2004 regional preview
St. John’s over perennial powerhouse Mount Union in the 2003 Stagg Bowl. It must have been all those years listening to the David and Goliath story in Sunday School that gave me the intuition to select the Johnnies. 
I figured, “unlikely D-III prediction? no big deal,” but things changed for me quite a bit after last year’s Stagg. Besides the Leno and Letterman appearances I had calls from Montel, Craig Kilborn and Conan. I had to say no to John Salley and Tom Arnold on the Best Damn Sports Show Period because Hugh Hefner sent me an invite to the mansion on the same night. Oh well.
Unfortunately, that bold pick didn’t put me on late night and the Johnnies victory didn’t find me in bunnyland but I can say the season St. John’s pulled off in 2003 put DIII football a touch closer to the spotlight. Coach Gagliardi (he’d prefer you call him John) climbed his way to the top of the college football all-time wins list at 409 and finished six weeks later with 414 when he hoisted the Amos Alonzo Stagg trophy in Salem, Virginia in a stunning stifling of high-powered Mount Union. In between his best player, Blake Elliott, was named the Gagliardi trophy winner as the best Division III player in all the land. The only thing they were missing was credits scrolling across the field at the end of the year. It was a dream season and good for everybody associated with Division III football.
The question now is who’s up next? What can the west region do for an encore? Who will be this fall’s blockbuster? Linfield and their new Elliott at quarterback? Defensive minded Wartburg and their new high-powered offense? Can Bethel finally drop the 0-fer playoff record (0-4) and advance through the playoffs? Can John reach 428?
Can I get back to you in November?
Previews are what people think before waiting until November. So, without waiting another minute here are my predictions for the West Region in 2004.
Favorites
Linfield (11-1 in 2003)
The Wildcats return an impressive eight starters from last season — on each side of the ball — and have found a solid replacement for Tyler Mathews, the most prolific passer in the team’s history. Brett Elliott, a Division I transfer who started eight games over the past two seasons at Utah steps into a very welcoming situation.
Lining up behind him will be 1,000-yard rusher Thomas Ford and power back Riley Jenkins who rushed for over 500 yards with three scores in 2003. To his left and right will be a fleet of experienced receivers led by preseason All-American George Carter who hauled in a school-record 70 passes for 1,117 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Joining him are Casey Allen (32 catches, 10 touchdowns), Josh Armstrong (34 catches, five TDs) Brad McKechnie (28 catches, five TDs) and Brandon Hazenberg (28 catches, four TDs). The offensive line returns four of five starters to protect Elliott in the pocket and open holes for Ford and Jenkins.
Defensively, three starters return to anchor the front line, including end Kelley Bertrand and tackles Michael Greenberg and Mike Ketler. Freshman Chris Pelow could also work his way into the lineup. Finding linebackers to step up and fill two huge holes from departing seniors is Locey’s toughest task this preseason. Leading candidates include junior Brandon Olson and sophomore Cameron Rogers.
The defensive backfield is loaded with experienced and talented athletes in Eric Hillison, Chris Boock and O.J. Gulley. Hazenberg, a tremendous all-around athlete, could also see time at cornerback. With plenty of talent at the corners, Hillison can move over to play safety, rotating with Saffery Silva. Zach Fleming and Kevin Foreman will rotate at rover.
All-America punter James Wilson leads a loaded group of specialists will continue to give the Wildcats good field position. By making 18 of 22 field goal attempts in 2003, Garrett Wales has proven himself as one of the most accurate kickers in program history. Hillison is an all-star at kick returner, averaging 30.4 yards per return.
Wartburg (11-1)
Last season it was the Wartburg Knights defense that gave opposing teams fits, holding two-thirds of their opponents to ten or fewer points. They allowed the opposing team’s offense to just a shade over 221 yards per game ranking third overall in Division III.
In 2004 the Knights will once again give opponents fits but this time around it is likely to be their offense causing a stir. Junior quarterback Reed Hoskins returns to lead a potent passing attack featuring Senior Matt Winter—a main reason they may once again be playing into the cold Iowa winter months. Winter averaged 131 yards per game to end the 2003 season and is sure to pick up some of the catches left behind by graduated first-team all-leaguer Cody Kelley. Andy Parker is expected to fill the void left by two-time 1,000 yard rusher Brad Hodapp.
Two-time first team all-conference senior captain Brian McIntire returns at safety to lead a defense that will need some time for its new players to become comfortable as starters. Expect the team to gel fast and the offense to bail out the defense on more occasions than last year. Wartburg is a strong favorite to claim the IIAC title and return to the playoffs.
Bethel (9-2)
Replacing the MIAC’s all-time leading passer in Scott Kirchoff won’t be an easy task for Bethel this season but projected starter A.J. Parnell has MIAC game experience. He threw for 872 yards in six games with nine touchdowns and two interceptions while replacing the injured Kirchoff in 2002. The Royals lost to St. John’s 31-26 in the Metrodome when Parnell was at the helm.
The Royals also return some of the best young talent in the conference in all-league sophomores Phil Porta and Kirby Carr. Carr, at outside linebacker, will lead a defense that returns first-team all-league inside linebacker Matt Wassink and second-team all-league defensive backs Jeremy Sather and Peter Eastlund.
Phil Porta leads the potent running attack which includes tailback Ross Muellenberg and fullback Chris Evans. Parnell will look for second-team all-league tight end Paul Scrabek and receivers Zach Ludvigson and John Croyle along with speedster Jesse Dick who moved to receiver from running back after last season. The Royals look poised for their sixth straight season of over 30 points per game.
The Royals shared the 2001 conference championship with St. John’s and haven’t won it outright since 2000.
Contenders
St. John’s (14-0)
The St. John’s Johnnies enter this title defense season like a Spanish question — question marks ¿at both ends? While they hold the title of defending national champion they return fewer than half of the starters who played in the championship game last season. Most noticeably missing three-time All-American and 2003 Gagliardi trophy winner Blake Elliott. Also gone are quarterback Ryan Keating and running back Jake Theis Only six players return to the high-powered offense that put 24 points on Mount Union eight months ago and four of those are offensive linemen. Wide receiver Lee Clintsman and tight end Isaac Flenner will carry most of the offensive load for the Johnnies. St. John’s will also benefit from the addition of two transfers — wide receiver Kyle Gearman from St. Cloud State and running back Corey Weber from North Dakota State.
While the Johnnies also lost three All-Americans on defense they do return a strong nucleus including D3football.com preseason All-Americans Jamie Steffensmeier at defensive end and defensive back Mike Zauhar. Steffensmeier led the team with 121 total tackles last season and Zauhar collected four interceptions including one returned 100 yards for a touchdown in the Stagg Bowl. Second team all-league defensive tackle Damien Dumonceaux will anchor the defensive line.
2003 was the Johnnies fourth undefeated championship season but repeating in 2004 will be tough as history has shown. While their combined record in the championship seasons of 1976, 1965 and 1963 was 31-0, they combined for a 15-8 record the following season.
Redlands (6-4)
The Bulldogs are looking to claim their tenth SCIAC championship in the last 15 years and they will count on tri-captain and first team all conference running back Les Simon to help them get it. Joining him at quarterback is Brian Sapp who piled up 612 yards rushing and 1,192 yards passing before a season ending injury at midseason. The receiving corps returns starters Justin Wilcox (531 receiving yards), J.P. Sedillo (318 receiving yards), as well as Alex Ballard (166 receiving yards). The offensive line should be improved using six players with starting experience led by first team all conference and captain Steven Markus.
On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs will look to rebuild the stringent defense that held conference opponents to 17 points a game in 2003. They will need to replace four of the five starting defensive linemen including D3football.com All-America tackle Will Goff.
Controlling the air at corner will feature a mixture of veterans and newcomers to bolster an inexperienced front seven. Gritty seniors Ben Eroen, former running back Marcus Guzman, Matt Beckstead, Stephen Boon, Matt Genco and track sprinter Jason Reynolds add experience and round out the senior corners. Plagued with injury in 2003, the Bulldog safeties are loaded this year with numbers and talent. Those returning include seniors Jason Helveston, John Tates, Kamerin Vince and Jarod Frost.
Simpson (9-2)
In 2004, if Kain is able the Simpson Storm could repeat their playoff appearance of 2003. The Storm return plenty of players on both sides of the ball including preseason All-American’s Kyle Westphal and Dusty Kain. Kain, a junior wide receiver, set school records for receptions (93), receiving yards (1,466), and touchdown receptions (14) in 2003. Westphal, a senior defensive back finished the 2003 campaign third in Division III in interceptions per game (0.9) picking off ten passes.
Who will replace “The Don,” 2003 All-American quarterback Mike Donnenwerth, is the biggest question mark around Indianola these days. If the Storm can find an answer to this all important question, shore up their special teams play and get consistent production out of their younger players they might just give Wartburg a run for its money.
Dark Horses
Central (5-5)
After a 2003 campaign where “if you were Dutch, you weren’t much,” Central hopes new head coach Jeff McMartin can lead them back to the conference’s elite. The Dutch return 13 starters, including potential All-American at linebacker in senior Mark Sanger. The Dutch are loaded at tailback with brothers Tyler and Dustyn Baethke Tyler rushed for 757 yards on 179 carries with four scores, averaging 4.2 yards an attempt. Dustyn was sidelined by injury initially, but gained 341 yards on 64 carries in the final six games, averaging 5.3 yards a carry and three touchdowns. It won’t be easy but a return to his alma mater for McMartin could mean a return to the playoffs for the Dutch.
St. Thomas (3-7)
St. Thomas is young but that’s not always a bad thing. Inspired by the school’s 100th year of football, the Tommies have their largest recruiting class in recent history and a defense that held eventual national champion St. John’s to 15 points last year. If running back Walter Dosh can remain healthy and linebacker Andrew Ubbelohde can lead the young and inspired defense St. Thomas could return to the playoffs for the first time since 1990.
Pacific Lutheran (6-3)
Although their long-time leader, Frosty Westering, has retired the Lutes return 13 players from last year’s team and gain a new head coach with a familiar name — Westering. It would be the ultimate tribute to his father if Scott Westering could leave the storied PLU program back into the playoffs.
GET to the GAME!!
St. John’s vs. UW-Eau Claire, 3 p.m. Carson Park, er, Collegeville, Minn.
The vision was great — a full house at Carson Park watching the upbeat home team open against the defending national champions. That is, until the FieldTurf company screwed it all up by overscheduling their summer workload. The Johnnies will now welcome the Blugolds to Collegeville and gain the advantage that comes with Clemens Stadium. Many question marks will be exposed for the defending Johnnies who have only six starters back on offense. The Blugolds will look to capitalize on the Johnnies with a solid defense that could gift fits to a newly acquainted offensive unit.
Lake Forest vs. Carleton, 1:00 p.m., Northfield, Minn.
Carleton has spent the last four seasons streaking and stocking up. First, they dropped 33 consecutive games over four seasons but halted that last season by finishing with three in a row. All along, head coach Chris Brann was stocking his cabinet, bringing in players who could turn the program around. Now, he has a roster nearing 70 players and a chance to send a message against MWC power Lake Forest. Both teams bring in preseason All-Americans on defense in Nick Brokke (Carleton) and David Bleitner (Lake Forest) and will look to start of the 2004 campaign with a victory.
Augustana vs. Central, 1 p.m., Pella, Iowa
Last year it was a mud bowl that the Dutch were able to win but they went on to a disappointing 5-5 record. Augustana rebounded to a 7-3 record including 6-1 in the CCIW. This year the weather will likely be better and the Dutch will be as well. Look for new Central coach Jeff McMartin to pull out all the stops to win his first game back at Central.