2012 William Penn Football Preview

William Penn and Central held a preseason scrimmage on Saturday in Pella

2011 record: 9-2 (5-2 MWL, T-3rd)
Starters returning/lost: 18/8 (including special teams)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 48/17

Notable returners:
Mason Woods Sr. Williamsburg
(Third-Team All-American)
Taylor Parsons Jr. The Woodlands, Texas
(Second-team all-MWL, 1,026 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 819 passing yards, 7 TDs)
Shawn Davis Jr. Hamersville, Ohio
(Second-team all-MWL, 957 rushing yards, 7 TDs)
Jacob Batterson Jr. Eddyville
(Honorable-mention all-MWL, 44 tackles, 2 interceptions)

Notable losses:
Damon Harrison
(Third-Team All-American)
DeMarco Sanders
(Two-time all-MWL)
Sean Colemon
(All-MWL)
Steven Steele
(All-MWL)

Notable newcomers:
Ed Cazenavev So. Marietta, Ga.
Hunter Collins Fr. Jenks, Okla.
Kevin Shrauger Fr. Nixa, Mo.

Two consecutive years of heartbreak have only strengthened William Penn’s resolve to finally break through into postseason play as the Statesmen football team prepares for the 2012 year.

The navy and gold went 9-2 last year (5-2 Midwest League), but a loss in the season finale to rival Grand View spoiled the playoff celebration. William Penn was again the first team out of the NAIA Championships Series, finishing the year ranked #16.

“As disappointing as the ending was, last year was still very successful and we continued to build a tradition of greatness,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “We kept moving forward with wins and losses and the quality of student-athletes we have involved. We very much considered last year a success and something we could build upon.”

One of the major successes came in the running game with the Statesmen topping the NAIA in rushing yardage (3,634 yards) for the second year in a row.

While the sting of missing the playoffs never dissipated, the coaching staff and the returning players moved forward in their offseason recruiting and conditioning and prepared themselves to be in contention this fall.

“Everything from recruiting to conditioning went really well this year,” Hafner said. “We signed a lot of talented student-athletes and our returners worked extremely hard with our strength coaches to get bigger and faster. Our spring season was a success and we were fortunate to have a lot of players stay around during the summer. That should give us an edge on our competition because these guys never took time off from the program. Now we just need to transition that into this fall.”

Quarterback

Two-time second-team all-league quarterback Taylor Parsons (Jr., The Woodlands, Texas, College Park HS) will return to his spot as leader of the offense’s option attack. He gained 1,026 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns in 2011 and also aired it out for 819 yards and seven scores.

“We have a proven, all-conference caliber player at quarterback,” Hafner said. “We expect nothing but great things from Taylor, but we will work hard to develop a back-up for him as we look to the future.”

The future could be equally as bright with returner Brandon Owen (So., Hutchinson, Kan., Nickerson HS) and newcomers Hunter Collins (Fr., Jenks, Okla., Jenks HS) and Tyler Hafner (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) also vying for time.

Slot Back

Parsons’ options in the backfield are a bit depleted from a year ago with starters DeMarco Sanders, Corey Ketchum, and P.J. Perry all graduating. All is not lost, however, with Dalton Phelps (Sr., Williamsburg, Williamsburg HS) headlining a crew that has established itself since last fall.

Phelps, who ran for 236 yards and four TDs in 2011, will be joined by Sam Tvedt (So., Oskaloosa, Pella Christian HS) and Larry Reed (So., St. Louis, Mo., Parkway West HS), while Joel Medina (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Canyons CC) has transitioned from the defensive backfield to add even more experience. Reed picked up 184 yards and a score last year.

“We lost a lot of starting experience, but we believe our new guys will step right in and continue our prior success,” Hafner said.

Newcomer Gilbert Venegas (Fr., East Moline, Ill., United Township HS) will also mix it up to add solid depth.

Fullback

Returning depth is not a concern at fullback, potentially the most important and utilized skill position for William Penn. Two-time second-team all-MWL selection Shawn Davis (Jr., Hamersville, Ohio, Western Brown HS) and Evan Ressler (So., Cascade, Cascade HS) pair up for a 1-2 punch equaled by few with Davis managing 957 yards and seven TDs last season, while Ressler added 241 yards and five scoring celebrations in his freshman campaign.

“This will again be a key position for us,” Hafner said. “With having Shawn and Evan trading off series, our offense has the potential to be as good as it was two years ago. Being able to keep them fresh will be integral to an effective rushing attack.”

Tye Sparks (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) and Judson Humphries (So., Phenix City, Ala., Glenwood HS) also expect to fight for time with newbie Dylan Latham (Fr., Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS).

Wide Receiver

Returners Aaron Broyles (Jr., Escondido, Calif., Escondido Charter HS), Chris Crawford (Sr., Muskegon, Mich., Grand Valley State), and Lewis Russell (Sr., Fairfield, Van Buren HS) have the playing time advantage at wide receiver, but that may not be enough to keep newcomers Ed Cazenavev (So., Marietta, Ga., Kent State), Kramer Patterson (Fr., Ozark, Mo., Ozark HS), and Austin Cosgrove (Fr., Moravia, Moravia HS) off the turf.

In 2011, Crawford hauled in a team-high 12 passes for 128 yards (one TD), while Broyles notched eight grabs for 181 yards (two TDs). Crawford also provided a spark in the return game with 7.8 yards per punt return (one score) and 17.7 yards per kickoff try. Both players (Broyles as a receiver and Crawford as a return specialist) were honorable-mention all-MWL honorees last year.

“This is probably the best receiving corps we have had in my tenure,” Hafner said. “These young men are skilled and unselfish. They want to play this position, knowing full well that they may not get the ball a lot, but when they do, it will come via a big play. When their numbers are eventually called, we expect them to step up and make the big play.”

Tight End

John Bryan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove HS) will be a welcome sight this fall as he returns from a redshirt season. Returners Berrington Fort (Sr., Aberdeen, Miss., Aberdeen HS), Clint Allen (So., Burleson, Texas, Burleson HS), and David Harris (Sr., Fulton, Miss., Itawamba Agriculture HS) will not forfeit the keys to the starting position, though, as a good battle should ensue.

Hafner mentioned that his tight ends should expect to play a bigger role this fall. While they have been primarily used as blockers in the past, Statesmen tight ends could see the pigskin tossed in their direction a bit more in 2012.

“We have an experienced group this year and we believe they can handle a bigger load,” Hafner said.

Offensive Line

The heart and soul of William Penn’s offense has, and will again be, its line. With the return of Third-Team All-American Mason Woods (Sr., Williamsburg, Williamsburg HS), the heart should be healthier than ever. Woods has been a mainstay in the trenches since his first practice three years ago and is being touted as one of the best in the NAIA with preseason All-America recognition.

It is not all about Mr. Woods, though, as Hafner’s group is deep in both returning and new talent.

Cash Lovett (Sr., Southaven, Miss., Northeast Mississippi CC) and Cory Alfermann (Sr., Washington, Mo., Washington HS) provide the most experience, while 2011 tight end Jake Adams (So., Park City, Utah, Park City HS) has moved one spot closer to center and figures to have a big impact as well.

Ryan Claeys (So., Morrison, Ill., Morrison HS), Marshall Arnold (So., Liberty, Mo., Liberty HS), and Justin Lewis (So., Florence, Ala.., Wilson HS) are also projected to battle with Travis Blecher (Fr., Rock Island, Ill., Rock Island HS) and other numerous incoming players for starting jobs.

“We have loads of depth this year with guys that have at least a year of experience grouped up with one of our best linemen classes ever,” Hafner said. “We know we cannot do anything without their hard work and experience, so we are thrilled to have so many on the front line for us.”

Defensive Line

2011 All-American Damon Harrison is now lining up across from Tim Tebow at New York Jet practices, leaving a 350-pound void in the middle, but the Statesmen are confident they have reloaded well for this campaign.

“We lost great players in Damon and (fellow 2011 all-MWL player) Jordi Vernor, but we think this group has a chance to be even better,” Hafner said. “They are more athletic on the outside and we have some guys that can still fill the hole in the running game.”

Leading the interior charge will be the returning trio of Michael Welch (Jr., Houston, Texas, Booker T. Washington HS), Brandon Dunbar (Sr., Houston, Texas, Booker T. Washington HS), and Travis Provo (Jr., Leesville, La., Leesville HS).

Welch, a second-team all-MWL nod in 2011, managed 34 tackles, while Dunbar, an honorable mention, was the best at taking down the quarterback with five sacks. Provo picked up three sacks as well.

Another trio of Greg Beatty (So., Brooklyn, BGM HS) Nick DiMarco (So., St. Charles, Mo., Francis Howell North HS), and Jason Johnson (Jr., Geneseo, Ill., Geneseo HS) is expected to bring great pressure from the outside.

DiMarco led the group with 33 stops, while Johnson added 14 tackles and Beatty had 13.

Tyler Fellows (Jr., Williams, Mich., Ellsworth CC) tops a list of incoming players who will challenge for playing time up front.

Linebacker

The signal-callers of the defensive side will be paced by a pair of 2011 starters, Scott Adams (Fr., Park City, Utah, Park City HS) and Brock Peery (So., Payson, Utah, Payson HS). Peery, who is slated to be a starter on the outside, started just three games, but made the most of his time with 54 stops, the most of any returner. Adams, the frontrunner at middle linebacker and an honorable-mention all-MWL performer last year, finished with 41 stops in 2011.

Perry King (Jr., Valdosta, Ga., Valdosta HS) has crossed the lines since 2011, going from wide receiver to linebacker. He will join Jonathan Swartz (So., Longmont, Colo., Skyline HS) as key returners, but the program’s biggest recruiting success may have been at linebacker with All-State caliber performers Isaac Samek (Fr., Bolivar, Mo., Bolivar HS), Kevin Shrauger (Fr., Nixa, Mo., Nixa HS), and Alvin Reels (Fr., Angster, Mich., Belleville HS) joining the fold.

Swartz ended up with 20 tackles a year ago.

“We have tremendous experience and depth at this key area,” Hafner said. “These young men will need to be leaders for us. They will be expected to take the reins of the defense and get everyone in position each time the ball is snapped.”

Defensive Back

The talent train fortunately does not come to a stop in the defensive background with several top players from 2011 back on the gridiron.

Jacob Batterson (Jr., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) is projected to guide the group from the free safety slot, while Andrew Reed (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) and Michael Wright (Jr., Olive Branch, Miss., Olive Branch HS) should pair up with him in the middle.

Reed flip-flopped positions with Joseph Frye (So., Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS), moving Frye to one of the corner positions.

Three of the four were postseason picks in 2011 with Batterson, Reed, and Frye all receiving honorable mentions.

Batterson and Frye both tallied 44 tackles with Frye doubling him up in interceptions (4). Reed recorded 27 tackles and three interceptions, while Wright was no slouch himself with eight tackles and one pick.

New faces should also vie for time in the secondary.

“We are a little thinner at defensive back than we would like,” Hafner said. “We still have plenty of competition to secure our depth.”

Special Teams

For the third year in a row, the Statesmen will look to Marcus Kerrigan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove HS) and Jason Johnson to lead their special teams efforts. Kerrigan scored 63 points a year ago (48 extra points, five field goals), second only to Parsons’ 80, and punted 24 times for a 35.3 average. Johnson sent the ball away 17 times for a 38.3 clip.

Kerrigan earned first-team all-league laurels as a placekicker last season, while Johnson collected an honorable mention as a punter.

“Marcus and Jason do a great job kicking the ball,” Hafner said. “We really could not ask anything else of them. Their punts put our defense in a good position to apply pressure on opposing offenses and we do not give away easy points either.”

Schedule

William Penn begins 2012 on the road against rival Iowa Wesleyan, and while this game has been more difficult than expected recently, it may be one of the easiest in a schedule that is down-right nasty. The navy and gold meet up with four teams that are in the NAIA’s preseason top-20, but fortunately all four contests will be in the friendly confines of Lacey Complex Stadium in Oskaloosa. William Penn will look to remain perfect at the second-year venue, going 6-0 one year ago.

Homecoming is set for September 29 versus Olivet Nazarene, while three of the final four games will be at home against perennial powers St. Francis (Ind.), St. Ambrose, and Grand View.

“This is one of those schedules that you could win a lot, but if you are not prepared, you could be beat up just as badly,” Hafner said. “It will be extremely nice to have all of those big games at home and with adding St. Francis (Ind.) to the schedule, it will be probably the toughest set we have ever had. In the end, we are hoping to keep our fate in our own hands.”

Conference

Defending co-Midwest League champions St. Francis (Ill.) and Grand View figure to be fighting for the same position this year, while St. Ambrose is always a threat. Olivet Nazarene was under .500 in 2011, but with nearly everyone back, Hafner figures the Tigers to be a major darkhorse to make for a five-team battle.

“The Midwest League was always seen as the weaker side of the MSFA, but we should have five really, really good teams this year, so it is going to be a tough road each week,” Hafner said. “We are looking forward to seeing how we stack up.”

“I think this team has the opportunity to do a lot of great things in 2012,” Hafner added. “I expect all of our guys to prepare and be ready to go on Saturdays. If the stars align and we remain healthy, we have a great chance to get that monkey off our back and make the playoffs.”