2009 Preview
Season Previews:
1. Monmouth Fighting Scots 2008 Record: 11-1 (9-0 MWC) Base Offense: No- Huddle Multiple Defense: Multiple
Returning Starters Offense: 10 (K) Defense: 5 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: 8 (1st-4, 2nd-2) Defense: 6 (1st-2, 2nd-2)
The defending MWC champions lost just one offensive lineman from last year’s team that led the nation (Division III) in scoring with a 46.75 ppg average. This season, as favorites to repeat as MWC champions, they will look to earn their first back-to-back titles since 1971-72. Leading the charge will be preseason All-American junior QB Alex Tanney (318-462,3,624 yards, 50 TD), who has shattered nearly every MC season passing record. He will have the full compliment of his receiving corps and running backs returning, including 1st Team All-MWC junior WR Michael Blodgett (63 rec, 806 yards, 13 TD), 2nd Team All-MWC junior WR Matt Shephard (58 rec, 633 yards, 8 TD) and honorable mention senior WR Nick Wright (46 rec, 734 yards, 5 TD). Preseason All-American senior linemen Josh Kotecki (6-1, 245) and Dan Schwindenhammer (6-3, 260) return as well. Defensively, the Fighting Scots have another preseason All-American, senior DE Anthony Goranson (21 tackles for loss, 12 sacks), who leads a potent sack attack. Last year’s No. 2 tackler, DB Sean Wells (78 tackles), is back for his final season as well as DL Marc Wozniak (5-10, 255), who tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries. The Scots were ranked in three preseason polls, 5th by Lindy’s Sports Magazine, 11th by The Sporting News and 12th by d3football.com.
2. St. Norbert Green Knights 2008 Record: 7-3 (7-2 MWC)
Base Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple
Returning Starters Offense:8 Defense: 3
Returning All-MWC Offense: 3 (1st-1, 2nd-1) Defense: 3 (1st-1, 2nd-1)
The Green Knights enter 2009 with a squad that is capable of adding another MWC title to their collection after finishing third a year ago. St. Norbert comes into the season without 1st Team All-MWC offensive threat A.J. Phillips, who graduated and the team’s top running back from a year ago, Dante Sims. However, head coach Jim Purtill still has some cards up his sleeve. Junior quarterback Rob Berger (37.8 yards per punt, 49 car, 529 yards, 6 TD) led the Green Knights in total offense and the league in punting a year ago, while senior OL Tim Mueller and senior TE Brian Peterson (13 rec, 175 yards, 2 TD) will also be a force on offense. In addition to his well respected offense, Purtill also has a veteran defensive squad in his arsenal with senior DB’s Ben Hackbart (65 tackles, 5 interceptions) and Chris Manlick.
3. Ripon Red Hawks 2008 Record: 8-2 (8-1 MWC)
Base Offense: Slot Bone Defense: 3-3-5
Returning Starters Offense:3 Defense: 7 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: 1 (2nd-1) Defense: 4 (2nd-1, HM-3)
The Red Hawks finished 2008 with an 8-1 record in the MWC, which was good enough for second place, a spot that they’ve finished in the conference standings in each of the last three seasons. This season, Ripon will rely heavily on their defense in order to challenge for the conference crown. Leading that drive will be 2nd Team All-MWC junior OL Josh Novak (6-3, 250), senior LB Ryan Andersen (5-10, 185), and two-time All-MWC junior LB Mike Krause (6-0, 220). Novak was a key part of a line that helped Ripon gain a conference-best 2,527 rushing yards a year ago, while Andersen led the Red Hawks with 90 tackles and Krause returns to the team after sitting out last year with an injury. He will make the switch to DB this season, where head coach Ron Ernst hopes to utilize his play-making ability. The backfield will once again be Ripon’s bread and butter and they will look to senior RB Andrew Fink (436 yards, 5 TD). On special teams, Ripon will be without All- American Joshua Kraemer, the primary kick returner for the past three years, and kicker Bob Wood, both lost to graduation. However, honorable mention senior P Kurt Roeder will handle the team’s punting duties for a third consecutive season. He currently ranks second on Ripon’s career punting list with a 36.0 average.
4. Carroll Pioneers 2008 Record: 7-3 (6-3 MWC)
Base Offense: Pro-style Defense: 4-2-5
Returning Starters Offense:11 (K) Defense: 4
Returning All-MWC Offense: 5 (2nd-2, HM-3) Defense: 3 (1st-1, 2nd-2)
The Pioneers begin the season with some voids to fill on defense, one of their strengths from a year ago. Jeremy Winter, a three-time All-MWC and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, has graduated and 2nd Team All-MWC DL Matt Casper and LB Mike Dziewit will not come back this season. However, four starters do return, including 1st Team All-MWC junior DB Nick Swartz (29 tackles). This season, under the direction of junior QB Chris Casper 168-297, 2,046 yards, 14 TD), the Pioneers will pose a legitimate threat to score from anywhere on the field. Honorable mention sophomore RB Joe Beckstrand also returns to the field after suffering a season-ending injury in 2008. Despite playing in just six games, Beckstrand finished with a team-high 667 yards rushing, nine touchdowns and a 5.3 yards per carry average. Other offensive threats for the Pioneers include 2nd Team All-MWC senior OL Alex Willing (6-3, 270 ) and senior K Ryan O’Laire (8 FGM, 12 FGA). Junior RB Matt Cain (39 rec, 383 yards, 2 TD) and junior TE Kyle Galas (6-2, 215) also return after receiving honorable mention recognition in 2008.
5. Illinois College Blueboys 2008 Record: 4-6 (4-5 MWC)
Base Offense: Spread Coast Defense: 4-2 Lock
Returning Starters Offense:6 (K) Defense: 8 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: 5 (1st-3, 2nd-1) Defense: 3 (2nd-1, HM-2)
The Blueboys finished in the center of the pack last season and are predicted to remain there again in 2009, but with a solid nucleolus of players due back, Illinois College appears poised for a run at the top tier of the MWC. Garrett Campbell will use 1st Team All-MWC seniors TE Andrew Pfeiffer (33 rec, 451 yards, 5 TD) and DB D.J. Jackson (24 returns, 740 yards, 3 TD) and All-American senior WR Michael Jennings (110 rec, 1,416 yards, 16 TD) to his advantage. Jennings finished second in Division-III in receiving yards (141.60) and receptions per game (11.0). He also broke the MWC-record for receptions (19) and receiving yards (280) in a single game en route to setting the single season record for receptions (110) and receiving yards (1,416). Jackson is the top kick returner in the league averaging 30. 8 yards per return. Taking center for the Bluebloys will be 2nd Team All-MWC junior QB Mitch Niekamp (474-268, 3,206 yards, 32 TD), one of the elite quarterbacks in the conference. On the defensive end, Campbell expects senior LB Ricky Padilla (2nd Team All-MWC) to make another strong impact.
6. Beloit Buccaneers 2008 Record: 5-5 (4-5 MWC)
Base Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3
Returning Starters Offense:8 (K) Defense: 9 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: 3 (1st-2, HM-1) Defense: 4 (1st- 1, HM-3)
The Buccaneers return a cast of underclassmen who have already made their presence known in the MWC. Headlining this season will be 1st Team All-MWC sophomore RB Terence Steward (202 car, 843 yards, 16 TD). Junior RB Andrew Christensen (43 car, 274 yards, 2 TD) and junior OL Kurtis Carlson (6-5, 302) garnered honorable mention status on offense in 2008 and will also be big contributors for the Bucs this season. 1st Team All-MWC senior K Andrew Reich also returns for his final season. On defense, junior LB Tony Baratti, a D3football.com 3rd Team All-West Region selection and 1st Team All-MWC pick, led the team in tackles for the second straight season with 120 in 2008, a mark that ranks as the fifth-most in a season in school history.
7. Lake Forest Foresters 2008 Record: 3-7 (3-6 MWC)
Base Offense: Traditional Defense: 4-3-4
Returning Starters Offense:7 Defense: 9 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: 3 (1st-1, 2nd-1) Defense: 4 (HM-4)
First-year head coach Jim Catanzaro inherits a squad with offensive threats both on the ground and in the air at his disposal. Junior QB Geoff Sobey (231-125, 1,475 yards, 7 TD) returns for his second season and will look to capitalize on the Foresters offensive strengths as the team makes its way up in the rankings of the MWC. Offensive options include 1st Team All-MWC selection senior WR Dan Carter (58 rec, 897 yards, 7 TD), who finished second in the conference in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game and 2nd Team All-MWC junior RB Brock Stenberg (143 car, 643 yards, 3 TD), who was fifth in the MWC in rushing yards per game. The Forester defense returns senior talent in DL Jaron Eanes (71 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and LB Chad Zimborski (55 tackles), who both garnered honorable mention recognition in 2008.They will team up with senior LB Donovan Baldridge (74 tackles, 2 sacks) and the team’s leading returning tackler sophomore DB Luke Butts (39 solo, 35 assists).
8. Knox Prairie Fire 2008 Record: 3-7 (2-7 MWC)
Base Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-3 Cover 2
Returning Starters Offense:7 Defense: 7
Returning All-MWC Offense: 1 (HM-1) Defense: ---
The Prairie Fire return a balanced mix of seven offensive starters and seven defensive starters. Coupled with the largest incoming class in years, head coach Andy Gibbons expects to compete amongst the top in the conference this season. He will rely heavily on the senior leadership and experience of 1st Team All-MWC selection DE Tighe Burke. En route to his conference pick, Burke lead the league and nation (Division III) in sacks (14), was second behind Defensive Player of the Year Jeremy Winter in fumbles forced (4) and was third in tackles for a loss (16 tackles for 110 yards). Joining him is senior S Jordan Raess, who will quarterback the defense and is expected to make big plays and key stops. Offensively, junior QB Bill Meyer (143-59, 783 yards, 7 TD) and honorable mention junior RB Dan Kizior (88 car, 424 yards, 1 TD) will be relied on to stimulate Knox’s offense, while senior RB Brent Newman is looking to have a breakout year for the Prairie Fire.
9. Grinnell Pioneers 2008 Record: 3-7 (2-7 MWC)
Base Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3
Returning Starters Offense:9 (K) Defense: 8 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: --- Defense: 1 (HM-1)
Grinnell will look to use the versatility of sophomore QB Mike Bogard (151-299, 1,516 yards, 5 TD) this season. Bogard returns for his second season after leading the team in rushing with 542 yards, scoring six touchdowns and making five of seven field goal attempts. With the loss of RB C.J. Moore to graduation, Bogard will count on sophomore WR Robert Seer (39 rec, 532 yards, 2 TD) to help generate the offense. Senior FS Ryan Boehm (5-9, 178) is the only returning All-MWC selection for the Pioneers after he garnered honorable mention recognition a year ago. He will be joined by junior DE Ryan Fletcher (63 tackles) on defense, who returns as the team’s leading tackler and must help fill the void left by the graduation of LB Brett Maloney, the MWC’s all-time single-season tackle leader. Senior CB Ben Johnson was an All-MWC honorable mention selection in 2007 and also returns to the field for the Pioneers.
10. Lawrence Vikings 2008 Record: 1-9 (0-9 MWC)
Base Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5
Returning Starters Offense: 10 Defense: 9 (P)
Returning All-MWC Offense: 1 (HM-1) Defense: 1 (HM-1)
The Vikings enter the 2009 season as the underdog and without 1st Team All-MWC RB Craig Ebert (181 car, 899 yards, 2 TD), lost to graduation. Ebert led the league in rushing with 89.9 yards per game en route to his all-conference performance. Therefore, in order to rise above the predictions, the Vikings will need to fill the void left by the dynamic senior. To do so, coach Chris Howard will turn to junior RB Jesse Peterson (60 car, 168 yards). In the air, senior QB Nick Maxam (154-282, 1,685 yards, 12 TD) will look to junior WR Jeremiah Johnson (33 rec, 349 yards, 4 TD) as another scoring option. He returns as the Vikings’ top scorer. Senior TE Matt Hintz (20 rec, 196 yards, 2 TD) is the only returning All-MWC athlete, earning honorable mention recognition last season. Other notable returnees include Lawrence’s top three defensive players from last season, senior linebackers Brian Janssen (72 tackles) and Mike Gostisha (66 tackles, 2 sacks) and junior S Jeff Nichols (61 tackles, 1 sack).