August 5, 2008

2008 Football Season Preview

Veteran Defense to Lead Lopers Early; Line Leads Offense

     Kearney, Neb. –  The 102nd edition of the Nebraska-Kearney football team finds the Lopers looking for a few good bounces to improve upon back-to-back 6-4 (5-3) years.

        Five of those eight losses have come by 10 points or less with three coming by a combined 12 points. Additionally, in 2007, UNK’s four losses all came to teams that advanced to post season play. 

        “That’s the way the ball bounces sometimes. We were in every game last year and it was just one of those deals where it wasn’t our year. We’ve had the seasons where we won a lot of close games; 2007 wasn’t one of them,” said ninth year head coach Darrell Morris, who has guided the Lopers to 55 wins the past eight years.

        Morris, whose team was picked to finish third in the preseason RMAC poll, will again have a stout defense and an offense that returns its entire line. With 33 returning letter winners, UNK is aiming for a third league title since 2002.

        Offensively, the Lopers will have a new starter at QB for a fifth straight year. The offense will also feature just two seniors but has two preseason All-RMAC players in senior receiver Eric Myrick (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior center Jack Hiett (Arvada, Colo.).

        Additionally, tackles Kyle Davison (Kearney H.S.) and Orion Matthies (Overton) earned honorable mention All-RMAC honors last year.

        “The key for our offense will be at the quarterback spot and we’re not really going to know how that’ll work out until the season starts. We do have enough experience there that we will not ask the QB to win games by himself,” said Morris.        

        Defensively, eight seniors, including All-RMAC performers Cheikh Fall (Boys Town) and Nate Riecks (McCook), will lead a unit that has ranked among the league’s elite the past few falls.

        "Our experience on defense, especially early in the year and with a new QB running our offense, should be a plus," sad Morris. "It's imperative we play good, solid sound defense in those first two games."

        Safety Jake Mandelko (Lexington), a fifth-year junior, returns after missing 2007 with injury while fifth year senior Dusty Loeffelholz (Amherst) is coming off a strong junior season in which he played both corner and safety.

        The Lopers “d” also includes fifth year senior co-captains Jonathon Cannon (Killeen, Texas) and inside linebacker Charlie Rudeen (Overton).

        UNK is also blessed to have one of the betters kickers in the nation as senior Geoff Carnahan (Kearney Catholic) has already been tabbed a first-team preseason All-American by Lindy’s Magazine.

        Carnahan and the rest of the Lopers will get an eleventh game in 2008 as Colorado State-Pueblo reinstated its program in the off-season and is now the ninth football playing member of the RMAC.

        As usual, UNK will play in-state rivals Wayne State and Nebraska-Omaha to begin the year.    

        Overall, the Lopers’ 11 games feature four road contests over the first six weeks but then three home games at the end of the slate.

OFFENSE

        After averaging 20.2 points, and having a 74.3 rushing average in 2006, the Lopers got back to their old ways last season. Behind a now veteran offensive line, UNK saw its numbers rise to 33.9 points per game and a very healthy 173.4 rushing average.

        Offensive coordinator Russ Martin will again have a new signal caller at the helm and one goal will be to score a few more TD’s once the team gets into the red zone. While UNK ranked second in the RMAC in red zone success (76 percent/32 of 42) in 2007, the Lopers had eight field goals among those 32 scores.  

        Quarterback

        It’ll be a three way race for the stating quarterback spot as redshirt freshmen Bobby Adamson (Byers, Colo.) and Jake Spitzlberger (Lakewood, Colo.) battle third year senior Justin Arellano (Kearney H.S./South Dakota Mines) to replace 2007 starter Dennis Havrilla (1,928 yards, 19 TD’s; 247 rush yards, four TD’s).

        After spring workouts, Adamson was atop the depth chart with Spitzlberger next and then Arellano.

        "Bobby isn't the starter yet; he is just number one after the spring. He seemed to have the best spring season. Both Jake and Justin bring other things to the table," said Morris.

        In 2006, Adamson led Class 1A -- the smallest in Colorado -- in passing yards with 2,308. Ironically, in Class 5A, the large school class in Colorado, Spitzlberger led the way (3,149).

        As the backup last year, Arellano was 9 of 18 for 163 yards, three TD's and one interception.

        "The summer is gong to be big for these guys; how much time they spend throwing, how much time they work with the wideouts, how much time they watch film on their own," said Morris. “Also, who comes out to be the biggest leader in organizing summer passing drills because we can't do that as coaches."

        UNK has good depth at this spot as lefty Justin Barry (Wahoo) is a redshirt freshman and Nick Cooley (Morrill) and Justin Drudik (Adams Central) will be true freshmen in 2008.

        Offensive Line/Tight End

        Few schools in the country can boast that their entire starting offensive line will be back for a second straight year.

        Not only is that the case for the Lopers but the team has good depth here as well. Fourth-year sophomore Eric Paircurich (Westminster, Colo.), a part-time starter in 2006, is scheduled to return from injury and the redshirt freshmen class features five o-linemen. 

        With plenty of bodies to choose from, Morris will try and find the best five linemen to start for the Lopers in 2008.              

        "We ran some experiments here this spring, trying to find the right guys and develop some depth," said Morris. "We took Jake McGlade, our starting left guard, and worked him at center to try and get a backup behind Jack (Hiett)," said Morris. "We then took Stephen Goodin (reserve tackle last year) and put him at left guard."

        Morris continued, "Overall, with the oldest guy being a junior and the youngest being a freshmen, this is a good athletic group.”

        Hiett, the 2006 RMAC Offensive Freshmen of the Year, was a first-team selection pick as a sophomore. On his right side, junior Matt Goldenstein (Gretna) and Matthies were impressive in their first years as Loper starters.

        McGlade (Creighton Prep), one of only three UNK players to earn first-team Academic All-RMAC honors last year, spent 2007 at left guard with Davison, now a two-time All-RMAC pick, at left tackle for a second straight year.

        Like Goodin (Hastings), Paicurich is capable of playing both guard and tackle and could battle for a starting spot if his knee holds up. Among second-year freshmen, Derek Rowe (Arvada, Colo.) dressed out for several home games last year but managed to keep his redshirt.

        The tight end spot will feature Fort Hays State transfer Adam Drudik (Adams Central) and redshirt freshmen Dane Rudeen (Overton). Both are true tight ends; often in the Morris era, UNK has had to take a defensive lineman and turn him into a tight end.

        “I think this is the best group of tight ends since we had Joel Jacobs (three-time All-RMAC selection; played in the NFL),” said Morris. “This is the toughest position to learn on our offense but we have some people here that can really make a difference this year.”

        As a true freshman in 2006, Drudik caught two passes for the Tigers.

        Running Back

        Jake Richards, a starter here for the last two and half years, graduated and takes with him 1,885 yards and 19 TD’s. He was among the most prolific backs in the RMAC last year as well, averaging 78.3 yards per game and reaching the end zone seven times.

        Speedy sophomore Brendan Liess (McCook), a rare underclassman to log serious minutes at back in the Morris era, is ready to fill the void.

        In 2007, he was second on the team in rushing (90 carries, 461 yards, three TD’s) while also being a big factor in the passing game (20 receptions, 222 yards, one TD).

        “During spring ball, we were disappointed that we never 'popped’ Brendan into the open to see what he can do. He ran hard but never hit that home run. But, we know what he is capable of," said Morris.

        Another sophomore, Travis Wegner (Humphrey-St. Francis), is the only other back on the roster to have carried the ball in a game. Before suffering a season-ending injury halfway through 2007, Wegner had six carries for 20 yards.

        After a redshirt season, another fast sophomore Riley Newcomer (Morrison, Colo.) should factor into the back rotation. Several talented true freshmen – including Rustin Dring (Kearney H.S.) – might be pressed into service if duty calls.

        Dring was among Nebraska’s top high school runners last year and would be the first Loper back to play as a first year player since Jared Goodwin (Grand Island) in 2001.

        Receivers

        On the perimeter, UNK must replace h-back Tyler McNitt (113 career catches, 1,647 yards, 18 TD’s) and deep threat Cory Sleeth (74 career catches, 1,162 yards, 12 TD’s).

        Both received professional interest after 2007 ended with McNitt earning a tryout with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

        There is still plenty of talent left, however, to scare RMAC defenses. Myrick, despite being hobbled at the end of 2007, led the conference with eight TD catches and is already among the most prolific receivers in Loper lore; 98 catches for 1,132 yards and 12 scores.

        He’ll likely be joined by junior Tyrone Hilton Jr. (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore Kyle Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) in the starting lineup. Hilton sat out 2007 as redshirt while Kaiser was UNK’s fourth option among receivers last year, catching 16 balls for 275 yards and three TD’s.

        This past spring, Kaiser has a monster effort in the first annual “Blue/White game,” catching TD’s of 67 and 70 yards.

        “Tyrone has shown in practice that he’ll be a very good RMAC player; people are going to having a hard time covering him,” said Morris. “Kyle has already shown he can play in our league. He can catch the ball and has take-it-to-the-house speed.”

        There are plenty of other options here when the Lopers need to use more then three receivers. Junior Mike Pennetta (Westminster, Colo.) bounced back from injury to snag five balls last year while junior Wyatt Barstow (Springview) had a solid spring.

        Also, former prep QB Eric Gustafson (Axtell) had two catches as a redshirt freshman and even blocked a punt for a TD.

        At the h-back spot, sophomore Brandon Dondinger (Waverly) and redshirt freshmen Eli Hammond (Colo. Springs, Colo.) will continue to give UNK a bigger option on the perimeter. Dondlinger, a South Dakota transfer, had three catches last year and would’ve made more had it not been for some injuries.

DEFENSE

        Despite several injuries to key players last year, UNK was again among the RMAC leaders in defense, giving up only 20.5 points and 321.7 yards per game.

        Giving up just 98 rushing yards every Saturday, the Lopers held three opponents to seven points or less and held two others under 20 points.

        In 2008, a veteran group of players – led by eight seniors and some experienced juniors – will try and help a young offense in the early going.

        UNK’s defensive players will have to adjust to three new assistant coaches this fall as coordinator Bob Crocker welcomes in Jesse Williams (d-line) and linebacker coaches Matt Martin and Gino Polastri.

        “We’ve had turn over in out staff before. I’m confident in what we’re doing and will get the new coaches in here and get them oriented to our system,” said Morris. “They’ll each bring new things to the table. We welcome new ideas and input.”

        Defensive Line

        Run stopper Zach Cerise leaves a hole in the middle but the Lopers return six players who played a lot of minutes in 2007.

        Leading the way is Reicks, who missed the last three games in 2007 with injury. Despite the set back, he still led the Lopers in tackles for loss (10.5) and QB hurries (five).

        "I don’t think there is a better defensive end in the RMAC then Nate. I don't care what the all-conference voting says," said Morris.

        Reicks, who’ll join the wrestling team at the end of the football season, was a second-team All-RMAC selection in 2007.

        At the other end position are three sophomores who combined for 76 stops in 2007, including 19.0 for loss. With the Lopers a bit short handed in the interior, all three will likely line up in the middle at some point this season.

        The trio includes Mason Brodine (Elm Creek), Chris Fant (Omaha Burke) and Josh Rohde (S-E-M).

        Fant started the majority of time but battled injury the second half of the season and that limited his minutes. The ailment, however, allowed Brodine and Rohde to get on the field and gain valuable experience.

        “In fall camp, we’ll have quite the battle for that starting position,” said Morris. 

        Cannon, with 30 tackles in 2007, will replace Cerise at the tackle spot. Redshirt freshman Ryan Pluta (Lincoln North Star) would’ve seen time here but an injury in spring ball will keep him out the entire 2008 campaign.

        Mid-year transfer Luke Landri (Diablo Valley College) had a strong sophomore season as a playmaking end in California and will be a factor along the line as well.

      Linebackers

        UNK must replace two of the most athletic backers of Morris era in Nick Oberle and Kirk Peterson. The duo combined to make 274 career tackles, often running down the opposition.

        The Lopers hope to keep their 2008 linebacking crew on the field; over the last couple of years, a rash of injuries has hit this group hard.

        Fall, with 152 career tackles, leads the way after making a team-high 86 tackles in 2007. A second-team All-RMAC pick, the Boys Town product has a knack for making the big hit.

        “The thing with Cheikh, he hits people so hard he hurts himself. We need to keep him on the field,” said Morris.

        One of the Lopers steady veterans is Rudeen, who has started several games the past few years. The fifth senior made 32 tackles last year and helped replace Peterson in the lineup when he missed the final three games with injury.

        Also on the inside is junior Matt Salmons (Ventura, Calif.), who missed most of last year with a broken hand, and sophomore Dan Martin (Kearney), the son of offensive coordinator Russ Martin.

        On the outside, fifth-year senior Brian Malicky (Columbus), a 2007 second-team Academic All-District pick, has suffered season-ending injuries in mid-October the past two years. He’ll challenge for a starting spot as well as junior Eric Scheele (Utica-Centennial) and sophomore Jay Kropp (Grand Island). 

        Transfers Darrell Bostick (Killeen, Texas/Western New Mexico U.) and Micah Madlock (Lincoln/San Diego Mesa College) should also factor into the equation. 

        Bostick, a prep teammate of Cannon, made 20 tackles while at Western in 2006 with Madlock scooping up a fumble and returning 54 yards for a TD in the spring game.

        "We’ll miss Nick and Kirk but we still have several seniors (at linebacker) that are good football players. It's not a real flashy group but some blue collar guys that will work hard in the weight room, practice hard and play hard," said Morris.         

        Secondary

        UNK entered 2007 with a very green group of cornerback and safeties. With the return of Mandelko, the Lopers will have a much more veteran group in 2008.

        Expected to replace the production and leadership of Yly Rock and Paul Jimenez, Mandelko – with 27 tackles in 2006 --- instead sat out last year with a back injury.

        In his place, redshirt freshman Pat Ackerman (Holdrege) was thrown into the starting lineup and responded with 47 tackles. Departed Brice Wiltgen had a very productive 2007 (47 tackles, two INT’s) as a starter at the other safety spot and will have to be replaced.

        Loeffelholz, making 51 tackles, began the year at corner and then switched over to help out safety. He also had one pick and even returned a blocked PAT for two points in the season opener.

        Finally, junior Owen Stubbs (Grand Island) and Ozzie Smith (Bellevue) combined for 39 tackles last year in reserve roles.

        At corner, junior Mike Neal (Brentwood, Calif.) finished his first year in a Loper uniform in a big way by returning two interceptions for TD’s in the season finale at Western New Mexico. Having a team-best four picks, Neal also made 43 tackles.

        If Loeffelholz is at safety, Smith or redshirt freshman Cody Kissel (Kearney) is likely to be at one corner spot. And in spring ball, Colorado native Mickeal Butierres showed he might be able to help out as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS

        Once again, UNK has another All-American kicking candidate. Following Volker Olbrich, Henrik Juul-Nielsen and Jessup Pfeifer, Carnahan gives the Lopers a threat at punter and place kicker.

        The former Kearney Catholic Star averaged 39.7 in 41 punt attempts last year with 11 of those boots landing inside the 20-yard line.

        Scoring wise, Carnahan led the team (73 points) as he made 40 of 41 PAT’s and converted 11 of 13 field goals. That included three pointers of 52 and 55 yards.

        And Carnahan is always a threat on gadget plays; he is 4 of 5 for 106 yards and two TD’s as a passer.

        On kickoffs, Carnahan will take over for the departed Jordan Alegria (57.2 avg.). UNK ranked third in covering kicks last year, having a net average of 40.6 yards.

        UNK must replace Sleeth (30.9 avg., one TD) at kick return with Kaiser (eight returns, 17.1 avg.), Liess (one return for 42 yards) and Myrick (three returns, 27.7 avg.) among the candidates.

        With Sleeth leading the way, UNK ranked first in kick returns in the RMAC in 2007, averaging 25.6 yards.

        At punt return, the Lopers have two options as Kaiser was strong last year (10.7 avg.) with Mandelko averaging 13.6 yards a return in 2006.

        Finally, Hiett returns at deep snapper while a QB will likely man holding duties.