Centennial is loaded with QBs
From today's Harrisburg Patriot-News:
Centennial is loaded with QBs
Muhlenberg the favorite in spirited league race
Sunday, August 24, 2008
BY BOB BLACK
Of The Patriot-News
In China, home of this year's Summer Olympics, this is considered to be The Year Of The Rat.
But in Centennial Conference football, this is considered to be The Year Of The Quarterback.
Big-time.
Schools like Dickinson and Gettysburg, with experienced quarterbacks returning, are expected to make a run at defending Centennial champion Muhlenberg.
But, then again, Muhlenberg has senior Eric Santagato returning, so all roads leading to the Centennial title are expected to go through the Lehigh Valley.
Gettysburg will be the first Centennial team to get a crack at Muhlenberg when the Bullets face the Mules on Sept. 27 in Allentown.
"This league is so well-balanced that it always pays to have experienced people at key positions," said Gettysburg's Barry Streeter, dean of the Centennial coaches in his 30th season.
"We happen to have a pretty good quarterback returning in Matt Flynn [a 6-1, 185-pound junior]. But there are a number of good ones in our league this season."
Included in that list along with Muhlenberg's Santagato and Gettysburg's Flynn are Dickinson junior Ian Mitchell; Moravian senior Marc Braxmeier; Ursinus senior Nick Dye; and Juniata senior Jay Leonard from Big Spring, who passed for a league-leading 2,360 yards and 15 touchdowns despite his team's 1-9 record last season.
For Leonard, who quarterbacked winning teams at Big Spring before attending Juniata, this is a last chance to give the Eagles a .500 season.
"It's been kind of frustrating," said Leonard, who is one of 14 midstate players with Juniata.
"We've been so close in so many situations since I've been here. I'd really like to go out of here with a winning season."
Juniata went 0-8 in the Centennial last year, beating only Gallaudet in a season-ending nonleague game.
Dickinson, which won the Centennial title two seasons ago, then finished second to Muhlenberg last year, is expected to have another big season from Mitchell, who replaced graduated Matt Torchia at that position last season.
Two years ago as a freshman, Mitchell was a major offensive contributor as a receiver, return specialist and all-around back.
"He's the kind of player you need to have in there as much as possible," said Dickinson coach Darwin Breaux, who is just four victories away from 100 for his career.
"He [Mitchell] knew when Torchia graduated he would be our starting quarterback the following season, and he has done the job we expected him to do since taking over."
"I'm much more comfortable coming in as the starting quarterback this season," Mitchell said.
"It always helps to have a season behind you."
Mitchell was second-team All-Centennial last season, passing for 2,213 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 823 yards and seven scores.
The Red Devils, who lead off against Grove City at Biddle Field, Sept. 6, will host Franklin & Marshall when the two meet for the 100th time Sept. 19 in a Friday night game. F&M leads the series 59-37-3, but Dickinson has won the last four meetings, including last year's 28-21 decision.
In addition to the Dickinson-F&M Conestoga Wagon meeting, there will be several other top Centennial games, including the Gettysburg at Muhlenberg matchup, Gettysburg at Dickinson Oct. 25, Muhlenberg at Dickinson Nov. 1 and Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg Nov. 15.
"It's good to have tough games with teams like F&M, Gettysburg and Muhlenberg at home," Dickinson's Breaux said.
"But in our league, there really are no easy games. From top to bottom there is very little difference in the opponents, and we prepare for each game that way."
In addition to Mitchell, other offensive leaders for Dickinson this season should be running backs Tim Smith and Tim Wells and receivers Pat O'Conner and Gray Gish.
Defensively, the Red Devils have linebacker Ben Hargrave and back Mike Maxwell, who are the captains.
Gettysburg, which will be playing without conference rushing leader Tom Sturges, who gained more than 4,000 yards in his career, will have Flynn (who threw for 1,535 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 419 yards and two scores).
Senior Nick McConnell from Cedar Crest is one of four tailbacks seeking to take over Sturges' job. Sophomore Sebastian Sullivan from Bishop McDevitt and senior Anthony Pastore give the Bullets two returning starters at defensive tackle.
In the preseason poll of coaches from the Centennial Conference, Muhlenberg, Dickinson and Ursinus were picked 1-2-3.
Centennial is loaded with QBs
Muhlenberg the favorite in spirited league race
Sunday, August 24, 2008
BY BOB BLACK
Of The Patriot-News
In China, home of this year's Summer Olympics, this is considered to be The Year Of The Rat.
But in Centennial Conference football, this is considered to be The Year Of The Quarterback.
Big-time.
Schools like Dickinson and Gettysburg, with experienced quarterbacks returning, are expected to make a run at defending Centennial champion Muhlenberg.
But, then again, Muhlenberg has senior Eric Santagato returning, so all roads leading to the Centennial title are expected to go through the Lehigh Valley.
Gettysburg will be the first Centennial team to get a crack at Muhlenberg when the Bullets face the Mules on Sept. 27 in Allentown.
"This league is so well-balanced that it always pays to have experienced people at key positions," said Gettysburg's Barry Streeter, dean of the Centennial coaches in his 30th season.
"We happen to have a pretty good quarterback returning in Matt Flynn [a 6-1, 185-pound junior]. But there are a number of good ones in our league this season."
Included in that list along with Muhlenberg's Santagato and Gettysburg's Flynn are Dickinson junior Ian Mitchell; Moravian senior Marc Braxmeier; Ursinus senior Nick Dye; and Juniata senior Jay Leonard from Big Spring, who passed for a league-leading 2,360 yards and 15 touchdowns despite his team's 1-9 record last season.
For Leonard, who quarterbacked winning teams at Big Spring before attending Juniata, this is a last chance to give the Eagles a .500 season.
"It's been kind of frustrating," said Leonard, who is one of 14 midstate players with Juniata.
"We've been so close in so many situations since I've been here. I'd really like to go out of here with a winning season."
Juniata went 0-8 in the Centennial last year, beating only Gallaudet in a season-ending nonleague game.
Dickinson, which won the Centennial title two seasons ago, then finished second to Muhlenberg last year, is expected to have another big season from Mitchell, who replaced graduated Matt Torchia at that position last season.
Two years ago as a freshman, Mitchell was a major offensive contributor as a receiver, return specialist and all-around back.
"He's the kind of player you need to have in there as much as possible," said Dickinson coach Darwin Breaux, who is just four victories away from 100 for his career.
"He [Mitchell] knew when Torchia graduated he would be our starting quarterback the following season, and he has done the job we expected him to do since taking over."
"I'm much more comfortable coming in as the starting quarterback this season," Mitchell said.
"It always helps to have a season behind you."
Mitchell was second-team All-Centennial last season, passing for 2,213 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 823 yards and seven scores.
The Red Devils, who lead off against Grove City at Biddle Field, Sept. 6, will host Franklin & Marshall when the two meet for the 100th time Sept. 19 in a Friday night game. F&M leads the series 59-37-3, but Dickinson has won the last four meetings, including last year's 28-21 decision.
In addition to the Dickinson-F&M Conestoga Wagon meeting, there will be several other top Centennial games, including the Gettysburg at Muhlenberg matchup, Gettysburg at Dickinson Oct. 25, Muhlenberg at Dickinson Nov. 1 and Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg Nov. 15.
"It's good to have tough games with teams like F&M, Gettysburg and Muhlenberg at home," Dickinson's Breaux said.
"But in our league, there really are no easy games. From top to bottom there is very little difference in the opponents, and we prepare for each game that way."
In addition to Mitchell, other offensive leaders for Dickinson this season should be running backs Tim Smith and Tim Wells and receivers Pat O'Conner and Gray Gish.
Defensively, the Red Devils have linebacker Ben Hargrave and back Mike Maxwell, who are the captains.
Gettysburg, which will be playing without conference rushing leader Tom Sturges, who gained more than 4,000 yards in his career, will have Flynn (who threw for 1,535 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 419 yards and two scores).
Senior Nick McConnell from Cedar Crest is one of four tailbacks seeking to take over Sturges' job. Sophomore Sebastian Sullivan from Bishop McDevitt and senior Anthony Pastore give the Bullets two returning starters at defensive tackle.
In the preseason poll of coaches from the Centennial Conference, Muhlenberg, Dickinson and Ursinus were picked 1-2-3.
posted by Pat McConnell | 7:15 AM
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