Football Opens Camp for 114th Season This Weekend
From the Gettysburg College Website:
GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The 114th football season at Gettysburg College opens this weekend when the Bullets report for preseason camp on Saturday. Head coach Barry Streeter welcomes his 28th squad to campus on Saturday, with the first practice to be held on Sunday. All preparations will be made with an eye toward the 1 p.m., Sept. 2 season opener at Lebanon Valley.
2006 Season Preview
The 2005 Gettysburg College football team entered the last week of the season with a chance to earn a share of the Centennial Conference championship. In 2006, the Bullets count the conference's leading rusher and the second-leading tackler among the returnees. The rest of the offensive skill position players are also back. Despite the loss of four starting offensive linemen and seven defensive starters, Streeter is optimistic that the fierce battles he saw in the spring will carry over to the fall and help return his team to title contention.
"I expect to be better than we were last year," Streeter said. "We were competing for a tie for the conference championship in the last week last season, and I expect us to be even better than that. Obviously, our goal is to win the conference championship.
"To do that, the Bullets will rely on senior captain Dain Alaia (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem) to anchor the offensive line from his right guard spot, where he has received second-team all-conference honors and preseason All-America honorable mention. He is the lone returning starter from a unit that cleared the way for the Centennial Conference's top rushing attack a year ago. Gettysburg averaged 164.5 yards per game last year.
Running behind that group and leading the conference with 1,185 yards rushing and 1,279 all-purpose yards was junior tailback Tom Sturges (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield), who was named first-team All-Centennial Conference and earned a pair of regional accolades as well as preseason All-America honorable mention.
Another trend that Gettysburg hopes to continue is the strong play of a defensive unit that emerged over the second half of last season. After giving up over 43 points per game in September, the defense surrendered just 70 points over the six-game conference slate.
Only four starters return from that unit, but one of them is senior linebacker Harold Barton (Somerdale, N.J./Sterling), a second-team All-Centennial Conference selection and a preseason second-team All-American. He led the team in tackles (103), tackles for loss (12.5 for -68 yards) and sacks (6.5 for -53 yards), and he had three passes broken up, two fumbles forced, one recovery and one interception.
The trio of returning All-Centennial Conference players will lead Gettysburg against the same lineup of foes it faced in 2005.
"I like the order of our schedule," Streeter said. "Our schedule is fairly tough. We play four non-conference games, then we are off, and then we play the conference schedule.
"The 114th season of Gettysburg football kicks off at Lebanon Valley on Sept. 2. The Bullets have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Flying Dutchmen. The following week, Gettysburg opens the home slate against a Hampden-Sydney squad that won a 56-40 shootout last season. In that game, the Bullets broke three school passing records that had stood for at least 35 years and became the first Gettysburg team to collect 400 yards through the air. A road game at Rochester and a home game against Denison round out the non-conference schedule.
Centennial Conference play begins when the calendar rolls over to October, and that brings a challenge that Streeter welcomes.
"The conference is balanced," Streeter said. "If you look at the scores from last year, there weren't many blowouts. It's a good conference. Especially in the last few years, it's gotten better and better.
"The Bullets will travel to McDaniel before coming home for two weeks. The Oct. 14 contest against defending conference champion Johns Hopkins will also be Gettysburg's homecoming with family day being celebrated the following week against Ursinus. The Bullets hit the road again for games at Muhlenberg and Dickinson. They will wrap up the regular season with a senior day game against Franklin & Marshall on Nov. 11.
Offense
Quarterback
Junior Hunter McMillan (Middletown, Del./Wilmington Friends) emerged from a four-man battle to start every game in 2005. In just his second game, McMillan broke the Gettysburg records for completions (35), attempts (62) and yards (404) in a game at Hampden-Sydney. He was named the conference offensive player of the week for his efforts and went on to compile 1,204 yards on 110 completions with six touchdowns.
McMillan will have the upper hand to win the starting job again when preseason camp opens, but the coaching staff has declared an open competition for the spot. Senior Mark Campo (Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville) played in six games, including the last two games of the season when he split time with McMillan and connected on 22-of-41 passes (53.7 percent) and one touchdown. Sophomore Mike Lynch (Richboro, Pa./La Salle College) will also be in the mix after a strong spring.
Several freshman signal callers will also get a look at the position.
Tailback
As the primary focus of the Gettysburg offensive attack, Sturges carried the load last season. He became the first Bullet back since 2000 to record a 1,000-yard season. Sturges needs just 399 yards to become just the seventh Gettysburg football player ever to reach 2,000 career yards, and with two more seasons like 2005, he would be the second-leading rusher in school history.
Sophomore Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), who appeared in three games a year ago, will see an increased role at the tailback position. Several freshmen will compete for carries as well.
Halfback
Seniors Dusty Green (Idaville, Pa./Bermudian Springs) and Jerry Jones (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) return after having served as the starting halfbacks last season. They ranked second and fourth, respectively, in rushing for the Bullets. Green accounted for a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard jaunt against Muhlenberg that was Gettysburg's longest play from scrimmage on the season. He also ranked fourth in the conference with more than three receptions per game for a total of 317 yards.
Spring practice saw junior Shawn Hollingsworth (Chester, Pa./Wilmington Friends) and sophomore Pat Murray (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) emerge to push Green and Jones for playing time, a trend which Streeter expects to continue. Hollingsworth played in seven games a year ago, carrying the ball nine times for 34 yards and a touchdown and averaging 12.1 yards on 20 receptions, while Murray contributed on special teams.
Several members of this year's freshman class will also get a look at halfback.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Bullets return a pair of experienced receivers to lead the corps this season. Senior Spencer Davidson (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) ranked seventh in the conference with 35.9 yards per game a year ago when he hauled in 27 passes for 359 yards. Junior Matthew Welsh (Lafayette Hill, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) also caught 10 passes in his sophomore campaign.
"Spencer Davidson is our most consistent receiver," Streeter said. "And Matthew Welsh had a good spring. He really improved himself."
As many as four freshmen will split wide to play a role in the Gettysburg aerial attack this season.
At tight end, senior Jesse Jeffers (Morristown, N.J./Morristown-Beard) has moved from tailback, where he played in nine games last season. He carried the ball 14 times and caught four passes.
Offensive Line
Following a season in which Gettysburg returned its entire starting offensive line, this becomes one of the team's biggest question marks. Alaia is the only starter back after graduation claimed 80 percent of the unit's first team, including second-team all-conference right tackle Enoch Boateng and a total of 13 varsity letters. Streeter needs several players to emerge if the Bullets are to reprise their role as the Centennial Conference's top rushing team.
Alaia will again man the right guard spot, and classmate Rick Finnegan (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) enters preseason camp with the inside track at center. Senior Glenn Cain (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) has been moved to offense from the defensive line, and he will be in the mix with numerous others to fill out the depth chart.
"We are going to have to develop some younger players," Streeter said. "It will probably be some sophomores and juniors, but it could very well be a couple of freshmen. It's going to be a wide-open competition."
Defense
Defensive Line
Just like its counterpart on the offensive side of the ball, the defensive line will be forced to fill some big holes. Tackle Dan Hogdahl and end Dan Petersen, both second-team All-Centennial Conference honorees in 2005, have graduated, taking with them 100 total tackles, 14 for losses totaling 46 yards and 4.5 sacks.
Easing the loss will be a pair of returning starters and some players who have served as capable backups in the past. Senior end Stevenson Foote (Huntingtown, Md./Calvert) started the last eight games last season and compiled 35 tackles, four for loss, one sack, one interception, a pass broken up and a forced fumble. Sophomore tackle Anthony Pastore (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) started the last five games a year ago as part of the eight he played. He came on strong with 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Sophomores Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) and Matt Lessler (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) will battle it out for Petersen's vacated end spot, and senior Rob Brassell (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./La Salle College) and sophomore Conor Quinn (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) will compete for the other tackle position.
Jerrold had a pair of tackles in four games last season, while Brassell played in all 10 games, recording three tackles for loss and a sack.
Linebackers
The linebacking corps will be anchored by Barton, who is the lone returning starter, at one of the outside positions. He established himself as one of the conference's best in 2005.
Four players will compete to fill the other two spots and establish some depth for at least the next two seasons. At middle linebacker, junior James Holubowich (Mineola, N.Y./Mineola) and sophomore Terence Hartigan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) will battle it out with junior William Ryan (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Chaminade) and sophomore Charlie Occhipinti (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) putting in a claim at the other outside spot.
Holubowich, who had 11 tackles, and Ryan, who had three including a half sack, both played in every game last season.
Defensive Backs
Quite a few players will get a look in the defensive backfield with only junior Adam Fulmer (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) returning from the 2005 starting lineup. He will again man one of the cornerback positions, and he will be just one of several players pushing to make plays.
"We have four or five guys that we think can play," Streeter said. "There are four or five guys who have fought hard to be good defenders.
"Juniors David Gourley (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Jason Taylor (North East, Md./Rising Sun) and senior Danny Tyrell (White Hall, Md./North Harford), who was a quarterback last season, all will push for playing time. Gourley played in all 10 games last year, recording 10 tackles and a half sack. Taylor appeared in eight games.
At the safeties, another former quarterback, senior Mike Szczesny (Carteret, N.J./Carteret), along with senior Scott Sheppard (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston), junior Kyle Luciano (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea) and sophomore David Rodriguez (Oradell, N.J./River Dell Regional) have begun to distinguish themselves. Sheppard and Luciano are both two-year letterwinners.
Special Teams
In an area filled with question marks, sophomore Josh Huson (McLean, Va./McLean) is a solid answer after a strong freshman campaign. He made four field goals last season, including a 48-yarder against McDaniel that tied the 29-year-old school record for the longest field goal. Huson also made 18-of-20 point after attempts.
Senior Ryan Dunn (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) will compete with Huson for the kickoff duties, vacated by John Edgar. Dunn will also be competing for the punting job following the graduation of Tom Pettit. He has experience in both kicking disciplines, having lettered as a place-kicker as a freshman in 2003 when he kicked off 45 times and punted twice for an average of 43.0 yards.
The most difficult shoes to fill, however, will be those of honorable mention All-America kick returner Nathan Smith. Smith tied the conference record for kickoff return touchdowns in a season with three in 2005 and broke the career record with five. The competition to replace Smith and punt returner Jay Cage will be wide open once preseason camp begins.
GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The 114th football season at Gettysburg College opens this weekend when the Bullets report for preseason camp on Saturday. Head coach Barry Streeter welcomes his 28th squad to campus on Saturday, with the first practice to be held on Sunday. All preparations will be made with an eye toward the 1 p.m., Sept. 2 season opener at Lebanon Valley.
2006 Season Preview
The 2005 Gettysburg College football team entered the last week of the season with a chance to earn a share of the Centennial Conference championship. In 2006, the Bullets count the conference's leading rusher and the second-leading tackler among the returnees. The rest of the offensive skill position players are also back. Despite the loss of four starting offensive linemen and seven defensive starters, Streeter is optimistic that the fierce battles he saw in the spring will carry over to the fall and help return his team to title contention.
"I expect to be better than we were last year," Streeter said. "We were competing for a tie for the conference championship in the last week last season, and I expect us to be even better than that. Obviously, our goal is to win the conference championship.
"To do that, the Bullets will rely on senior captain Dain Alaia (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem) to anchor the offensive line from his right guard spot, where he has received second-team all-conference honors and preseason All-America honorable mention. He is the lone returning starter from a unit that cleared the way for the Centennial Conference's top rushing attack a year ago. Gettysburg averaged 164.5 yards per game last year.
Running behind that group and leading the conference with 1,185 yards rushing and 1,279 all-purpose yards was junior tailback Tom Sturges (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield), who was named first-team All-Centennial Conference and earned a pair of regional accolades as well as preseason All-America honorable mention.
Another trend that Gettysburg hopes to continue is the strong play of a defensive unit that emerged over the second half of last season. After giving up over 43 points per game in September, the defense surrendered just 70 points over the six-game conference slate.
Only four starters return from that unit, but one of them is senior linebacker Harold Barton (Somerdale, N.J./Sterling), a second-team All-Centennial Conference selection and a preseason second-team All-American. He led the team in tackles (103), tackles for loss (12.5 for -68 yards) and sacks (6.5 for -53 yards), and he had three passes broken up, two fumbles forced, one recovery and one interception.
The trio of returning All-Centennial Conference players will lead Gettysburg against the same lineup of foes it faced in 2005.
"I like the order of our schedule," Streeter said. "Our schedule is fairly tough. We play four non-conference games, then we are off, and then we play the conference schedule.
"The 114th season of Gettysburg football kicks off at Lebanon Valley on Sept. 2. The Bullets have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Flying Dutchmen. The following week, Gettysburg opens the home slate against a Hampden-Sydney squad that won a 56-40 shootout last season. In that game, the Bullets broke three school passing records that had stood for at least 35 years and became the first Gettysburg team to collect 400 yards through the air. A road game at Rochester and a home game against Denison round out the non-conference schedule.
Centennial Conference play begins when the calendar rolls over to October, and that brings a challenge that Streeter welcomes.
"The conference is balanced," Streeter said. "If you look at the scores from last year, there weren't many blowouts. It's a good conference. Especially in the last few years, it's gotten better and better.
"The Bullets will travel to McDaniel before coming home for two weeks. The Oct. 14 contest against defending conference champion Johns Hopkins will also be Gettysburg's homecoming with family day being celebrated the following week against Ursinus. The Bullets hit the road again for games at Muhlenberg and Dickinson. They will wrap up the regular season with a senior day game against Franklin & Marshall on Nov. 11.
Offense
Quarterback
Junior Hunter McMillan (Middletown, Del./Wilmington Friends) emerged from a four-man battle to start every game in 2005. In just his second game, McMillan broke the Gettysburg records for completions (35), attempts (62) and yards (404) in a game at Hampden-Sydney. He was named the conference offensive player of the week for his efforts and went on to compile 1,204 yards on 110 completions with six touchdowns.
McMillan will have the upper hand to win the starting job again when preseason camp opens, but the coaching staff has declared an open competition for the spot. Senior Mark Campo (Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville) played in six games, including the last two games of the season when he split time with McMillan and connected on 22-of-41 passes (53.7 percent) and one touchdown. Sophomore Mike Lynch (Richboro, Pa./La Salle College) will also be in the mix after a strong spring.
Several freshman signal callers will also get a look at the position.
Tailback
As the primary focus of the Gettysburg offensive attack, Sturges carried the load last season. He became the first Bullet back since 2000 to record a 1,000-yard season. Sturges needs just 399 yards to become just the seventh Gettysburg football player ever to reach 2,000 career yards, and with two more seasons like 2005, he would be the second-leading rusher in school history.
Sophomore Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), who appeared in three games a year ago, will see an increased role at the tailback position. Several freshmen will compete for carries as well.
Halfback
Seniors Dusty Green (Idaville, Pa./Bermudian Springs) and Jerry Jones (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) return after having served as the starting halfbacks last season. They ranked second and fourth, respectively, in rushing for the Bullets. Green accounted for a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard jaunt against Muhlenberg that was Gettysburg's longest play from scrimmage on the season. He also ranked fourth in the conference with more than three receptions per game for a total of 317 yards.
Spring practice saw junior Shawn Hollingsworth (Chester, Pa./Wilmington Friends) and sophomore Pat Murray (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) emerge to push Green and Jones for playing time, a trend which Streeter expects to continue. Hollingsworth played in seven games a year ago, carrying the ball nine times for 34 yards and a touchdown and averaging 12.1 yards on 20 receptions, while Murray contributed on special teams.
Several members of this year's freshman class will also get a look at halfback.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Bullets return a pair of experienced receivers to lead the corps this season. Senior Spencer Davidson (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) ranked seventh in the conference with 35.9 yards per game a year ago when he hauled in 27 passes for 359 yards. Junior Matthew Welsh (Lafayette Hill, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) also caught 10 passes in his sophomore campaign.
"Spencer Davidson is our most consistent receiver," Streeter said. "And Matthew Welsh had a good spring. He really improved himself."
As many as four freshmen will split wide to play a role in the Gettysburg aerial attack this season.
At tight end, senior Jesse Jeffers (Morristown, N.J./Morristown-Beard) has moved from tailback, where he played in nine games last season. He carried the ball 14 times and caught four passes.
Offensive Line
Following a season in which Gettysburg returned its entire starting offensive line, this becomes one of the team's biggest question marks. Alaia is the only starter back after graduation claimed 80 percent of the unit's first team, including second-team all-conference right tackle Enoch Boateng and a total of 13 varsity letters. Streeter needs several players to emerge if the Bullets are to reprise their role as the Centennial Conference's top rushing team.
Alaia will again man the right guard spot, and classmate Rick Finnegan (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) enters preseason camp with the inside track at center. Senior Glenn Cain (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) has been moved to offense from the defensive line, and he will be in the mix with numerous others to fill out the depth chart.
"We are going to have to develop some younger players," Streeter said. "It will probably be some sophomores and juniors, but it could very well be a couple of freshmen. It's going to be a wide-open competition."
Defense
Defensive Line
Just like its counterpart on the offensive side of the ball, the defensive line will be forced to fill some big holes. Tackle Dan Hogdahl and end Dan Petersen, both second-team All-Centennial Conference honorees in 2005, have graduated, taking with them 100 total tackles, 14 for losses totaling 46 yards and 4.5 sacks.
Easing the loss will be a pair of returning starters and some players who have served as capable backups in the past. Senior end Stevenson Foote (Huntingtown, Md./Calvert) started the last eight games last season and compiled 35 tackles, four for loss, one sack, one interception, a pass broken up and a forced fumble. Sophomore tackle Anthony Pastore (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) started the last five games a year ago as part of the eight he played. He came on strong with 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Sophomores Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) and Matt Lessler (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) will battle it out for Petersen's vacated end spot, and senior Rob Brassell (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./La Salle College) and sophomore Conor Quinn (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) will compete for the other tackle position.
Jerrold had a pair of tackles in four games last season, while Brassell played in all 10 games, recording three tackles for loss and a sack.
Linebackers
The linebacking corps will be anchored by Barton, who is the lone returning starter, at one of the outside positions. He established himself as one of the conference's best in 2005.
Four players will compete to fill the other two spots and establish some depth for at least the next two seasons. At middle linebacker, junior James Holubowich (Mineola, N.Y./Mineola) and sophomore Terence Hartigan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) will battle it out with junior William Ryan (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Chaminade) and sophomore Charlie Occhipinti (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) putting in a claim at the other outside spot.
Holubowich, who had 11 tackles, and Ryan, who had three including a half sack, both played in every game last season.
Defensive Backs
Quite a few players will get a look in the defensive backfield with only junior Adam Fulmer (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) returning from the 2005 starting lineup. He will again man one of the cornerback positions, and he will be just one of several players pushing to make plays.
"We have four or five guys that we think can play," Streeter said. "There are four or five guys who have fought hard to be good defenders.
"Juniors David Gourley (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Jason Taylor (North East, Md./Rising Sun) and senior Danny Tyrell (White Hall, Md./North Harford), who was a quarterback last season, all will push for playing time. Gourley played in all 10 games last year, recording 10 tackles and a half sack. Taylor appeared in eight games.
At the safeties, another former quarterback, senior Mike Szczesny (Carteret, N.J./Carteret), along with senior Scott Sheppard (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston), junior Kyle Luciano (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea) and sophomore David Rodriguez (Oradell, N.J./River Dell Regional) have begun to distinguish themselves. Sheppard and Luciano are both two-year letterwinners.
Special Teams
In an area filled with question marks, sophomore Josh Huson (McLean, Va./McLean) is a solid answer after a strong freshman campaign. He made four field goals last season, including a 48-yarder against McDaniel that tied the 29-year-old school record for the longest field goal. Huson also made 18-of-20 point after attempts.
Senior Ryan Dunn (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) will compete with Huson for the kickoff duties, vacated by John Edgar. Dunn will also be competing for the punting job following the graduation of Tom Pettit. He has experience in both kicking disciplines, having lettered as a place-kicker as a freshman in 2003 when he kicked off 45 times and punted twice for an average of 43.0 yards.
The most difficult shoes to fill, however, will be those of honorable mention All-America kick returner Nathan Smith. Smith tied the conference record for kickoff return touchdowns in a season with three in 2005 and broke the career record with five. The competition to replace Smith and punt returner Jay Cage will be wide open once preseason camp begins.
posted by Pat McConnell | 7:57 PM
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