Pigskin Preview College Edition

Pigskin Preview 2015

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| SUNDAY | AUGUST 16, 2015 |

Jessica Stewar t | St. Joseph News-Press

Missouri Western’s renovations include new turf for the field, part of a multimillion dollar project to bring Spratt Memorial Stadium up to par with many MIAA schools.

‘IT’S PART OF THE WOW FACTOR’

Stadium improvements have Griffon Nation anticipating

W

——— By THOM HANRAHAN | St. Joseph News-Press ———

hen Dr. Robert Vartabedian looks around Spratt Stadium as its renovation moves forward, he makes little attempt to contain his excitement.

When the Missouri Western president announced earlier this month that the school received a seven-figure donation for a video board at the stadium, he made no bones about what it would mean for the school.

“You take the stadium, the video board and combine that with the indoor practice facility and I can’t see any Division II school being able to out-recruit us when it comes to football,” Vartabedian said. “It’s part of the wow factor.”

The latest addition to plans to remodel Spratt comes in the form of a $1.1 million gift from Steve Craig, founder and CEO of

Craig Realty Group and benefactor of the Craig School of Business at Missouri Western.

Craig’s donation will be added to pledges from private donors to the Missouri Western State University Foundation’s Centennial Capital Campaign to fund the $2.6 million project.

The board will be larger than the screens

at many Division I stadiums, and with 2,500 square feet will have the biggest viewing area in Division II. In recognition of the gift, the playing surface will now be known as Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

Craig said it is important do “great things” and not to be complacent or settle for good enough. He believes Western’s improvement will have a ripple effect on St. Joseph and the area.

“Kids are used to seeing a lot of great things at these schools,” he said. “And they will come here and think ‘hey, they’ve got it going.’ My philosophy has always been that if you are in neutral with what you have and are not doing anything, you are really in reverse, you just don’t know it yet.”

In November 2014, the university’s Board of Governors approved the issuance of $5.5 million in bonds for a $7.8 million renovation of the Griffons’ football and soccer stadium.

In December 2014, the board approved Ellison-Auxier Architects as the project’s architectural fi rm.

Please see WESTERN’S/Page C4

MORE Bolles back for Bearcats Northwest Missouri State returns playoff-tested QB this fall see Page C3

Question marks Despite Top-25 ranking, plenty up in air for Benedictine this fall see Page C4

Building foundation Highland looks to add another winning season see Page C4

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| Pigskin Preview

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Western’s returnees among best in Partridge’s tenure

By THOM HANRAHAN St. Joseph News-Press

File photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Northwest Missouri State linebacker Eric Reimer, right, chases Missouri Western running back Raphael Spencer during a game last year at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Mo. still competing for the spot — in a quite friendly way. Windmiller says that the two are friends and have even lived together.

But Windmiller received a lot more snaps under center last year due to LaFaver’s injuries.

“I think even towards the end of last season, I started to get more comfortable,” Windmiller said. “That showed, I think, with the success that we had at the end of the season. It will be huge being able to bring that into this season.”

Four of last year’s starting offensive linemen return to protect Windmiller and pave the way for one of the conference’s top running backs in Raphael Spencer.

Spencer rushed for 1,126 yards in 2014 for a 102 yards-per-game average. Spencer is also one of the most prolific ball carriers in Western history, which includes former Harlon Hill finalist Michael Hill.

MISSOURI WESTERN Depth chart

QUARTERBACK

OFFENSE

Though returning starter Skyler Windmiller insists job still anyone’s for taking, competition likely over heading to fall camp. Will keep job as long as improvement from true freshman campaign in 2014 continues. Coach Jerry Partridge says team is Windmiller’s now, but likely will call the number of Windmiller’s main competitor in T.J. LaFaver. Neck-inneck for starting job last fall but in-season injuries slowed progress, pushed him back in pecking order. Nate Wilson — Northwest Missouri State transfer — saw limited action, but got good reps in spring game.

A Park Hill product, completed 5-of-7 passes last year. Likely third man up.

RUNNING BACK

When Western runs ball, there is no question who will be carrying it. Raphael Spencer returns for senior year after 2nd 1,000-plus yard rushing in 2014. First-team All-MIAA performer last year has racked up preseason accolades, including USA College Football D-II Preseason All-American as 1st-teamer. Just 330 yards shy of second on Grifffons’ all-time rushing list. Loss of talented Dominic Thomas as Spencer’s backup creates question marks among reserve ranks. Senior Tra Brown is back but only averaged 3 yards per carry in 2014.

Behind Spencer, Brown are host of unproven redshirt freshmen, sophomores. Coaching staff spoke highly of incoming freshman Dominic Jamerson on signing day.

WIDE RECEIVER

Gone is solid 1-2 punch of Stephon Weaver, Dee Toliver — only Toliver remains with Weaver lost to academic issues. Will try to improve on 31 catches for 457 yards, 4 TDs. Griffons need to find aerial targets in 2015 and may look to newcomer. Coffeyville Community College transfer Dijuan Ussery drew positive comments from Partridge at MIAA Media Day. Has 3 years eligibility remaining, elite speed. Will be used to stretch defenses vertically. Most experienced wideout after Toliver is fellow slot receiver Brandynn Clark (27/331/3). Redshirt junior James Williams saw limited action in 2014.

Spencer, a senior out of Kansas City’s O’Hara, enters 2015 third on the Griffons’ all-time rushing list and probably two games — 330 yards away — from second place but still about 2,000 yard shy of Hill’s school record.

Spencer is only the third back to eclipsed 3,000 yards in his career and jumped from ninth all-time to third in the school’s record book last year.

“It’s amazing what he can do with the ball in his hands,” Windmiller said of Spencer. “And not just with the ball, but pass protection-wise he is always back there standing next to me telling me where to look for blitzes.

“He’s on the same page as the offensive line and we’re excited to see what he can do this year.”

One of the question marks offensively will be with the receiving corps. The Griffons lost last year’s leading receiver, Stephon Weaver due to academic issues.

Only wideout Dee Toliver and

tight end Alek Ferbet return among the pass-catchers.

But a newcomer had Partridge speaking with enthusiasm at the MIAA Media Day. Dijuan Ussery comes to Western from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College and he will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Ussery also returns kicks and Partridge said to plan on seeing him taking the first return of the year.

“We were told by the coach there, ‘Remember John Brown,’” Partridge said referencing the former Pittsburg State receiver and now Arizona Cardinal. “So we signed him. He’s got that kind of speed. Now if he’s going to be another John Brown, I don’t know. But he’s going to be pretty good.”

Defensively, the Griffons return seven starters, including All-American cornerback Michael Jordan.

Sam Brown and Jordan team

room. Redshirt senior Yomi Alli comes back after also being named honorable mention All-MIAA. Third on the team with 71 tackles with 11½ for a loss. Racked up more than 11 tackles in two games. Tallied 2 sacks on the season. At other linebacker spot, Griffons will look to Will Gaye and Jorge Belcher, both resdshirt juniors. Both were listed on the two-deep by last season’s finale against Missouri Southern.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Partridge likes to ease freshmen, newcomers into system in a lot of instances. Will not have that luxury with 2015 specialists. Gone are top-level performers Scott Groner and Jon Schmiemeier. Both were All-Americans. Whoever handles kicking duties this season will be at best unproven. Groner is now on the coaching staff after breaking nearly every Griffons punting record in his four-year career. He replaces Jay White, who took a job with the Kansas City Chiefs. Schmiemeier led the MIAA in 2014 on his way to an honorable mention Don Hansen All-American nod. Groner will have to bring along freshmen Sean Galey and Tanner Pettet, who will battle for the spot at place kicker. At punter, 2 more freshmen will compete as Luke Theis and Matthew Vincent will work to secure those duties. They won’t have to worry about inconsistent snapping as Cameron Glenn returns for his 3rd year as the Griffons’ long snapper.

Clark led the team with 13 punt returns, 91 punt return yards, is back for the 2015 campaign. Clark returned 3 kicks for 74 yards last season, the most of any returning player. But Ussery got Partridge’s declaration as the team’s opening-game kickoff returner at least. His blazing speed may see him enter the punt return picture as well.

CORNERS

If returning experience, talent makes Griffons’ 1st 2 levels formidable, it gets stronger on the corners. Tandem of All-American redshirt senior Michael Jordan and Sam Brown – another redshirt junior – will make pass game difficult for even most talented conference foes. Jordan, Brown also played role in run support with a combined 82 tackles. Throwing to either side against pair is problematic.

Jordan intercepted 4 passes in 2014, Brown notched three. For depth, end-of-year 2-deep listed Blue Springs, Mo., product Donte Watkins.

Played in all 11 games a year ago, contributed 23 tackles and a blocked kick against Fort Hays State.

SAFETY

Gone is team’s second-leading tackler in Meshack Kennedy, so is fellow safety Marc Harrison. So the Griffons will be reloading at back end of secondary. Among returnees that could land the spots are redshirt junior Brock Kimball, junior Jonathan Owens. Kimball played in 9 games last season, and appeared as Kennedy’s backup on the year-end two-deep. In 2014, had 8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, a

TIGHT END

A perceived weakness entering 2014 could be a team strength entering 2015 campaign. Host of performers return for Griffons. Senior Alek Ferbet had big shoes to fill when Reggie Jordan left after 2013 to pursue NFL opportunities, but started all 11 games. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds not the pass receiver Jordan was but managed to catch 15 passes last year, average 13.1 yards per reception. Junior Daylon Harper also played in every game last season, made most of his lone catch, netting a 14-yard touchdown.

Redshirt junior Blake Vandenburg saw action in 10 contests, will provide depth.

— Thom Hanrahan

MWSU FOOTBALL 2015

DATE 9/3 9/12 9/19 9/26 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31 11/7 11/14

MWSU GRIFFONS

OPPONENT Central Missouri Central Oklahoma Northeastern State Lindenwood Pittsburg State Fort Hays State Washburn Emporia State Northwest Missouri Nebraska-Kearney Missouri Southern

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OFFENSIVE LINE

Good news for Spencer is all but one of last year’s road graders return to bust him loose. Tackle Christian Orduno is gone, but Leonard Webster (6-6, 300) returns on other side. In the middle, redshirt junior Nic Williams (6-3, 295) is back at center as are guards John Carter (6-3, 290), Travis Anderson (6-2, 285). Anderson racked up first-team All-MIAA honors in 2014.

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All returning redshirt sophomore Cody Lindsay did last year was earn honorable mention All-MIAA. Played in all 11 contests, tallied 37 tackles (20 solo, 17 assisted) with 10 tackles for loss. Recorded team-high seven sacks, including 2½ against Nebraska-Kearney. Will be one of two leaders of linebacking corps entering 2014. Lindsay will see another familiar face in the position

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DEFENSIVE LINE

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DEFENSE

At MIAA Media Day, Partridge said redshirt senior nose guard Arbanas Elliott (6-4, 290) is as good as any in the country at lining up over center. Last remaining holdover from “Death Row” defensive line of 2012 will be looked to clog middle, but can also be disruptive force in opponents’ backfield. Registered 3 tackles for loss, 2½ sacks in 2014. Lining up beside Elliott will be fellow redshirt senior Janus Matulis (6-4, 270), senior Richard Obi (6-3, 250). Duo combined for 66 tackles in 2014, with 9½ for loss, 3½ sacks. Partridge hinted at possible breakout season for Obi.

Thom Hanrahan can be reached at thom.hanrahan@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPsports.

career-high 4 tackles against Nebraska-Kearney. Owens is listed as just 5-11 but possesses 37-inch vertical jump. Appeared in 10 games last season, recording 20 tackles. Had interception against Fort Hays State.

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Jerry Partridge knows comparing teams from different years is difficult to do, but the Missouri Western football coach knows it’s likely to happen this season.

As the Griffons prepare for the opener against Central Missouri on Sept. 3, people might notice some similarities with the 2012 team that went 12-2, won the program’s first outright MIAA title and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.

Like this year’s edition of the Griffons, that team wasn’t picked to win the conference, instead it was tabbed as the MIAA’s third-best team. This year Western is picked fourth by the media and fifth by conference coaches. The 2012 team returned 18 starters and the 2015 squad welcomes back 15.

“I feel like the returning group we have coming back in terms of experience and talent is one of the two or three best clubs I’ve had coming back in my time,” Partridge said. “I’m not going to say it’s going to be as good as the club we had three years ago, but with the talent level and the guys that have played for us, and the experience we have a chance to be really, really good.”

And while Partridge is cautious about the comparison, he sees quite a few positives heading into fall camp. At this time last year, returning sophomore starting quarterback Skyler Windmiller was involved in a back-and-forth competition with T.J. LaFaver to replace Travis Partridge.

Now, Windmiller has a year of game experience and closed the season as the starter after LaFaver season ended due to concussions after a win at Lindenwood on national television.

“It’s Skyler’s team right now,” Partridge said.

But the incumbent who threw for 1,799 yards at a 54.8 percent clip says it isn’t that simple. He insists the two signal callers are

up at the corners to provide Western with one of the best pass-defending tandems in the MIAA. Partridge even thinks that might be short-changing them.

“We think our defense is going to be really, really fast,” Partridge said. “Probably faster (than the 2012 unit). Our corners are second to none in the country. We’ve got two big 6-foot-2 corners and one is a pro prospect.”

Partridge also feels good about his defenders up front, as well.

The Griffons return all three in Arbanas Elliott, Janis Matulis and Richard Obi. Elliott earned second-team All-MIAA honors last year and anchors the unit from the nose guard spot.

“Richard Obi has gotten so much better this offseason and in spring ball,” Elliott said.

“He’s going to be really, really good this year.”

With the exception of Ussery being guaranteed the return man role, Western’s special teams have some holes to fill and not all of them are on the field.

With punter Scott Groner and kicker John Schmiemeier lost to graduation, the Griffons will see competition for both spots and it is another area where newcomers will make an immediate impact.

At kicker, freshmen Sean Galey and Tanner Pettet will battle for the spot. At punter, two more freshmen will compete. Luke Theis and Matthew Vincent will work to secure those duties.

All of the specialists will work with Groner, who takes over as the assistant coach in charge of Western’s specialists. Groner replaces Jay White, who left the program this spring to take a job with the Kansas City Chiefs’ equipment staff.

“That’s going to be an interesting competition,” Partridge said. “We’re going to put a lot of pressure on the guys to get better in fall camp.”

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Sunday, August 16, 2015

Fresh faces bring new hunger to Northwest football program

By CHRIS BILS St. Joseph News-Press

MARYVILLE, Mo. — A a bitter silence came with Northwest Missouri State’s season-ending 25-21 loss at Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Division II playoffs.

It stood in stark contrast to the season before, when the Bearcats left opponents in their wake on the way to the national title. The loss at Duluth brought that quest to defend that crown to a screeching halt, and signaled the end of the road for 22 seniors whose departure was felt enormously.

But in death there is new life, and so another group of Bearcats will take the mantle in 2015 trying to create their own legacy.

“I feel like we’re extremely hungry right now. That’s the benefit of a youthful football team,” Northwest coach Adam Dorrel said heading into fall camp. “You’ve got guys who haven’t played much, they’ve put themselves in a position to play.”

For the first time in a while, the Bearcats enter the season with plenty to prove. They are replacing key starters on both sides of the ball, and not just a few. The pamphlet sent out to MIAA media and coaches ahead of media day listed Northwest as having 12 returning starters, but Dorrel estimates that number to be closer to five or six.

Even those returning, including senior quarterback Brady Bolles, have taken a different mindset heading into the season.

“We’re storming the castle now, we’re not protecting it,” he said. “We’ve got to take that mindset into every game, that we’re the underdog in every game. We’ve got something to prove. And I think our team has really bought into that this summer.”

Their opponents apparently disagree. For the second year in a row, Northwest enters the season atop the conference in both polls. If winning the conference for the third-straight year is the expectation, the Bearcats admit they have a long road to get there.

Dorrel told his team back in January that, on paper, they project to 7-4. That would be the program’s worst mark since 2001.

“None of these nine seniors want to be 7-4. That would be a horrible legacy for a senior to leave at Northwest Missouri State,” he said.

So how do they go about making up the difference between inexperience and expectation?

It starts with talent, and as one

C3

NORTHWEST MISSOURI Depth chart

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

In 1st full year as starter, Brady Bolles finished third in MIAA in passing yards. No small feat, but coach Adam Dorrel is looking for increased efficiency from his senior signal-caller. Bolles completed 197 of 338 passes (58.3 percent) for 2,367 yards and 18 TDs with 10 INTs. Dorrel has gone on record saying standard for this season is 65-percent completion rate. Bolles fell short of that mark through spring, but was adjusting to new receiving corps. Time will tell how much Bolles’ accuracy has improved, and it will likely be reflected on scoreboard. Kyle Zimmerman should return in No. 2 role after seeing time in 2014.

RUNNING BACK

Threeheaded monster has been cut down to 2 following departure of leading rusher Robert Burton III (695 yards, 9 TDs).

Burton had most consistent season in 2014 after injury held him out of opening 2 games, but Cameron Wilcox (510 yards, 6 TDs), Phil Jackson II (475 yards, 7 TDs) each carried the load in spurts. Jackson, a junior, will be the starter by virtue of his captain title, but sophomore Wilcox should see nearly equal touches. Key will be keeping both healthy, as Bearcats rarely had full stable last season. Sophomore Jordan Grove (102 yards), who had good fall camp last year, could find himself in mix if he matches performance.

File photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Northwest Missouri State running back Phil Jackson II runs over a Minnesota-Duluth defender during a 2014 NCAA Division II first-round playoff game in Duluth, Minn. of the perennial powers in Division II the Bearcats certainly have that.

Senior left tackle Shane Smith, senior defensive tackle Brandon Yost, senior quarterback Brady Bolles, junior defensive tackle Collin Bevins and senior safety Bryce Enyard all return as 2014 All-MIAA selections.

Second and third leading rushers sophomore Cameron Wilcox (510 yards, 6 TDs) and junior Phil Jackson II (475/7) also return, as do third-leading receiver junior George Sehl (306/3) and kickers Ben Trewyn and Simon Mathieson (both juniors).

The rest will be thrust into the spotlight, having only played minor roles or not at all.

“We have a lot of young kids that want to play, that want to be out there and make big plays and want to help us out and win this season,” Yost said.

Perhaps the biggest position on offense with big question marks is wide receiver. Outside of Sehl, the returner who had the most receptions is sophomore Randy Schmidt, who caught 12 passes for 82 yards. Sophomore Shane Williams will be one of the leaders of that group, while first-year players Shawn Bane Jr. (redshirt freshman) and Dre Washington — a transfer from Diablo Valley Junior College (Calif.) — will be relied on heavily.

On defense, one of the best sta-

tistical units in Division II will need to be almost completely revamped. Outside of Yost, Bevins and Enyard everyone will be either new or stepping into a much larger role than they were in last year.

“We just really want to keep doing what we’ve been doing, keep tradition alive of making plays out there, interceptions, being hard hitters,” Enyard said.

“But we also have been having a lot of fun. We have a lot of young guys, too, so we’ve got a lot of energy.”

With the opening game at Nebraska-Kearney on Sept. 3 fast approaching, that youth must get all of its energy moving in the same direction from the start of fall camp.

“My goal week one at Kearney is to play at the highest level that we can possibly play at and find a way to win the football game. Is it going to be clean, crisp, precise football like you’re used to seeing? No. It’s not, because we’re putting so many young guys out there.

“If we can really, truly buy into the mindset of trying to go 1-0 each week, then you build each week. … Then you have a chance to live up to that expectation that everybody wants each year.”

Chris Bils can be reached at chris.bils@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPsports.

WIDE RECEIVER

Perhaps most intriguing position heading into camp, as 5 of top 6 targets from last season are gone either due to graduation or being off the roster (Quanzee Johnson). Bolles and Dorrel have both said senior George Sehl (306 yards, 3 TDs), sophomore Shane Williams (30 yards) are leaders of group heavy on newcomers, converted quarterbacks. Starting with fresh faces, freshman Shawn Bane Jr. showed versatility and speed in spring, while junior Dre Washington proved what Northwest coaches saw on film from Diablo Valley Junior College, where he scored 10 total TDs in 2014 including 4 on punt returns. Sophomore Randy Schmidt (82 receiving yards, 124 rushing yards, TD) showed unique ability to run, throw, catch last season. Bearcats are hoping freshman Jordan Bishop, who won state title as QB at Kirkwood, will make similar transition.

TIGHT END

Northwest will greatly miss play of Marcus Wright, who provided blocking skill of fullback and 192 receiving yards. Hamilton product TJ Schieber appeared in 11 games, catching 8 passes for 89 yards, 3 TDs. Other spot is up for grabs, with sophomore Clayton Wilson most likely candidate. Lawson product Austen Eskew also listed on roster.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Left tackle Shane Smith is third-year starter and 2014 first-team All-MIAA selection. Rest are unproven, but in spring Dorrel had Jamie Thieman moving to right tackle and Kyle Meyer slotting in at right guard.

Daniel Kempf should slot in as well, and Chase Sherman played in all 13 games last year, starting at guard in the playoff game.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Talent galore, but Dorrel is looking for vast improvement from what he saw in spring.

Interior could be best in Division II, with

first-team All-MIAA selection Brandon Yost (45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4½sacks), third-team honoree Collin Bevins (26 tackles, 9 TFL, 5½ sacks, forced fumble, blocked kick) have been living in MIAA quarterbacks’ nightmares all summer. They were part of line (including MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Matt Longacre now with St. Louis Rams) that gave up 70½ rushing yards per game in 2014. Other DE Kevin Arnold graduated with Longacre, leaving big shoes to fill. All-MIAA honorable mention Cass Weitl (31 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, fumble recovery) brings vital experience to position. Caleb Mather, Tristan Patterson both listed as tackles, but seem likely options to move outside.

LINEBACKERS

Another group taking over for star-studded seniors who have since departed. Eric Reimer, D.J. Gnader were both first-team All-MIAA, Daktronics Super Region 3 performers, vital leaders. Returning to fold is senior Brock Sherman (51 tackles, 7½ TFL, 2 sacks), who started playoff game. Junior Jacob Vollstedt (31 tackles, 2 TFL, ½ sack), senior captain Zach Maloley (19 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack) should hold other 2 starting spots. Group with limited experience, very high potential, plenty to prove. Others who could see time include Maryville product Cole Forney.

CORNER

Hard to discount Bearcats’ ability to produce quality cornerbacks with three currently in NFL training camps. Last year, Travis Manning moved over from safety to replace twins Brandon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Brian Dixon (New Orleans Saints), move that resulted in Manning joining Brian in New Orleans.

Senior captain Bryce Enyard (All-MIAA third team, 41 tackles, 5 TFL, INT)could make similar transition, with experience at both positions. Sophomore Marcus Jones (37 tackles, 2 TFL) caught on toward end of freshman season, also returned kickoff for TD at Lindenwood.

Other options include one of juniors Kevin Berg (11 tackles, 2 INTs) or Jack Young (17 tackles, 2 INTs) switching over from safety.

SAFETY

If Enyard does not switch over to corner, he’ll reclaim his spot as one of most fearsome MIAA safeties. Other spot likely to be claimed by Berg, Young or sophomore Eddie Richey, a sophomore from Kirkwood who had a productive rookie season with 11 appearances and 14 tackles. Freshmen Najeem Hosein (Orlando, Fla.), Trent Nally (former Maryville QB), Deion Scott (Orlando) also appear on roster.

SPECIAL TEAMS

This is one area Dorrel has marked as needing vast improvement from a year ago, when Bearcats made uncharacteristic mistakes in losses to Pittsburg State, Duluth.

Kickers remain same, with junior Simon Mathieson (8-12 FGs, 40-43 PATs) handling majority of field-goal attempts in 2014 and junior Ben Trewyn (11-12 PATs, 1-1 FGs) taking kickoff duties.

Mathieson, a Danish import who signed as WR, hit season long of 44 yards first week against Nebraska-Kearney. Punter is a mystery, with true freshman Matt Thorman only one listed on 2015 roster. Mathieson has ability to fill that role as well. Other play would be to have Bolles drop back on fourth downs, leaving all options in playbook. At kickoff, punt return spots, Enyard, Young, Berg, Jones all have experience. Bane and Washington’s athleticism add to mix.

— Chris Bils

NWMSU FOOTBALL 2015 DATE 9/3 9/10 9/19 9/26 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31 11/7 11/14

OPPONENT Nebraska-Kearney Missouri Southern Central Missouri Central Oklahoma Northeastern State Lindenwood Pittsburg State Fort Hays State Missouri Western Emporia State Washburn

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C4

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Benedictine seeking answers heading into 2015 season

By RANDY SPEER St. Joseph News-Press

ATCHISON, Kan. — Benedictine needs to find some answers before the 2015 season opens and the questions are serious ones.

Who will be the week one starter at quarterback? How healthy is preseason NAIA AllAmerican running back Tyler Henness? And how will the Ravens replace 42 seniors from last season’s team?

Those are just a few of the issues that surround the NAIA’s No. 25 ranked team.

“There are probably more unknowns going into this year than there have been in quite some time,” Benedictine coach Larry Wilcox said. “With the huge number of seniors that we lost from last year, and then a few injury situations, we have a lot of questions.”

Last year’s starter in the backfield, Henness, and senior Kyle Harmyk, sat out the spring season with a injuries, and their availability for the first week of the season is still up in the air.

Harmyk, who has been sidelined with issues in his throwing shoulder, completed 147 passes for 2,086 yards and 23 touchdowns. The gunslinger also threw 11 interceptions, including two games with three or more picks.

Also unavailable is last season’s backup, Nico Rameriez, who injured his knee prior to

downs. He led the league in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, attempts and attempts per game.

“We are optimistic they are both going to be back, but at what point in time they will be in football playing condition, we are going to have to see,” Wilcox said.

On the other side of the ball, Benedictine lost a plethora of starters, none more important than linebacker Josh Montgomery. The senior notched 119 tackles, doubling the next leading tackler for the Ravens.

The man tasked with filling Montgomery’s shoes is fellow linebacker DeAndre Graves. He had 55 tackles last season.

Beyond determining starters, the Ravens will also have to deal with a purely conference schedule. With the addition of Grand View and William Penn to the Heart of America Athletic Conference, the conference has been split into North and South diviFile photo | St. Joseph News-Press sions.

White team running back Robert Zielinski scores on a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of the Benedictine spring footBenedictine is in the Northern ball game earlier this year at Larry Wilcox Stadium.

Division with Culver-Stockton, The other question mark in Graceland, Grand View, Peru what would have been his first Wilcox liked what he saw from start of the season in the Grid- Koester during the spring sea- the Raven backfield is the health State and William Penn. of their returning first team alliron Game. He elected to gradu- son.

Benedictine’s schedule is “Jake had an excellent conference running back. ate instead of taking a medical laced with five teams ranked in spring,” Wilcox said. “There Henness sat out the spring the Top 25 spring polls, redshirt.

That leaves sophomore Jacob was significant improvement season to rest his upper body, “We have one every other Koester and junior Edin Kova- in arm strength. He had a good then had surgery for a sports week, I think,” Wilcox said jokcas the prime candidates to be arm to begin with but threw the hernia which kept him sidelined ingly. the possible opening-game sig- ball very well. We were very for half the summer.

Benedictine opens its seaLast season, Henness racked son at 1 p.m. on Aug. 29 against nal caller. Neither has started pleased with how he matured in a game in a Raven uniform, but the offense from a year before.” up 1,488 yards and six touch- Evangel at home.

Scotties enter 2015 season with higher expectations

By JON DYKSTRA St. Joseph News-Press

Highland enters this season on a high note after two straight winning seasons.

The Scotties finished the 2014 campaign with a 6-5 overall record and 3-4 Jayhawk Conference mark.

Expectations continue to rise for second-year coach Aaron Arnold, who has spent time with both the Texas Tech and Kansas State programs, working under longtime college coaches Tommy Tuberville and Bill Snyder, who Arnold played for at Kansas State.

“I don’t know that (our goals) have changed as much as now they are more realistic,” Arnold said.

“Last year we went into the season and as coaches and players we expect to win every game that we play. There is noone on the schedule that we look at and say that’s a team that we can’t beat. I think the biggest difference this year is we have a bunch of sophomores in here and we’re a little bit older as we go into this season, thats actually a realistic expectation.”

Coming out of the spring, the Scotties seemed to have a good grasp on how the offense would look going into the fall.

The offensive line has four of five starters returning with all of them getting substantial DivisionI interest.

“It makes life a lot easier to have four guys out there that are battletested and know what they are doing,” said Arnold, who also serves as the offensive line coach.

The receiving corps is very talented with two D-I hopefuls anchoring it with 6-foot-4 Troy Grant and the speedy Bob Pugh.

“I know that as a quarterback standing there in the pocket to know that you have two or three guys that you can count on to be open (must be good),” Arnold said.

“Maybe Troy is not really open but I can go ahead and throw it up to him and he’s going to make a play and he’ll make a play.”

And to cap it all off the team has its starting quarterback returning to steer the ship.

Danten Cosentino threw for nearly 1,500 yards last season and 12 touchdowns with a 58 percent completion percentage.

The plan for the Highland offense had to change, though, when the coaching staff received a call over the summer from Missouri State’s coaches asking about Cosentino as they looked to add experience to their quarterback depth chart.

Cosentino joined the Missouri State program in June and now the Scotties are left to see who emerges as the starter from Kahlil Render and Southern Illinois transfer Chandler Shantz, from Derby, Kan. Render is a former Alcorn State commit that garnered a two-star rating by Rivals.com. Shantz played at Buhler and Derby and finished with more tha 3,500 yards passing and 1,750 yards rushing.

“They are very similar players,” Arnold said. “I would say that Shantz is a little more of your traditional pocket passer, whereas Khalil Render can run a little bit more, but they both do some great things standing in the pocket. They both have the ability to run a little bit.”

Whichever quarterback emerges, Arnold is confident he can succeed in the Scottie offense.

“Both of them have the arm talent, both of them can run and both of them are good decision makers,” Arnold said. “Its really going to come down to what’s between their ears and who can master the offense and take charge and show that they are the lead guy.”

Arnold says the talent around the quarterback spot will be huge for whoever wins the job in making sure they are successful.

Despite the offense losing its leader, the defense will have no such trouble as star linebacker Tyree Horton returns for his sophomore season.

“The nice thing about a guy like Tyree is as much as we as coaches want to say we developed Tyree, he was a fairly complete package when we got him,” Arnold said.

“He was a great football player when he showed up. Tyree work very hard in the weight room getting bigger, faster, stronger. I think one area where he developed was leadership.”

Horton, one of the top junior college prospects in the nation, has already committed to continue his football career at Florida State in 2016.

With Horton leading, Arnold trusts that the defense will be a strength for the Scotties.

“The defense, from an attitude standpoint, was noticeably different when he was on the field,” Arnold said. “They got a culture established over there where they know if you want to participate on our defense you got to be tough, you got to be nasty and you got to fly to the football.”

Jon Dykstra can be reached at jon.dykstra@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Western’s new video board will be Division II’s biggest CONTINUED FROM Page C1 So far, the visitor’s grandstands have been moved 31 feet closer to the field and the field turf has been laid. Crews are clearing the way for construction of the new concourse, including a concessions area, restrooms, press box and luxury suites.

Original plans called for a smaller budget for construction of a video board for the stadium.

But Craig had grander ideas about what was needed. Thanks to Craig’s generosity, the video board will now be 65 feet wide and 38 feet tall. And he hopes his gift encourages others to support greatness.

“I believe there’s been a revival in doing things in a great way in St. Joseph, and this is another example,” Craig said.

“I hope people take a look at what’s going on at Missouri Western and support the things that will allow the university to compete on the national level.

“Today we begin building the finest collegiate sports facility in all of Division II. Today our St. Joe mojo is back and this new facility will be a testament to it.”

The board will be located in the stadium’s southeast end, opposite of the current scoreboard.

Kurt McGuffin, Western’s director of athletics, said the impact for the university can’t be underestimated. Not just with the newest addition in the video board, but the stadium renovation as a whole.

“This thing is going to be a monumental thing for us,” McGuffin said. “It changes the experience in this stadium.

Everybody that walks in will see that board, be it players, coaches or fans.

“Kids like to see that. They like to see the new tools, the new field, the new press boxes — it’s a big thing for recruiting and recruiting general students.”

And if the reaction from the

GRIFFONS Sept. 3 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14

Central Missouri CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Northeastern State LINDENWOOD Pittsburg State FORT HAYS STATE WASHBURN Emporia State NORTHWEST Nebraska-Kearney MISSOURI SOUTHERN

Jessica Stewar t | St. Joseph News-Press

Starting this year Missouri Western will play on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium. The field will be named for Steve Craig, who gave a $1.1 million gift to the school for a video board. football Griffons is a barometer, it is going to be good for them as well. While the ongoing construction is likely to cause some headaches in the short term, Western coach Jerry Partridge is taking a long view.

“I think it’s going to increase and improve the game-day atmosphere, because the field’s been moved 30 feet closer,” he said. “And I think it will help with recruiting a lot.”

McGuffin said that once the renovation to Spratt is complete, other projects such as work on tennis courts at the Western Spring Sports Complex and improvements to Looney Athletic Complex will likely get attention. But he did not rule out even more eventual improvements to Spratt.

In the meantime, Vartabe-

BEARCATS 7 p.m.

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Nebraska-Kearney 7 p.m.

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Central Missouri 1:30 p.m.

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Northeastern State 1 p.m.

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Pittsburg State 2:30 p.m.

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Missouri Western 1 p.m.

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dian keeps looking at the ongoing work and anticipates what’s to come.

“It’s more than just the athletic programs in terms of football and soccer that play at Spratt Stadium,” Vartabedian said. “It’s also marching band competitions, it’s also the Chiefs camp, it’s also spring commencement. It’s any number of events that are held here. Everyone will benefit from this.

“And research certainly shows us that prospective students in the community are interest in these sort of impressive facilities. We think it is part of a package that we think is as good as anyplace.”

Thom Hanrahan can be reached at thom.hanrahan@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPsports.

RAVENS Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 03 Oct. 10 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 07 Nov. 14

EVANGEL Avila MISSOURI VALLEY Nazarene BAKER Central Methodist CULVER-STOCKTON GRACELAND William Penn Grand View Peru State

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GARDEN CITY Iowa Western ELLSWORTH Fort Scott INDEPENDENCE Iowa Central HUTCHINSON COFFEYVILLE Butler Dodge City

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