Anderson (8-2 in 2001)
Anderson set 21 offensive school records during the 2001 season and with all 11 starters returning on that side of the ball, Raven fans should expect more of the same from the 2002 edition.

Anderson finished with an 8-2 record last season under third-year coach Steve Barrows — its first winning season since 1996 — and earned a share of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title with a 5-1 HCAC mark. AU's only losses were to Div. III national qualifiers Thomas More (10-0) and Defiance (9-1).

Junior quarterback Joel Steele leads the way as he set seven school passing records last year, including the first Raven to throw for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. Steele will have his top three receivers back in David Vance (82 catches, 885 yards, 6 TD), Todd McKinney (66 catches, 885 yards, 10 TD) and Alex Gill (31 catches, 540 yards, 8 TD).

The complete backfield returns also, led by junior tailback Antonio Hickerson (782 yards, 7 TD) and fullback Eric Trauthwein (142 yards, 4 TD). All five offensive lineman (Brian Kmitta, Andrew Prater, Mike Duckworth, Korey Rupley and Jarred Kopkey) also return in addition to fifth-year senior Lane Detweiler, who missed last year with a knee injury.

The Ravens return seven starters on the defensive side of the ball, led by all-conference linebacker and leading tackler Doug O'Dell (97 tackles, 10 for loss). Safety Adrian Edgerson (90 tackles), linebacker David Neubert (52 tackles), cornerbacks Mike Baker (41 tackles, 4 Int.) and Dustin Christian (38 tackles, 3 Int.) and linemen A.J. Davis (35 tackles, 11 for loss, 5 sacks) and Eric Boyce (29 tackles, 4 sacks).

In addition to the HCAC schedule, the Ravens will travel to Capital and Concordia (Ill.) and host Millikin and traditional rival Taylor.

Bluffton (5-5 in 2001)
After taking home a share of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in 2000, head coach Carlin Carpenter and his staff knew heading into last season that it wouldn't be easy to replace 15 seniors from that team, including nine that earned All-HCAC honors.

And the solutions didn't easily present themselves as the Beavers dropped three of their first four games to begin the 2001 campaign and appeared to be destined for a rebuilding year. In time, however, the answers were found as the Beavers won four of their last six games to finish 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the HCAC, good for a third-place tie.

Eight starters are back on both sides of the football for 2002, including five All-HCAC selections from last year, leading one to believe the questions won't be as difficult to solve this time around. But significant holes need to be filled if BC plans to continue the positive momentum and get off to a good start on their way to bringing the HCAC title back to Bluffton.

Carpenter, the longest tenured coach in Ohio college football, will once again be the man to lead that search as he begins his 24th season at BC with a coaching staff that owns a combined 70 years of experience alongside him.

The offense remains under the direction of quarterback Brad Moore, who is back for his senior season after earning first-team All-HCAC honors as a sophomore and junior. Should he earn that honor again this season he'll become Bluffton's first-ever three-time all-conference quarterback. He already ranks among the top five in nearly every BC career passing statistic and has thrown just nine interceptions in 447 career attempts for a school-record low 2.01 interception percentage. He has thrown for 3,410 yards and 28 touchdowns so far at Bluffton and his 653 rushing yards are just 10 yards shy of the school record for rushing yards among quarterbacks.

Junior running back Jovan Johnson returns after leading the HCAC in rushing last year with 1,096 yards, which marked the fourth straight season a BC running back has led the conference in rushing (Tyson Goings led the HCAC in rushing from 1998-2000). The last time that happened was from 1955-58, when Hall of Famers Elbert Dubenion and Willie Taylor were carrying the football. Johnson, who started at wide receiver for the first 12 games of his career at Bluffton, took over at tailback in week three last season and rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game. He averaged 182.9 all-purpose yards a game as he also racked up yardage through the air (149 yards receiving) and returning kickoffs (22.6 yards per return) and led the team in scoring with eight touchdowns.

Two-year starter T.J. Phlipot returns at fullback after rushing for 278 yards (4.3 avg.) and three touchdowns last year as a sophomore. He also caught 10 passes for 91 yards and his blocking was a main ingredient in the BC running attack.

The offensive line graduated both starting guards, including Rick Orr (first-team All-HCAC) and Chris Clemens, but returns second-team All-HCAC tackle Luke Sorrell and honorable mention All-HCAC center Travis Lepley. Senior Tim Kruse and junior Max Jurrus split time at the other tackle in 2001, while sophomore Alan Estep returns at tight end. Also back is senior Joel Mick, who started at tackle and tight end as a freshman before missing nearly the entire 2001 season with a leg injury. The Beavers have led the HCAC in rushing three of the last four years, and the offensive line will need to gel quickly for that trend to continue, which will go a long way in deciding the success of the offense.

Junior Jim Dwenger returns to lead the receiving corps after catching 19 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns last season. The graduation of Jon Spradling (37 career catches for 690 yards) leaves a starting spot vacant, which will be challenged for by senior Tony Boenker and junior Ben Osterland, both of whom have varsity experience.

Perhaps the strength of this year's team lies in the front seven of the defense, where six starters and every backup returns from 2001, when Bluffton gave up the fewest first downs in the HCAC and ranked second in total defense and pass defense.

All four starters on the defensive line return, including ends Brian Steiner (50 tackles, 6 tackles-for-loss) and Lucas Wilson (40 tackles, 5 TFL) and tackles Jeff Vincent (37 tackles, 4 TFL) and Matt Scholz (29 tackles, 2 TFL).

The linebacking corps lost outside backer Jon Richardson (second-team All-HCAC, 73 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 interceptions) to graduation, but return junior first-team All-HCAC middle linebacker Chris Sommers (98 tackles, 8 TFL) and junior outside backer Pat Craun (67 tackles, 5 TFL). Also back are sophomore linebackers Andy Tabler (21 tackles) and Scott Steiner (24 tackles), who both saw significant playing time last season.

The defensive secondary, however, was hit hard by graduation. Gone are three-year starters Jeff Company (honorable mention All-HCAC, 54 tackles, 3 interceptions) and Ben Schwab (honorable mention All-HCAC, 35 tackles, 3 interceptions) at cornerback and strong safety Josh Slaughter (44 tackles, All-HCAC in 2000). The lone returning starter is senior free safety Cam Staley (54 tackles, 1 interception), while two letterwinners also return, including senior Darin Riffle (32 tackles, 2 interceptions) and junior Matt Pursel (11 tackles). Last season the defense picked off 16 passes and racked up 283 return yards, which was just one yard shy of the school record.

Jovan Johnson's 566 yards in kickoff returns last season were the fourth-most in school history and will be counted on again to set up the offense with good field position. He will also likely take over the punt return duties, which were held by Jon Spradling (9.6 avg.) last year.

Senior place kicker Adam Burgess returns after a successful season in 2001. He converted 20 of 24 extra-point attempts and booted eight of 14 field goals, including a 42-yarder as time expired to lift Bluffton to a 23-20 win against Thiel on Sept. 15, which is believed to be the first-ever "walk-off" winning score in BC football history. Burgess already ranks sixth in career kick scoring with 62 points.

T.J. Phlipot will likely take over the punting duties after the departure of Scott Osborn, who averaged 33.1 yards per punt last season. Phlipot held those duties as a freshman and averaged nearly 32 yards per punt.

Bluffton's first four games are all against traditional non-league opponents, including at Marietta (Ohio Athletic Conference), home against Hiram (North Coast Athletic Conference) and at Thiel (President's Athletic Conference). After a bye week, the Beavers return to Salzman Stadium for homecoming against Urbana (NAIA), which replaces Thomas More on the schedule from last season.

Defiance (8-3 in 2001)
After claiming their first Heartland Conference championship in 2001 and reaching the postseason for the first time in the program's 102-year history, Defiance returns 49 lettermen and half of their starters in preparation for the 2002 season.

Replacing key losses, which include eight All-HCAC performers and two All-Americans from their starting lineup, will be a major factor as they prepare to defend their HCAC title

The biggest of the losses was All-American linebacker Nate Schaublin, who was also the HCAC Defensive Player of the Year and participated in the Aztec Bowl. Schaublin was one of seven starters lost on a Jacket defense that ranked first in the HCAC and 21st nationally in scoring. He led the conference in tackles with 68 while recording 119 total tackles and a school record 72 assists.

Also lost for this season was two-time HCAC Special Teams MVP Dustin Winkler. Winkler was first in the HCAC and third nationally in punt return average a year ago at 21.3. Winkler demonstrated his game-breaking ability with an 82-yard punt return, the longest in school history, in a win against Mt. St. Joseph in 2001. His loss also hurts the Jacket wide receiving unit, which he led in overall yards. Winkler's presence will still be felt on the DC sidelines, as he will work with wide receivers this fall.

The Jackets will be without their main offensive weapon, All-HCAC running back Maurice Hooker, who led the Jacket ground attack with 1,084 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hooker, who was also an All-HCAC selection his freshman season, was the feature back in DC's offense last year but is not expected to return to school for his junior campaign. He was on pace to become the first back in DC history with four 1,000-yard seasons.

Hooker ran behind a solid offensive line last season that suffered a big loss with the graduation of All-HCAC lineman Bo Hill. Hill will join Winkler on the DC sidelines this year by coaching the tight ends.

Winkler and Hill are among four new coaches on head coach Greg Pscodna's staff this year. Also moving from player to coach is defensive line coach Shane Brugler, a First Team All-HCAC lineman with 54 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Despite this being their first collegiate coaching experience, Pscodna feels that all three are ready for the change.

"All three of those guys were leaders on and off the field last season and did a great job, and once they get their feet wet in the adjustment to coaching instead of playing, then everything will be fine."

The fourth and only new face to the Jackets' program will be offensive line coach Eric Prins, who spent the last 16 seasons coaching at Iowa Wesleyan.

While key losses in player personnel and growth in the coaching staff will slow the Jackets, key returnees, especially on offense, should allow DC to compete week in and week out. Among those returning on offense will be fifth-year senior quarterback Walker Graher, who saw significant action last season in a two-quarterback system. Graher played in all 11 games last year, had 837 yards passing, and completed 51% of his attempts. Graher will be looked upon to provide leadership to the other DC quarterbacks, who have combined to throw three passes in their collegiate careers.

"Having a quarterback with as much collegiate football experience as Walker has is a positive factor for our football team in many ways heading into this season," commented Pscodna.

Also returning on offense will be running back Mike Moran, who was the team's second-leading rusher from last season after gaining 851 yards. Moran was also the Jacket's second-leading scorer with 10 touchdowns and should see a majority of the carries. Pscodna has high expectations for the junior.

"Mike did a good job for us last year in a rotating role and will be looked upon to be our number one running back this season."

Despite its losses, the offensive line will still be a strength in Moran's role as the top back. The Jacket's return three starters on the O-line, including three-year starting center and two-time All-HCAC performer Kevin Baumann. Baumann has been a consistent force for the Jackets and will be looked upon to provide leadership to the underclassmen who fill the two starting positions open on the line. Returning to once again join Baumann in the trenches this season are starters Shay Beaver and Dave LaFontant.

Another bright spot for this year's team will be the tight end position. The Jackets return a solid group of ends from a year ago with Nathan Sucheki leading the way. The senior caught 17 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns in 2001. Pscodna believes sophomores Justin Strange and Mike Okkerse will provide plenty of depth for the Jackets.

"These two guys had some good offseason workouts, and we are expecting them to be able to help contribute to our football team along with Nathan Sucheki at the tight end position."

The Jacket defense will return only four starters from a year ago, but many of the players that will be asked to step up to starting roles this season saw significant playing time last season. With 10 returnees that recorded 20 tackles or more, those players will be looked upon to continue the success of the conference's stingiest defense.

An All-HCAC linebacker and DC's second-leading tackler from a year ago, Bob Cole returns as a big key for the Jacket defense this season. He totaled 90 tackles and three sacks in 2001 and will be looked upon to play an even larger role in the defensive game plan this season.

Also coming back at the linebacker position is fifth-year senior John Mikesell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last season. Mikesell is expected to resume his starting role this season and will bring much needed experience to a young Jacket defensive unit this season.

The lone starting defensive back returning for the Jackets is All-HCAC performer Kyle Acheson. Acheson was DC's third-leading tackler with 69 hits last year and led the team in interceptions with five.

"Kyle is a proven player in the defensive backfield, and we need him to continue his solid play as well as to provide some guidance for our younger DB's that will be stepping up into their first collegiate football starting roles," commented Coach Psconda.

The defensive line will return starting senior Sean McBride, who helped the Jackets last season by contributing 25 tackles and five sacks. McBride will be alongside juniors Ryan Pfefferle, Nate Jensen, and John Piper, who are expected to be major factors for DC this season. They totaled 60 tackles and 11 sacks between them last season and should continue to be playmakers for the DC frontline this year.

Pscodna feels that, "These guys continued to improve throughout last season, and they should be ready to be steady contributors this year as they will play a larger role in our defense."

As the Jacket defense heads into the 2002 season, their returning players will help to fill the voids left by graduation, but overall defensive depth is a question mark as camp approaches.

"We will really need some younger guys to mature quickly and to adapt to collegiate football because they will be looked upon to be the second string players backing up our upperclassmen," commented Pscodna. "The main key to our defensive depth will depend on how those players come in and react, and the sooner that they become comfortable with our program, the sooner that we can count on them to make plays for our football team."

Pscodna enters his seventh season as DC's head coach after helping to turn the corner in the Jacket football program. Over the past two seasons he has led the Jackets to a 15-6 record while earning HCAC Coach of the Year honors in both of those seasons. He has climbed to fourth in career wins at DC, and with only four more wins, Pscodna will move up to second on the all-time list.

The quest for those four wins and more begins on September 7 as the Jackets open their 2002 campaign at home against Olivet at 1:00. DC is also scheduled to play Grove City for the first time in school history on September 21 at home. Road trips to former MIAA opponents Adrian and Alma will round out DC's non-conference schedule in September before the Jackets open their HCAC title defense.

Mt. St. Joseph (0-10 in 2001)
Head coach Rod Huber knows his young program still has many steps to take, but he is convinced that his team will be much improved and be competitive this fall.

"Last year was the toughest year of my life, both professionally and personally,'' Huber said. "My dad died in the spring and my football team went 0-10 in the fall. Things can only get better."

As soon as the 2001 season ended Huber and his staff went to work on a plan to turn the program around in 2002. The Lions' coach and his staff decided the first thing that needed to be done was to have a 7 a.m. team meeting to find out who was interested in returning for 2002. In that meeting Huber told his team that he was looking for a year-round commitment from the players if they wanted to be a part of the football team. Fifty-seven players attended that meeting and 41 made it through the offseason workouts.

"I was extremely proud of the 41 guys who committed and worked out at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.,'' Huber said. "We have a much bigger, stronger and faster football program because of it."

The Lions' mentor then met individually with each player before Christmas. In those meetings he wanted to get feedback from the players about the football program. Despite the winless season in 2001, Huber said the players were very positive about the future. One change that the Lions have adopted this season is a new look home game uniform.

Huber and his staff also set out on the recruiting trail, looking to add some 50 new players. Huber recruited for a month alone, traveling to areas such as Cleveland, Canton, Columbus and Louisville — places that Mount coaches had not visited in years. The response from high school coaches in those areas was very positive, according to Huber, and the Lions' coach said the school might reap recruits from those cities in a short time.

Defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator Jim Hilvert and full-time intern Joe Sparhawk also hosted over 300 visits this season. The Mount will open the 2002 season with more than 80 players on the roster, its largest team in several years.

"Coach Hilvert and Coach Sparhawk did a great job recruiting,'' Huber said. "This is the most talented group of freshmen we have ever assembled. This class coming in has size, speed and athleticism. I look forward to watching these players grow with program.

The Lions are expected to line-up primarily in their spread offense, which employs four receivers, but will try to mix in more two-back sets than they did in 2001.

"We were the worst rushing team in the conference last season,'' Huber said. "We want to get back to running the ball effectively, which Mount teams have always been able to do. I'd like for the offense to have 125-plus yards rushing per game."

The Lions return only two backs from last season that carried the ball, junior Tom Miller and senior Brian Lasita. Transfers and freshmen make up the rest of the running backs corps.

"The running back job is wide open,'' Huber said. "We want someone to emerge from preseason practice and scrimmages as the No. 1 guy."

The quarterback position does return three experience players vying for the number one position. Junior Mike Dane held the starting job last season before suffering a season-ending broken wrist in game five against Defiance College. Huber said that Dane will enter fall practice number one on the depth chart but will be pushed by returnee Joe Piening, a junior.

"I don't want to rotate quarterbacks this season,'' Huber said. "I want one guy to win the job and hold it. Our quarterback needs to be someone that can take care of the ball, not throw interceptions and make sound choices."

That group will have a deep and talented group of receivers to throw the ball to. Junior Evan Porter, senior Steve Roby, senior Rob Wells, sophomore Brandon Elliott, junior Jerry Kyles and senior Adam Parks are expected to lead this group. Each of these players, as well as others that will return and newcomers will battle for playing time.

"We think we have some big-play receivers with this group and we're expecting them to get the ball down the field for us,'' Huber added. "We had some success in the passing game last season and we expect to do that again and even improve in that area."

The Lions' offensive line is somewhat young but sophomores Neal Nieberding and Chris Hafertepen, both tackles, gained a lot of experience in 2001. Nieberding was a second-team all-HCAC selection last fall. Senior Bob Lehman has been shifted from the defensive line to the offensive line and is expected to help improve the team's blocking at the guard position. Sophomore guard Adam Sayer also played well last season and looks to again hold down a starting position. Senior center Ken Jones will anchor the offensive line and senior Kyle Wirthwine will add depth.

"Our offensive line will have to improve this season for us to run the ball better," Huber said. "We're counting on the young guys we had last season to take their game to the next level. We also need the older guys to give us another solid season. We'll have a lot of freshmen in key backup roles on the O-line."

In 2001 the Lions were second in the HCAC in rushing defense but last in pass defense. They tied for second-most sacks in the conference. Sophomore Eric Schneider and junior Pat McAtee, both ends, will anchor the Mount's D-line. McAtee was a second-team all-HCAC selection last season. Junior tackle Eric Johnson returns after sitting out last season with a knee injury. Senior Travis Thomas, along with others, will push for playing time.

Two sophomores, Brooks Klosterman and Mike Huesman, return at linebacker and should anchor a strong group that will include several freshmen and transfers. Senior cornerback Paul Behling, an honorable mention all-HCAC selection last season, will lead a young secondary. Senior John Stranko is expected to push for a starting safety position while senior Steve Thompson hopes to see time in the secondary.

As for the special teams, Huber and his staff are planning to use many of the team's starting offensive and defensive players on those units. Sophomore punter Jon Atwood returns this season. The Mount will be looking for a field goal/extra point kicker during the preseason.

Huber said last season he wanted to measure the success of the team's season by how much they improved day-to-day and week-to-week. This season, the Lions' third-year leader is looking for that to translate into wins.

"With the players we have coming back and the ones we've added, I think we have enough experience to win some games,'' Huber stated. "We want to be in every game, every week, and to do that we'll have to be ahead or close at halftime and going into the fourth quarter. We only had a chance like that in about three or four games last season."

For the Lions to end their two-year, 16-game losing streak, Huber said he'll have the entire team — and coaches — focus on total execution.

"I've challenged the coaches to keep things simple for the players this season so they can really learn and feel comfortable with what they're doing,'' Huber said. "We had too many breakdowns in key situations that led to big plays last season. We'll add to the offensive and defensive schemes as the season goes along."

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