Bullets Prepare for Centennial Conference Title Run
Welcome to the 2008 Gettysburg College Bullets Football Season! The following was recently posted on the Gettysburg College Website:
Football Prepares for Centennial Conference Title Run
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Coming off one of their best seasons in several years, a deep and experienced Gettysburg College football team will take to the gridiron with high hopes in 2008.
Behind their trademark spread-wing offense and an improved defense, the Bullets asserted themselves as a legitimate threat in the Centennial Conference in 2007. The team was in contention for a conference title up until the ninth game of the season and finished in a tie for third in the final CC standings. The Bullets also earned their first postseason berth in 22 years when they were selected to play in the ECAC Southwest Bowl. In addition, head coach Barry Streeter’s troops assembled the team’s first winning record in 13 years, finishing 6-5.
In the Centennial Conference Preseason Poll, the Bullets were picked to finish sixth among nine teams and received two first-place votes.
“I believe they’re up to the challenge of competing for a conference championship,” said Streeter, who enters his 30th season at the helm. “I think our team has matured and is ready to take another step. That’s been our focus since our season ended last fall.”
Streeter feels as his team’s ECAC bowl game appearance was an important part of his team’s development.
“Mentally, it gave them the feeling of being a postseason team and not being satisfied with just playing 10 games,” said Streeter.
The Bullets will enter camp with one of its deepest teams ever, as 115 Bullets currently dot the roster. Included in that number are 40 returning lettermen and 16 returning starters, providing the team with incredible stability.
“We have a lot of guys coming back who have played a lot,” noted Streeter. “I really like our senior class – they have really shown great leadership in spring practice and throughout the whole offseason program, and that’s such a big key.”
Offensively, the Bullets face the challenge of replacing all-America tailback Tom Sturges, the second-leading rusher in school history. However, the team does return seven offensive starters, including a two-year starting quarterback in junior Matt Flynn (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) and four of five linemen.
Gettysburg brings back six starters on the defensive side of the ball, led by all-conference defensive ends Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) and Conor Quinn (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery). The duo will help form one of the most intimidating front lines in the conference after combining for 15.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in 2007.
The kicking game is also in good hands with the return of senior Josh Huson (McLean, Va./McLean), a two-time all-conference selection who tied the school record for single-season field goals (12) in 2007.
The Bullets’ 2008 schedule closely resembles its 2007 docket, as it will face all of the same 10 opponents from a year ago with home fields reversed. The season opens up with a non-conference game at Lebanon Valley, with the home opener to follow against 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Hampden-Sydney. The Bullets open their Centennial Conference slate in Week 3 when they host Johns Hopkins on Homecoming, and one week later they take on defending conference champion Muhlenberg in Allentown.
Back-to-back home games ensue against Ursinus and Moravian before the team hits the road for three straight contests over a four-week period against Juniata, Dickinson, and McDaniel. The Bullets close out the regular season at home against Franklin & Marshall.
OFFENSE
Gettysburg has earned a reputation as one of the most explosive offensive teams in the conference and the 2007 season was no exception, as the Bullets led the conference in rushing (248.6 ypg) and total offense (404.7 ypg) while finishing second in scoring offense (29.5 ppg). The Bullets racked up over 400 yards of offense in seven of its 11 games, including a season-high 537 yards against Lebanon Valley. In addition, the team’s offensive line allowed a league-low 12 sacks.
QUARTERBACK
A team captain, Flynn returns for his third season as the team’s starting signal-caller after a pair of productive seasons. An excellent passer who is also a threat to run the ball, Flynn threw for 1,535 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while finishing as the team’s second-leading rusher, scrambling for 419 yards and a pair of TDs, including a 49-yarder.
“Anytime you return your starting quarterback and he’s a solid player, it’s a plus,” said Streeter. “He had an excellent spring, and he really improved his footwork and accuracy. His leadership has also come around – he was voted a captain as a junior, which says a lot about him.”
Mike Lynch, Flynn’s backup from last season, did not return this year, but Streeter expects sophomore Billy Giannone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) will step up to fill that role after a solid spring. Freshmen Brad Levine (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) and Kyle Whitmoyer (Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville) will also vie for time under center.
TAILBACK
The Bullets will certainly miss Sturges, the reigning Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year who finished his career as just the fourth 4,000-yard rusher in conference history. However, Streeter feels as if there are several players who are more than capable of filling the void.
“We had four different tailbacks competing for that spot in the spring,” said Streeter. “And I really believe they could all become very good players.”
Not included in that number is senior Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), who missed the second half of the 2007 season and the entire spring due to a knee injury. However, McConnell showed promise as Sturges’s backup early last year, rushing for 78 yards on 17 carries.
Other Bullets who will be in the mix include sophomores Jamel Mutunga (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air), Anthony DeSalva (Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow), Bryan DiSabato (Cedarhurst, N.Y./Lawrence), and Justin Joseph (Fairfax Station, Va./Bishop Ireton).
Mutunga, quite possibly the team’s fastest player, filled in for an injured Sturges in the final regular season game of the year and rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns. DeSalva also gained experience on the varsity squad, carrying the ball 10 times for 21 yards and one touchdown while DiSabato and Joseph provide additional depth.
“One of the biggest focuses for us will be determining who our tailback is, or if we are going to rotate a couple different players,” said Streeter. “It is going to be a tough position to fill because of who left, but I still feel as if we’ll be able to run the ball well.”
WING
The Bullets are well-stocked at wing back, where three players who started at some point last season return in sophomore Charles Curcio (Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph), junior Ricky Manigat (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin), and junior Michael McInerney (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional).
“Those three guys rotated in and out throughout the year,” said Streeter. “They all have good speed and they all have experience. Plus, we have a few other guys who are coming along.”
Curcio turned in an outstanding freshman campaign in which he established himself as one of the top playmakers in the Centennial Conference, racking up 947 all-purpose yards over 10 games as a wing back/return specialist. He rushed for 207 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and five touchdowns while hauling in 14 passes for 206 yards and an additional TD. He was also the team’s top return threat.
Manigat also enjoyed a solid season in his first year as a starter, finishing second on the team in receiving with 23 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McInerney started the first three games of the season and finished with 125 yards rushing and 116 yards receiving.
Another player who could figure into the team’s plans at wing is junior Sean Moore (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge), who caught three passes for 15 yards in his only appearance last season.
WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END
The Bullets will have some holes to fill at wide receiver and tight end with the loss of Matt Welsh, a career 1,000-yard receiver who led the team with 28 catches in 2007, and Pete Meggers, a two-year starter at tight end.
At receiver, the top three candidates to take over the starting job coming out of spring ball were sophomores Brian Betley (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), Gavin Jablonski (Allenwood, Wall), and Eddie Pinkerton (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock).
Betley is coming off a promising freshman season in which he caught eight passes for 165 yards and one while Jablonski and Pinkerton impressed the coaching staff with a solid spring.
The tight end position will likely be held by junior A.J. Perrotti (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) or junior David Rodriguez (Fort Belvoir, Va./Bishop Ireton). Perotti played in 10 games last season, mostly on special teams, while Rodriguez will make the move from safety to tight end.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Gettysburg’s offensive line will nearly remain intact from last season with the return of four starters.
Senior guard Lou Mastrini (Washington, D.C./Blue Ridge School (Va.)), an Honorable Mention All-Centennial Conference selection, sophomore center Matt DeFranco (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township), junior guard Alex Bonder (Mantua, N.J./Gloucester Catholic), and senior tackle Sam Walthall (Uniondale, N.Y./Woodlands) will team up to give the Bullets one of the most experienced front lines in the conference. The only vacancy is at left tackle, where sophomore Julius Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown) appears to be the front-runner to replace first team all-conference graduate James Russell.
“Our offensive line is going to be a very solid position for us,” said Streeter. “We lose a real good player at left tackle, but we’ve got several guys who we think can fill that spot.”
DEFENSE
Despite struggling at times, Gettysburg’s defense showed improvement and even flashes of brilliance during the 2007 season. After finishing last in the conference in total defense in 2006, the Bullets were sixth among nine teams a year ago at 355.2 yards per game in 2007. But the Bullet “D” was dominant at times, holding Ursinus College to a touchdown in a 21-7 win, limiting eventual conference champion Muhlenberg College to 14 points in a one-point loss, and allowing just 224 total yards in a 41-10 victory at Johns Hopkins.
“I’m really optimistic about our defense as well,” said Streeter. “I think our defensive front is a big plus. Our ends are very good, and we’ve got three or four tackles who have played a lot. I also think our linebacking corps, as a group, can be very good. And I feel really good about the potential of our defensive secondary. We just need to be more consistent defensively, and I believe we will with confidence.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
Pressuring the quarterback should not be a problem for the Bullets with the return of seniors Jerrold and Quinn. A Second Team All-Centennial Conference selection, Jerrold led the team with 8.0 sacks and was fourth on the squad with 63 tackles, including 13.5 for loss. Quinn, an honorable mention all-conference pick, racked up 7.5 sacks and was third among the Bullets with 80 tackles. He also led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss.
Gettysburg also brings back its two starting defensive tackles in senior Anthony Pastore (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) and sophomore Sebastian Sullivan (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt). A three-year starter, Pastore posted 25 tackles while Sullivan, who started six games, finished with 30 takedowns. Also returning is junior Sean Beirne, who started five games and recorded 19 tackles.
LINEBACKERS
The Bullets lost a pair of outstanding linebackers due to graduation in Harold Barton and Jim Holubowich. However, the team does return junior outside linebacker Tim Widdoes (Newark, Del./St. Mark’s), a two-year starter and the team’s second-leading tackler (85) from a year ago.
The frontrunners for the remaining two spots will likely be junior Joe Anthes (Hopatcong, N.J./Hopatcong), senior Dean Staley (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown), and junior A.J. Helm (Atco, N.J./Hammonton). Anthes played in all 11 games a year ago and recorded 14 tackles while Staley made nine hits in six games. Helm also appeared in every game and made eight tackles.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Gettysburg’s defensive secondary was also hit hard by graduation, claiming three of last year’s starters. The lone returning starter is sophomore safety Nick Duerr (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township), who posted an impressive freshman campaign. Duerr, who started nine games, tied for seventh on the team in tackles with 45 and also made three interceptions. Several Bullets will contend for the other safety spot, including sophomore Mike Barrett (Selinsgrove, Pa./Lewisburg).
At cornerback, sophomores John Dickerson (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional), Justin Blass (Jamesport, N.Y./Riverhead), Norbie Pendergast (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) and Tairi Mobley (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) are among the players who will compete for a starting job. Dickerson, Blass, and Mobley all received significant playing time on special teams a year ago, and Streeter is highly optimistic that all four have the potential to be strong players.
SPECIAL TEAMS
In Huson, the Bullets bring back one of the top kickers in the Centennial Conference. The senior has showed excellent consistency throughout his career, drilling 23-of-36 field goals and 82-of-89 extra points. Last season, he made 12-of-19 field goals and 38-of-39 extra points on his way to earning Second Team All-Centennial Conference honors.
The starting punter job is open, but Betley is likely to take over. Filling in against Moravian, he punted twice for 93 yards, including a 60-yard boot, the team’s longest punt of the season.
Curcio and sophomore Stephen Gass (Crozet, Va./Western Albemarle) both return after serving as the team’s primary return specialists last season. Curcio led the team in both punt (17) and kick (15) returns, averaging 11.1 yards per punt return (including a 56-yard touchdown return) and 23.1 yards per kick return. Gass was second on the team in both punt and kick returns and averaged 4.4 and 13.6 yards per return, respectively. Other Bullets who could contribute are Mutunga, who averaged 16.1 yards on seven kick returns, and DiSabato, who averaged 21.0 yards on four kick returns.
Centennial Conference Preseason Football Poll
School (First-Place Votes), Points
1. Muhlenberg (14), 126
2. Dickinson, 98
3. Ursinus, 90
4. Johns Hopkins (2), 86
5. Moravian, 77
6. Gettysburg (2), 72
7. Franklin & Marshall, 52
8. McDaniel, 29
9. Juniata, 18
Football Prepares for Centennial Conference Title Run
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Coming off one of their best seasons in several years, a deep and experienced Gettysburg College football team will take to the gridiron with high hopes in 2008.
Behind their trademark spread-wing offense and an improved defense, the Bullets asserted themselves as a legitimate threat in the Centennial Conference in 2007. The team was in contention for a conference title up until the ninth game of the season and finished in a tie for third in the final CC standings. The Bullets also earned their first postseason berth in 22 years when they were selected to play in the ECAC Southwest Bowl. In addition, head coach Barry Streeter’s troops assembled the team’s first winning record in 13 years, finishing 6-5.
In the Centennial Conference Preseason Poll, the Bullets were picked to finish sixth among nine teams and received two first-place votes.
“I believe they’re up to the challenge of competing for a conference championship,” said Streeter, who enters his 30th season at the helm. “I think our team has matured and is ready to take another step. That’s been our focus since our season ended last fall.”
Streeter feels as his team’s ECAC bowl game appearance was an important part of his team’s development.
“Mentally, it gave them the feeling of being a postseason team and not being satisfied with just playing 10 games,” said Streeter.
The Bullets will enter camp with one of its deepest teams ever, as 115 Bullets currently dot the roster. Included in that number are 40 returning lettermen and 16 returning starters, providing the team with incredible stability.
“We have a lot of guys coming back who have played a lot,” noted Streeter. “I really like our senior class – they have really shown great leadership in spring practice and throughout the whole offseason program, and that’s such a big key.”
Offensively, the Bullets face the challenge of replacing all-America tailback Tom Sturges, the second-leading rusher in school history. However, the team does return seven offensive starters, including a two-year starting quarterback in junior Matt Flynn (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) and four of five linemen.
Gettysburg brings back six starters on the defensive side of the ball, led by all-conference defensive ends Josh Jerrold (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) and Conor Quinn (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery). The duo will help form one of the most intimidating front lines in the conference after combining for 15.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in 2007.
The kicking game is also in good hands with the return of senior Josh Huson (McLean, Va./McLean), a two-time all-conference selection who tied the school record for single-season field goals (12) in 2007.
The Bullets’ 2008 schedule closely resembles its 2007 docket, as it will face all of the same 10 opponents from a year ago with home fields reversed. The season opens up with a non-conference game at Lebanon Valley, with the home opener to follow against 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Hampden-Sydney. The Bullets open their Centennial Conference slate in Week 3 when they host Johns Hopkins on Homecoming, and one week later they take on defending conference champion Muhlenberg in Allentown.
Back-to-back home games ensue against Ursinus and Moravian before the team hits the road for three straight contests over a four-week period against Juniata, Dickinson, and McDaniel. The Bullets close out the regular season at home against Franklin & Marshall.
OFFENSE
Gettysburg has earned a reputation as one of the most explosive offensive teams in the conference and the 2007 season was no exception, as the Bullets led the conference in rushing (248.6 ypg) and total offense (404.7 ypg) while finishing second in scoring offense (29.5 ppg). The Bullets racked up over 400 yards of offense in seven of its 11 games, including a season-high 537 yards against Lebanon Valley. In addition, the team’s offensive line allowed a league-low 12 sacks.
QUARTERBACK
A team captain, Flynn returns for his third season as the team’s starting signal-caller after a pair of productive seasons. An excellent passer who is also a threat to run the ball, Flynn threw for 1,535 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while finishing as the team’s second-leading rusher, scrambling for 419 yards and a pair of TDs, including a 49-yarder.
“Anytime you return your starting quarterback and he’s a solid player, it’s a plus,” said Streeter. “He had an excellent spring, and he really improved his footwork and accuracy. His leadership has also come around – he was voted a captain as a junior, which says a lot about him.”
Mike Lynch, Flynn’s backup from last season, did not return this year, but Streeter expects sophomore Billy Giannone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) will step up to fill that role after a solid spring. Freshmen Brad Levine (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) and Kyle Whitmoyer (Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville) will also vie for time under center.
TAILBACK
The Bullets will certainly miss Sturges, the reigning Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year who finished his career as just the fourth 4,000-yard rusher in conference history. However, Streeter feels as if there are several players who are more than capable of filling the void.
“We had four different tailbacks competing for that spot in the spring,” said Streeter. “And I really believe they could all become very good players.”
Not included in that number is senior Nick McConnell (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), who missed the second half of the 2007 season and the entire spring due to a knee injury. However, McConnell showed promise as Sturges’s backup early last year, rushing for 78 yards on 17 carries.
Other Bullets who will be in the mix include sophomores Jamel Mutunga (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air), Anthony DeSalva (Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow), Bryan DiSabato (Cedarhurst, N.Y./Lawrence), and Justin Joseph (Fairfax Station, Va./Bishop Ireton).
Mutunga, quite possibly the team’s fastest player, filled in for an injured Sturges in the final regular season game of the year and rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns. DeSalva also gained experience on the varsity squad, carrying the ball 10 times for 21 yards and one touchdown while DiSabato and Joseph provide additional depth.
“One of the biggest focuses for us will be determining who our tailback is, or if we are going to rotate a couple different players,” said Streeter. “It is going to be a tough position to fill because of who left, but I still feel as if we’ll be able to run the ball well.”
WING
The Bullets are well-stocked at wing back, where three players who started at some point last season return in sophomore Charles Curcio (Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph), junior Ricky Manigat (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin), and junior Michael McInerney (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional).
“Those three guys rotated in and out throughout the year,” said Streeter. “They all have good speed and they all have experience. Plus, we have a few other guys who are coming along.”
Curcio turned in an outstanding freshman campaign in which he established himself as one of the top playmakers in the Centennial Conference, racking up 947 all-purpose yards over 10 games as a wing back/return specialist. He rushed for 207 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and five touchdowns while hauling in 14 passes for 206 yards and an additional TD. He was also the team’s top return threat.
Manigat also enjoyed a solid season in his first year as a starter, finishing second on the team in receiving with 23 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McInerney started the first three games of the season and finished with 125 yards rushing and 116 yards receiving.
Another player who could figure into the team’s plans at wing is junior Sean Moore (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge), who caught three passes for 15 yards in his only appearance last season.
WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END
The Bullets will have some holes to fill at wide receiver and tight end with the loss of Matt Welsh, a career 1,000-yard receiver who led the team with 28 catches in 2007, and Pete Meggers, a two-year starter at tight end.
At receiver, the top three candidates to take over the starting job coming out of spring ball were sophomores Brian Betley (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), Gavin Jablonski (Allenwood, Wall), and Eddie Pinkerton (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock).
Betley is coming off a promising freshman season in which he caught eight passes for 165 yards and one while Jablonski and Pinkerton impressed the coaching staff with a solid spring.
The tight end position will likely be held by junior A.J. Perrotti (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) or junior David Rodriguez (Fort Belvoir, Va./Bishop Ireton). Perotti played in 10 games last season, mostly on special teams, while Rodriguez will make the move from safety to tight end.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Gettysburg’s offensive line will nearly remain intact from last season with the return of four starters.
Senior guard Lou Mastrini (Washington, D.C./Blue Ridge School (Va.)), an Honorable Mention All-Centennial Conference selection, sophomore center Matt DeFranco (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township), junior guard Alex Bonder (Mantua, N.J./Gloucester Catholic), and senior tackle Sam Walthall (Uniondale, N.Y./Woodlands) will team up to give the Bullets one of the most experienced front lines in the conference. The only vacancy is at left tackle, where sophomore Julius Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown) appears to be the front-runner to replace first team all-conference graduate James Russell.
“Our offensive line is going to be a very solid position for us,” said Streeter. “We lose a real good player at left tackle, but we’ve got several guys who we think can fill that spot.”
DEFENSE
Despite struggling at times, Gettysburg’s defense showed improvement and even flashes of brilliance during the 2007 season. After finishing last in the conference in total defense in 2006, the Bullets were sixth among nine teams a year ago at 355.2 yards per game in 2007. But the Bullet “D” was dominant at times, holding Ursinus College to a touchdown in a 21-7 win, limiting eventual conference champion Muhlenberg College to 14 points in a one-point loss, and allowing just 224 total yards in a 41-10 victory at Johns Hopkins.
“I’m really optimistic about our defense as well,” said Streeter. “I think our defensive front is a big plus. Our ends are very good, and we’ve got three or four tackles who have played a lot. I also think our linebacking corps, as a group, can be very good. And I feel really good about the potential of our defensive secondary. We just need to be more consistent defensively, and I believe we will with confidence.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
Pressuring the quarterback should not be a problem for the Bullets with the return of seniors Jerrold and Quinn. A Second Team All-Centennial Conference selection, Jerrold led the team with 8.0 sacks and was fourth on the squad with 63 tackles, including 13.5 for loss. Quinn, an honorable mention all-conference pick, racked up 7.5 sacks and was third among the Bullets with 80 tackles. He also led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss.
Gettysburg also brings back its two starting defensive tackles in senior Anthony Pastore (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) and sophomore Sebastian Sullivan (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt). A three-year starter, Pastore posted 25 tackles while Sullivan, who started six games, finished with 30 takedowns. Also returning is junior Sean Beirne, who started five games and recorded 19 tackles.
LINEBACKERS
The Bullets lost a pair of outstanding linebackers due to graduation in Harold Barton and Jim Holubowich. However, the team does return junior outside linebacker Tim Widdoes (Newark, Del./St. Mark’s), a two-year starter and the team’s second-leading tackler (85) from a year ago.
The frontrunners for the remaining two spots will likely be junior Joe Anthes (Hopatcong, N.J./Hopatcong), senior Dean Staley (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown), and junior A.J. Helm (Atco, N.J./Hammonton). Anthes played in all 11 games a year ago and recorded 14 tackles while Staley made nine hits in six games. Helm also appeared in every game and made eight tackles.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Gettysburg’s defensive secondary was also hit hard by graduation, claiming three of last year’s starters. The lone returning starter is sophomore safety Nick Duerr (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township), who posted an impressive freshman campaign. Duerr, who started nine games, tied for seventh on the team in tackles with 45 and also made three interceptions. Several Bullets will contend for the other safety spot, including sophomore Mike Barrett (Selinsgrove, Pa./Lewisburg).
At cornerback, sophomores John Dickerson (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional), Justin Blass (Jamesport, N.Y./Riverhead), Norbie Pendergast (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) and Tairi Mobley (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) are among the players who will compete for a starting job. Dickerson, Blass, and Mobley all received significant playing time on special teams a year ago, and Streeter is highly optimistic that all four have the potential to be strong players.
SPECIAL TEAMS
In Huson, the Bullets bring back one of the top kickers in the Centennial Conference. The senior has showed excellent consistency throughout his career, drilling 23-of-36 field goals and 82-of-89 extra points. Last season, he made 12-of-19 field goals and 38-of-39 extra points on his way to earning Second Team All-Centennial Conference honors.
The starting punter job is open, but Betley is likely to take over. Filling in against Moravian, he punted twice for 93 yards, including a 60-yard boot, the team’s longest punt of the season.
Curcio and sophomore Stephen Gass (Crozet, Va./Western Albemarle) both return after serving as the team’s primary return specialists last season. Curcio led the team in both punt (17) and kick (15) returns, averaging 11.1 yards per punt return (including a 56-yard touchdown return) and 23.1 yards per kick return. Gass was second on the team in both punt and kick returns and averaged 4.4 and 13.6 yards per return, respectively. Other Bullets who could contribute are Mutunga, who averaged 16.1 yards on seven kick returns, and DiSabato, who averaged 21.0 yards on four kick returns.
Centennial Conference Preseason Football Poll
School (First-Place Votes), Points
1. Muhlenberg (14), 126
2. Dickinson, 98
3. Ursinus, 90
4. Johns Hopkins (2), 86
5. Moravian, 77
6. Gettysburg (2), 72
7. Franklin & Marshall, 52
8. McDaniel, 29
9. Juniata, 18
posted by Pat McConnell | 10:58 AM
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