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RIPON, Wis. – The 2010 Midwest Conference Football Championship came down to the last week and when it was all said and done St. Norbert had captured its 13th championship, first since 2007. The Green Knights beat out Monmouth, Ripon and Carroll who all finished just a game back, while three other teams (Grinnell, Beloit, Illinois C.) were just two games back of the conference lead in the jumbled 2010 standings.
St. Norbert edges Monmouth and Ripon again to open the 2011 season as the Green Knights were voted into the top spot in the 2011 MWC Preseason Coaches Poll. St. Norbert received five first place votes and 76 total points while Monmouth (74 points) earned four first place votes and Ripon (68 points) finish third with a lone first place vote. Carroll and Illinois C. each earned 51 points to tie for fourth place while Beloit (42 points) was tabbed for a sixth place finish. Grinnell (37 points) and Lake Forest (23 points) finished seventh and eighth in the poll, respectively, while Knox and Lawrence tied for the ninth spot with 14 points apiece.
There will be a lot of new faces on the field this season as 48 of the 78 All-MWC selections were lost due to graduation, including the MWC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. Alex Tanney, the 2008 and 2009 MWC Offensive Player of the Year, will be back under center for the Fighting Scots after missing almost the entire season with a shoulder injury. Beloit signal caller Brian Maughn finished tops in the conference, and 21st nationally, in total offense and will headline returning quarterbacks. Ripon running back T.J. Pierce will again shoulder the load for the nation’s fourth leading rushing attack while Brock Thompson (Illinois C.) and Derek Carrier (Beloit), who both finished in the top-25 nationally in receiving yards per game, will profile as the league’s top pass catchers.
Defensive back’s Eric Fisher (Illinois C.), Ed Dobering (Lake Forest) and linebacker Adam Hoste (Monmouth) all finished in the top-20 in the nation in interceptions to lead the defensive returnee’s. 2011 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List kicker Jacob Gahart and Brik Wedekind, the nation’s third best punter will also be back on the field in 2011 to highlight the specialists.
Voting is done by the MWC head football coaches. Each coach votes for the nine other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (nine points for first, eight for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own teams.
2011 Preseason Coaches Poll
| Place |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
St. Norbert (5) |
76 |
| 2 |
Monmouth (3) |
74 |
| 3 |
Ripon (1) |
68 |
| t4 |
Carroll |
51 |
| t4 |
Illinois C. |
51 |
| 6 |
Beloit |
42 |
| 7 |
Grinnell |
37 |
| 8 |
Lake Forest |
23 |
| t9 |
Knox |
14 |
| t9 |
Lawrence |
14 |
Team Previews:
1. St. Norbert Green Knights
2010 Record: 7-4, 7-2
Base Offense: Multiple-I
Base Defense: 4-2
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/7
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 2/4
The Green Knights are set to defending its 2010 MWC Championship under 13-year head coach Jim Purtill and return seven starters on each side of the ball. St. Norbert finished second in total offense (423.9 ypg) but will need a new signal caller and ball carrier in the 2011 season. Senior quarterback Mike Fabrizio will take over for 2010 MWC Offensive Player of the Year Rob Berger after throwing for 195 yards and three touchdowns last season. Senior running back Adam Gruett will be the primary back after gaining 283 yards on 40 carries and two touchdowns while junior Joe Green (45 rec, 801 yards, 7 TD) and Logan Krueger (34 rec, 680 yards, 7 TD) will be the top targets for the Green Knights passing attack. Defensively the Green Knights ranked fourth in the conference in total defense last season and look for continued production from the unit in 2011. All-MWC First Team defensive back Dan Sjoquist (58 tackles, 4 INT) is joined by junior Austin Arts (43 tackles, 5 INT) and senior Ben Nantell (79 tackles, 1 INT) to lead the conference’s top ranked pass defense. Senior defensive lineman Dan Hansmann will be the top pass rusher after a 2010 season where he led the team with 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
2. Monmouth Fighting Scots
2010 Record: 6-4, 6-3
Base Offense: No Huddle Multiple
Base Defense: Multiple
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 10/8
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 2/2
Monmouth Head Coach Steve Bell is back for his 12th year and will once again be in contention for an MWC Championship after finishing in a three way tie for second place in 2010. Bell welcomes back two-time All-MWC Offensive Player of the Year award winner Alex Tanney after he was lost for much of the 2010 season with a shoulder injury. In 2009, Tanney’s last full season, he led the MWC in passing yards (3,856), touchdown passes (44), completion percentage (70%) and completions (339). The offense will also be comprised of the same offensive line as a year ago led by All-MWC First Team selection James Allen and All-MWC Second Team choice tight end David Milroy. Sophomore running back Trey Yocum was last season’s main back after gaining 385 yards on 84 carries and scoring nine rushing touchdowns. Sophomore Spencer Brown (18 rec, 210 yards, 2 TD) and junior Evan Banks (12 rec, 149 yards) are the top returning pass catchers from a year ago after losing All-MWC First Team receiver Matt Shepherd to graduation. Monmouth also brings back eight starters on a defense that finished third in scoring defense (23.4 ppg) and passing defense (193.8 ypg). Senior linebacker Adam Hoste will lead the defense after finishing third in the conference in tackles (99 total) and second in interceptions (6), returning two for touchdowns. Fellow seniors, linebacker Cory Bishop (83 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and defensive back Eric Weber (66 tackles, 5 INT), stabilize the Fighting Scots defense. Senior Brik Wedekind, who also filled in at quarterback last season, could handle the punting duties again after finishing second in the conference with a 42.6 yard per punt average last season.
3. Ripon Red Hawks
2010 Record: 7-3, 6-3
Base Offense: Slot Bone
Base Defense: 3-3-5
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 6/4
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 3/1
Ron Ernst looks to build on the success from the 2010 season to take the next step in securing the first MWC Championship for Ripon since they shared the 2001 title with St. Norbert. The Red Hawks are riding a streak of five years that they have won at least seven games and finished last season atop the conference in scoring offense (40.6 ppg), total offense (448 ypg) and rushing offense (360.5 ypg). All-MWC First Team running back T.J. Pierce will again carry the running game after finishing second in the conference with 90.3 yards per game and scoring six touchdowns while senior Matt Schmalzer (71 carries, 442 yards, 5 TD) will also tote the ball for the Red Hawks vaunted rushing attack. Senior Matt Miller is the favorite to take over the quarterback duties after missing the 2010 season due to injury and will target senior receiver Ben Garland who is the top returnee with 16 catches for 220 yards and six touchdowns. All-MWC Second Team linebacker Jared Anderson will highlight the defense after leading the team in tackles (78) last season, also contributing a sack and two interceptions. Seniors Konrad Korth (30 tackles, 2 INT) and Matt Bull (17 tackles, 1 INT) will guide the defensive backfield on the league’s second ranked defense. All-MWC First Team kicker Jacob Gahart will enter his junior season only 10 field goals away from breaking the school record after knocking down 7-of-11 attempts last season.
t4. Carroll Pioneers
2010 Record: 7-3, 6-3
Base Offense: Pro
Base Defense: 4-2-5
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 3/6
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 2/2
Carroll only brings back nine of 22 starters from a team that finished in a three way tie for second place in the MWC last season. First year Carroll Head Coach Mark Krzykowski inherits six starters from a defense that led the conference in total defense (264.5 ypg), rushing defense (73.2 ypg) and scoring defense (16.3 ppg). Senior All-MWC First Team selection Mike Dziewit leads the defense after finishing 11th in the conference with 7.6 tackles per game, adding three sacks, three interceptions and a league-leading four fumbles recovered. Senior All-MWC Second Team defensive lineman Jacob Wyss (15 tackles) and senior cornerback Shaun Banta (25 tackles, 5 BRUP) will give familiarity of the top ranked defense in 2010. Krzyowski will have to add eight new starters to the offensive unit which includes replacing all five offensive lineman spots. Senior All-MWC First Team running back Joe Beckstrand (212 carries, 971 yards) will carry the load after leading the league in rushing (92.4 ypg) and scoring 10 touchdowns. A pair of senior receivers, Nate Soddy (24 rec, 331 yards, 7 TD) and C.J. Wellington (18 rec, 259 yards, 3 TD) will catch passes from new quarterback after the Pioneers graduated Chris Casper.
t4. Illinois C. Blueboys
2010 Record: 5-5, 5-4
Base Offense: Spread Coast
Base Defense: 4-3
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/8
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 1/1
After back-to-back 5-5 seasons fourth year Illinois C. Head Coach Garrett Campbell will aim to get the Blueboys back to the top of the MWC standings to contend for its first championship in school history. All-MWC Honorable Mention receiver Brock Thompson led all pass catchers last season averaging 110.6 yards per game that included eight touchdowns. Thompson also led the league averaging 16.6 yards per catch for any receiver that caught 40 or more passes. Senior running back Matt Williamson will be the primary ball carrier this season after gaining 237 yards on 63 carries a year ago. Campbell will have to find a replacement for All-MWC Second Team quarterback Mitch Niekamp who passed for over 2,700 yards last season and took every snap for the Blueboys. Senior linebacker Jake DeFauw (57 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss) and senior defensive back Eric Fisher (33 tackles, 8 INT) lead a unit that finished ninth in total defense in 2010. Fisher, a 2010 All-MWC Honorable Mention selection, led the MWC in both interceptions and total passes defended (14) last season while returning one of the interceptions for a touchdown.
6. Beloit Buccaneers
2010 Record: 5-5, 5-4
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 4-3
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/3
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 3/1
After finishing the 2010 regular season with an even record sixth year Beloit Head Coach Chris Brann will push his Buccaneers towards claiming the first MWC Championship since 1940 behind a mix of experience and youth. Beloit returns eight offensive starters to a unit that finished the season as the third highest scoring offense (29.5 ppg) behind senior quarterback Brian Maughn. Maughn (56.2%, 2740 yards, 20 TD) led all quarterbacks in total offense (275.9 ypg) which included a conference-best 274 passing yards per game. All-MWC First Team receiver Derek Carrier will retain his role as top pass catcher coming off a 2010 season where he finished second in the league in receiving yards per game (104.4) and third in receptions per game (6.4). Among the offensive starters the Bucs welcome back all but one offensive lineman to lead the way for All-MWC Second Team running back Terrence Steward (76 att. 340 yards, 3 TD). The defense is headlined by All-MWC Honorable Mention selection in senior defensive back Vince Salucci (59 tackles, 2 INT, 9 BRUP). Junior defensive end Joe Carmody (21 tackles) will lead the Bucs defense that finished third in the MWC in total defense (329.1 yards/game).
7. Grinnell Pioneers
2010 Record: 6-4, 5-4
Base Offense: Pistol
Base Defense: 3-4
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 9/9
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 3/1
Reigning MWC Coach of the Year Jeff Pedersen will take the helm for the second year and return 18 starters from a team that increased their win total by four games from the 2009 season and will contend for their first MWC Championship since 1998. Pedersen welcomes back all his skill position players including senior All-MWC First Team receiver Robert Seer and junior quarterback Mike McCabe. Seer finished the 2010 season ranked fifth in the conference in both receptions per game (6.2) and receiving yards per game (81.8) while scoring 14 touchdowns, second most in the league. McCabe played all 10 contests for the Pioneers and averaged 138.2 passing yards also adding 14 touchdowns. Junior All-MWC Second Team receiver Logan Granera led the entire league with 179.8 all purpose yards per game and will be another target for McCabe after catching 57 passes and scoring seven touchdowns while also handling all the punting and kicking duties. Senior linebacker Ryan Creps will lead the defense after 62 tackles and three sacks last season while junior Drew Blumberg (28 tackles) and senior Kelsey Davis (26 tackles) will solidify the defensive backfield.
8. Lake Forest Foresters
2010 Record: 2-8, 2-7
Base Offense: Multiple
Base Defense: 3-4
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 8/8
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 0/2
Lake Forest, under third year head coach Jim Catanzaro, looks to rebound after a two-win campaign in 2010. Senior wide receiver Kevin Davis figures to once again be the top offensive threat for the Foresters after catching 46 passes for 683 yards last season, good for eighth in the MWC. He also finished fourth in the conference with 11 total touchdowns. Junior quarterback Pete Scaffidi will take the snaps this season after throwing for eight touchdown and 704 yards while finishing as the second leading rusher on the team with 193 yards on 35 attempts in 2010. The Foresters also return four of their five offensive lineman, led by senior guards Gilbert Munoz and Salvador Perales. Senior Second Team All-MWC defensive lineman Kenneth Clady-Mason (47 tackles, 9 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and senior defensive back Luke Butts (90 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 INT) anchor a defense that finished sixth in the MWC in total defense (395.2 ypg) and fourth in sacks (18). Sophomore defensive back Ed Doberning tied for second in the league with six interceptions, took one back for a touchdown, and led the the Foresters secondary with 12 pass breakups. Senior defensive lineman Casey Flynn will also stabilize the defense after recording 46 tackles (6.5 for loss), three interceptions, and one sack a year ago.
t9. Knox Prairie Fire
2010 Record: 1-9, 1-8
Base Offense: Pistol
Base Defense: 3-4
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/8
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 0/0
Chad Eisele embarks on his second season as the head coach of the Prairie Fire and aims to improve from a 1-9 season in 2010. Eisele returns 16 total starters this season including seven on offense and eight on defense, led by senior receiver Clarke Cuthbert. Cuthbert finished ninth in the conference with 68.1 receiving yards per game and hauled in four touchdown passes while averaging over 20 yards per catch. Sophomore quarterback Drew Diaz will be under center for Knox after a freshman year that saw him pass for 1,037 yards and four touchdowns. Diaz will hand off to senior running back Luke Northam who led the Prairie Fire with 4.5 yard per carry average in 79 attempts. Junior linebacker Mike Hendrick (75 tackles, 1 INT) and senior linebacker Tony Sickley (64 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 1 sack) will solidify the Knox defense in 2011 after finishing as the top two tacklers from a year ago. Senior defensive end Elliot Madison (25 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) and senior defensive back Adam Mize (17 tackles, 1 INT) strengthen a defense that finished at the bottom of the league in total defense in 2010.
t9. Lawrence Vikings
2010 Record: 2-8, 2-7
Base Offense: Run and Shoot
Base Defense: 4-2-5
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 6/5
Returning All-MWC (Offense/Defense): 0/0
Chris Howard enters his seventh season for Lawrence and is coming off a 2010 season that saw the Vikings improve to two wins while returning 13 starters for the 2011 season. Junior quarterback Tyler Mazur will take the snaps from center this season after throwing for 1,255 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while also leading the Vikings in rushing with 362 yards on 60 attempts. Senior Jon Bruehl (26 rec, 352 yards, 4 TD) will be Mazur’s top target while sophomore running back Shawn Martin (29 carries, 157 yards, 2 TD) will be the lead back this season. Senior safety Robbie Ulloa had 47 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, while also having two sacks and an interception and paired with sophomore Darvis PridGeon (33 tackles, 1 INT) will lead the conference’s fifth-ranked pass defense from last year. Sophomore linebacker Luke Galle had a strong freshman campaign with four interceptions and 30 tackles and will captain the front seven of the Lawrence defense. Junior kicker Cody Robel knocked down four field goals last season while Mazur will handle the punting duties after leading the conference in punts inside the 20 (12).