Experienced Warhawks' defense goes on the offensive Special to D3football.com Bob Berezowitz retired as UW-Whitewater football coach after last season, but he has his fingers firmly on the pulse of the Warhawks. “From Mary Hardin-Baylor on, they’ve got a phenomenal number of turnovers,” said Berezowitz, whose 22-year run coaching the Warhawks ended last season with a second consecutive trip to the Stagg Bowl. “To me, that’s been the big thing.” Starting with a 41-14 victory over the then-No. 2 Crusaders on Oct. 27, the Warhawks (11-1) have forced a whopping 26 turnovers in their last five games. In that time, the defense has scored five touchdowns. Impressively, all five have come against ranked opponents, including two against Mary Hardin-Baylor, one against No. 14 Capital in the first round of the playoffs and two against No. 20 North Central in the second round. The Warhawks aren’t doing anything fancy. Brian Borland, who first-year coach Lance Leipold retained as defensive coordinator, relies on a smart and experienced group of players to be in the right place at the right time. Seven starters are back from last season, and eight of this year’s starters — including the entire defensive backfield — are seniors. Six of them were named to the all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first or second teams. “We’ve got a pretty seasoned group of guys,” Borland said. “We’ve got guys with good football savvy and good football instincts for what’s going on. We’re not trying to trick anyone. So much of it is trying to get lined up in the right place, knowing what we’re doing and hopefully knowing what our opponent is doing. We talk a lot about alignment, assignments and giving effort, but it’s really about putting yourself in position to make plays.” These Warhawks don’t have a stud in the middle like All-American defensive tackle Ryan Kleppe, who had a team-record 14.5 sacks last season, but they’ve hardly missed a beat. They’re allowing 3.7 more points per game over last season (12.1 in 2006 compared to 15.8 this season), but last year’s defense, stingy as it was, never found the end zone. Senior defensive end Ryan Ogrizovich, who is threatening Kleppe’s sack record with 14, has been a monster in the two playoff wins. Against Capital, Ogrizovich used a speed rush, practically stole the ball from the quarterback and took it 15 yards for a touchdown. “It was an act of God. The ball rolled over his shoulder and into my hand,” he said. Against North Central, he intercepted a pass that he returned 40 yards for a score and piled up a WIAC record-tying four sacks. “He’s exactly what I was talking about,” Borland said. “He knows the situation and is able to put himself in the right position. In the last game, we used him as a spy because the quarterback was so active. On the interception, the quarterback was looking left, and he mirrored him. The quarterback kept looking left and he kept mirroring him, and he was there when he threw it. That’s just the kind of guy he is.” Unlike Kleppe, who was a singular, dominating talent, these Warhawks rely on strong play across the board. Their 27 interceptions are split among 10 players, including a team-high six by senior Ben Farley, five by senior Matt Blaziewske and four apiece by seniors Andy Murray and Tristan Borzick. Their 47 sacks — two more than Whitewater had in 15 games en route to reaching the championship game last season — are divided among a dozen players, including 9.0 by sophomore Anthony White, 5.5 by senior A.J. Raebel, a three-time all-WIAC first-team linebacker, and 4.5 by senior Corey Schroedl. “You can’t replace a Ryan Kleppe, but I think overall, we’re playing better (than last year),” Berezowitz said. Orgizovich credits Borland for putting the defense on the offensive. “It was kind of a challenge on the part of our defensive coordinator,” he said of the defense’s penchant for forcing turnovers. “Before (the Mary Hardin-Baylor game), he said usually by this time, we’re up in the national leaders in turnovers, so it was a challenge to us. Ever since then, we’ve been focusing a lot more on it.” Berezowitz also credits Borland, who, with linebackers coach Chris Simpson and defensive line coach Bill Hoagland, stayed with the team during the transition to Leipold. “That was huge,” Berezowitz said. “He’s a person who did not get enough credit for what he has done within this run we’ve been having the last three years. That defense has really been the backbone. Defense wins championships, and that’s exactly what’s happened here. The defense has been doing an outstanding job. We’ve had some great players on offense get a lot of recognition, and the defense has been taken for granted. But I think that it was huge that he was able to stay.” | |||
| Permalink | Nov 28, 2007 | |||
Wesley's Jackson breaks back out By Jason Bowen Special to D3football.com DOVER, Del. -- If you follow Division III football closely, the name Aaron Jackson may ring a bell. No? Come on, you remember him. He was the kid with more rushing yards (1,095) than any other freshman in Division III during the 2006 season. He picked up Eastern College Athletic Conference (South Region) and Atlantic Central Football Conference Rookie of the Year honors, while helping Wesley to the national semifinals for a second straight year. But the 2007 season has not been quite as glorious for the 5-9, 177-pounder. Entering the Wolverines second round playoff match up with Muhlenberg last Saturday, Jackson's numbers were much more modest: 99 carries, 453 yards, four touchdowns. And he wasn't starting either. Fellow sophomore runner Mike Pennewell got on a roll early in the season and ran up nine straight 100-yard games and nearly 1,500 yards. All season long, with exception of a 114-yard effort against Frostburg State, it seemed Jackson just couldn't seem to find his rhythm. “I came in ready to take up where I left off last year. But he came in focused and did a hell of a job,” Jackson said of Pennewell on Monday before practice as Wesley prepared for their regional championship game against Mary Hardin-Baylor this Saturday in Dover. “Sure it was frustrating in the beginning of the year, but you have to adapt to it. Mike Pennewell is a great running back. If he's doing the job to help this team win, then more power to him.” On Saturday, Jackson found his grove again just in time for a sputtering Wolverine offense. The sophomore entered the Muhlenberg game for the first time late in second quarter with Wesley trailing 7-0. The sophomore burst 44 yards on his first carry and five on his next to help set up the Wolverines game-tying touchdown before the half. But Jackson, a native of North Brunswick, N.J., really showed his explosiveness on the Wolverines first two series of the second half. His 41-yard cutback run on the half's second play gave the Wolverines a 14-7. And his next carry broke the game wide open. With Wesley backed up on its own eleven-yard line, Jackson took a pitch to the right and sprinted 89 yards nearly untouched to the end zone. The run put Wesley well on its way to a 38-21 victory, its seventh straight home playoff win. It was the second longest in school history. “It was the perfect play.” said Jackson, who ended up with a career-high 214 yards on just 14 carries against the Mules. “Everything worked. The receivers got to their secondary, the lineman got to the second level. We called the right play on the blitz.” On the Wesley sideline after the run there was no one happier for Jackson, than his chief competitors in the Wolverine backfield, Pennewell and senior captain Alpha Koroma, who also has over 1,000 career rushing yards. “I wasn't surprised,” said Pennewell, whom the Mules held to under 100 yards for the first time since early September. “Aaron is super fast and a great changeup. He makes plays. He's a game-breaker.” “It was great,” adds Koroma, who ironically was replaced as a starter last season by Jackson. “It was more than great; it was incredible.” You may think that there would be some resentment over playing time in a rotation that also includes sophomore Gene Knight, but the teammates insist they gotten past that. 'We have a lot of running backs that compete at a high level,” Jackson said. “When our number gets called, we just have to be ready. “The competition definitely makes you better. You could be a starter one week and next week if a guy steps up you wouldn't be. You have to practice hard. You can't take a day off.” Pennewell and Koroma have also bought into the team concept that rewards the back that has the a hot hand. “The difference between this year and last year is we all have a better relationship with each other,” Pennewell said. “We've got a year under our belt. I've developed a really good relationship with the two of them. Individual goals are always something that is put to the bottom.” “Anybody who wants to win, you have to look at it like that,” Koroma agrees. “Everybody wants to run for 100 yards and two touchdowns but if that doesn't win the game, it doesn't mean anything. If my role is going to be limited and we still get a 'W.' I still won.” Making Jackson's achievements on the field all the more impressive is that he suffers from severe asthma. He remembers sneaking into Pop Warner games as a 7-year-old, when doctors had advised against playing. But as he has gotten older, the problem as been less debilitating. “It doesn't really affect me during games,” he said. “When it's cold out I do a lot better.” Regardless of how many carries he gets this Saturday against Mary Hardin-Baylor, Jackson has learned a lot this season and credits advice from his mother. “Just to be humble,” he said. “Because you never know if you are going to have that spot today or tomorrow. “My mom has been my inspiration throughout this whole season. She told me to stick with it. There have been times I've been ready to give up because I'm not use to that back seat role.” Last week, the Wesley ground game faced a tough test in Muhlenberg, which entered the game allowing just over 71 yards a game. Wolverine runners, paced by Jackson, passed that test with flying colorings by rolling up 290 yards on the ground. However, this week with the stakes even higher, Jackson and his running mates face an even bigger challenge -- a Crusader defense that has allowed just over 35 rushing yards per game. If they can grind out and set up the passing game, they could lead the Wolverines to their third straight regional championship. So now that you remember the name, don't be surprised if you hear Aaron Jackson had another big game. | |||
| Permalink | Nov 28, 2007 | |||
Turning the corner
Central made a name for itself the past two seasons by winning a multitude of close games win heart-stopping fashion. But the past two weeks, it's been a little easier. How did the Dutch go from cardiac to crushing? Ryan Tipps has more in A Road to Salem feature. Bethel has gotten out of the shadow of St. John's as well, advancing to the regional final after four first-round defeats. How did the Royals turn the corner? Adam Johnson writes about how the Royals changed their ways. One name you might remember from last year, while the other was definitely overshadowed within his own unit. But Saturday, Wesley running back Aaron Jackson broke out, with 130 yards on back-to-back runs and more than 200 yards on the day in beating Muhlenberg. How did Jackson handle going from freshman phenom to sophomore backup behind Mike Pennewell? And how did his backfield mates react to Saturday's performance? Mary Hardin-Baylor has a Stagg Bowl appearance to its credit, a win at Mount Union in the national semifinals, but no wins against Wesley in two previous playoff meetings. The Crusaders, who love to run, run and run some more, found they were limited in their passing game in a blowout loss at UW-Whitewater in October. What did Mary Hardin-Baylor learn on that long trip that might help them out on their trip to Delaware? Marcus Fitzsimmons has more in a Road to Salem feature. For UW-Whitewater, the defense doesn't have its big name in the middle and Justin Beaver steals the headlines from the other side of the ball, but defensive end Ryan Ogrizovich is nearing Ryan Kleppe's team sacks record and the remainder of the defense is balanced, with 10 players sharing 27 interceptions. More on the Warhawks' defense, including Bob Berezowitz's take, in a Plus, looking for a trip to Salem? Scroll down to enter the Stagg Bowl giveaway. Contest ends Dec. 7.
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| Permalink | Nov 28, 2007 | |||
Central puts away doubts
By Ryan Tipps D3football.com It was easy to have had some reservations about Central during the regular season. A 2-8 Loras team played the Dutch to within three points. A .500 Luther team hung 36 points on Central's defense. Seven teams outgained Central on offense. And fewer than 10 points separated most games. But that was then. For a team that spent much of the year entwined in close matchups like those, the playoffs have given the Dutch a taste of something new -- breathing room. Most notably, the lopsided 37-7 win against St. John's that made history and made a statement. The defense and offense "just fed off of each other," coach Jeff McMartin said. "Defense played well, and offense made plays. It was kind of a back-and-forth thing." The Dutch hadn't gotten the best of the Johnnies since a playoff game in 1987, and Saturday's win was the worst defeat in almost 15 years for St. John's. "We played very good defense," McMartin said. "That's really the key, we played really well on defense." Sure enough, the Johnnies gained just 34 yards on the ground and were intercepted twice. And the seven points St. John's scored was the best defensively and worst offensively all season for each team, respectively. But, McMartin said, "It was also a situation where we got off to a quick start" -- something that came with the help of IIAC most valuable player Tim Connell. Connell is the kind of player who took the quarterbacking reins of his team three years ago as a sophomore and instead of relaxing into that role, he has continued to create his own challenges in an effort to improve. And it has paid off. "He's gotten better; he has worked hard to evolve," his coach said. Connell's task became more difficult when running back Vance Schuring, a two-time conference MVP, was injured in the budding part of the season. After that, Connell notes that the passing game became even more important. "There was a little pressure knowing that the passing game was going to have to get the offense going," he said. "But as the season progress, it got easier and easier to move the ball with the passing game." From his coach's eye, it was safe to say that the quarterback was up for the challenge. "Tim's very competitive," McMartin said. "He studies film, he works hard in practice, he's very tough. He has taken a pounding for four years, and he's never missed a game. ... He can take punishment, and he has. He's been very durable for us." And let it not go unnoticed that Connell is an exceptional thrower who has logged almost 2,950 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. Yet it wasn't something he could accomplish alone; he had the help of two All-Conference wideouts, among others. "We have two great receivers in Josh Smith and Cody Huisman, which make it pretty easy to throw the ball. You just got to throw it to them, and they go get it," Connell said. Against St. John's, Connell threw for more than 300 yards, which brings to 565 yards his passing total for both playoff games. What does something like this mean for the senior quarterback? "Confidence is a big thing," he said. "As far as offenses, teams haven't really been able to put those kinds of points up on St. John's this year," he said. "And then we come in, and score (on some early drives). That really says a lot for our offense." And about those recent displays of dominance after so many close games earlier in the season? There is a simple reason for that: player health. "We've had a lot of injuries this year, and we started getting healthy at the end of the year," McMartin noted. Coping with injuries changes a team from week to week, he said. "You've got to adapt and adjust and figure things out. And I think our conference has a lot of good teams in it." Bethel -- which has a "great defense" and does a "great job running the ball," as McMartin puts it -- will be another in the line of good teams Central has been getting used to facing. Though after four previous meetings, Central has never lost to the Royals. And going into Round 3, Central has the benefit of playing at home in Pella. "Bethel certainly has a great, fast defense. They're very aggressive up front," Connell said. "They like to blitz a lot, and we have to be prepared for that. We have to execute all of the things we do best." These are the kind obstacles the Dutch -- in a season filled with drama, tension and last-quarter heroics -- have shown they can overcome. But, McMartin said: "We've got our work cut out for us. We're definitely going to be tested on Saturday." | |||
| Permalink | Nov 28, 2007 | |||
Royals flush with confidence By Adam Johnson D3football.com ST. PAUL -- According to Bethel coach Steve Johnson the Royal's goal every year is to win the MIAC -- anything that happens after that is "gravy." For a coach who has dedicated 19 years of his life to 131 wins, five MIAC Coach of the Year awards and countless hours towards shaping the lives of young Christian men, the playoff turkey has been dry. It's not as though this year's first round matchup with Concordia (Wis.) was his first chance at playoff victory. In four tries from 2000 to 2006, the Royals were 0-4 including blowouts (41-13 at home against Pacific Lutheran in 2000) and nail-biters (28-21 on the road against UW-La Crosse in 2006.) Now in 2007, the Royals have strung together Johnson's first two playoff victories and are preparing for the West Region final against the Central Dutch on Saturday in Pella, Iowa. So, what's the difference this year? What has gotten Bethel over the proverbial playoff hump and how are they still playing football while their conference foe and playoff powerhouse, St. John's, is sitting home? Look no further than St. John's. The Royals have finally reached a place where they feel they can expect to win the Johnnie game. After back to back wins, including last year at St. John's, the Royals expect to win the conference and go to the playoffs. "There was a very different feeling after the St. John's game this year," said MIAC MVP, quarterback Ben Wetzell. "We were happy to win but we were ready to get focused on the next opponent." The drop-off from the emotional high of previous years wasn't as prevalent this season. "There was a 'no big deal, we won, now let's go get the next one' feeling," offensive coordinator Greg Peterson said. Bethel seniors take a retreat before camp opens to discuss the season and set goals. The Royals 0-4 playoff history was definitely on their minds as they mapped out season goals. "Win the conference was our first goal," said Wetzell "And we thought it would be really cool to win a couple playoff games and make a run." The playoff turnaround also starts with overcoming setbacks. "The trials you go through, and not around, get you good," says Johnson. There have been plenty of playoff trials: Drawing the defending national champion Pacific Lutheran Lutes in their first playoff appearance in 2000; losing a 14-0 lead on the road in 2001 against UW-Stevens Point; losing a fumble on their first offensive play for a touchdown to go down 14-0 at Wartburg in 2003; having to play without All-MIAC running back Phil Porta due to injury in a narrow 28-21 loss to UW-La Crosse on the road last year. "Everyone's been asking if it feels like the monkey is off our back," Johnson said. "If there was (a monkey) it wasn't a monkey we placed there." If Johnson had to thumb a difference in this year's success and his previous winless playoff record, it would come down to defense. "Our success is all about 'D'," Johnson said. While Johnson feels the talent is as strong as it has ever been on defense it is the experience the team has gained that has set them apart. "We may have been more talented last year," Johnson admitted after losing MIAC MVP linebacker Kirby Carr and Stam Award winner, defensive linemen, Zach Danielson. Another key piece to success in this postseason is the senior leadership of quarterback Ben Wetzell. Last season, in his first taste of playoff action, Wetzell was forced to carry the load with Porta out with injury. He carried them to within a touchdown of victory on the road. The Royals have had a lineage of solid quarterbacks but Ben Wetzell brings a dynamic Royal fans have not seen in some time. "Ben Wetzell is a stud," Johnson said. In 2001 and 2003, former MIAC career passing leader Scott Kirchoff was a stud, too, but his one dimensionality -- dropback passer -- led to predictability in the playoffs. If his passes were off, defenses keyed on the running game and foiled the Royals. (see 29 yards on 29 carries in a 21-7 loss to Wartburg in 2003) With Wetzell, the Royals have a threat through the air and on the ground -- evidenced by his final drive in the MIAC championship clinching game over St. John's. On their final drive with less than four minutes to play, Wetzell took over. He threw for 43 yards including a 36-yard completion on second down and 8. He rushed for 11 yards including a 9-yard rumble to the Johnnie 1-yard line where freshman running back Logan Flannery punched in the final score with 23 seconds to play. "I love to run and be physical," said Wetzell. "A good run and hit gets me into the game, it helps me settle down." This year, Wetzell has a healthy running back in All-MIAC Flannery and an offensive line that makes the Royals offense just as scary as their defense. "We run some wrinkles with Wetzell," offensive coordinator Greg Peterson said. The Royals now face a blazing hot Central team that handed St. John's its worst playoff loss in recent memory, 37-7. As Johnson sees it, this West Region final pits a throwing team that runs well, Central, against a running team that throws well, Bethel. One might wonder if Johnson is feeling any pressure to win three straight after previous playoff struggles. But not so. "The only pressure we feel in the playoffs is we want to practice next week," said Johnson. "We have a bunch of guys that just love each other." | |||
| Permalink | Nov 28, 2007 | |||
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