2008 Wooster Football Season Outlook

Fighting Scots Looking to Build On Late-Season Momentum

Dustin Sheppard enters his senior campaign with 2,685 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

A strong finish to the 2007 season, featuring four wins over its last six and one of the two losses coming in a game in which it outgained an eventual quarterfinalist in the NCAA Div. III Football Championship, has The College of Wooster optimistic about this fall’s campaign, as the Fighting Scots will look to recapture their status as one of the perennial contenders for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship.

“We paid the price for inexperience early in 2007. After losing 27 seniors from the 2006 campaign, many of whom were three- or four-year players, we got a baptism under fire due to a number of first-year starters and a very challenging schedule. The good news is that they are not first-year starters in 2008,” remarked Wooster head coach Mike Schmitz.

Behind the leadership of 18 seniors, the Scots improved dramatically during the second half of 2007, even earning victories by 52 and 36 points the final two games, which led Schmitz to say, “Of all the teams we’ve had here, I’m about as proud of that (one) as any. We found ourselves in a place we hadn’t been as a program. It would’ve been easy for that team to go in a different direction, but our seniors would not allow it to happen. They kept fighting, clawing, and scratching, and we became a much better team.”

“Now, we have a lot of people back,” he continued. “We still have a long way to go, but we showed what we’re made of, we gained valuable experience, and our expectations for 2008 are very high.”

At two marquee positions, Wooster has returning starters in quarterback Austin Holter and running back Dustin Sheppard. The Scots’ team success late last season seemed to be directly related to Holter’s steady improvement as a first-year starter. Holter, now a junior, was an efficient passer, completing nearly 60 percent (.597) of his attempts for 1,565 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also posed a significant running threat, netting 288 yards on the ground and another seven scores.

Sheppard has been the offense’s primary back throughout his career, entering 2008 ranked sixth in school history with 2,685 rushing yards and ninth with 27 rushing touchdowns. The senior standout is a three-time all-NCAC award winner, having earned second-team honors as a junior when he closed with six-straight 100-yard games and 896 yards overall. Playing injured his entire sophomore season, Sheppard still managed to rush for 1,020 yards for honorable mention all-NCAC status, which followed his recognition as NCAC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.

Wooster was expected to have two senior starters at wide receiver, but an off-season knee injury to Luke McCann has left Jordan Ferns as the top veteran at that position. Ferns posted career highs of 28 receptions and 292 yards as well as three touchdowns last fall. Sophomore Mike Redick, who demonstrated steady improvement throughout 2007, senior Joe Francescangeli, and speedy junior Ashton Segree return and are expected to pick up the slack in McCann’s absence.

The Scots have featured the tight end in the passing game with players at that position leading the team in receiving the past three seasons, and veteran candidates being counted upon to fill that role include juniors Jon Mathis and Mike Francescangeli.

While Wooster graduated three starting offensive linemen for the second consecutive year, Schmitz remains confident in the unit, which welcomes back starters Todd Spillman at left tackle and Storm Tropea at left guard. On the right side, senior Cam LeMasters was part of the rotation last season and sophomore Nate Laslow started twice at center as a first-year.

Defensively, the Scots return six starters, highlighted by five of the front seven, from a group that averaged just 16.8 points allowed over the final six games. Up front, senior defensive tackle Pat Byrne will be a cornerstone after leading the squad’s linemen with 36 tackles last fall, and sophomore Luke Drake and junior Chris Wade will apply pressure from the outside. The two defensive ends combined for 50 tackles, with Drake registering a team-high 5.0 sacks as a first-year.

Junior outside linebacker Matt DeGrand hopes to build off a breakout season, in which he received honorable mention on the All-NCAC Team after pacing Wooster in tackles with 95, including 12.5 for losses. Likely to hold down the middle spot is sophomore Steve Custenborder, who after missing two early games to injury, stood out in week five and then started the second half of the year.

Wooster’s only returning starter in the secondary is junior cornerback Bryan Albani, who led the way with three interceptions and four pass break-ups. Senior Jordan Ross brings significant experience at both the nickel and corner positions and is being counted on to solidify the defensive backfield.

Additionally, the Scots return one of the best specialists in Div. III in senior punter Kevin Friedman. The all-NCAC standout has averaged 39.0 yards for his career, including 40.8 last season to rank 11th nationally.

What follows is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2008 Wooster football team:

QUARTERBACK

Holter evolved into one of the conference’s top-tier quarterbacks by the time 2007 concluded, ranking seventh in total offense at 186.3 yards per game. Nine of the 17 touchdowns he was responsible for (10 passing, 7 rushing) came during the final three games, which included a 105-yard rushing, 129-yard passing performance against conference champ Wabash College.

“It’s always good to have a starting quarterback coming back. Austin took some lumps early on, but he is a great competitor and improved dramatically during the 2007 season. We believe he has the tools to be special,” summarized Schmitz.

Also returning are fellow junior Chad Parker, who connected on 20-of-36 pass attempts (.556) for 210 yards during five games last fall, and sophomore Dusty Staggs, while newcomers at the position are T.J. Atkinson and Sean Snider.

RUNNING BACK

Sheppard, labeled the heart-and-soul of his team, will once again be a focal point of the offense. He looks to carry over the momentum from last season’s final six games, a stretch that saw him grind out 739 yards and six touchdowns. Sheppard, who also was highly involved in the 2007 passing game with 24 catches for 226 yards, now is on pace to finish as the fourth-leading rusher in Scot history.

“Shep is 100 percent healthy. He is stronger and faster than he has ever been, and we anticipate he’ll have his very best year,” Schmitz said. “Dustin is not only an outstanding player, he is a great leader in our program.”

Senior Orlando Jones has been an effective complement to Sheppard throughout his career. He’s totaled 662 yards (518 rushing, 144 receiving) and five touchdowns while making regular appearances the past two seasons. The coaching staff is very high on sophomore Kyle Murdock, who demonstrated his potential by breaking out for 111 rushing yards on just six carries during the final two games.

Sophomores Ryan Klink and Mark Thomas, along with freshmen Dajaun Bush and Zach Azallion will also compete for time, although Azallion could land on the other side of the ball as he has the potential to be an outstanding defensive back.

WIDE RECEIVER

One of Wooster’s strongest positions could end up being wide receiver, where there is a blend of veterans who have developed and an influx of young talent, which Schmitz hopes will add up to meeting one of his objectives – an increase of “explosive plays” for the offense.

Ferns enters his final campaign with career numbers of 41 receptions, 453 yards, and six touchdowns, while Redick has the potential for a breakout year after starting twice and tallying seven catches for 81 yards and a score as a freshman. Joe Francescangeli and Segree also are expected to increase their production after previously combining for seven receptions, 46 yards, and one touchdown. Junior Will Hansen and sophomore Joe Rodella, who missed his first year due to injury, will be in the mix as well.

Headlining the freshman class is Zack Gust, who possesses the speed to make an immediate impact, while Taylor Trout, Kyron Espadron, Remington Jackson, and Robert Flagg could also press for varsity action.

TIGHT END

The Scots have had an all-conference player at tight end for three consecutive seasons in Greg Peltz, who collected 62 receptions, 743 yards, and six touchdowns over his career (2003-06), and Ben Schrock, who put up similar numbers of 63 receptions, 640 yards, and six touchdowns (2004-07). Last fall, Will Miska, was voted the team’s Offensive MVP after finishing up with a career year of 30 catches for 403 yards.

“It’s part of who we are and what we do,” Schmitz explained. “We’ve been blessed to have talented players at the position. It only makes sense for us to utilize them, not only as blockers in the run game, but as a major part of the passing game.”

A top candidate to fill the role of the traditional tight end is Jon Mathis, who has seen significant special teams action and won an individual NCAC championship in the high jump (6 feet, 2.75 inches) this past spring. Fellow junior Austin Drewyor and outstanding freshman Cameron Daniels will vie for time, too.

The leading candidate to fill the other position is Mike Francescangeli, an athletic and versatile player who is making the transition from linebacker. Sophomore Andrew Ford, who earned a varsity letter as a running back, will compete for the starting nod, along with highly-touted freshman Andrew Heuss. Two other first-years, T.J. Thompson and Matt Schwenning, have the potential to be in the mix, too.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Wooster’s offensive line situation is unique in that it lost three starters for the second year in a row, yet returns a significant level of experience. Last season, Spillman and Tropea were first-year starters at left tackle and left guard, respectively, helping the offense improve on its averages of 14.4 points and 241.6 yards of total offense through five games to 33.8 points and 432.4 yards the second half of the year. Now, the juniors are expected to anchor the unit.

LeMasters, Laslow, and senior Josh Clark are key veterans as well. LeMasters is the most experienced returner at right tackle after seeing a number of varsity snaps there in 2007. Laslow was “thrown into the fire” as a freshman, according to Schmitz, as he replaced two-time all-NCAC center Dan Sommers when the latter was injured, and now could start on the inside, likely at guard. The whole team is excited about the return of Clark, who was expected to be a key contributor entering last season, but became very ill during training camp and missed the entire year. He has a clean bill of health now and is considered to be the top prospect at center.

“We are so excited that Clarkie is healthy again and able to compete,” added Schmitz. “We really missed him last season and we expect great things from him in 2008.”

Junior John Obery, a letterwinner after making the transition from tight end, will “certainly have a lot to say about who starts at tackle,” according to Schmitz. Sophomore Stephan Adam, junior Jesse Gaswint, and sophomore Josh Kime will compete for time at the guard positions, as will sophomore Jacob Dinkelaker at center.

Joe Collins, Kevin Orris, Anthony Steratore, Travis Calkins, and Mike Blake are among a talented group of first-years on the offensive line.

DEFENSIVE LINE

With three of four starters returning, plus additional talent waiting in the wings, the Scots appear to have solid depth on the defensive line. In the middle, Byrne has been a steady contributor throughout his career, having been credited with 52 tackles, 7.0 for losses, and Drake and Wade look to build on their first-year as starters at end. Drake just missed out on adding to his total of 5.0 sacks on a number of occasions while contributing in a variety of ways with 26 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and an interception. Wade finished the season with just two less tackles than Drake.

Two-year letterwinner Jeff Brown will be counted on heavily after seeing significant time in the defensive line rotation. Sophomore Chris Aukerman could also be a regular on the outside, while classmates Kurt Brown and Dustin Eisele will compete for the tackle position alongside Byrne.

Sophomores Mitchell Chavers, Dennis Rogers, and Jimmy Ehalt are in the mix for time at defensive end, along with newcomers David Smith, Micah Seidner, and Dan Terhune. First-year Chris Moore will compete at tackle.

LINEBACKER

Despite two returning starters in DeGrand and Custenborder, Schmitz expects the competition for the starting positions at linebacker during training camp “to be heated.” DeGrand, also one of the top pitchers for Wooster’s nationally-ranked baseball team, averaged 11.2 tackles the second half of the season, and came up with 3.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one interception overall. After returning from an early season shoulder injury, Custenborder made an immediate impact, registering multiple tackles five of the last six games.

The outside position opposite of DeGrand appears to be wide open, with the sophomore foursome of Daniel Goodfleisch, Eric Keyes, Matt Carlson, and Derek Stein, who is making the transition from quarterback, among the competitors. Senior Justin Aichele will provide competition in the middle.

The Scots welcome another “outstanding recruiting class,” according to Schmitz, at linebacker, led by Mitch Dawson, Hector Clavijo, Bret Dixon, Matt Breidigam, Kevin Lee, and Tony Barone.

“There’s as much talent as we have had at linebacker, which will undoubtedly lead to great competition,” he summed up. “Opportunities certainly exist for those who earn them. We are excited to see who steps up.”

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The area hit hardest by graduation was the defensive backfield, but Schmitz expects “guys to step up and mature in a hurry.” The speedy Albani, who is coming off shoulder surgery, will be expected to lead the way, along with Ross. In addition to his three interceptions, Albani accounted for 27 tackles last fall, while Ross has been a regular contributor in nickel packages throughout his career and now the “outstanding technician,” as described by Schmitz, looks to hold down a starting corner position.

Also competing for time at cornerback will be senior Pat Zimmerman, sophomore Isaiah Tyler, freshman Anthony Jackson, and Azallion.

Both safety positions will feature first-year starters. Top candidates at strong safety appear to be senior Eric Grinnell and sophomore Jeremy Petit, while junior Brian Swan is among a group vying for the free safety spot. Other veterans in the running for the starting nod are sophomore Derek Calhoun, who is making the transition from running back, sophomore Adonis Hernandez, and senior Tyler Arnold. Talented first-year Kenny Lee, a high school linebacker, has the athletic ability to earn a position as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Friedman, the team’s third-year punter after transferring from Robert Morris University, has a chance to finish as the conference’s career record holder for punting average, held by former Scot Matt Mahaffey (39.1). Equally adept at booming punts or playing for field position, Friedman, who will also likely handle kickoff duties again, helped Wooster lead the NCAC in team net punting in 2006 (34.1 yards per punt) and he ranked first in the NCAC in individual punting average in 2007 (40.8).

At placekicker, senior Dan Grangaard is the heir apparent to replace Andrew Milligan, who finished his career having made 92-of-94 extra points (.979) and 24-of-36 field goals (.667). Grangaard possesses limited experience, but Schmitz is confident in him, and Friedman could double-up, if necessary.

The Scots also have to replace one of the best punt returners in school history – Keith Adams (team-record 1,000 punt return yards and 10.1 career average). Candidates being looked at to take over include Tyler, Murdock, and Trout, while Wooster will also try-out a variety of kick returners. Segree, Albani, Jones, Murdock, Ferns, and both Francescangeli brothers all attempted multiple kickoff returns last fall.

SCHEDULE

The Scots schedule has a significantly new look for the 2008 campaign, as this marks the first of a four-year agreement between the NCAC and University Athletic Association. Each NCAC member, with the exception of Earlham College, will play two members out of the UAA, a four-team football conference, in non-league games.

“There are certainly some positives about the UAA agreement,” stated Schmitz. “It’s exciting to play schools like Washington University in St. Louis and Carnegie Mellon University, (which) are in different parts of the country. They have similar academic reputations to those of us in the NCAC and they are strong programs, so we’re looking forward to it from that standpoint. We (also) have a long-standing agreement with Case (Western Reserve University), which had a terrific season in 2007. We always look forward to competing against them.

“That said, I would still prefer to play a full round-robin schedule against the NCAC, which would mean nine conference games and one non-conference, instead of the current seven and three.”

Wooster’s season starts up at Waynesburg University on Sept. 6. It will mark the third year in a row the Scots and Yellow Jackets open with each other, with the teams having split the first two contests.

The NCAC-UAA agreement also means a much earlier start to the conference season, as the Scots welcome Ohio Wesleyan University for their home opener Sept. 20. Wooster has won five of its last six against Ohio Wesleyan. The Scots continue their NCAC season the next two weeks with a road game under the lights at their oldest rival, Denison University, and a home affair against Earlham.

Then, UAA foes, Case Western Reserve and Washington-St. Louis, are on the slate back-to-back in mid-October. Wooster has played the Spartans 20 of the last 24 seasons in a near-annual battle for the Baird Brothers Trophy, one of the most unique-tradition trophies in college football – a golden fishing stringer with carved bass fish representing each previous game.

The Scots face a challenging stretch to close the regular season, which includes a trip to defending NCAC champion Wabash College Oct. 25, followed by a home game against Allegheny College. The Allegheny-Wooster series has featured three exciting finishes the last three years, with the Scots kicking a 32-yard field goal with :02 left to prevail 37-34 in 2005 and then they broke a 21-21 tie with a 43-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired in 2006, and just last year, the Gators intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play to secure a 27-20 victory.

After a road game at Oberlin College on Nov. 8, Wooster’s finale will be a home game against none other than arch-rival Wittenberg University. The last two times Wittenberg visited John P. Papp Stadium at the end of the regular season, a postseason berth was on the line and the Tigers escaped with narrow wins – 14-9 in 2002 and 28-14 in 1999.