Pair of upsets highlight SCAC's week
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Those waiting for DePauw to play up to its potential are waiting no longer. The Tigers dismantled then-No. 15 Hanover on the Panthers' home field 39-20.
DePauw (2-1) set the tone early, as return specialist/wideout Jamarcus Shephard returned the opening kickoff 88 yards to Hanover's 2-yard line. Two plays later, Jackson Rust scored on a short run, and the Tigers were off. Two series later, DePauw scored on a 75 yard reverse/pass from Shephard to Adam Sisson, extending the lead to 12-0. After holding Hanover on the ensuing series, the Tigers jammed the ball down the Panthers' throat, running the ball five consecutive times before DePauw quarterback Andy Yoder threw his first touchdown of the season. After a successful extra point, it was 19-0 DePauw.
To make matters worse, Hanover fumbled on a punt return late in the first, and DePauw took advantage of the short field, driving 26 yards in four plays. A blocked extra point left the score at 25-0 with just over a minute elapsed in the second, the Panthers were looking for the license plate of the truck that just hit them, and DePauw had basically secured its biggest upset in the last few years.
Hanover scored a couple of times late in the game to make the score somewhat respectable, but DePauw lit up the Panthers for 506 yards, while holding Hanover's ground attack to just 68.
 Jamarcus Shepard got the Tigers on the doorstep early. Photo by Marilyn E. Culler |
One key to the Tigers’ success: their two-headed quarterback — passing specialist Andy Yoder and ground specialist Ross Weithoff. “Andy and Ross have given us one of the best quarterback combinations we’ve had in my time here,” said Mourouzis. “They’re still learning, which is natural. They have handled sharing the time well as they understand the team concept.”
There are a number of interesting parallels between Hanover and DePauw's next opponent, Trinity. DePauw hadn't beat Hanover since 1996 and hadn't defeated them on the road since 1992. DePauw has not defeated Trinity since joining the SCAC in 1998, and five of DePauw’s nine SCAC conference losses have come at the hands of the San Antonio team.
“Trinity is again an outstanding football team and there’s no question they’ll be focused this week. They have several motivational factors in their favor. [They are] coming off a loss, playing at home and playing their first SCAC game,” observed Mourouzis. In order to win this weekend, he stated that “in every game the keys always come down to blocking and tackling and taking care of the football. If you don’t execute those, then it doesn’t matter.”
ASC contenders return to form
You knew that Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne, and the rest of the upper-echelon teams in the American Southwest would return to their usual level of play sooner rather than later — and with perhaps one slight exception, everyone expected to fight it out for the conference championship made strong statements this week.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (2-0, 1-0 ASC) picked up where they left off last week, scoring on their first seven possessions en route to a 41-7 dismantling of the home standing Austin College 'Roos (0-2, 0-1). The Crusaders combined an efficient 345-yard performance with a defensive effort which yielded four turnovers. MHB quarterback Cody Fredenburg was a cool 9-for-11 for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and added 69 yards rushing and a touchdown on only eight carries.
Led by Bret Page and John Cornwell, the Cru' defense tallied 15 tackles for loss, including nine sacks as AC tried several quarterbacks to no avail. Keith Zunker and Donald Brundage had two sacks each to lead the defensive charge. Oddly enough, both schools had 16 first downs, and MHB was only 3-for-10 on third down, giving the team something to work on as they prepare for this week's game at Louisiana College.
Howard Payne (1-1, 1-0) showed few ill effects of its journey to the far north, taking a 24-7 halftime lead enroute to a 31-13 win before a crowd of nearly 6,000 at Mississippi College (1-1, 0-1). Adam King shook off the bad memories of two weeks ago, completing 25 of 29 for 248 yards, two scores, and had no interceptions as the Yellow Jackets rolled up 420 yards on the Choctaws. King added a third touchdown on a run late in the first half. The Choctaws were held to 215 yards of total offense, as Mississippi College quarterback Scotty Elliott was picked off twice in his 18 attempts.
Hardin-Simmons (1-1, 1-0) also came away with a win at Texas Lutheran, but the Cowboys' 29-12 victory was not a thing of beauty. HSU won despite turning the ball over five times in monsoon-like conditions; for its part, TLU turned the ball over four times. Jimmie Kealing’s team went to the locker room leading only 17-12. However, Cowboy quarterback Travis Neal (13-for-18 for 139 yards) brought the team out strong to start the second half, driving 72 yards in 12 plays to make the score 23-12.
HSU's defense did the rest, holding the Bulldogs not only scoreless in the second half, but to 0-for-14 on third downs for the game. HSU's All-America cornerback Alex Hansen, the ASC Defensive Player of the Week, picked off two Adam Vyvial passes. It should be noted that the Cowboys were playing without the services of their leading receiver, Shay Ratliff, and for the second consecutive game, All-American tight end Matt Moskosky.
East Texas Baptist (2-0, 1-0) kept pace with a 38-17 victory over McMurry (0-2/0-1). The Indians were within 21-17 at the half, but the visitors scored 17 unanswered points in the second half for the win. ETBU's RoShawn Johnson, the ASC Offensive Player of the Week, set the pace for the Tigers with 203 yards on 23 carries, as ETBU rolled up 465 yards of offense. ETBU faces a crucial test at home this week against Hardin-Simmons.
The SCAC: A new hope ?
Who has the longest winning streak in the SCAC? None other than Centre (3-0, 1-0), with a modest four-game streak dating to last season. The Colonel's latest win was a 32-31 nailbiter against Rhodes (1-2, 0-2).
Interestingly, after closing to within one at 31-30 with 3:33 left, Centre opted to go for the tie. The snap was bad and holder Lorenzo Englemann scooted around the right side, just enough for a successful conversion which gave Centre the lead. A late interception by Jacob Coleman sealed the win for the Colonels.
Rhodes head coach Joe White said, “we're disappointed. We made some key mistakes [...] that gave them the football game.” Centre will hope to extend its unbeaten streak versus Washington and Lee; Rhodes gets Pomona-Pitzer at home.
The Sagehens strike back
Last season, Pomona (3-0) was humiliated in San Antonio by a count of 66-14. This year's Sagehen team, with two solid wins under its belt, determined that this year's result would be different. Perhaps Trinity (Texas) (2-1) was a little complacent after easy wins against ASC back-markers and last year’s game. Whatever the case, the result was the biggest upset in Division III so far this season.
Pomona looked unstoppable in rolling up 535 yards against a defense still missing its best player, defensive back Kenny Brunette. The Sagehens defense humbled the Tiger rushing attack, allowing just 21 yards on 18 carries as Tiger running back Matt Federle went out early in the second with an injury. Although Tiger quaerterback Dan DesPlaines had the best performance of his career (35 of 53 for 418 yards and three scores), his last pass — into the end zone for the win as time expired — was picked off.
“Pomona seemed to keep us on our heels most of the afternoon,” said Trinity head coach Steve Mohr. “They completed some key passes in their go ahead drive and their intensity
and urgency was magnified by the fact they kept the lead most of the game. We seemed to be trying to play catch-up the entire game. We didn't match the intensity we played with against TLU the week before and that is concerning.”
As far as this weekend's game against DePauw, Mohr says “we have to play defense like we're capable of playing and also not turn the ball over. I would say that they have a big mental edge on us right now with them coming off a big win and with us trying to somehow regroup off of that loss.”
Brunette has been playing at wide receiver for the Tigers the last two games. According to Mohr, “Kenny had ACL surgery last spring and is just now getting back to 100%. We do have plans to get him back to defense as soon as he is cleared to do so.”
Betcha can't pick just one
Long interception returns are sort of a “good news/bad news” story — good in that you get the return and the field position (or points) it brings, bad in that you let the other guys get close enough to your end zone in the first place. But at Sewanee (1-2, 0-1), long interception returns are becoming routine, after the team's second runback for a score this season in the Tigers' 37-13 victory against Washington and Lee.
Freshman George Twitty (left) got things started in Week 1, with an NCAA record-tying 100 yard return against Millsaps. He was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Not to be outdone, sophomore defensive back Mike Glanton (right) scored on a 98-yard return against W&L. 
Amazingly, Twitty's return came on his first college touch; when asked about the interception, Twitty said “Hampden-Sydney was right on the goal line just about to score. They were running a slant play and (linebacker) Clarence Mitchell helped jam the receiver to throw off his steps. The first 50 yards happened very fast because I was avoiding the offensive players — but once I broke it outside it was all open. That last 50 yards I was just thinking 'don't stop, keep running.' I had no clue if someone was right on my heels or not, so I just ran as fast as I could. I've intercepted passes in high school, but none of them were even over 20 yards.” Well, George, welcome to college football! Regarding the exploits of Mike Glanton, Sewanee defensive coordinator Jason McManus said, “In the game on Saturday, Mike actually had his hands on two other sure interceptions that would have definitely been returned for touchdowns. Mike is very explosive and has a great burst. He has great feet and has unlimited potential at corner. He is only a sophomore.”
In fact, nearly the whole Sewanee defense is young; as McManus noted “we have played as many as eight freshmen at one point during a game. We are steadily improving each week and look to get better from week to week.”
So opposing teams take notice; if you throw a ball in the flat against Sewanee, don't be surprised if it ends up going back the other way.
The Pride Of Terre Haute
Continuing their impressive showing so far this season, Rose-Hulman (2-1) gave then-No. 4 Wheaton (3-0) a battle before falling 29-10. Three interceptions thrown by Cameron Hummel (6-for-24 on the day for 66 yards) hurt the Engineers' cause, but Rose-Hulman actually ended up winning the turnover battle 4-3. Sophomore running back Charley Key rushed for 125 yards on 25 carries, and senior linebacker Nick Dames had 10 tackles and two fumble recoveries to lead the Engineers. Next up: Washington U. at home.
Around the ASC
Offensive POW: RoShawn Johnson, RB, So.., East Texas Baptist (23 carries for a career high 203 rushing yards and a TD, 3 recpts for 31 yards and a TD in a 38-17 win against McMurry) ... Defensive POW: Alex Hansen, CB, Jr., Hardin-Simmons (2 INTs, forced fumble and three tackles in a 29-12 win at TLU)... Special Teams POW: Walter Hays, WR/KR, Sr., Howard Payne (8 returns for 101 yards in a 31-13 defeat of Mississippi College) ... 0-1 in non-conference games.
Around the SCAC
Conference went 2-3 in non-conference games. Offensive POW: Jamarcus Shephard, WR, Jr., DePauw (95 return yards including an 88-yarder; threw a 75-yard touchdown pass; three receptions for 52 yards; one carry for 6 yards) ... Defensive POW: Daniel Brunner, DE, So., Rhodes (six tackles, one sack, one pass breakup, and an INT returned for a touchdown in a 32-31 loss to Centre).
Games of the Week (times local)
DePauw (2-1, 1-0) at No. 22 Trinity (Texas) (2-1, 0-0), San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.: Trinity's 10-year dominance of the SCAC is on the line against Nick Mourouzis' resurgent squad. Trinity must find a rushing attack and regain its defensive presence to avoid a second straight loss.
Howard Payne (1-1, 1-0) at East Texas Baptist (1-1, 1-0), Marshall, Texas, 2 p.m.: ETBU lost a close game in Brownwood last year; will playing at Ornelas Stadium make the difference? The precision passing of the Yellow Jackets' Adam King will be on display, countered by the dominating running of the Tigers' RoShawn Johnson.
Austin (0-1, 0-2) at McMurry (0-1, 0-2), Abilene, Texas, 2 p.m.: The Indians' level of play so far this year has shown improvement. McMurry has a decent chance to break their 22-game losing streak, especially if Austin quarterback Brian Womack is still affected by the shoulder injury he sustained in Week 1. McMurry actually has the second-best third down conversion rate in the ASC, 35.7%, trailing only ETBU (39.3%). Unfortunately, the Indian defense is the most generous in the ASC, allowing opponents to convert 46.2% of their third downs.
Comments? Complaints? Praise? Have an interesting story idea for an upcoming column? Think your team isn't getting enough coverage? If so, contact me via email atron.boerger@d3football.com.