2003 regional preview
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I'm Ron Boerger, and I'm honored to be part of the D3football.com team this year. My role is to share information about football in what could be called the Southwest region of Division III. Due to the incredible distance between teams in the NCAA's South Region, my focus will be on teams in the SCAC and ASC, plus Huntingdon and Maryville (Tenn.). Pat Cummings will cover the other teams in the NCAA’s South Region in Around the Mid-Atlantic.
I've been covering SCAC and ASC playoff games for D3football.com since 1999, and was probably the only person from Texas to book a ticket to last year's Stagg Bowl after Trinity's quarterback was suspended. Perhaps it was a combination of those factors that led me to this opportunity. In any case, I look forward to learning a few things about the other teams in the region and sharing that information with you.
You can help by passing on coverage of your team to me at ron.boerger@d3football.com. And for the record, I did graduate from Trinity (Texas) in the early '80s.
With that said, let's look at the teams that should factor in this year's South Region race:
Favorites
These are teams that will very likely be battling for the two Pool A playoff slots given to the winners of the SCAC and ASC races. At the top of the list this year is Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Crusaders have been a fixture in the playoff race the last three seasons, winning the ASC in 2002, gaining a Pool C bid after an 9-1 regular season in 2001, and narrowly missing a Pool C bid in 2000 with a similar 9-1 record. This year's team returns 50 lettermen from the 10-1 squad which lost a controversially paired first-round playoff game at Trinity, 48-38.
The "Cru" expects to be especially strong on offense, where seven starters return including four-year starting quarterback Cody Fredenburg, who is 27-4 as a starter. Two of Fredenburg's favorite targets, all-ASC wide receiver Austin Schrader and all-ASC tight end Walter Sharp, return to an experienced offensive unit that will nonetheless miss triple-threat Shaun Rochon (transfer to Division I). On defense, UMHB must replace seven starters, including two-time All-American outside linebacker Preston Meyer. Free safety Tony Salazar will be expected to lead a defensive unit which will include returning starters linebacker Dexter King, defensive end Keith Zunker, and defensive tackle Calvin Bradley. All except Bradley were named All-ASC last season. Coach Pete Fredenburg's Crusader teams are known for their defense, and even with the loss of seven starters we can expect MHB to once again be tough to gain yardage against.
Two of Cody Fredenburg's four losses have come in the playoffs against Trinity (Texas), which not coincidentally is the only team Pete Fredenburg has played without at least one win since starting the program in 1998 (0-4). This could be the year Cody avenges those two losses, just as he avenged his 0-2 record against Hardin-Simmons during 2002. The year doesn't start easily for the Crusaders, with a road trip to Willamette on Sept. 13, but after that it should be clear sailing until an Oct. 18 match-up at Howard Payne. ASC rival Hardin-Simmons follows two weeks later, again on the road, and a home game against East Texas Baptist the following week ends MHB's murderer's row of three very difficult games in a four-week period. If they survive these games, they should have an excellent chance to either host a first- and/or second-round game for the first time in the school's history. And should they draw Trinity, this could be the year that both Cory and Pete Fredenburg finally get that elusive win. A victory against the Tigers could pave the way for MHB to make it as far as the regional finals, and from there, who knows.
For some teams, just getting to the Stagg Bowl as Trinity (Texas) did in 2002 would be sufficient reward. The unfortunate events at the end of last season (which saw the team's All-America quarterback suspended from the team for the Stagg Bowl, and a resulting disastrous showing against Mount Union) left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. The question is, what can coach Steve Mohr and his squad do to return to the level of play it showed for most of last season? With Roy Hampton gone, the signal calling duties will either go to last year's Stagg Bowl starter, senior Dan Desplaines, or one of two new faces – sophomore John DeLosSantos or first-year Jacob Cannon. Mohr will start whomever offers the team the best chance to win, and Desplaines – who as of this writing appears to have locked up the starting role – is a much better QB than last year's championship game performance might indicate. Even with the loss of 11 starters (seven offense, four defense), the team returns 72 lettermen, including running back Matt Federle. Federle's running style is more straight-ahead than that of the man he replaces, Jeremy Boyce, but Federle contributed well last season, including 122 yards in the first round of the playoffs when Boyce could not play due to injuries. All-America offensive lineman James Flowers is one of three returning linemen who should continue to open holes and provide time in the pocket for whomever starts at quarterback. Last year's weakness – defense – should be this year's strength, thanks to the return of seven starters. All-America candidate Kenny Brunette returns to anchor the "Black Flag," along with D3football.com pre-season All-America defensive lineman Jarrod Smith. The Tigers return an excellent pair of special teams players in preseason All-America kicker Todd Canion and All-SCAC punter Greg Genung.
Working in the Tigers' favor is a schedule that should not present a serious challenge until a home game Sept. 27 against SCAC rival DePauw. In fact, of the opponents likely to cause some trouble, only one (Sewanee) is away from the friendly confines of E. M. Stevens Field, where Trinity hasn't lost since a 1999 quarterfinal loss to eventual Division III champion Pacific Lutheran, a 21-game streak. Still, the feeling here is that with the amount of rebuilding on the offensive end, Trinity will end the season just short of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the polls and the playoff selection process, and could end up facing them in the second round (and hopefully no sooner) in Belton.
Of the top teams in the top-heavy ASC, only Howard Payne has yet to experience the joy of the postseason. Last year's squad, with only a single blemish against it (a 42-17 thrashing at the hands of Mary Hardin-Baylor) felt it deserved a Pool C bid. This year's team will be out to show that last season's 9-1 record was no fluke – and to get the ASC champion's Pool A bid rather than rely on the vagaries of the selection process. Given the ASC's uninspiring 4-5 record since the playoffs were expanded, that's probably a good idea. The return of no fewer than 17 starters, including ASC Player of the Year quarterback Adam King, will certainly help. King led the country in total offense last year with more than 360 yards per game.
King's favorite target, D3football.com preseason All-America wide receiver Walter Hays, also returns. However, the four losses include three key players, including ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year D’Andre Wilson and leading tackler linebacker Brandon Brown. The loss of these two forces on defense, in a conference as offensively strong as the ASC, could present problems early in the season. Like Trinity, HPU returns two excellent special-teams players in placekicker Drew McMaster and punter Brian Loper, but also have Hays to return kicks.
Four of the Jackets' first five games are on the road, including a tough season opener at 2002 WIAC champion UW-La Crosse (which similarly returns 16 starters from a 7-4 squad). Other difficult road trips include Week 4 at rapidly improving East Texas Baptist and Week 6 at Hardin-Simmons. After this difficult stretch, HPU gets MHB at home in Week 7. Asking HPU to win all of these games seems a bit much to ask given the questions on defense; and like it or not, 9-1 may still not be good enough for the second-place team in the ASC to get a Pool C bid this year. But if the defense jells, King plays to last year's standard, and HPU does make it through conference play undefeated, they could go a long way.
Contenders
This year's list starts with Hardin-Simmons. The Cowboys under head coach Jimmie Keeling should once again field a very good team, but in the 2003 ASC race, "very good" isn't enough. After dominating the ASC by not losing a conference game the last three years, HSU slipped to a 7-2 record. Thus stripped of their well-nourished aura of invincibility, Keeling's squad might find returning to the top to be that much more difficult. When you factor into account losses due to graduation, the proud Cowboys seem destined for a second consecutive third-place finish in the ASC.
Year 2000 starter (and injury redshirt in 2001) Travis Jones returns to quarterback after Dustin Proctor's graduation. The backfield is a question; should Donta' Howard fully recover from the injury which caused him to miss all but five quarters of last season, it could become a strength rather than a weakness. The offensive line must replace two starters, including All-America center Thomas Anderson. All-region guard Adam Hernandez should anchor the line. One place there is no question is at tight end, where D3football.com preseason All-America pick Matt Mokosky returns for his junior year. Injuries last year resulted in 17 players returning this year who started at least one game on defense, which could be both a blessing and a curse. D3football.com preseason All-America defensive back Alex Hansen will be relied upon to provide leadership and to rapidly build a cohesive defensive unit. Week 2 sees the Cowboys open the season at UW-Stout, picked to win the WIAC in 2003. A win here could get HSU rolling as conference play begins and, with a bit of luck into the playoffs, where they could go into the second or third round.
DePauw comes into just about every season thinking it has a chance to compete with Trinity, and this year is no different. But it has to play Trinity on the road, where the team simply has not shown the ability to compete since rejoining the SCAC. This year's 130-plus member edition returns 14 starters from last year's 7-3 squad, including quarterback Andy Yoder and exciting wide receiver Jamarcus Shepard. In 2003, Shepard will be the featured target and not have the luxury of sharing the field with all-time DePauw career receiving yardage leader Dan Ryan. Rushing defense (12th in Division III in 2002) will once again be a strong point, but to compete for the championship, the Tigers must improve their pass defense, which in 2002 allowed over 260 passing yards/game. Besides Trinity in Week 4, DePauw plays at Hanover in Week 3 and closes the season with its most hated rival, Wabash. Last year's Tiger squad lost all three of these games. The recently announced retirement of DePauw's 23-year coach, Nick Mourouzis (133-82-4) at season's end could provide DePauw the spark for improved results in 2003. Should DePauw make it to the playoffs, high emotions could carry them to a first-round victory.
Darkhorses
East Texas Baptist has slowly and quietly — but surely — been building up a pretty good football team in the Piney Woods of east Texas. In only its third year, coach Ralph Harris' squad went 6-3 in conference play, and two of those three losses — to HPU and MHB — were by a total of five points. No wonder the mood in Marshall is guardedly optimistic; it still may be one year too early for ETBU to win the conference. That they can be a factor in the race is assured. The 13 seniors on the squad — ETBU's first football senior class — will do their best to get in the playoff mix. The success of wide receiver Jabori Jackson — injured early last season, honorable mention all-ASC — could be the difference in the Tigers' playoff hopes. ETBU also boasts two-time All-America punter Scott Verhalen (43.3 yards per punt in 2002). If not this season, next year could be a breakthrough year for the Tigers.
Sewanee returns nearly the entire 2002 starting lineup, but must find someone to get the ball to its platoon of returning receivers. Even so, they have won or shared 12 SCAC football championships, most recently in 2000 when Sewanee shared the title with Tigers at DePauw and Trinity. Their depth (20 starters return from last season's 5-5, 4-2 team) and relative recent success could propel them into the SCAC mix once again this year. The loss of quarterback Kirk Holtgrewe (39 career TDs, 25 passing, 14 running) could be a serious setback as none of those competing at quarterback this season has significant college experience.
The rest
Austin returns about half of last year's 5-5, 5-4 team, including the ASC's leading rusher in Brian Womack. The team is young and can be expected to build for next season. The season doesn't start easily, but at least it starts at home against Trinity in Week 1.
Centre would have more of a chance if it didn't have to replace basically its entire offensive and defensive lines. Only a single starter, guard Patrick Newman, returns. They're pretty well set in both backfields, including quarterback Brian Behrendt and all-SCAC safety/punt returner John Ortega, and at wide receiver, where David Crowley, Adam Schneider, and Nate Woodall all return. Unfortunately, if the OL and DL don't solidify in a hurry, it could be a long season for the Colonels — who are on the road for games against Millsaps, Trinity, and DePauw.
Huntingdon is in its first year of football, D-III or no, and will play a mix of club teams plus Southwestern Assemblies of God, Sewanee, Wittenberg (ouch!), and Wabash (OUCH!). They play only one Division III opponent at home, Wittenberg, in the last game of the season. Dr. Duane Trogdon, Huntingdon's AD, will coach the team after over 10 years as an assistant at Division II Southwest Baptist University.
Louisiana College – the key word in Pineville this year is "finish," as the team not only tailed off in the second half of the season, but was consistently outscored in the 4th quarter. Defense should be the Wildcats' strong point, behind '02 NCCAA All-American safety Terry Bolton and all-ASC defensive end Artus Jackson. The entire starting offensive line (including All-America candidate offensive lineman Matt Miller) also returns in this, the team's first year as a full member of Division III.
Maryville (Tenn.) will be led by first-year head coach Tony Ierulli, who along with 15 returning starters will try to improve on last year's 0-10 record. Ierulli has focused on instilling discipline and a work ethic in early Scot practices.
McMurry's only 2002 victory came via forfeit after an 0-10 2001. That said, close losses last year (six games were lost by a total of 36 points) should give the Indians confidence that they can compete in 2003. The bad news for this "other" Abilene team is that only 10 starters, and 25 lettermen, return. The opener at Colorado College gives McMurry hope for a decent start to the year.
Millsaps has a new head coach (David Saunders, in his initial foray as a head coach at any level) and lost many players from a team that struggled to a 3-6, 1-5 finish last year. They also have to play both DePauw and Trinity on the road; even with the welcome return of 2002 SCAC Defensive player-of-the year and D3football.com preseason All-America linebacker Matt O'Bryant (medical redshirt), Millsaps will likely in the second tier of the SCAC.
Mississippi College returns 56 players from last year's 4-6 squad and may improve on that record by a win or two. Transfer Scotty Elliot (E. Mississippi CC) is one of up to nine junior college transfers that could start for the Choctaws on Opening Night.
Rhodes returns 19 starters from last year's 4-6, 1-5 team. All-SCAC quarterback Daniel Sondstrom (14 TDs, 2622 yards) is the conference's leading returnee at the position. Unfortunately, the only other all-SCAC returnee is offensive tackle Darrell Clark, meaning that while Rhodes returns a lot of starters, it'll likely be difficult to make a big move in the SCAC this season.
Rose-Hulman has a new coach (Ted Karras), 14 returning starters, and an improved outlook for the upcoming season. Consecutive games at home against Wheaton, Washington U, and Trinity should show where the program is headed, though SCAC coaches picked them last in their preseason poll.
Sul Ross State will try to rebound from last year's disastrous 0-10 campaign (2-8 before being penalized 2 games for use of an ineligible player). The loss of the entire "Air Lobo" receiving corps, including All-America Luis Uresti, won't help. Scott Kello, who led Division III in both passing completions and attempts (321-for-537 for 2715 yards), is one of only 10 starters who return. Interest in football in Alpine is increasing, with 100 players in pads and more redshirting.
Texas Lutheran — 17 starters return from last year's 2-8 squad, but the team remains incredibly young; 113 of the 124 players are in their first (73) or second (40) year. 37 lettermen and 16 starters return. The Bulldogs should be improved somewhat this season, which starts at Trinity on Sept. 18. This should be an interesting team to watch in 2 or 3 years.
2003 Games to watch
Picking games before the season starts is always a crap shoot, but here are some that should be of interest. Times are local. No doubt there are some I missed, and no doubt there will be others which will be added as the season progresses:
Week 1 (Sept. 6)
Millsaps v. Mississippi College, 7 p.m., Sept. 4: Besides being an intense rivalry, the "Mississippi Backyard Brawl IV" could be a decent gauge of the relative strengths of the ASC and SCAC; both are expected to be middle of the pack in their respective conferences. The series resumed in 2000 after a 40-year hiatus. D3football.com will be broadcasting the game live from Jackson, Miss.
Howard Payne at UW-La Crosse, 6 p.m.: Long trip, twilight game against a tough opponent will test the Jackets early
Trinity (Texas) at Austin College, 12 noon: A relatively easy start for the Tigers should give them a chance to see where their offense sits.
Week 2 (Sept. 13)
Hardin-Simmons at UW-Stout, 1 p.m.: Jimmie Keeling's team takes to the road again the WIAC conference favorite. A win here would be a big boost to HSU's conference hopes.
Mary Hardin-Baylor at Willamette, 3:30 p.m.: Longest road trip MHB has ever taken, against an improving NWC foe.
Week 3 (Sept. 20)
Trinity (Texas) at Pomona-Pitzer, 1 p.m.: Can the Sagehens get revenge for last year’s 66-14 thrashing at the hands of the Tigers? (It's a slow week. Listen to D3football.com’s broadcast of Mount Union v. Baldwin-Wallace or get out and enjoy your weekend.)
Week 4 (Sept. 27)
DePauw at Trinity, 7:30 p.m.: DePauw must win its only night game, in its third consecutive week on the road, to contend for the SCAC title.
Howard Payne at East Texas Baptist, 2 p.m.: Key early-season ASC game. If the loser's not out of the ASC championship picture, they certainly will have their work cut out after this.
Week 5 (Oct. 4)
Maryville at Millsaps, 2 p.m.: Millsaps has won three in a row in this annual rivalry.
Week 6 (Oct. 11)
Howard Payne at Hardin-Simmons, 2 p.m.: Can HSU stop Adam King, or will they put up enough offense to counter him?
DePauw at Sewanee, 1:30 p.m.: Barring an unexpected turn of events, the loser is likely out of the SCAC race.
Week 7 (Oct. 18)
Mary Hardin-Baylor at Howard Payne, 2 p.m.: The Yellow Jackets will be out for revenge after last season's big loss in Belton.
Week 8 (Oct. 25)
East Texas Baptist at Hardin-Simmons, 2 p.m.: Can ETBU play spoiler a year early?
Huntingdon at Sewanee, 1:30 p.m.: Should give the Hawks an idea of how far they have to go against a decent D-III squad.
Rose-Hulman at Carnegie Mellon, 2 p.m.: The highest combined football IQ in the country will be on display in Pittsburgh.
Week 9 (Nov. 1)
Mary Hardin-Baylor at Hardin-Simmons, 2 p.m.: UMHB has never defeated HSU in Abilene.
Huntingdon at Southwestern Assemblies of God, 2 p.m.: Perhaps the Hawks' best chance to win a game in their initial season.
McMurry at Sul Ross, 2 p.m.: Will this again be a battle of two teams searching for their first win?
Week 10 (Nov. 8)
East Texas Baptist at Mary Hardin-Baylor, 2 p.m.: the Tigers should give the Crusaders a game, especially if they are caught looking ahead.
Trinity (Texas) at Sewanee, 1:30 p.m.: Not impossible that this could determine the SCAC championship.
Week 11 (Nov. 15)
Wabash at DePauw, 12:05 p.m.: The game's usually entertaining. The antics between supporters of the two teams are always entertaining.
I'm ready for a great season — are you?