Otterbein (4-6 in 2001)
The Cardinals return 31 lettermen, including six starters on offense and defense, from last season's 4-6 squad.

Second-year head coach Rocky Alt's biggest challenge will be replacing Shane Rannebarger and Jeff Gibbs. Rannebarger owns school records for rushing yards, scoring, touchdowns and rushing touchdowns, while Gibbs is the school's leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

"We're not going to have that go-to guy like we did last year with Jeff Gibbs," Alt said. "One of my concerns is our inexperience in the skill positions."

Back to lead the offense is sophomore quarterback Robert Benjamin. Benjamin threw for 1,342 yards and 12 touchdowns on 107 completions after assuming the starting job midseason.

Benjamin's primary targets will be senior Greg Fleming and junior Kenny Mock. Fleming caught 37 balls for 477 yards and two touchdowns in 2001, while Mock caught 30 passes for 609 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior center Chuck Black, junior guard Matt Morneault and junior tackle Dennis Zech all return to their positions on the offensive line.

Otterbein's strength defensively should rest in the linebacker position. Seniors David Suitor and Scott Karr and junior Justin Malivuk are the leading returning tacklers for the Cardinals.

In the secondary, sophomores John Hardiman and Micheaux Robinson return after leading the Cardinals with three interceptions apiece in 2001.

"Defensively, I think we have a good core of returning players," Alt said. "I think we should have a stronger defense than last year."

Alt expects a recruiting class of approximately 40 players to report to camp.

"They should help us depth-wise," Alt said. "Obviously, you don't know until they get here, but I would expect that some freshmen do contribute this season."

Mount Union (14-0 in 2001)
The Mount Union Purple Raiders, fresh off a sixth Division III National Championship in the last nine years (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001), will return 50 letterwinners, including four offensive and seven defensive starters in 2002.

The Purple Raiders, who enter the 2002 campaign riding college football's longest current winning streak (28), hope to feature a veteran defensive unit and a balanced offensive attack this fall.

In 2001, the Raider defense finished fourth overall in the country in yards allowed (216.1 ypg), third in points allowed (8.6 ppg) and third in passing efficiency defense (69.5).

This fall, the Purple & White return three starting defensive linemen, including senior D3football.com second team All-American end Matt Campbell (83 hits, 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks), senior second-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference tackle Jeff Knoblauch (71 hits, nine tackles for loss) and junior tackle Antoine Dillard (35 hits, five sacks). Campbell also earned the OAC's Paul Hoernemann Award in 2001, in recognition of the conference's best defensive lineman.

"Having several players return at the point of attack is important for any football team," noted Raider head coach Larry Kehres (178-17-3 record (.906) at Mount Union), who enters his 17th season at the helm of Mount Union's football program. "These players will again be asked to control the line of scrimmage and give our linebackers the opportunity to make plays. Last year, we did a good job of getting penetration and disrupting the opposition's offense. Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off a year ago."

The secondary returns four of the Raiders' top five performers from a year ago, including senior D3football.com first-team All-American cornerback Chris Kern (28 hits, five interceptions, 15 passes broken up), senior honorable mention All-OAC cornerback Mike Miller (46 hits, 11 passes broken up), senior strong safety Dustin Blake (43 hits, six passes broken up) and senior free safety Matt Sotcan (39 hits, 13 passes broken up).

Kern was also named the OAC's Lee J. Tressel Award winner last fall as the conference's top defensive back.

"Our league has become more pass-oriented the past several years," said the coach. "You need to have players in the secondary that can run with the receivers and make plays when called upon. Having experience in your secondary is an important element in having a good pass defense as a whole."

Senior starting outside linebacker Stan Watson (77 hits/9 tfl), who earned first team All-Conference honors in 2001 for his special teams' play, will lead the Raider linebacking group. Senior linebacker Josh Church (25 hits), who saw some playing time in the middle, and junior outside linebacker Shaun Spisak (8 hits), who missed most of the 2001 campaign with an injury, should battle for extensive playing time this coming season.

"Defensively, we return a number of performers who have played extensively the past couple seasons, said Kehres. "Those players have been in a number of big games in the past and have responded well to the challenge. We will need them to perform at a high level again this fall if we hope to be as successful as we've been in the past."

In 2001, the Raider offense finished second overall in the nation (518.1 ypg), seventh in scoring (43.6 ppg) and 12th in rushing (257.2 ypg).

Offensively, the line returns three players who saw significant time in '01.

Junior tackle Larry Kinnard (6-6, 299), a second team All-Conference selection last season, and junior guard Brent Miller (6-2, 265), who started 11 games last season, provide the Raiders with experience up front. Senior guard Josh Hammond (6-4, 325), who made three starts before an injury cut short his season in 2001, is also expected back this fall.

"Most games are won up front along the offensive and defensive lines," noted Kehres. "It's very important to have talent, depth and cohesiveness on the offensive line. Those players have to work in unison in order to cut down on mistakes that can lead to negative plays or even turnovers. As always, we'll need to identify who our best players are up front and get them ready for a long, grueling season ahead."

Senior quarterback Rob Adamson (188-for-296, 3,059 yds, 25 TD, 8 interceptions), a second team All-Conference selection who finished third in the country in passing efficiency (176.0) last fall, will trigger the Raider offense once again in 2002.

Senior second team All-OAC tight end Josh Liddell (31 receptions, 14.5 yards per catch, one TD), along with senior/wide receiver Derrick Leach (18 receptions, 20.4 ypc, five touchdowns), who saw extensive playing time as Mount Union's No. 3 receiver in '01, should be key members of the Raider passing attack in 2002.

Two of Mount Union's top three running backs return from a year ago — senior first team All-OAC performer Dan Pugh (172 carries, 843 yards, 13 rushing touchdowns) and senior Vince Ilacqua (37 carries, 140 yards). Sophomore Jeff Strauch (14 carries, 95 yards) and junior Mike Deitrick (74 carries, 311 yards) will also battle for playing time.

"Offensively, we'll need the returning players to step up and provide leadership until some of our younger players gain experience," added Kehres. "We have a good nucleus returning and several young players who have been waiting for the opportunity to play. We want to continue to feature a good run and pass mix to our offense."

The Raider kicking game will feature some new faces in 2002 after the graduation of D3football.com third-team All-American Rodney Chenos, who handled punting and place-kicking duties. "We should have some good battles in the kicking game," said Kehres. "You need to be strong on special teams if you want to have a good, well-rounded football team."

Mount Union enters the 2002 season with a conference-best 13 OAC titles to its credit and riding an unprecedented 67-game conference win streak dating back to '94.

The Raiders, who have recorded 82 wins in their last 83 games overall and 74 straight in the regular season, truly believe in the adage of taking it one step at a time.

"We begin each season with the primary goal of winning the Ohio Athletic Conference championship," said Kehres. "We play in an outstanding football conference. The level of play from top to bottom in the OAC is very competitive. One of our program's strengths is that we respect each and every opponent, and we realize we need to be at our best in order to win — whether it be in the OAC or in the playoffs if we're fortunate enough to make it that far."

John Carroll (7-3 in 2001)
John Carroll has won 70% of its games over the past three seasons. In the sports world, it isn't bad to be successful 70% of the time.

Trouble is, the Blue Streaks are finding 7-3 records unacceptable. Despite setting a team record with 4,359 yards total offense, the 2001 campaign marked the third consecutive year in which the Blue Streaks have ended up 7-3.

So the key question for JCU entering the 2002 campaign is in what direction does this team move.

"That is a question that came up a lot from players and coaches during the offseason," said fourth-year head coach Regis Scafe (21-9 through three seasons). "The goal of this program each year is to win a conference championship. We have the talent, and I believe we have the right attitude and work ethic. Its a matter of putting it all together, and doing so each Saturday."

Senior quarterback Tom Arth heads a list of seven returning starters on offense. Arth was 200-328 for 2783 yards and 19 touchdowns, and was both a first team All-OAC and first team D3football.com All-America selection. Among the weapons at his disposal are junior tailback Ryan DeGeorge (led team with 1,518 all-purpose yards), and senior receivers Antoine Dunklin (a Division III track All-American), Adam Therrien and Jeff Lerner (who has more than 1,400 career receiving yards but was lost just three games into last season).

Senior tackle Matt Payne and junior tight end Rob Pratus are returning starters along the offensive line.

The defense, which returns four starters, was hit harder by graduation than their offensive counterparts. Seniors Brian Brooke and Chris Cubero head up the linebacking corps, while juniors Joe Indriolo and Matt Sulzer return along the front line. Senior cornerback Greg Dochod, the only returning starter among the defensive backs, is the leading tackler among returning players with 42.5 stops last season.

Ryan Wolf, a second team All-OAC pick, returns to handle the punting duties.

"People may look at our returning starters numbers and think we may not have much coming back," said Scafe. "The truth is, in our system, we rotate a number of guys at almost every position. We might return only 11 starters, but we have 30 letterwinners back. That's 30 players who have been through the OAC, who know what is expected of them, and who hopefully know what it takes to get the job done."

Muskingum (3-7 in 2001)
Muskingum (3-7, 2-7 OAC) ended its season on a high note in 2001, winning their two final games against Heidelberg (31-7) and Otterbein (42-35). Throughout the season the young team made considerable improvements and showed signs of becoming a force in the future.

The Fighting Muskies will return seven skill position players from last season. Beginning in the backfield Muskingum will return senior quarterback Marc Von Kaenel, who broke school records for passing attempts in a season (266), attempts in a game (49), completions in a season (155), completions in a game (32), passing yards in a season (1,528), and touchdown passes in a season (11).

Returning this season as a target for Von Kaenel will be All-OAC wide receiver, senior Jeremy Abney. Abney was the Muskies' leading receiver hauling in a single-season school record 56 catches for 561 yards and seven touchdowns. Other targets in Von Kaenel's sights will be senior Chris Shank, senior Matt Quayle and sophomore Antwan Curry.

The defense should be the strongest part of Muskingum's team this season. With 10 of 11 starters gaining valuable experience last season, the defensive unit will look to be even stronger in 2002. Starting in the backfield the Muskies will return all four starters from a season ago with seniors Matt Louis and Dirk Gadd leading the way on the corners. The safeties will be led by junior Ryan Spicer and sophomore Danny Johnson. The linebackers will be led by junior Mike Cullar and senior Brad DeHays, who could also see some time at defensive end.

The kicking duties will once again fall on junior Scott Elzey. Last season Elzey averaged 33.4 yards per punt while connecting on 21 of 25 PATs and three of seven field goals, with a long of 36 yards.

Muskingum opens the 2002 season Sept. 7 at home against Thomas More.

Ohio Northern (8-2 in 2001)
The Ohio Northern football program felt slighted in 2001.

An 8-2 record and a third consecutive 8-1 Ohio Athletic Conference finish was certainly a good year by any standard.

But after back-to-back playoff seasons in 1999 and 2000, the Polar Bears were disappointed when the 2001 playoffs went off without them.

Northern ended the season by winning its last six games and 16th-year head coach Tom Kaczkowski hopes his troops can carry that momentum into another playoff bid this fall.

Kaczkowski returns 21 of 24 starters from last year's squad, including 10 starters on each side of the ball and the league's top punter.

The preseason college football publications think highly of Northern?s chances this season.

"We feel very positive about the upcoming season," Kaczkowski said. "We came together as a team and were playing as well as anybody in the country at the end of last year. We feel that we deserved a playoff spot and are out to prove that this year."

Senior quarterback Jeff Soliday is back to lead ONU's vaunted "Northern Gun" offense and he will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. He threw for 2,211 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 348 yards and eight more scores last season.

His top five targets all return, including junior All-OAC wide out Jace Metzner (46 receptions, 993 yards, 12 touchdowns), sophomore John Odenweller (19-351-4) and senior Bret Baucher (19-264).

Plenty of experience returns in the backfield. Senior Dan Stewart (137 attempts, 561 yards, six touchdown) will move from tailback to fullback and sophomore Zach Weber (110-514-4) will step into the tailback slot.

All five linemen return, led by senior Jarred Jones at guard.

Ten starters are back on defense, anchored by linebacker Curt Hartman (115 tackles, 10 tackles for loss), first Team All-OAC linebacker Brad Lohr (98 tackles, 7 TFL) and first Team All-OAC defensive tackle Brian Christopher (70 tackles, 9.5 sacks).

Up front, Christopher is joined at tackle by senior All-OAC pick Josh Vogel (46 tackles, 8 TFL) and at ends by junior All-OAC honoree David Snapp (47 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and junior Jeff Mangas (21 tackles, 7 TFL).
Also at linebacker in Kaczkowski's 4-4 defense is senior Brad Klaus (52 tackles, 3 TFL).

The entire secondary returns with junior All-Conference selection Ryan DiFranco (89 tackles, 6 INT) back at safety and senior Tim Lewis (26 tackles, 11 PBU) and junior Matt Wentzel (16 tackles, 14 PBU) and back at corner.

Soliday led the league in punting last year with a 36.8 average.

Baldwin-Wallace (6-4 in 2001)
A new era in Baldwin-Wallace football begins in 2002. It marks the first season with John Snell as its head coach.

Snell, a disciple of the legendary Bob Packard, has goals of winning the 2002 Ohio Athletic Conference title and returning the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Division III playoffs. B-W also has a school record streak of 35 consecutive winning seasons, the fourth-longest in college football.

B-W enters its 2002 campaign with 37 lettermen and 12 starters returning. It will be led offensively by junior quarterback Dan Larlham, senior running back Kyle Obendorf, wide receivers in senior Dave LaBahn and sophomore Dave Ehrman and junior placekickers Kevin Hille and Cory Kobrinski. In addition, a host of solid offensive linemen, led by Academic All-American guard Matt Kish. On defense, junior end Rick Schontz, junior tackle Abe Bartunek, senior tackle Rob Wittensoldner and junior All-OAC safeties Tom DeLuca and Greg Koch and junior punter Rob Becker will be the top players.

In 2001, B-W finished 6-4 overall and 5-4 in the rugged OAC. The Yellow Jackets played solid games against national champion Mount Union and again see them, Ohio Northern and John Carroll as the main challengers for the title.

"The OAC is without a doubt the best Division III conference in the nation," states Snell. "Every game you play, whether its against Mt. Union, ONU, JCU or any other six teams is a dogfight. Every team has strong talent and ability and we will need to be prepared both as coaches and as players. We look forward to the challenge of playing in the OAC. We know that good, healthy competition will make us better people and athletes."

On offense, Larlham returns at QB after completing 126 of 226 passes for 1,773 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also ran for 371 yards and a team-leading seven scores. In two years, Larlham has passed for 3,143 yards and 25 touchdowns and run for 587 yards and 14 touchdowns. He will be one of the top returning signal callers in the region.

"Danny knows our offense and has solid ability to either run or pass the football," said Snell. "He is an outstanding athlete and leader."

In the backfield, Obendorf had his best season as a collegian in 2001, running for a team-leading 661 yards and four touchdowns. He enters his final season with 1,367 career rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Also back to compete with Obendorf will be sophomore running back Mark Anders. A year ago, Anders contributed 935 all-purpose touched the ball. Anders ran for 401 yards and six touchdowns, caught 10 passes for 181 touchdowns and averaged 26.8 yards on 13 kick returns. Also expect senior Randale Richmond to add depth and strength to the backfield.

At fullback, look for three-year letterman and captain Gerald Hazzard to make an impact. An excellent blocker and pass catcher, Hazzard had three touchdown receptions a year ago.

The receiving corps are led by LaBahn (30 catches for 518 yards and six touchdowns) and Ehrman (32 grabs for 398 yards and three touchdowns). The duo were B-W's top two receivers a year ago. Add the ability of both Obendorf and Anders to catch the "swing pass" and Larlham will have a potent attack in which the defense will have to try to stop.

The offensive line will be led by Kish who returns along with senior guard Tim Rollins and junior tackles Joe Harbour and Sean Baker. In addition, a number of others who saw action during the 2001 season are back and will challenge the upperclassmen for playing time.

Look for the Yellow Jacket special teams to be — well, special in 2002. They will be led by kickers Hille and Kobrinski and also include speedy return specialists Tom DeLuca and Anders. Hille and Kobrinski split the kicking duties and combined to connect on 28 of 34 point-after-TD kicks and eight of 12 field goals. Hille was 12 of 17 on PATs and five of six in field goals for 27 points. Kobrinski was 16 of 17 on PATs and three of six in FGs for 25 points. Look for them to battle again. Hille also handles kicking duties. In DeLuca and Anders, Snell has two of the top seven kickoff return specialists in Division III. In 2001, DeLuca was second in Division III with a 29.9-yard average, including a TD. He was a second-team All-OAC and All-North Region selection for his efforts. Anders' 26.9-yard average ranked him seventh in Division III.

"One area where it is key to have good people is on your special teams," said Snell. "With Kevin and Cory back as our kickers, we have two solid veterans who will compete in camp. In both Tom and Mark, we have players with the ability to return the ball for a touchdown every time they touch it."

On defense, B-W returns three linemen and two safeties as starters. The big key will be rebuilding its linebacking corps.

On the line, junior Rick Schontz is back and expected to be on of the top linemen in the OAC. Last fall, Schontz had 24 total tackles and five QB sacks. He will be joined by Abe Bartunek and Rob Wittensoldner at tackle. Bartunek had 26 tackles and four sacks and Wittensoldner had 19 stops and three sacks. Also look for junior end Rich Limperos, junior end John Petrus, senior tackle Brian Weber and others to all contribute.

DeLuca and Koch return as two of the best deep backs in a number of years. Koch was second on the team in tackles in 2001 with 71 and in interceptions with four. DeLuca had 51 tackles, including 44 solo stops. In addition, look for seniors Dave Riede and Ryan Young, junior Joe Dietrick and Adam Johnson and sophomore Justin Andes all to contribute after each played and lettered a year ago.

At inside linebacker, expect juniors Jon Schmitz and Matt Adams to battle for a starting spot with a number of underclassmen and incoming recruits. Schmitz was fourth on the team with 48 tackles, including 35 solo stops. On the outside, look for senior Brady Myers, senior Bryan Parobek and sophomore Pat Pearson to battle with others for two starting positions.

As a freshman and for the first four games as a sophomore, Rob Becker was the long snapper in punting situations. Then Becker "turned the tables" and became B-W's punter, averaging 25.5 yards per punt in 35 attempts with 11 inside the 20-yard line and 11 returned for just a 4.0 yard average.

Overall, B-W returns the components for a potent offensive attack. On defense, the Yellow-Jackets also have the potential to stop the opposition. The biggest key in 2002 may be special teams. With solid returnmen like DeLuca and Anders and kickers and punters like Hille, Kobrinski, and Becker, B-W may have the one intangible that could help it win close games. Only time will tell.

Capital (7-3 in 2001)
Jim Collins' rebuilding of the Capital football program reached a benchmark in its fifth year in 2001 and was culminated in four simple words — "new house, new attitude." A new Bernlohr Stadium helped spark the Crusaders to their best season in 14 years with a 7-3 record, a third-place finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference and Collins earning OAC Coach of the Year honors.

The challenge for Capital's 13 returning starters and 35 returning letterwinners in 2002 is to continue the momentum started a season ago and put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1990-91 while contending for the school's first OAC title since 1987. The Crusaders would like to start this season much like last year, when they ran out to a 5-1 start. Capital also went a perfect 5-0 in their new stadium a season ago, while breaking double-digit losing streaks to conference rivals Baldwin-Wallace and John Carroll.

While the Capital offense under Collins has assaulted the school's record books over the last few seasons, this year may be the year for defense for the Crusaders as seven of 13 returning starters are there headlined by 2002 consensus preseason All-American Ron Swearingin. The first team All-OAC junior middle linebacker led the league in tackles for a second straight season on his way to becoming Capital's first All-American since 1993. Fellow juniors in the linebacking corps with Swearingin include, Chris Shaw, honorable mention All-OAC pick last year and Bob Lanthorn.

Seniors Trevor Alexander, a second team All-OAC selection, and Brian Park bookend the defensive line and will most likely be joined by seniors Tom Orlando and Bertram McCleskey up front.

A deep secondary unit includes seniors Tony DeRose and Chris Miller, junior safety Justin Dranschak along with sophomores O.J. Sancho and James Hairston. The speedy Sancho and Hairston were a formidable duo as freshmen in the defensive backfield combining for five interceptions and 104 and 67 tackles respectively.

Offensively, Capital may lack experience with only four returning starters, but the cupboard is far from bare. Senior tailback Rayshaun Gales needs to only match his production of the past two seasons to become the Crusaders all-time rushing leader. Gales, the first Capital running back since Rocky Roddy in 1976 to be a first team All-OAC selection, would also like to become just the second Capital runner in school history to gather over a 1,000 yards on the ground in a season.

Back on the line opening holes for Gales up front will be seniors Sherm Sackett and Luke Merritt. The duo are the lone returners to a line that was second only to Mount Union in the OAC in sacks allowed last year with 13.

Seniors Danny Edghill and Jeff Brown are the returning wide receivers, but the huge question will be who will get all these players the ball. There is no clear starter at quarterback heading into camp, as Edghill is the most experienced quarterback on the roster with 1,758 passing yards and nine starts as a sophomore, but maybe more suited as a receiver with the lack of experience at that position. Players battling for time at quarterback include, juniors Jeremy Leeds and Ben Johnson, sophomore Robert Caress along with a number of talented freshman. Leeds and Johnson both saw time under center on the junior varsity squad last season, while Caress honed his skills on the practice field and became an All-OAC men's tennis player.

On special teams, senior punter Adam Hicks returns for his third season to lead the league's fourth best punting unit, while senior Bo Comer and junior Tyler Kazee will battle for place kicking duties.

As if an Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with three teams among the nation's Top 25 is not enough, the Crusaders add playoff contender Anderson to the slate as the season opener at home on Sept. 7. Anderson has gone from 0-10 just four seasons ago to finishing 8-2 last season and a game out of first place in the Heartland Conference.

Heidelberg (1-9 in 2001)
Heidelberg will be celebrating the 110 years since its first game, a 20-0 victory over Findlay, during the 2002 season. ’Berg would finish the 1892 season with a .500 winning percentage, or a 1-1 record.

Fast forwarding to the 2002 season, first-year Heidelberg coach John Cervino would like to duplicate the .500 mark from 110 years ago, but knows that building the Heidelberg program into a winner will take more than one win as it did in 1892.

Cervino inherits a program that has a strong football tradition, but has struggled over the past 30 years. Heidelberg owns five Ohio Athletic Conference championship rings, but won the last during the 1972 season. ’Berg also claimed the NCAA Division III Regional Championship game, known then as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, in 1972.

Since the 1972 season, Heidelberg football has posted only seven winning seasons with the last coming during a 7-3 campaign in 1994. ’Berg football is 1-19 during the past two seasons.

Cervino knew about The ’Berg’s track record coming in. But he’s done this sort of rebuilding before and Heidelberg faithful are hoping he can work his magic one more time. Cervino spent eight seasons as the head coach at Western Connecticut, from 1992 through 1999. He inherited a program that went 7-23 over his first three seasons only to be turned around and post a 31-18-1 record over his final five years. In his final season, Western Connecticut was given the No 1 seed in the East Region for the Division III playoffs.

In addition to Cervino, making his first start with Heidelberg, eight coaches will either be making there ’Berg debuts or in a new slots for the 2002 season. Jerry McDonald, named athletic director in July, will coach offensive line after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Troy Rothenbuhler will take over as offensive coordinator this season after spending last season at Arkansas State. Ollie Guidry joins the team as wide receiver coach and also recruiting coordinator, while Eric Slosser will serve as a graduate assistant running backs coach and Joe Craddock is the student-assistant offensive line coach.

On the defensive side, Mike Vosburgh returns as the defensive coordinator, but he will add B.J. Hammer as a graduate assistant linebacker coach. David Novak will also return as a student assistant defensive back coach this season. Defensively, The ’Berg is still looking for another coach for the defensive line and special teams coordinator.

Cervino’s first season in the Tricolor will have 48 letter-winners including13 starters returning and a small recruiting class. With this in mind, Cervino has outlined five goals for the program.

"The first goal is for us to get them to believe in the program. We aren't concerned about the score at this point, just to play hard on every play, in every game, every practice. The second big challenge will be the adaptation of the new system. It doesn't matter how many players are returning because they are all like freshmen. Our third goal is to break camp with a healthy squad. If we do that we have a chance to compete and win some games early and that early-season success could carry us through the tough part of our schedule. The fourth goal is a winning season. If we stay healthy I think we have a chance. But being competitive is more important than just the wins and losses at this point. The final goal is how the players respond to the challenge. Coaches can only get so much out of the players and we need them to take it to the next level. They have worked real hard this spring and we need to build that through the year and get better every week."

Heidelberg football returns good players to fill the starting slots across the board, but it is the battle for the back-ups that could determine 'Berg's fate this season. With only 80 players on the roster and 48 returning letterwinners, Heidelberg will have to overcome depth issues against deeper OAC competition.

“It is really hard to assess the talent seeing them in the weight room and on video tape,” Cervino said. “But from what I can presume, the starters look to be good football players. But the drop from the starters to backups on the two-deep is more extreme than anywhere that I have ever been. For that reason the depth issue is very important coming into the season, especially with our number of players.

“We should have 70-75 solid returning veteran players in camp. We challenged them in the offseason conditioning program and liked how they responded.”

But the team has to continue that conditioning and strength building this off-season for Cervino’s program will emphasize speed and quickness from the players.

“They started to come together as a team,” said Cervino. “But those weren’t game situations. We need those returning players to work hard this summer and come into camp ready to play. They know they are going to be tested for their growth in weight, speed and agility when they get back. We need them to keep making great strides.”

Heidelberg will have a small first-year class in 2002, due in large part to the coaching transition.

“We are certainly behind the level of recruiting,” said Cervino. We are already setting up for 2003 and it will be a lot stronger. We made good strides in Florida and that was a real good experience for us this season. We need to do better in Ohio, especially the 419 area code, and are working with the coaches to achieve this task in the offseason.”

The biggest question heading into camp will be who will play quarterback for ’Berg in 2002. Juniors BJ Dwyer, Frank Mastrionni and John Sharp and sophomore Adam Haught are all fighting for the starting spot this season. Dwyer and Sharp split time a season ago, while Mastroianni started five games during the 2000 season. Dwyer’s 71 completions led the team while he hit 52.6% of his passes for 932 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions. Sharp hit on 50% of his 110 passes for 493 yards and a touchdown while throwing 11 picks. In limited action, Haught was 11-for-26 for 103 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions.

“All four players ran sub-4.7s in the spring and are great athletes. The door is wide open as we head into camp, but we need to narrow as soon a possible. You can get two quarterbacks ready to play, but not four. B.J. has great athletic ability and a strong arm. John is not as big as B.J., but is more mobile and also has a strong arm. Adam did some good things with the junior varsity team last year and is a little bit of B.J. and a little bit of John. We are going to give Frank a look at quarterback, but if he isn’t in the battle he could be moved to wide receiver.

“I wish we had that problem at all the positions, but I am not opposed to playing two quarterbacks.”

With all the indecision that surrounds the quarterbacks slot, the rest of the backfield is set entering the season with two clear favorites. Juniors Gary Tope and Nathan Luce return as the tailback and fullback, respectfully. The biggest key for Tope will be staying healthy. He was ranked among the Division III leaders in rushing during the 2001 season before an injury shut him down. He finished with 773 yards in seven games and seven touchdowns. Luce will take over the starting fullback slot after splitting time last season. Despite a limited offensive role, Luce finished with 65 yards on 15 carries last season. Sophomores P.J. Johnson and Pat Turner will enter camp as the backup tailback and fullback, respectfully, but will have competition from Day one.

“We have to give Gary (Tope) the ball this season. He has the ability to be the best back in the Ohio Athletic Conference if he stays healthy. He is one of the hardest workers on the team and is pound-for-pound one of the strongest people on the team. We are looking for big things from him in 2002. Nathan (Luce) is in a similar situation as Gary. I want to give him the football and have two 1,000-yard rushers in the backfield. He has the whole package. I’m excited to see these two play for real, but we need some back-ups to step-up and provide some depth.”

Heidelberg returns four starters on its offensive line for the 2002 season, led by captain Mike Mandeville. Mandeville, a senior, is starting for his third consecutive season. Rick Morris, Kyle Crumley and Matt Coniglio join Mandeville as returning starters. Morris, a junior, stands 6-1 and weighs in at 295-pounds for The ’Berg, while Crumley, a junior, tips the scales at 270. Coniglio, a junior, stands 6-feet, 7-inches and weighs in at 225 pounds. Coniglio will be pushed by senior Charles Buchanan in camp, while junior Cole Barsic will get the first look at right tackle. Senior Dan Jeffers will back up at the guard positions this season.

“The center of our offensive line is definitely a strength,” said Cervino. “Mike (Mandeville) has been a good player the past couple of years, but he is also a good person and a leader for this team. Rick (Morris) is a big kid, but he can move his feet as good as anyone on the team. Kyle (Crumley) is a leader he has knowledge of the game and is a good player.

“Matt (Coniglio) got serious about football during the offseason and he is what we like to have on the offensive line. Cole (Barsic) looks like Tarzan and we hope he steps up and becomes the player he can be. We are going to give Charles (Buchanan) a look on the offensive line, but he will also get a look at tight end this season. We have some good young sophomores, led by Chris Wulf and Ron Maichle, who worked very hard this offseason and are making strides, but still have some work ahead to reach their potential.”

As it has been for the past couple of years, tight end could be one of the deepest and strongest spots on the offensive unit. Senior Jake Moore returns after starting all last year. Junior Rob Satow and Buchanan will join Moore this season. Moore is Heidelberg’s top returning pass catcher from a year ago hauling in 38 passes for 485 yards and two touchdowns.

“Jake (Moore) was one of those players that were kind of lost when we didn’t have a coach, but we’ve got him back in the fold. I think he is an all-conference player and a key part of our offensive success this season. Rob doesn’t have Jake’s size but he is a good football player.”

Wide receiver will be the most auditioned position in camp this season. D.J. Leslie returns for his senior season, but the other wide receivers are up in the air. Junior Constatine Crenshaw and sophomores Rakeen Patterson and Josh Radel will all get chances to start at wide receiver this season. Leslie’s 521 receiving yards a season ago is tops among any player on the team, while he hauled in 33 passes and a score.

“D.J. is definitely a big-time player. He has the ability to be a difference maker in a game and is a definite all-conference candidate. We are going to have to find a way to get D.J. the ball.

“The rest of the players are pretty muddled up and are good athletes. Rakeen (Patterson) is a great athlete but he didn’t get a lot of chance to show it last year. Josh (Radel) had a good freshman season and has soft hands but isn’t a burner down the field. Constatine (Crenshaw) has great speed and good hands. All the way around, we seem to have good depth and experience at the wide receiver slot."

Heidelberg returns four starters on the defensive side of the ball.
Senior captain Kelly Rapp anchors a veteran defensive line that will be improved in 2002. Rapp moved from tailback to defensive end last season and earned defensive MVP honors. His nine tackles for loss is tops among returning players, while his 62 hits are third on the team. Senior D.L. Koontz will bookend Rapp at defensive end and is expected to excel after splitting time last season. Senior John Strawser, junior Mike Fellenstein and redshirt freshman Russell Hall are slated to back the tandem up.

"Kelly is an All-American candidate for this team. He is an extremely talented player and I think he is developing into a great defensive lineman. I think he played defensive end as an athlete last year, but now he understand the position better and will be a key player for us. D.L. is a good leader and has the potential to be a very good player. John is a big defensive end but has the speed and quickness to play the position, while Mike and Russell are also good backups."

Junior Eric Baugher, a transfer from Tiffin, should shore up the middle of Heidelberg's defensive line. He posted 19 tackles and three tackles for loss for the Dragons last season and has the size and strength to shore up Hiedelberg's middle. The other defensive tackle slot is open and will see senior C.J. Johnson and juniors Jon Langenfeld and Blake Winterton all battling for the starting slot.

"From the tapes, I think the defensive tackle slot was a liability last year. Adding Eric, a transfer from Tiffin, gives us that anchor inside. At 6-feet, 2-inches and weighing 275-pounds he is a weight room guy and I'm excited to see him play. The other defensive tackle slot is wide open as we enter camp. C.J. is a senior and has played a lot during his career and he's probably the best all-around of the rest. Blake had a great off-season that saw him get a lot stronger and he can play football. Jon and Joe will get a look in camp but we need to figure out who is the number two defensive tackle. We need at least three defensive ends and three defensive tackles to rotate and keep fresh bodies on the field."

Heidelberg returns two of its four defensive starters in the linebacker corps and they are a good group. Junior Mike Davis was the team's top tackler a season ago finishing with 115 tackles and four sacks. His 86 solo stops a season ago was good for fifth in Division III. He is joined by junior Will Johnson is the second returning tackler for The 'Berg after posting 63 stops last season. Junior Joe Kraft returns after spot starting last season, while juniors Jake Harder and Tony Harvey will push him for playing time. Junior Eric Konopinski and sophomores Greg Schmelter and Ryan Smallwood and Scott Stoppelbein, Tim Kelly and Seamus McCarthy will all battle for back-up linebacker slots and special teams positions.

"Linebackers has to be the strength of our defensive unit. Mike has a lot of ability but seemed to get lost in the transition last season. But we've got him back and he is an absolute hitter. I've told him that we need to have more tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. He has worked in the weight room and stepped up and became a leader. I think he is at least an all-conference performer for us this season. Will is just a great kid and excellent athlete. I see him having a big year once he learns his position and what we expect from him on the field. Joe is a strong wrestling and football kind of guy. He has been a starter and is a solid kid."

Heidelberg has to replace all four defensive backs this season, but Cervino was impressed with the players this spring. Senior Jason Wilcox enters camp with a starting spot, while sophomore William McWain, Brandon Woodland, Toure Young and Gabe Lawson will battle for the other cornerback slot.

Senior Ben Collins has moved into the starting spot at strong safety and will get a chance to lead the defense. Sophomores Justus Serina and Matt Brinkman will battle for the starting spot in camp.

"The secondary is one of our biggest concerns coming into the season, but a bright spot is that these young guys worked hard and are coming into their own. Jason is a sold football player and he worked on his speed and quickness. He has the ability to make up for being short and he is the glue of the secondary. We have ability at the other cornerback slot, but we need two of them to step up and are players. Ben is a good leader and excited about Heidelberg football. Justus is a good athlete, while Matt can cover a lot of ground. We need one of them to step up."

Sophomore Elliott Koch returns as the punter after averaging 32.4 yards per punt last season. 'Berg will be looking for a replacement kicker this season with juniors Mike Ditmer and Andy Szeiter, both former Heidelberg soccer players, getting the first look.

"Elliott has the ability to be a good punter but we need to find that consistency to make him that player. The special teams are where our depth issues will show up. We are going to have to balance playing starters and backups on special teams."

With 110 years of history to build on, Heidelberg looks to begin the transformation into an Ohio Athletic Conference contender in 2002.

Marietta (2-8 in 2001)
Optimism and enthusiasm are what you can expect to see from Marietta head coach Gene Epley and his squad in 2002. The Pioneers return 29 letterwinners, including starters from last year's team that went 2-8 overall and 1-8 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

"I'm excited about the season," said Epley. "This team has a good chemistry and they've really come together in the offseason. If they can carry that over to the playing field, then good things will happen."

The Pioneers will be the strongest in the skilled positions, especially at wide receiver. One thing Epley is concerned about though, is that he has no depth in the lines.

"We only have two or three skilled, experienced linemen coming back on both offense and defense," said Epley. "We tried to focus our recruiting efforts on finding players to fill the gaps, but it is definitely going to be an area of concern during the preseason."

Epley will be looking to his seven seniors to guide the young squad, that could see a lot of sophomores and freshmen in the starting lineup. Seniors Brad Forshey, Mike Hess, Nathen Sellers, Brian Sheehan and Joe Tomei return on offense, while Gerald Jones and Eric Rayko are the only two seniors on defense.

Epley will once again be looking to his recruiting class to make an immediate impact on both offense and defense. Last year's freshmen class gained a tremendous amount of experience, which will give the Pioneers an advantage over some of their opponents.

The coaching staff will have to fill the shoes of some talented players that were lost to graduation. Quarterback Shawn Taylor led the Pioneers with 1,232 yards passing in 2001 and finished with 3,863 career passing yards, while breaking a few school records along the way. Offensive linemen Aron Herring and Josh Veigel left a big gap to be filled on the front line. On defense, Marietta lost strong safety, Scott Affolter, and linebacker, Tyson Disbennett. Affolter led the Pioneers in 2001 with 69.5 tackles, while Disbennett was third on the squad with 52 tackles.

"The loss of those four players definitely hurts us," said Epley, "but each year every team in the nation loses key players and is faced with the task of replacing them. We're no different than anyone else."

The players echo Epley's sentiments. They are just as excited about the 2002 season as he is.

"I'm very optimistic about the upcoming season," said senior Brad Forshey. "This is the hardest working team I have ever been on. There is a great camaraderie among the players and everyone has a positive attitude and a great work ethic."

Junior Nathan White and sophomore Justin Papania have the early upper hand at quarterback, but don't be surprised to see a few freshmen competing for the job. White has seen action in only four games over the past two years. He has a great arm and has completed 31-58 (.535) passes for a total of 350 yards and one touchdown. Papania started the last two games of the season and saw action in seven games for Marietta in 2001. He threw for 392 yards and three touchdowns on 39-87 (.448) passing. Papania, who is also mobile and quick on his feet, ran for 30 yards on 23 carries.

Senior Nathen Sellers will once again be the go-to guy on offense. Sellers surprised a lot of Pioneer fans in 2001 by rushing for 1,025 yards and earning second team All-OAC honors. He is only the 16th player in Marietta history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. Backing Sellers up will be junior Rick Campbell, who was the Pioneers' starting fullback in 2001. Campbell did not see quite as many carries as was expected last season, but look for that to change this year as the coaching staff tries to mix things up. Also battling for time will be sophomores Chris Boy and Mark Meili, along with a transfer and a host of freshmen.

The Pioneer coaching staff consider tight end to be one of their strongest positions. The tandem of senior Brian Sheehan and sophomore Darren Lott should definitely compete for postseason honors. The biggest challenge will be keeping them both healthy. Lott played in the Pioneers' first six games before being plagued by injury. He had eight receptions for 48 yards and one touchdown. Sheehan started all 10 games and had 10 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

The only problem the coaching staff will have at wide receiver is trying to get playing time for everyone. The Pioneers return five skilled receivers in seniors Mike Hess and Joe Tomei, junior Brian Haines and sophomores Brett Munn and Mike Valiante. All five saw considerable action in 2001 and will battle for a starting spot this season. Haines came into his own last year and led all receivers with 414 yards and two touchdowns on 28 catches. Hess, who played in only eight games, also had 28 receptions for 342 yards. Valiante was second on the squad with 32 receptions for a total of 266 yards and one touchdown, while Tomei had 24 catches for 212 yards and one touchdown. Munn saw increased action towards the end of the season and recorded 113 yards on 10 receptions.

The Pioneers return All-OAC selections Jeff Edens and Brad Forshey to the line in 2002, but who will fill in the other three spots is a big question. The coaching staff is expecting Edens and Forshey to have another great season and to vie for post season honors. Sophomores Justin Culbertson and Jason Taylor could also battle for time along with a few freshmen.

Senior Eric Rayko returns at defensive end after playing in only five games in 2001 due to injury. He recorded eight tackles and one sack, and the coaching staff is hoping he will have a big year in 2002. Junior Dan Furbee, who earned honorable mention All-OAC honors last season, also returns at defensive end. He was fifth on the team with 39.5 tackles and second with four sacks for a loss of 29 yards. Furbee played a variety of defensive positions in 2001 due to injury, but the coaching staff is hopeful that he will be back at defensive end this season. Sophomore Nick Roberts, who helped to fill in the gaps last year, could also see time at defensive end. Junior Kevin Bates returns at defensive tackle after recording 12 tackles in 2001, while fellow junior Ryan Beardsley could also compete for time at tackle.

Junior Jason Shaw returns at inside linebacker after finishing second on the team in 2001 with 58.5 tackles. At outside linebacker, the Pioneers return sophomores Nate Brownrigg and Dan Galati. Both saw considerable action in 2001 and should compete for playing time this season. Sophomore Lowell Warden will back Shaw up on the inside, while Furbee could be used on the outside.

The Pioneers have a good mix of young and experienced players that will make up the defensive backfield. Senior Gerald Jones returns as starting cornerback after recording 38 tackles and four sacks in 2001. The coaching staff will be relying on him to be the leader of the young group. Sophomore Chris Sidick, who is one of the fastest players on the team, returns at strong safety. Sidick played in all 10 games as a freshman and was fourth on the squad with 50.5 tackles and one interception. Other returning players that could battle for time in the backfield include sophomore Thadd Sharrett and junior Eric Reed. The coaching staff is also looking to a few freshmen that might be able to step in and play immediately.

Sophomore Bob Lemasters returns as the Pioneers' place kicker. He hit six of eight field goals in 2001, including a career long 46-yard field goal. He was also 16-for-19 in extra point attempts. Lemasters assumed some of the kickoff duties last season, but the coaching staff is unsure if he will be used there in 2002.

Senior Mike Hess is the only returning punter on the 2002 roster. He had a total of 24 punts for 814 yards last season and will most likely assume duties again this year.

Leading the Pioneers in punt returns will be junior Brian Haines and sophomore Chris Sidick. Haines had 12 returns for 80 yards in 2001, while Sidick had three returns for 12 yards. The two should also assume kickoff return duties. Sidick had 34 returns for 684 yards, and Haines had 14 returns for 219 yards.

Playing in the Ohio Athletic Conference never makes for an easy schedule. Marietta will enjoy five home games in 2002.

"Our schedule is as tough as they come," said Epley. "That's what you get when you have several nationally ranked teams in your conference. We'll just have to take it week-by-week. With the competition that we're facing there is no room for error. We have to come ready to play each and every week."

The Pioneers open at home versus Bluffton on Sept. 7 before the OAC schedule starts. Marietta defeated the Beavers 24-13 on the road last year, and they will be looking to again start their season off with a win.

Wilmington (5-5 in 2001)
Wilmington will look to rebuild after losing 21 seniors that boasted six All-Conference team members and a player on the Aztec Bowl team. But the cupboard is hardly bare for head football coach Mike Wallace in his 12th season.

Wallace returns three-quarters of his defensive line that allowed just one 100-yard rusher and had the third-highest single season total of sacks in school history. Sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Tisdale and senior defensive end Greg Liggens lead the way. Tisdale set a school record for sacks in a season with 14½ last year and Liggens recorded a personal high of 10½.

Also back are three strong offensive linemen to lead the way for running back Will Isaac, who rushed for 901 yards, the highest single season total since Doug Eastes rushed for 1093 yards in 1995. In 2001, the team was plagued by injuries with three standouts, all seniors, unable to finish their season due to on-field injuries. Quarterback Adam Ryan, defensive end Nick Nicastro and safety Antonio Broadnax all had their careers cut short.

Leading the team into the new year will be sophomore quarterback Jeff Bean. Bean stepped in during the final three games to lead the team, throwing for 627 yards on 60-for-106 passing during the season. He threw for four touchdowns, two of which came against Marietta. Providing backup for Bean will be Albert McIntier, who transferred from Thomas More a year ago.

Bean will be throwing to a very strong and deep receiving corps for the upcoming year. The team's superback, Ryan Alspaugh, will look to help replace graduated Jon Cain who had 64 receptions for 1,037 yards last season. A year ago Alspaugh hauled in 49 receptions, second on the team, for 622 yards and six touchdowns. The rest of the deep group of receivers consists of Mitchell Westcamp, Deon Short, Zach Lowrie and Terrell Jones, who as a group accounted for 34 catches, 415 yards and a pair of scores a year ago.

The Quaker backfield boasts running back Will Isaac, who rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the team's final four games. Isaac ended the year rushing 214 times for 901 yards and eight touchdowns. Adding depth at the tailback position will be sophomore Michael Vanscoy, who last season
rushed 17 times for 52 yards while doubling as the team's punter.

Providing holes for the running back to run through is an offensive line that returns two starters from a year ago in addition to a utility lineman who played a large number of snaps during the year. Senior offensive guard Jerrold Gilbert leads the front, as he is set to start for his fourth season. Junior Abe Lawson is expected to line up next to Gilbert along with Jared Maine who played guard and tackle a year ago. Looking to challenge for the starting lineup will be senior Reggie Seals, juniors Jeff Barnes, Zak Jacob, and Bryan Kennedy, and sophomore Chris Hogg.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Quakers are counting heavily on a veteran defensive line. The team returns three of the starting four defensive linemen from a season ago, and two of four defensive backs. Leading the way for the defensive line are senior defensive end Greg Liggens and sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Tisdale. The pair are the top two returning tacklers from a year ago. Liggens now ranks third in career sacks and trails 2001 graduate Nick Nicastro by 8½ going into the season. Rounding out the returning defensive linemen is sophomore Mark Lane. Looking to fill in at the other defensive end slot is a group of people that can make a big impact. The group is consisted of senior Josh James, junior John Ward and sophomores Jason Berger, Cody Bruns and Joe Clark.

The linebacker position is where the team took the biggest hit during the offseason with the top four at the position graduated. Looking to gain significant playing time are senior David Roberson, junior Chris Marr, and sophomores Mike Darnell, Marcus Hefner, Jeff Jenkins, Ryan Witkowski and Zach Zink.

The defensive backs also saw a big hit from graduation as Antonio Broadnax and All-OAC performer Wallace Morris, the safeties on the team, finished their careers. The team is returning both of the starting cornerbacks in Anthony Tucker and James Mann. Also back are the backups for Broadnax and Morris, Greg Morrow and Nathan Clark, who each saw significant playing time during the year. Adding depth to the secondary is Robert Duckworth, Isaiah Miller and Joe Roberto.

Special teams continue to be a strong point for the Quakers, as they return the highest scoring kicker in the program's history. Art Steele, the team's placekicker currently has 130 points to his credit, which puts him as the highest scoring kicker and the sixth highest scorer in school history. Providing backup for Steele is Kyle Neff, who often handles kickoffs. Manning the punting duties will be Vanscoy, who punted 34 times last season for an average of 34.7 yards per punt.

The 2002 team has the players and ability to do well in the OAC. "We have the talent to make a mark," said head coach Mike Wallace. "It will depend on the leadership of the veteran players. If the older players can step up, we could be a dangerous team."

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