown and Olthaus returned 8 kickoffs for 128 yards.

In the backfield, senior Cordario Collier and sophomore Kendall Owens will see most of the action at the running back position. Collier, a first team All-PAC selection a year ago, was second on the team in rushing with 746 yards on 133 carries and seven touchdowns. He also was second on the team in receiving with 40 catches for 452 yards and one touchdown. Collier begins his senior season eighth in school history in rushing with 2,019 yards on 434 carries. Owens was fourth on the team in rushing during his freshman season a year ago with 486 yards on 49 carries and seven touchdowns and also caught 17 passes for 159 yards. Owens is also one of the Saints’ main return men as he led the team with 17 punt returns for 164 yards and was second in kick returns with 10 returns for 217 yards.
        
The offensive line will be fairly young as the Saints’ return only one starter from last season’s line. The lone starter returning is 2008 first team All-PAC selection senior Sean Keith. He appeared in all 11 of the Saints’ games a season ago.
       
Defensively, Thomas More is returning starters from 2008 include the entire front four: junior first team All-PAC selection Tyler Owens, senior second team All-PAC selection Justin Smith, senior All-PAC honorable mention selection Eric Barimah and junior Greg Dixon. Owens had 35 tackles, including 13 for a loss and a team-high 10 quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries. Smith had 41 tackles, including eight for a loss and three sacks, Barimah had 22 tackles, including seven for a loss and had a fumble recovery and Dixon had 47 tackles, including nine for a loss and three sacks and had one fumble recovery.
      
Hilvert will also have all three linebackers from last season’s team returning led by American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American senior Brad Steinmetz (right). Steinmetz led the team last season in tackles with 92 including a team-high 19 for a loss of 60 yards. He also had seven sacks for a loss of 36 yards, one interception, and one fumble recovery. “Brad had a good off-season and has accepted the leadership role and wants to be even more of an integral leader this football season,” Hilvert said of Steinmetz. “Brad has the opportunity to be the first three-time All-American at Thomas More.” Also back is first team All-PAC junior Matt Clark and honorable mention All-PAC selection and second team ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV pick senior Brandon Kohrs. Clark was second on the team last season with 87 tackles including seven for a loss. Two seasons ago, in 2006, he was the Saints’ first true freshman to record 100 tackles in a season as he finished the season with 109. Kohrs was fourth on the team in tackles with 64, including nine for a loss and four sacks.
      
“I am very excited to have our front seven back this season,” said Hilvert. “The expectations for the defense this year are to play with passion every single day, to be tough and relentless every time they hit the field, to play smart and physical and to create havoc every single play.”

In the secondary, honorable mention All-PAC selection junior Aaron Monk and senior Wade Begley return. Last season, Monk had 60 tackles with three being for a loss and also had a sack and an interception, while Begley was sixth on the team in tackles with 47 and also had a fumble recovery for 40 yards.
        
On special teams, Thomas More will see familiar faces on field goal and extra point units as junior placekicker Dustin Zink and sophomore placekicker Aaron Walter return. Zink was four-for-five on field goals with a long of 33 yards and was 39-for-42 in extra point attempts. Walter saw some action last season on extra points and was a perfect two-for-two.
        
The Saints open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5 when they travel to University Heights, Ohio to play John Carroll University at 1:30 p.m. at Don Shula Stadium at Wasmer Field. Thomas More will then have its PAC and home opener on September 19 when it hosts Waynesburg University at 1:30 p.m. at The Bank of Kentucky Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
 

Washington & Jefferson Presidents (11-2 Overall, 5-1 PAC in 2008)

Washington & Jefferson Head Coach Mike Sirianni was playing little league baseball the last time the Presidents finished a season with fewer wins than losses.  W&J has recorded 25 consecutive winning seasons and Sirianni has been a part of the last 10, including six as a head coach. 

Under his leadership, W&J has produced the top five receivers and two of the top five rushing leaders in school history as well as three quarterbacks who have passed for more than 8,000 yards.  W&J has proven that tradition and history, in addition to solid recruiting, can produce a nationally-ranked program year after year. 

“Every year, our seniors pass something down to our underclassmen and, most importantly, it is confidence,” said Sirianni, who enters 2009 with a 61-10 record, second among all active NCAA football coaches in all divisions.  “Programs like ours don’t rebuild.  We have good players who wait their turn to be in the spotlight.  That is why we put so much emphasis on our junior varsity program.  This group of seniors is even more focused.  They have a chip on their shoulders and are ready to prove they weren’t just along for the ride the last three years.”

That chip developed following the graduation of one of the most successful classes in W&J history.  Record-setting quarterback Bobby Swallow, all-time leading receiver David Ravida, two of the nation’s top interior linemen (Matt Houy and Dave Bucar) and the second career leading tackler David Gitlitz headlined a group which led W&J to the NCAA quarterfinals.  With the loss of 11 senior starters, some feel W&J could be in a rebuilding mode; however, don’t count Sirianni among them.

“We hear the talk and our young men don’t like that,” he added.  “Offensively, we are going to be more balanced.  We want to attack the perimeter more often.  During our playoff success, we have learned that championships are won on defense and by running the football effectively.  We have 16 players back who have started at least one game on defense.”

The Presidents’ defense will be asked to shoulder the load at the beginning of the season as the offense matures with new skilled position players.  W&J’s offense has garnered most of the headlines under Sirianni, but the defensive play improved last season under Defensive Coordinator Matt Caponi’s 4-2-5 formation.  W&J finished the 2008 season ranked seventh in Division III in pass efficiency defense (162.8) and 50th in sacks (2.4 spg) and total defense (298.4 ypg). 

“This is the second year under this system and we expect to improve in all areas,” said the 37-year old head coach.  “Our defense doesn’t have to completely carry us early, but we need them to play well from the first snap on Sept. 5th.  Our defense won us the game at Millsaps in the second round of the playoffs and that was our biggest win since 1995.” 

The defense returns eight starters, including D3football.com All-Region junior safety Craig Sedunov and ECAC All-Star senior defensive end Jacob Bloomhuff.  Sedunov led the team with 110 tackles a year ago, while adding six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.  Bloomhuff has been the leading pass rusher since 2007 and enters his final season with 12 career sacks. 

The defensive line will be bolstered by its depth as 10 players are expected to see significant action.  Seniors Ryan Breen, Chad Boskat, Brandon Bovina, Cory Denious and Ricky Morris are all experienced performers, while juniors Alex Patterson and Nathan Terry and sophomores Phil Dern and Frank Gigler are talented players who will push the senior-laden group. 

“Jacob is a dominant player who can get even better and turn into a leader for this defense,” noted Sirianni.  “Brandon returned from an injury last year and played well.  We need to get tougher inside and I believe some of our younger guys can really help us in that area.” 

Sirianni is also ecstatic about the returnees in the secondary, a position he feels his players rank at the top of Division III.  Seniors Mitch Erdely (left), Mike Pohlot and Nate Bucklew and junior Nathan Harmotto team with Sedunov at the safety positions, while junior Michael Trunzo returns as a starter at cornerback.  Josh Buckley and Matthew Gal are athletic sophomores who will compete for the other starting job, while Larry Cekella and Dan McGinley are highly-touted freshmen who could see immediate action at Cameron Stadium. 

“We are going to be tremendous in the secondary with four of our five starters back,” said Sirianni.  “This is the best secondary we have had in my years at W&J.  Mitch doesn’t get as much notoriety as some of our other guys, but he is a great football player.  I expect big things from all of these players.” 

The middle of the defense will experience change as Gitlitz and John Fahey graduated.  Gitlitz collected 318 tackles and was a four-year starter, but Sirianni feels that junior Zach Pugliese is ready to fill in after garnering 45 tackles in his first two seasons.  Pugliese started as a freshman, but lost time last year after the Presidents changed the look of the defense.  Juniors Nick Resnik, Sal Ruggeri and Jon Pugh and sophomores Neil Sorice and Mitch Rose will battle for the remaining playing time.

“Most of these guys have started games for us and we are confident they can step in and play,” said Sirianni.  “We need to find a spot on the field for Neil and Mitch also had a great freshmen year.  Pugh proved to be an top-notch special teams player and will his role will expand .”

The Presidents’ offense returns only three starters and will have its fourth season-opening starting quarterback in Sirianni’s 11th year.  Brian Dawson, Chris Edwards and Bobby Swallow have taken more than 98 percent of the snaps over the last decade and the question remains who will be the next signal caller.  Sirianni’s ability to groom young quarterbacks can not be questioned as Washington & Jefferson has thrown for 31,626 yards and 320 touchdowns under his guidance. 

Juniors Steven Shumaker and Gino Rometo and sophomore Taylor Hockman will vie for the starting position.  Shumaker was Swallow’s backup last year and completed 13-of-18 passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns.  He is also a threat to run the football as he averaged 8.8 yards per attempt.  Rometo transferred from Division II Clarion after serving as the Golden Eagles’ starter a year ago, while Hockman is another dual threat. 

“It is going to be tough to replace Bobby, because he was such a great leader,” added Sirianni.  “However, he didn’t take one snap at practice the last five weeks of 2008 because of an injury and Steven gained a ton of experience from those practices.  We have the First Team All-PAC quarterback eight of the last 10 years and feel comfortable with these young players.” 

One player who will help the quarterback is senior wide receiver Craig Besong.  Besong, a D3football.com All-South Region choice, compiled one of the top receiving seasons in school history with 75 receptions for 1,186 yards and 16 touchdowns.  He racked up four 100-yard games, including a 213-yard performance at Geneva.

“In a conference of great wide receivers, Craig is the best,” said Sirianni.  “He is a big, physical receiver who causes matchup problems.  He played great in the playoffs.  Although we lost David Ravida, there is a lot of talent in this position on our squad.”

Junior Jordan Roycroft’s role will increase after catching four passes a year ago, while senior Joe Mucho will be more involved in the passing game in addition to his duties on kickoff returns.  Sophomore Dreadless Stubbs steadily improved throughout the season and freshman transfer Zach DeCicco is another young player that Sirianni believes can make an immediate impact. 

Sirianni also feels that 2009 could be a breakout year for junior running back Derek Taylor.  Taylor has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons, including a sophomore campaign in which he rushed for 294 yards and two scores, while also catching nine passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. 

Senior Terrence McAllister is a veteran tailback who has rushed for 458 yards and three career touchdowns, while senior Jacob McBride, junior Nick Puckett and sophomore Joe Winters will also have an opportunity to carry the football.  Freshmen Brian Baldrige, Ian Hennessy and Tim McNerney all bring impressive high school careers to campus. 

“We are going to be a true spread offense this year,” added Sirianni.  “None of these players have to be the every down back.  They all have experience and have performed in key situations.  We are very excited about our freshmen running backs.  They are enormously talented.” 

The loss of Houy and Bucar on the offensive line will be offset by the return of the starting tackles senior Kirk Fulton and junior Adam Zampatti.  Seniors Pat Denecke and Matt Montenero are versatile players who performed well in the NCAA playoffs and a host of players will have a chance to earn a starting position in August.  Senior Jacob Hornick, juniors Paul Jefferis, Ed Hirsh, Mark Pleiss and Kane Danison, sophomores Anthony Natale, Gary Flavion, Justin Cole and Jared Peretic and freshmen Mike Mastellino and Tim Yaksick provide the Presidents with plenty of depth up front.

“We lost two great leaders, but for the first time in my years here, I think we have 10-15 guys who can really play,” noted Sirianni.  “I like our depth at this position.  Pat really stepped up in the playoffs.  Paul is probably the strongest player on our team.  Again, this is another position where freshmen could come right in and see playing time early on and that doesn’t happen too often at Washington & Jefferson.” 

Junior Joe Kelly took over the placekicking duties late in the year and made 19-of-20 extra-point attempts.  He will be pushed by freshmen Matthew Jaynes and Colin Kracinovsky.  Zack Zebrasky will not be the Presidents’ punter for the first time in four years and a candidate to fill his spot will be determined during preseason camp. 

“We have a lot of great players in our freshman class and there are a few more opportunities to play than usual,” said Sirianni.  “Some of our freshmen turned down scholarships to play here.  A lot of these young men are state champions and know what it takes to win football games.” 

The deep run in last year’s postseason capped another memorable year for W&J; however, reclaiming the PAC Championship is the focus for this senior group. 

“Thomas More is definitely the favorite,” concluded Sirianni.  “They beat us and then didn’t get a favorable draw in the playoffs so they will be ready to defend their championship.  I believe we are going to benefit from the extra weeks of practice during the NCAA playoffs last year.  I am excited for this preseason camp to begin because I believe we have a special group.” 

Waynesburg Yellow Jackets (5-5 Overall, 2-4 PAC in 2008)
 

The 2009 Yellow Jacket football season appears to be all about change as both the offense and defense will be undergoing plenty of changes from last year’s 5-5 season.

On the offensive side, the team has already shifted from a power running team to a more wide-open spread passing style with junior quarterback Brad Dawson at the controls, and a slew of experienced wide receivers at his disposal.

On defense, head coach Rick Shepas will need to replace a trio of veteran defensive linemen who combined for 119 games played, 306 tackles and 37 sacks over the four years. However, Shepas believes that outstanding depth in the linebacker and the secondary will help cushion the blow and allow for some new wrinkles in the coverage.

THE OFFENSE

The 2009 season saw a more balanced Waynesburg offense emerge after several years of the team being a more run-first attack. Despite the change, the Yellow Jackets still averaged 28.6 points per game, good for third in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).

Opponents found it hard to focus on just one aspect of the Jacket attack as it averaged 206 yards per game through the air and 131 yards per game on the ground. However, for that consistency to continue, the Jackets will need to fill a few holes on the offensive line after three of the opening-day starters from 2008 are gone.

If those replacements can be found, a multitude of young, but explosive athletes are quickly maturing into a group that will be able to put points up in bunches.

QUARTERBACKS

While there were plenty of questions concerning the signal calling duties before the 2008 season, no such problem is present for this year’s team as Dawson returns with a year of experience under his belt in the Waynesburg offense.

Despite battling injuries early in the season, Dawson still finished with 1,739 yards, the highest yardage total for a Jacket quarterback since Jeff Dumm, arguably the school’s best passer ever, rolled up 2,534 in 2004.

The Pittsburgh native truly made his presence known on Nov. 8, when he torched Thiel for 453 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-44 passing. It was the second highest single-game passing total in school history.

For the year, the first-year starter eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark four times and tossed a personal best four touchdowns as part of a 238-yard, no interception game against Westminster during Homecoming. Dawson also proved to be a serviceable scrambler, as he added three rushing touchdowns to his 10 scores he picked up through the air on his way to honorable mention All-PAC status.

Waynesburg is also confident in its depth at quarterback behind Dawson with junior Josh Graham and sophomore Ryan Williams battling it out for the number-two spot. The athletic Williams also gives Shepas and his staff some versatility with their play calling.

RUNNING BACKS

Last year featured a running back by committee that isn’t likely to change for the 2009 season. Leading the group of returning talent is sophomore Justin Falcon and junior Billy Becker.

While not large in stature (5-7, 160), the hard-nosed runner won over his coaches in his freshman season with his fearless running style, and willingness to take a hit. A graduate of nearby Jefferson-Morgan High School, Falcon led the team in carries (130) and yards (534). He also totaled five touchdowns, four of which came in a 50-35 win over Thiel.

Becker exploded out of the gates last year, before being slowed by injury. In his first start of the year, which came in week two at Hanover, Becker led the Yellow Jackets to a 34-32 win by rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. It was his first of three 100-yard rushing performances. Becker also led the team with six rushing touchdowns.

The Jackets’ stable of running backs will feature plenty of speed with junior Troy Garove returning for his third season with the team, and first-year transfer Jamelle Bowers coming off a very successful 2009 track & field season.

The newest freshman class could also provide some depth and size at the running back position.

RECEIVERS

There is little question that the component of the offense with the most depth and experience is the receiving corps.

Led by junior standout Ray Hightower II, an honorable mention All-PAC pick, and senior Josh Fisher, opposing secondaries will certainly have their hands full trying to stop the Jackets’ aerial assault.

Hightower is coming off his second-straight season of leading the team in catches (47), receiving yards (728) and touchdown receptions (4).

After looking a little sluggish through his first three games of the year, the Ohio native exploded for three 100-plus yard performances over his next five games, including a five-catch, 155-yard showing at Thiel. He capped his year with a season-high nine grabs for 82 yards against nationally-ranked Washington & Jefferson in the season finale.

What Fisher lacks in flash, he more than makes up for in experience and consistency. The sure-handed native of Denver, Pa. set new personal highs in catches (35), yards (438) and touchdowns (3).

Speaking of veteran receivers, speedy senior Tom Hudson returns for his final season with the team after appearing in eight games in 2008.

Few will be able to top the Jackets in pure game day experience as the three top pass catchers have combined to appear in 81 games.

Along with the three players previously mentioned, senior speedster Bobby Francis and underneath specialist Brent Heckel gives Waynesburg a variety of options in the passing game. The receiving corps could take yet another step forward as former quarterback Kyle Kyper (6-3, 205) converts to receiver.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Waynesburg has always prided itself on a solid group of athletes in the trenches, and they will look to continue that tradition this year, although there are certainly a number of spots still up for grabs.

However, right tackle will not be one of them as senior Jared Bussard, a two-time second-team All-PAC pick, returns for his fourth year as a starter.

The team’s only other returning starter is junior Corey Dieterle, who got his season off to an outstanding start before injuries derailed what could have been an all-conference season for the South Park native. He played in just five games, all starts.

Perhaps the biggest need for the team is to find a new center after senior Ryan Shumway left the spot by way of graduation.

While there are still three jobs that will be battled for in camp, Shepas does have a solid group of veterans as the front-runners for the positions. Seniors Melvin Warrick, Jason Harding and Donnie Zalaznik, along with sophomore Nebojsa Nedic, appear to be the early favorites.

All four players saw time on the field last year, with Zalaznik getting the most action on six appearances and one start. Filling these holes is obviously a top priority for this year’s coaching staff as the season nears.

THE DEFENSE

Last year, the Jackets relied on an explosive, battle-hardened group on the defensive line to lead the way, while a young group of linebackers and defensive backs matured. In 2009, the roles will be reversed, as three starters on the line, who combined for 406 tackles and 37 sacks over 119 games, are all gone.

Defensive tackle LaDrekus Burford and end D.J. DeWitt, both first-team All-PAC picks last year, combined with Dave Piecuch, an honorable mention all-conference selection, led the defense for three years. Now it’s time for the linebackers and defensive backs to take the leadership roles.

Luckily, virtually every member of those two units that saw starting time are back. The secondary looks particularly dangerous as it boasts a pair of returning all-conference picks in cornerback Scott Cree and safety Dylan August.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Much like their counterparts on the offensive line, the defensive line will definitely have a new look to it in 2009. However, junior end Pat Mayer, Jr., who is coming off of his first year as a starter, is back to be a leader up front.

The native of Darlington, Pa. leads all returners in tackles for loss (7.0) and also tallied a personal best 28 tackles and two sacks.

As far as those players who are battling for the other starting spots, sophomore Darryl Moore, Jr., who appeared in all 10 games last year, looks to have the early advantage on the defensive tackle spot left by Burford. Moore proved to be adept at getting to the opposing quarterback as he finished second on the team with 3.5 sacks.

A slew of sophomores are also expected to battle in camp for starting time. Included in that group are Josh Malenke, Isaac Rosser and Andrew Grande. Junior Ryan Teeter is also expected to compete. 

The Jackets are also expecting several talented freshmen to compete for starting time on the defensive line.

LINEBACKERS

Four individuals with starting experience return to lead the linebacking corps this season, which should help reduce the sting of losing the team’s leading tackler, Ryan Krull, to graduation.

One of the most exciting battles to watch in camp is for starting “mike” or middle linebacker spot between juniors Anthony Calcagni and Cody Ketchem. The two split the starts last year with each player showcasing a different specialty.

Calcagni was the better pass rusher of the two, as he recorded two sacks as part of four total tackles for loss. However, Ketchem proved to be the better tackler, piling up 40 total stops, the fourth best total on the team, as compared to Calcagni’s 23.

Senior Jerred Ryan is coming off of a breakout junior season in which he put up 35 tackles, 23 of them solo stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and his first collegiate sack. The native of Bellaire, Ohio also showed off his athleticism by swatting away five passes, a total that ranked second on the team.

Adding further depth to the group is sophomore Scott Bogdan. Despite not making his first collegiate start until the final game of 2008, Bogdan piled up a team-best eight stops against W&J, including seven solo hits.

Players like senior Brandon DeCecco and sophomores Phil Hochevar and Andrew Baker should provide some solid depth and competition for starting time as the fall nears. Also, Scott Cree’s younger brother Troy Cree, a Division I-AA transfer from Robert Morris, is expected to make a serious push for a starting spot.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The Yellow Jackets should boast one of the top secondaries in the PAC with a quartet of senior starters all back as the team’s last line of defense.

Electrifying senior Scott Cree (right) leads the group after posting personal season highs in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (6). The Waynesburg native also recorded 30 tackles, 27 of which were solo stops, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

Last year’s other starting cornerback, senior Abdul Yusuff, also returns. In his first year as a starter, the Maryland native finished with 39 stops, including 26 solo hits and broke up a pass.

Both of last year’s starting safeties are  back in the forms of senior All-PAC honoree Dylan August and Andy Lauterbach, a converted quarterback.

Before being slowed with an injury, August started the first five games of the season. He ended up appearing in eight contests and set new personal bests in tackles (37), interceptions (3) and pass breakups (5). He also notched his first collegiate sack.

After Lauterbach went from throwing passes to trying to disrupt opposing passers, he became one of the team’s top defenders. He finished third on the team with 41 total tackles, picked off three passes and defended five total.

He also proved to be an effective disruption in opposing offensive backfields by recording three tackles for loss.

Last year’s secondary also proved to be pretty skilled at aiding the offense by returning two interceptions for touchdowns. Cree and August picked up one score each.

Though all four starters are back, Shepas expects a slew of players seeing time in the backfield as he and defensive coordinator Scott Venick look for ways to utilize their large stable of athletic defensive backs.

Sophomores Sam Byrne, Sean Hunt and Spencer McKim all look to play into this year’s defensive plans.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Maybe the biggest question to be answered concerning the Waynesburg special teams is, “How does Scott Cree outdo his amazing 2008 season?”

While he was good as a cornerback, Cree put up eye-popping numbers as a kick and punt returner and was one of the team’s top touchdown producers, despite never playing a down of offense.

The Jackets will also need to find a new starting kicker for the third-straight season.

KICKER

Last year, freshman Bryan Arbes was named first-team All-PAC, set a new record for most field goals made in a season (13) and tied the school marks for most field goals made in a game (4) and longest field goal made (49).

Unfortunately, he has left to accept a scholarship at another school and, once again, the starting job is up in the air. Sophomore Chris Marini is currently the only kicker on the roster, but he is expected to be pushed for the starting job by several incoming freshmen.

PUNTER 

Senior Nate Feniello is back for a second-full year and third total season as the Jackets’ punter.

Last year, the Connellsville native handled 44-of-45 of the team’s punts and averaged 33.8 yards per boot, with a long of 54 yards. He also stuck nine balls inside the 20, while only losing one kick into the endzone.

RETURNER

Waynesburg fans and opponents learned something very important when kicking the ball to Scott Cree ... anything can happen.

Already a solid returner going into last year, Cree dazzled crowds and drove opposing coverage teams insane with three kick returns for touchdowns and two punt returns for scores.

His longest kick return measured 97 yards, one yard shy of tying the school record, and he took a punt back 88 yards for his long. Cree averaged 12.4 yards per punt return, and 25.8 yards per kick return average.

However, teams need to be careful on kickoffs, because if they kick away from Cree too much, Garove, who averaged 30.5 yards per return on four attempts, could also put the offense in good field position.

Westminster Titans (5-5 Overall, 3-3 PAC in 2007)

The indications that the Westminster College football team is heading in the right direction are evident as the Titans enter the 2009 season, their fifth under head coach Jeff Hand. The Titans' third-place finish in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2008 was the team's highest since 2003. Westminster also enters the season with the longest home win streak in the PAC at seven games, including a 5-0 mark at home last year for the team's first undefeated season at home since 1996.

Westminster also returns 28 lettermen and 16 starters. Nine of the returning offensive starters include the school's all-time leading passer, a wide receiver that broke the school's single season reception record, and a tight end that will go down as the school's most productive player at his position. Despite all that, the team's most valuable player last year was a running back.

However, Coach Hand will be the first to stress the Titans have their work cut out for them. Westminster (5-5, 3-3 PAC) is coming off its second straight 5-5 season and need to replace six starters lost on defense.

"Winning on the road needs to become a priority for the program to take another step forward," Hand said. "We will benefit from having several key contributors returning on offense. We are also excited about the players that will step up on defense. This will be an exciting year as we continue to develop into a contender for the conference title."

Offense

Westminster ranked fourth in the PAC in total offense (342.4 yards per game) last year including a third-ranked pass attack (253.9). The Titans lost just two offensive players to graduation - receiver Jordan Belosh and center Joe Gizoni - and the players they have coming back are the most productive in school history.

Senior quarterback Kevin Franz is Westminster's first 6,000-yard passer who holds most passing statistical records. The 2,317 yards (229-387, 13 touchdowns) he threw last year were a personal best for the three-year starter.

Franz will have two reliable targets in senior wide receiver Jon Gubish and senior tight end Gary Hutsler. As a first-year starter, Gubish caught a school-record 64 passes in 2008 with his first career touchdown coming on his final catch of the season and his 83rd reception of his career. Hutsler is the team's only returning all-PAC honoree with a second-team nod in 2008. His 39 receptions last year were the most by a Westminster tight end all-time as his 49 career receptions are six shy of tying the school record for a tight end.

Also returning to the receiver corps is senior two-year starter Chad Rosatelli, who led the team with 679 receiving yards (52 catches) and seven touchdowns last year, this despite missing the final game with an injury.

Senior tailback Nick McKolosky (left) was team MVP and a team captain last year. He rushed for 851 yards (242 carries, 10 TDs) to give him 2,147 career rushing yards, which ranks fifth all-time at Westminster. McKolosky has also started all 30 games of his career.

Beyond the five productive seniors at skill positions, there are four underclassmen that will likely touch the football in 2009. They include returning lettermen in junior wide receiver John Baummer, sophomore quarterback Shawn Lehocky, and sophomore wide receivers Justin Morgano and Jordon Rooney. Baummer caught 17 passes and one touchdown while Morgano snared 10 passes including two scores.

The Titan offensive line returns four players led by junior right guard Mike Kudelko and his 20 consecutive starts. Senior left guard Bill Altenhof is also a two-year starter, while junior left tackle Garrett Frantz and sophomore right tackle Zack O'Brien are coming off their first seasons as starters. Senior Troy Baxendell and junior Shawn Zentko (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) are returning lettermen who started three and four games, respectively, on the line last year.

Defense

There's no question that Westminster has some holes to fill on defense: all-PAC linebacker Jordan Blinn, the team's leading tackler the last three years, and all-PAC defensive end Andrew Robison, to name a few.

However, the five returning starters dispersed at all three levels of the Titan defense are capable of making significant impacts.

Senior defensive lineman/outside linebacker Neil Falco (Pleasantville, Pa./Titusville) started all 10 games last year and returns for his fifth year on the team because of missing 2007 with an injury. Other down lineman that lettered last year is junior Jesse Sylvester (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk).

Stand-up linebackers in the Titans' 3-4 defensive alignment include junior Jake Brown (Medina, Ohio/Medina) on the outside and junior Cory Meeker (Glen Dale, W.Va./John Marsall) on the inside. Meeker started five games last year and his 47 tackles ranked sixth on the team. Senior Brad Meehan (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) is back after starting the first three games at inside linebacker during an injury plagued season. Other returning lettermen at the linebacker position include juniors Joe Anderson (Titusville, Pa./Titusville), Tom Geraghty (Austinburg, Ohio/Jefferson) and Jim Bonenberger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon).

The defensive backfield includes two returning starters in senior cornerback Mario Camerota (Cheswick, Pa./Springdale) and sophomore strong safety Tony Andreassi (Butler, Pa./Butler). Camerota was the Titans' second-leading tackler in 2008 with 55 stops. Junior Daniel Joyce (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) has experience as a starter, including four starts at safety in 2008.

Special Teams

Westminster's special teams seemed shored up with all its specialists returning. Sophomore kicker Trevor Young (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside) averaged 52.5 yards per kickoff, and made all four of his field goal attempts and all nine PAT kicks. His first career field goal attempt was a 44-yarder as time expired to win the Bethany game last year.

Third-string quarterback Andrew Clark (Titusville, Pa./Titusville) punted for the Titans as a freshman last year. He averaged 33.2 yards in 49 punt attempts.

Other returning specialists include Baxendell, the team's short and long snapper, Rooney and Gubish as punt returners and Gubish and McKolosky as kick returners. Rooney returned 10 punts for a 4.1 average and Gubish retrieved eight punts for a 6.6 clip. Gubish brought back 25 kickoffs for a 20.9 averaged and McKolosky toted 17 kicks at an average of 17.4 yards.


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