Bells ringing for Maryville, new coach
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Maryville rang the victory bell for the first time since Oct. 27, 2001. The Scots had marked advantages in most areas of play against Westminster. Untimely turnovers, a missed field goal attempt, and turnovers on downs deep within Blue Jay territory kept the final score from indicating Maryville’s relative dominance.
According to first-year Scot head coach Tony Ierulli, “we had to immediately improve our defense, which gave up 40 points per game last season. We put our best athletes on the defensive side of the ball.” Further, “to give our defense a chance, we changed to a Wing-T offense.”
The results of these changes were dramatic; the Scots ran for 335 yards (after only 1100 all of last season) on their way to nearly 400 total yards against Westminster, and yielded only 246 yards of total offense to a team which returned nine starters from last year’s 8th-ranked offensive unit (463.3 yards per game). The Scots’ Marcus Kenny ran for 183 yards, second best in school history, as the Scots scored the winning touchdown with under a minute to play after starting from their own 37-yard line with just 3:25 left.
Said Ierulli, “our players are excited and hungry for success [and] were embarrassed by not winning a game in 2002 at a school where the rest of the athletic teams win 79% of their contests. Now that the burden of getting our first win is over, we have to keep our players focused on our remaining nine games. I believe we have a good football team,” and after last weekend, no doubt Westminster would agree.
Rhodes is up next for the Scots, and Maryville should have a chance to win if it plays with the same desire while limiting turnovers. “They [Rhodes] are going to spread the field and challenge our defense,” said Ierulli. “Our team will have to play tough through the first three quarters of the game and hope that we are in the position to win the game in the fourth quarter.” After all, why change what works?
Unfortunately, Howard Payne’s experience last weekend was not nearly as positive as was Maryville’s. After a scoreless first quarter, UW-La Crosse exploded for 35 points in the second quarter, and the demoralized Yellow Jackets were unable to recover on the road. Twenty-one of these points came off of three Adam King interception returns, all in a period of just over five minutes. King struggled all day in perhaps the worst day of his career; he completed just 11 of 31 for 156 yards and four interceptions. The Jackets also struggled defensively, yielding 418 yards to the Eagles. Neither bodes well with two ASC road games coming up, but at least HPU has two weeks to lick their wounds and try to rediscover the magic they seemingly lost. As a result of the loss, it’s a certainty that to advance to the playoffs, the Jackets will have to win the ASC. Any thoughts of a possible Pool “C” bid are now history.
Speaking of surprises, two of the favorites in the SCAC got mini-surprises of their own last week. No. 9 Trinity (Texas) found itself down after one quarter, 7-0, before calming down and putting major defensive pressure on Austin. The result, after 29 second half points, was a 42-14 victory for the visiting Tigers. Trinity head coach Steve Mohr said he was “fairly satisfied” with his team’s performance, adding “we started 11 players for the first time. Dan [DesPlaines, QB] performed well overall ... ran the club like a player who has been in our system three years even though this was only his second start.” Mohr’s goal for this week’s game at home against Texas Lutheran? “[To] play four complete quarters, not two and one-half. We will be playing a much improved team who will certainly be fired up about their opening game.”
And on Nick Mourouzis Day, the DePauw head coach found himself staring defeat in the face on a day dedicated to him — until Tiger senior Ben Murray kicked a 20-yard field goal with just 0:21 left, providing the margin of victory in the 28-26 win. Rhodes had taken the lead just over a minute earlier on a 10-yard pass from Daniel Swanstrom to Matt Hrdlicka — but a 15-yard personal foul for excessive celebration provided the Tigers with good field position. “Today’s game provides a great lesson for life,” Mourouzis was quoted on DePauw’s Web site. “Never give up. See what happens when you keep fighting?” DePauw, which gave up nearly 400 yards as well as five turnovers to Rhodes’ offense, travels to Michigan this week for a game at Hope, who gave a good effort before falling to then-No. 25 Wooster, 45-36.
Around the ASC: The conference was 1-4 last weekend, with the only victory coming Thursday as Mississippi College defeated Millsaps, 13-0 ... Offensive Player Of The Week: Scotty Elliott, QB, Jr., Missisippi College (14-for-21 for 136 and no INTs in the win against Millsaps) ... Defensive POW: Bryce Hantla, DE, Jr., Mississippi College (7 tackles, 5 solo, including 2 sacks and a fumble recovery against Millsaps) ... Special Teams POW: Jimbo Thornton, PK, Mississippi College (2 FGs, 48 and 34 yards, against Millsaps). Austin QB Brian Womack injured his shoulder in the third quarter against Trinity and with the exception of one play missed the remainder of the game.
Around the SCAC: The conference was 3-2 in non-conference games. Offensive POW: Lorenzo Engleman, RB, Sr., Centre (18 carries for 187 yards and 2 TDs in a win vs. Kenyon) ... Defensive POW: Jordan Strunk, DE, Sr., Rose-Hulman (6 tackles, 4 solo, 3.5 for loss, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery in a win against Earlham).
Games of the week
No. 15 Hardin-Simmons (0-0) at No. 12 UW-Stout (0-0), Menomonie, Wis.: The ASC’s pride is on the line, this time against the pre-season WIAC conference favorite. The two teams have never met. A win against Stout would vault the Cowboys back into the thick of the ASC mix and provide an important psychological edge, especially against HPU. It’s the D3football.com Game of the Week.
No. 6 Mary Hardin-Baylor (0-0) at Willamette (1-0), Salem, Ore.: The Bearcats got an easy win at 2002 SCIAC champion Redlands to open the season, whereas the Crusaders have to hit the road for their season opener. MHB’s young defense will be tested early and often by the Bearcats’ rushing attack and the Crusaders will also have to adjust to McCulloch Stadium’s new FieldTurf surface.