Football Game Notes: Week Eight: Saint Xavier‏

Quarterback Tyler Hafner is swarmed by the Saint Xavier Cougars defense during the first round of last years play-offs. (file photo)

Oskaloosa–The William Penn football team will return to the Windy City Saturday in search of revenge as it takes on #14 Saint Xavier in Midwest League action.

The Statesmen (3-4, 1-1 MWL) travel to Chicago, Ill. to meet the Cougars (4-3, 1-1 MWL) at Bruce R. Deaton Field at 1 p.m. The game will be a rematch of last year’s NAIA Football Championship Series First Round contest, a 31-0 win by Saint Xavier.

FOLLOW THE STATESMEN: Saturday’s game can be followed on the radio (KBOE 740 AM) as well as on the internet at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/kboe.portal

SERIES HISTORY: William Penn is 0-6 all-time in its series against Saint Xavier, including dropping last year’s playoff contest.

In its first postseason competition since 1976, the Statesmen offense was slowed to just 233 total yards. The Cougars had the ball deep in WPU territory three times in the early going, but the navy and gold permitted just three points.

Unfortunately, the floodgates finally opened in the second quarter and SXU scored four more touchdowns and managed 496 total yards.

Tyler Hafner (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Undecided) completed ten passes for 133 yards, while Dalton Phelps was the team’s top rusher with 54 yards.

2002–Saint Xavier, 31-3
2003–Saint Xavier, 28-7
2004–Saint Xavier, 25-21
2005–Saint Xavier, 35-16
2006–Saint Xavier, 34-9
2012–Saint Xavier, 31-0

WILLIAM PENN PROFILE: Todd Hafner is in his tenth year as head football coach at William Penn, entering this fall with a 61-40 career record.

Hafner, who became the program’s all-time winningest coach last fall, guided William Penn to 28 wins over the last three years. The Statesmen led the NAIA in rushing all three regular seasons. William Penn shared the Midwest League crown in 2010 and 2012.

The 2008 and 2010 Midwest League Coach of the Year, Hafner was also the recipient of the VSN NAIA Coach of the Year and the NFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year honors in 2010. As skipper, he has produced 139 all-conference players and 14 All-Americans.

Hafner graduated from Pittsburg State in 1994.

William Penn could not keep pace late with defending national champion Marian (Ind.) in a 31-21 MSFA crossover loss last Saturday.

The Statesmen outgained the Knights 317-282 and recaptured the lead at 21-17 early in the fourth quarter. Marian unfortunately responded with two late scores, while the navy and gold offense was stymied in the waning minutes.

Sam Tvedt (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management) was the team’s top rusher with 91 yards, while Brock Peery (Sr., Payson, Utah, Secondary Education) led the defense with ten tackles and one interception (the lone WPU takeaway).

Thus far in 2013, William Penn is averaging 30.1 points and 364.4 yards per game, including 321.1 rushing and 43.3 passing. The Statesmen are second in the NAIA in total rushing (2,248) and third in rushing average.

Evan Ressler (Jr., Cascade, Iowa, Biology) leads the team with 523 rushing yards, while Shawn Davis (Sr., Hamersville, Ohio, Physical Education) is next with 477 yards and nine scores. Two others are also over 300 yards.

Hafner leads the passing game by going 22-for-66 for 224 yards. Aaron Broyles (Sr., Escondido, Calif., Physical Education) is pacing the receiving corps with 12 catches for 94 yards.

William Penn has committed 13 turnovers so far this fall.

Defensively, the Statesmen are giving up an average of 22.4 points and 306.7 yards, including 168.1 passing and 138.6 rushing.

Isaac Samek (So., Bolivar, Mo., Industrial Technology) tops William Penn with 53 tackles and three interceptions. Nick DiMarco (Jr., St. Charles, Mo., Physical Education) has a team-best nine sacks (15.5 tackles for loss). The junior is third nationally in both total sacks and sacks per game (1.3), fifth in total tackles for loss, and sixth in tackles for loss per game (2.2).

William Penn is fourth in the nation in total sacks (22) and seventh in sacks per game (3.2).

The Statesmen have forced eight turnovers this year.

Marcus Kerrigan (Sr., Cary, Ill., Sociology) is 19-for-22 in extra points and 4-for-12 in field goals. The senior is again pairing up with Jason Johnson (Sr., Geneseo, Ill., Industrial Technology) to make a strong punting duo. Johnson has punted 14 times for a 38.4 yard clip, while Kerrigan has nine attempts for a 36.2 mark.

Jacob Batterson (Sr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) is tops in the kick return game with a 28.7 yard average (nine attempts), including one TD. He ranks eighth in the NAIA in kick return average.

William Penn was picked by the league’s coaches to finish third in the MSFA Midwest League.

SAINT XAVIER PROFILE: Mike Feminis is in his 15th year as head football coach at Saint Xavier, entering this season with a 127-43 record.

The NAIA National Coach of the Year in 2011, he led the Cougars to their first national title in school history that season (first in all sports). He has earned numerous other accolades, including league Coach of the Year three times. Feminis has guided Saint Xavier to eight conference crowns and eight FCS appearances. Prior to his appointment, the program had struggled to just eight wins in its first six years of existence.

A graduate of St. Francis (Ill.) in 1990, he earned his master’s degree from Illinois-Chicago in 1993.

The Cougars gave up plenty of yards, but still held off Waldorf 37-21 for its first win in Midwest League action last Saturday.

Saint Xavier led 27-7 after the first quarter, but never really slammed the door as it only outgained the Warriors 539-419. The Cougars forced five Waldorf turnovers.

Quarterback Joe Gill completed 33 of 51 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns. Ten different players had a catch in the win.

Joshua Hunter was the top rusher with 79 yards and a score.

Thus far in 2013, Saint Xavier is averaging 29.6 points and 446.3 yards per game, including 282.7 passing and 163.6 rushing. The Cougars rank ninth in the NAIA in total passing yards (1,979).

Gill leads the team by going 95-for-157 for 868 yards and seven touchdowns. His top receiver is Nick DeBenedetti with 38 grabs for 552 yards and six scores. Six other players are also over the century mark in receiving yards.

Nick Pesek is leading the ground attack with 242 yards and four TDs. Four of his teammates are over the century mark as well.

Saint Xavier has committed 18 turnovers so far this fall.

Defensively, the Cougars are giving up an average of 32.0 points and 449.7 yards, including 286.3 passing and 163.4 rushing.

Zach Dolph leads Saint Xavier with 62 tackles, while Greg Hayward has 4.5 sacks. Jacob Ghinazzi has a team-best two interceptions.

The Cougars have forced 12 turnovers this year.

Spencer Nolen is 22-for-24 in extra points and 9-for-14 in field goals. He is also the team’s punter, sending 23 kicks away for a 42.3 average. Nolen ranks fourth in the NAIA in field goals made and field goals per game (1.3). He is also seventh nationally in total points (kicking) with 49, as well as tenth in points per game (7.0) and punting average.

DeBenedetti guides the return game with a 22.8-yard kick average (18 returns) and a 9.2-yard punt average (ten returns). He is ninth in the nation with 1,098 all-purpose yards.

Saint Xavier was picked by the league’s coaches to win the MSFA Midwest League.

COACH HAFNER SAYS: On the Marian (Ind.) Game: “This was another tough one to swallow. I thought our kids played with great enthusiasm and energy, but we just came up a bit short.”

On Saint Xavier: “Saint Xavier is another very quality football team. They have many returners on defense that gave us a tough time in the playoff game last year. They are going to spread the ball all over the field on offense, so hopefully we can create a few turnovers and give our offense more opportunities.”

SATURDAY’S TWO-DEEPS:

WILLIAM PENN OFFENSE
QB
12-Tyler Hafner, 6-2, 194, So.
9-Hunter Collins, 6-1, 210, So.
RB
30-Sam Tvedt, 5-9, 200, Jr.
26-Aaron Osborne, 5-11, 176, Sr.
RB
31-Nate Wilmes, 5-10, 175, So.
27-Larry Reed, 5-11, 210, So.
FB
33-Shawn Davis, 5-10, 205, Sr.
2-Evan Ressler, 5-11, 210, Jr.
WR
5-Chris Crawford, 6-0, 165, Sr.
29-Kramer Patterson, 6-1, 194, So.
WR
8-Aaron Broyles, 6-3, 190, Sr.
88-Desmond Douglas, 5-10, 170, Fr.
TE
25-Clint Allen, 6-1, 227, Jr.
85-Ryan Westmoreland, 6-3, 249, So.
RT
72-J.T. Dotson, 6-2, 267, So.
78-Daniel Surfass, 6-3, 240, So.
RG
65-Jarrett Rogers, 6-3, 298, So.
62-Cory Minnie, 6-2, 280, Jr.
C
50-Hea Tuifua, 6-0, 275, So.
54-Kalob Gist, 6-2, 280, So.
LG
53-Jake Adams, 6-3, 270, Jr.
76-Ricky Corcoran, 6-2, 270, Sr.
LT
75-Travis Blecher, 6-3, 290, So.
74-Ryan Westmoreland, 6-3, 249, So.
K
16-Marcus Kerrigan, 6-0, 180, Sr.
HOLDER
12-Tyler Hafner, 6-2, 194, So.
KR
10-Freddy Griggs, 5-11, 190, Jr.
17-Jacob Batterson, 5-10, 187, Sr.
PR
30-Sam Tvedt, 5-9, 200, Jr.
5-Chris Crawford, 6-0, 165, Sr.

WILLIAM PENN DEFENSE
DE
14-Nick DiMarco, 6-3, 240, Jr.
11-Alvin Reels, 6-1, 210, So.
NT
99-Malik Young, 6-2, 357, Fr.
93-Trae Nichols, 6-2, 270, Fr.
DT
44-Micheal Welch, 5-11, 275, Sr.
92-Tyler Fellows, 6-1, 265, Sr.
DE
35-Jason Johnson, 6-1, 220, Sr.
98-Clayton Temaat, 6-3, 240, So.
OLB
57-Brock Peery, 6-3, 210, Sr.
24-Austin Cox, 5-8, 178, Fr.
MLB
55-Scott Adams, 5-11, 220, Jr.
42-Isaac Samek, 6-0, 200, So.
OLB
28-Kevin Shrauger, 5-10, 198, So.
36-John Land, 5-10, 200, Fr.
CB
23-Cameron Penny, 5-9, 165, So.
13-Keshon Cowan, 5-11, 170, Jr.
FS
17-Jacob Batterson, 5-10, 187, Sr.
21-Deshon Conley, 6-2, 188, Jr.
SS
10-Freddy Griggs, 5-11, 190, Jr.
21-Deshon Conley, 6-2, 188, Jr.
CB
1-Joseph Frye, 6-2, 200, Jr.
3-Je’Rodd Barnaba, 5-8, 158, So.
PUNTER
16-Marcus Kerrigan, 6-0, 180, Sr.
35-Jason Johnson, 6-1, 220, Sr.
LONGSNAPPER
27-Larry Reed, 5-11, 210, Jr.

SAINT XAVIER OFFENSE
QB
3-Joe Gill, Sr.
16-Robyn Pondexter, Fr.
RB
32-Nick Pesek, Sr.
28-Joshua Hunter, So.
WR
10-Austin Feeney, So.
9-Ryan Carroll, Fr.
WR
80-John Frederickson, Jr.
11-Sean Jones, Fr.
WR
38-Stephen Simms, Fr.
18-Dennis Vilimek, Fr.
WR
23-Nick DeBenedetti, Jr.
7-Dan Ladd, Fr.
LT
62-Luke Rowell, Fr.
60-Trace Shoup, Fr.
LG
72-Kevin Lonergan, Fr.
73-Frank Markasovic, Jr.
C
52-Tom Hitz, Jr.
56-Mo Ashkar, Fr.
RG
74-Tim Ladd, Sr.
76-Alex Zaleski, Fr.
RT
66-Sean R. Jones, Fr.
71-Rick Dickson, Fr.
K
14-Spencer Nolen, Sr.
24-Jacob Ghinazzi, Sr.
KR
23-Nick DeBenedetti, Jr.
85-Aaron Dye, Fr.
38-Stephen Simms, Fr.
PR
23-Nick DeBenedetti, Jr.
38-Stephen Simms, Fr.

SAINT XAVIER DEFENSE
DE
53-JD Barchard, Jr.
40-Nick Cemeno, So.
DT
59-Grey Hayward, Jr.
6-Josh Perkins, Sr.
DT
99-Austin Copley, Jr.
51-Andrew Holden, Sr.
DE
94-Paul Carey, So.
42-Alex Hamilton, Fr.
OLB
2-Dave Marciano, Sr.
44-Jacek Wesolowski, So.
ILB
45-Alex Walters, Jr.
25-Jonathan Fasel, Fr.
OLB
22-Zach Dolph, Sr.
19-Mike Sheehy, Fr.
CB
4-Tyler Hoeg, Jr.
26-Jake Lemming, Fr.
SS
24-Jacob Ghinazzi, Sr.
37-Joe DeMarco, Jr.
FS
20-Dan Fitzgerald, So.
21-Patrick Kelso, Jr.
CB
15-Danny Lombardo, Jr.
31-Matt Johnson, Fr.
PUNTER
14-Spencer Nolen, Sr.
2-Dave Marciano, Sr.
LONGSNAPPER
19-Mike Sheehy, Fr.
25-Jonathan Fasel, Fr.