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Ripon, Wis. – The Midwest Conference signals callers will look very familiar this season as eight of the ten schools return quarterbacks, which includes 2009 Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year Alex Tanney of Monmouth College. After going undefeated in the past two season’s league coaches tabbed the Fighting Scots as the favorite to take home their third consecutive Midwest Conference title in the 2010 MWC Football Preseason Coaches Poll. The Fighting Scots return eight All-MWC players and also return reigning Coach of the Year Steve Bell. St. Norbert, the last school not named Monmouth to win the championship, finished second in the poll as they earned the three remaining first place votes.
Ripon was the clear-cut third place finisher in the poll and will be the only team looking for a new quarterback as last year’s starter Matt Miller will be out for the season due to a knee injury. Despite the injury Ripon garnered no lower than a fourth place vote from any coach in the league. Beloit and Carroll will try to crack into the top three of the conference after finishing fourth and fifth last season, were only points apart in the four and fifth spot of the poll, while Illinois College, Lake Forest, Knox, Grinnell and Lawrence round out the poll.
The league will look very different as 14 of the 28 All-MWC First Team award winners were lost to graduation, along with 13 of the 29 All-MWC Second Team selections. Ripon’s TJ Pierce will return after leading the league in rushing and picking up All-MWC First Team honors. A trio of linebackers return for the 2010 campaign after finishing atop the MWC statistics in tackling. Beloit’s Tony Baratti, Grinnell’s Marquis Bradley and Illinois College’s Ricky Padilla finished second, third and sixth, respectively, last season in tackles while they combined for seven sacks.
Chad Eisele takes over at Knox for Andy Gibbons after 13 years for the Prairie Fire while Jeff Pedersen will take over at Grinnell for Max Hawsey. St. Norbert’s Jim Purtill will have his first shot at claiming his 100th career win as he needs nine wins to reach the century mark. Purtill would join Ripon’s Ron Ernst (118 wins) as the only active MWC coaches to reach 100 wins.
2010 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Monmouth (7 first place votes)
2. St. Norbert (3)
3. Ripon
4. Beloit
5. Carroll
6. Illinois C.
7. Lake Forest
8. Knox
9. Grinnell
10. Lawrence
1. Monmouth Fighting Scots
2009 Record: 10-1, 9-0
Base Offense: No Huddle Multiple
Base Defense: Multiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 6/6
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 3/5
Steve Bell takes the helm for his 11th season after claiming back-to-back MWC titles in the past two years. Bell has led the Fighting Scots to 45 wins over the past five seasons three times winning 10 games. Monmouth is led by a high-potent offense which led the MWC averaging 45.3 points per game, five times scoring more than 50 points. Preseason All-American quarterback Alex Tanney fuels the offensive attack as he returns after earning two MWC Offensive Player of the Year awards. Tanney ranked fourth in the nation last year in total offense as he was responsible for over 348 yards per contest. Tanney also led the MWC in yards (3,836), touchdown passes (44), completion percentage (70.0) and completions (339). Monmouth also returns their top two wide receivers in senior Matt Shepherd (96 rec, 1,006 yards, 9 TD) and senior Mike Blodgett (74 rec, 970 yards, 9 TD) to compliment Tanney’s offensive attack. Tanney will take snaps behind a line that lost four starters due to graduation. Monmouth returns two All-MWC defensive selections in junior linebacker Adam Hoste (83 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and senior defensive lineman Peyton Lumzy (52 tackles, 0.5 sacks) who will lead a defense that surrendered only 12.5 points per contest in 2009. Erik Weber (40 tackles, 3 INT) returns to headline the secondary, while linebackers Cory Bishop (67 tackles, 2 sacks) and Marcus Ruff (64 tackles, 0.5 sack) will solidify the defense.
2. St. Norbert Green Knights
2009 Record: 9-1, 8-1
Base Offense: Multiple-I
Base Defense: 4-2
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 5/6
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 2/2
Jim Purtill returns to the Green Knights sideline for his 12th year and looks to dethrone Monmonth from the two year stranglehold they have on the MWC. Purtill returns All-MWC second team quarterback Rob Berger (170 comp, 2,036, 20 TD) for his senior season after finishing second in the conference with over 263 yards of total offense per game. Berger was the Green Knights second leading rusher after rushing for 600 yards on 101 attempts. Senior running back John Weninger (147 att, 679 yards, 10 TD) last season finished seventh in the MWC with almost 68 yards rushing per game, also averaging a rushing touchdown per game. Junior Logan Krueger (26 rec, 362 yards, 4 TD) returns as the team’s top wide receiver after the departure of Jeremy Gezella and his 998 yards, 10 touchdowns from last season. The Green Knights welcome back their top tackler in senior linebacker Drew Oudenhoven (68 tackles, 2 sacks) as well as junior linebacker Justin Baker (55 tackles) for a defense that only surrendered 17.6 points per game last season.
3. Ripon Red Hawks
2009 Record: 7-3, 7-2
Base Offense: Slot Bone
Base Defense: 3-3-5
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/6
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 6/3
Head coach Ron Ernst will begin his 20th season at Ripon with the hopes of winning the MWC Championship for the first time since the 2001 season. Ernst has led the Red Hawks to at least seven wins in each of the past three seasons, all of which ended with a top three finish in the MWC. The Red Hawks will rely heavily on a rushing attack that gained over 297 yards per game in 2009, good for sixth in the nation. Junior fullback TJ Pierce (189 car, 994 yards, 6 TD) returns after garnering First Team All-MWC honors in 2009, as he led the conference in both rushing yards and attempts. The Red Hawks will have to replace senior signal caller Matt Miller (63 comp, 698 yards, 4 TD, 922 rush yards, 12 rush TD) after offseason knee surgery. Senior Jake Marshall will compete with five freshman quarterbacks to run the offense in 2010. Senior receiver Craig Bednarek (22 rec, 343 yards, 4 TD) will lead the pass catchers with junior Ben Garland (12 rec, 87 yards, 1 TD) moving from slot back to receiver full time this season. First Team All-MWC section Jeff Trinka (20 tackles, 0.5 sack) returns to anchor the defensive line for the Red Hawks, while senior Tim Dreger (48 tackles, 2 INT) returns as the team’s leading tackler. Senior cornerback Kurt Roeder, who garnered First Team All-MWC honors, will stabilize the secondary after leading the MWC in passes defended with 21 (19 break ups, 2 INT). Sophomore kicker Jacob Gahart (9-13 FG, 33-36 XP) will handle the place kicking duties this season after setting a new Ripon field goal record as a freshman, while also being named to the preseason watch list for the 2010 Fred Mitchell award.
4. Beloit Buccaneers
2009 Record: 6-4, 5-4
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 4-3
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/6
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 6/5
After increasing their win total from one in 2007, to six in the 2009 season the Beloit Buccaneers look to continue their climb in the MWC ranks this season. Head coach Chris Brann returns nine All-MWC selections, including two first team selections. Junior quarterback Brian Maughn (169 comp, 2,622 yards, 19 TD) returns to run the offence after a 2009 season where he finished second in the MWC in passing yards per game (262.9), while throwing two times as many touchdowns (19) as interceptions (8). Senior Julian Ross (56 rec, 1,042 yards, 8 TD) returns as Maughn’s main target after leading the league in receiving yards. All purpose wing back senior Andrew Christensen (578 rec yards, 117 rush yards) led the MWC in all purpose yards per game (150.7), which includes a league best 662 kick return yards. The Buccaneers defense is headlined by First Team All-MWC winner Tony Baratti (109 tackles, 2.5 sacks) who accounted for almost 11 tackles per game last season and was also named to two different preseason All-American lists. Junior defensive backs Vince Salucci (61 tackles, 3 INT) and Mike Underwood (52 tackles, 5 pass break ups) will anchor the Buccaneers secondary that was third in the MWC last season, surrendering only 182 passing yards per contest.
5. Carroll Pioneers
2009 Record: 5-5, 5-4
Base Offense: Pro Style
Base Defense: 4-2-5
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/6
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 6/4
The Pioneers look to piggyback off a 2009 season that saw them win their last three contests and make a splash in the MWC standings. Two seasons removed from a seven win season, fifth year head coach Henny Hiemenz will have an experience group return for the upcoming season. Carroll returns senior signal caller Chris Casper (134 comp, 1,759 yards, 14 TD) along with his two favorite targets; junior wide out Geoff Stuhr (30 rec, 451 yards, 2 TD) and senior tight end Kyle Galas (8 rec, 110 yards) to solidify the seventh ranked pass offense in the league. Junior running back Joe Beckstrand (166 car, 756 yards, 6 TD) finished third in the league in rushing by averaging 84 yards per game. The Pioneers also return four of five offensive linemen from last season led by First Team All-MWC senior Spencer Clarey and All-MWC selection, senior Jesse Stewart. Senior linebacker Brian Gajeski (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks) is one of six returnees for a Pioneers defense that allowed only 19 points per game last season, good for fourth in the conference. Senior Nick Swartz (35 tackles, 2 INT) returns after a solid 2009 campaign where he finished third in the league in pass break ups with 14.
6. Illinois College Blueboys
2009 Record: 5-5, 5-4
Base Offense: Spread Coast
Base Defense: 4-2 Lock
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/7
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 3/3
Head Coach Garrett Campbell enters his third season for the Blueboys and will again look to increase the win total in year three after improving on a four win season in his first year in 2008. Senior quarterback Mike Neikamp (210 comp, 2,544 yards, 28 TD) will run the Illinois College spread offense in 2010 after finishing the 2009 season third in passing yards per contest (254.4) and second in touchdown passes. After a successful freshman campaign, Demetrious Baylis (166 car, 711 yards, 5 TD) returns as the team’s leading rusher, and coupled with junior running back Matt Williamson (65 car, 151 yards) will provide a steady ground attack for the Blueboys. Brock Thompson (36 rec, 454 yards, 5 TD) and Bret Eschman (22 rec, 312 yards, 3 TD) will look to fill the void of graduated senior Mike Jennings who accounted for 946 yards and 12 touchdowns in the passing attack last season. Illinois College will look to improve on a defensive unit that was eighth in the MWC in points allowed, and will rely on senior linebacker Ricky Padilla (94 tackles, 1 sack) to be the backbone. Junior linebacker Jake DeFauw (39 tackles, 2 sacks) will solidify the linebacking core, while senior Eric Beimfohr (41 tackles, 4 INT) and junior Eric Fisher (36 tackles, 2 INT) man the secondary.
7. Lake Forest Foresters
2009 Record: 2-8, 2-7
Base Offense: Multiple
Base Defense: 3-4
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 9/4
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 1/4
The Foresters look to finish over .500 for the first time since 2004 under second-year head coach Jim Catanzaro, who returns nine starters on the offensive side of the ball. Catanzaro will rely on senior quarterback Geoff Sobey (181 comp, 1,962 yards, 16 TD) to lead the offensive charge and improve on a 2009 season where the Foresters offense averaged 14.4 points per game. Lake Forest will have to replace standout wide receiver Dan Carter, who grabbed 77 balls for 999 yards in 2009. Juniors Josh Kabala (20 rec, 222 yards) and Kevin Davis (16 rec, 199 yards, 1 TD) will look to fill the void left by Carter, who is now coaching the team’s wideouts. Senior running back Brock Stenberg (118 car, 440 yards, 1 TD), a Second Team All-MWC selection, returns to the Foresters’ backfield. Lake Forest lost seven starters from a defense that finished sixth in the conference in total defense last season. Junior defensive back Luke Butts (85 tackles, 0.5 sack) returns as the teams leading tackler. He also picked off four passes in 2009, good for first in the MWC. Senior linebacker Anthony Garetto (72 tackles, 2 sacks) also returns to the starting defensive unit after averaging 7.2 tackles per game, while junior Honorable Mention All-MWC defensive lineman Casey Flynn will stabilize the defensive line.
8. Knox Prairie Fire
2009 Record: 1-9, 1-8
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 3-4
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/9
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 1/2
Chad Eisele takes over for his first year as head coach of his alma mater, looking to make a mark after a disappointing 2009 season. Eisele returns a lot of experienced players in the system, including 17 starters from a year ago. Knox will change from a flexbone offense to a more wide open spread formation in order to improve an offense that scored a league-low 10.8 points per game. Senior Bill Meyer (44 comp, 594 yards, 5 TD) will lead the Prarie Fire in the new spread offense a year after attempting a league-low 105 passes. Meyer will rely on a new group of receivers to target this year after the Prairie Fire lost its top three receivers, with senior running back Dan Kizior (4 rec, 118 yards, 1 TD) the top pass catcher returning. Along with Kizior, sophomore Derek Mortensen (96 car, 447 yards, 2 TD) will man the backfield duties for a Knox team that finished fourth in the conference with 160.2 rushing yards per game. Knox returns almost an entire defensive unit from last season, brining back nine of the 11 starters. Senior defensive back Lucas Motta (65 tackles, 6 pass break ups) returns as the teams leading tackler, with secondary partner Calvin Zirkle (48 tackles, 15 pass break ups) finished second in the conference in pass break ups.
9. Grinnell Pioneers
2009 Record: 2-8, 2-7
Base Offense: Pistol
Base Defense: 3-4
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 9/4
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 1/2
Grinnell will take to the field in 2010 season under the direction of Interim Head Coach Jeff Pedersen, who looks to improve on a Pioneers team that won only two games in the 2009 season. Mike Bogard (98 comp, 901 yards, 7 TD) returns to the field after missing playing time last season due to a knee injury. Bogard will have his top pass catcher back for the 2010 campaign as Honorable Mention All-MWC selection Robert Seer (47 rec, 760 yards, 12 TD) ranked seventh in the MWC in rushing last season. Logan Granera (43 rec, 369 yards, 1 TD) and Kelsey Davis (27 rec, 328 yards, 2 TD) will give Bogard multiple options in the Pioneers pistol offense. Along with running back TJ Schaid (80 car, 182 yards) returning, the Pioneers will also return four of the five starting linemen this season, led by Honorable Mention All-MWC left guard Chris Jarmon. Despite losing four defensive linemen to graduation the Pioneers return a strong linebacking core headlined by senior Marquis Bradley (112 tackles, 3.5 sacks), senior Ryan Fletcher (82 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and junior Ryan Creps (57 tackles, 1 sack) to solidify a very experienced and deep linebacker core. Senior defensive back Marc Heronemus (52 tackles, 1 INT) returns in the secondary for the Pioneers after being named to the All-MWC team in 2009, finishing the season seventh on the team in tackles.
10. Lawrence Vikings
2009 Record: 2-8, 1-8
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 4-2-5
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 6/5
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 1/1
Lawrence is coming off a 2009 season which saw them drop eight of their first nine games before ending the season on a high note with a season closing win over Minnesota Morris. Sixth year Head Coach Chris Howard looks to build off the win last season with a lot of new faces on the Lawrence roster. The Vikings return only 13 starters (six offense, five defense, two special teams), including being the only one of two teams in the MWC looking for a new quarterback. Junior running back Ben Hartman (64 car, 323 yards) returns as the teams leading rusher although he did not find the end zone last season. Senior Jeremiah Johnson (179 rush yards, 224 receiving yards, 3 TD) also returns as the team’s second leading rusher and the team’s leading receiver after the departure of Nate Nelson, the teams leading receiver last season. The Vikings return last years leading tackler, senior linebacker Greg Pater (77 tackles, 1.5 sacks), along with senior safety Jeff Nichols (58 tackles, 4 INT) to lead the Lawrence defensive attack.
Click here for PDF release that includes last years standings, statistics and national polls.