Doubters Beware: Middlebury Football 2016 Season Preview

The Middlebury faithful are eager to pack the stadium on Saturday as the Panthers host Bowdoin (Courtesy of Middlebury Football).
The Middlebury faithful are eager to pack the stadium on Saturday as the Panthers host Bowdoin (Courtesy of Middlebury Football).

Welcome NESCAC fans to the season preview for Middlebury football. After a well-earned 10-7 win in a scrimmage over Dartmouth College, the Panthers are heading full tilt into Homecoming Weekend for their first NESCAC game against the Bowdoin Polar Bears on September 24th.

Lets get to it.

Projected Record: 5-3

Projected Offensive Starters: ( *Nine returning)

QB:  Jared Lebowitz ‘18*

RB: Diego Meritus ’19*

WR: Ryan Rizzo ‘17*

WR: James Burk ‘17

WR: Tanner Contois ‘18*

TE: Dan Fulham ‘18

LT: Win Homer ’17*

LG: Will Fleming ’17*

C: Chris McGuire ’17*

RG: Alec Auwaeter ’17*

RT: Andy Klarman ‘17*

Projected Defensive Starters: ( *Seven returning)

CB: Matt Daniel ‘19

SS: Kevin Hopsicker ‘18*

FS: Justin Fahey ‘19

CB: Nate Leedy ‘17*

LB: Addison Pierce ‘17*

LB: Aaron Slodowitz ‘18*

LB: Wes Becton IV ‘18*

DL: Henry Castillo ‘17*

DL: Rob Wood ‘18*

DL: Henry Muter ‘18

DL: Roman Trevino ‘19

Projected Specialists:  (*Two returning)

PK: Max Rye ’20

P: Charlie Gordon ’19*

KR/PR: Tanner Contois ‘18*/Jimmy Martinez ‘19

Offensive MVP: Quarterback Jared Lebowitz ’18.

The Las Vegas native transferred from UNLV (a Division 1 program), but with stud Matt Milano ‘16 leading the pack, Lebowitz mostly watched from the sidelines. Now, the D1 transfer has a chance to lead this high-powered Middlebury Offense to a NESCAC title. If the Milano and Matt Minno ’16 combo sheds any light on the situation, we can expect Lebowitz to air it out pretty consistently. Can he get the job done?

Offensive Pressure is on: Running Back Diego Meritus ’19.

As a freshman, Meritus had a great campaign, averaging 57 yards and 2 TD’s per game. With Milano and Minno gone, Meritus has to pick up the offensive reigns until Lebowitz proves his pass ability. Fellow players mentioned that Meritus had an outstanding preseason- hopefully that same energy is displayed against the Polar Bears for the season opener.

Defensive MVP: Cornerback Nate Leedy ’17.

Apparently, Leedy has been an absolute force in camp so far,  and he is hitting harder and faster than ever before. After averaging a total of 3.4 tackles per game in his junior year, he is clearly hungry for more in 2016. He is a seasoned veteran in the secondary and will make sure to punish those who come into his airspace. It will be exciting to see if opponents are willing to test his defensive abilities. Watch out for that hit stick.

Biggest game: October 8th vs Amherst @ 1:30pm

Last year the Lord Jeffs handed the Panthers a 24-7 loss, but Middlebury will enjoy home field advantage and have a huge appetite for revenge this season. Lebowitz and Meritus are expected to wreak havoc in the air and on the ground, while the defensive units look to level anyone holding that pig skin. Can’t wait for this NESCAC classic.

Summary:

Who cares the Minno and Milano graduated? Yes, everybody in the NESCAC knows that they were absolute beasts, but a new era is emerging for Middlebury Football. A talented freshman class is pushing the upperclassmen to compete every single day and everyone is pumped.

“Everyone is really excited to be back out here on the field,” said Wes Becton ’18. “There is definitely a sense that we playing with a chip on our shoulder after falling short of last years expectations. Everyone’s mind is in the right place and we are all focused on achieving potential and hopefully bringing home a NESCAC championship.”

Middlebury’s core strength lies within their offensive line, as they only lost Michael Brady from last year. Win Homer ‘17, Will Fleming ‘17, Chris McGuire ‘17, Alec Auwaeter ‘17 and Andy Klarman ‘17 are total animals looking forward to execute their only job: protect the QB. This unit of experienced seniors is hungry to leave it all on the field in their final season.

Behind this line of massive humans, Meritus will take charge of the running game while Drew Jacobs ‘18, who is back from last year’s knee injury, will compete with Matt Cardew ’18 for time behind the sophomore back. And…obviously, all eyes will be on Lebowitz. The Division 1 transfer will finally have a chance to show why the NESCAC should fear his play. Look for Conrado Banky ‘19 to break out as a reliable target for Lebowitz this season alongside the rest of the veteran receiving corps.

Not only is Middlebury’s offense seemingly stronger than last year as Lebowitz looks to fill Milano’s shoes, but the defense is also making more noise than prior years. Henry Castillo ‘17, Rob Wood ‘18, Henry Muter ‘18 and Roman Trevino ‘19 will man the defensive line this year, but if anybody happens to make it through, Addison Pierce ‘17, Aaron Slodowitz ‘18 and Wes Becton ‘18 will be there to flatten them.  Nate Leedy ‘17 and Matt Daniel ‘19 will protect the secondary level alongside Kevin Hopsicker ‘18 and Justin Fahey ‘19.

Naturally, after a 5-3 season, the Panthers might be overlooked. But Lebowitz is ready to take over an offense that is pass heavy. Meritus is ready to build off an outstanding freshman season. Captain Nate Leedy is ready to lead this team, and hopes to prove doubters wrong in 2016.

NESCAC football is back, and we will be anxiously waiting to see if the Panthers play to their potential.

Breakout Players of 2016

Plenty of last year’s stars are back and ready to repeat their performances last season, but there will without a doubt be a number of a breakout players in 2016, just like there are every year. For some guys, it takes a little extra time to adjust to the college game. For others, it is a matter of waiting for an older player to graduate. Whatever the reason, it is always a certainty that a handful of players will splash onto the scene each year, just one of the many facets of college athletics that makes them so fun to watch. Below is a list of some guys to look out for as breakout players in 2016, compiled through talking to coaches, word of mouth and far too much time looking at the NESCAC.com website.

 

Running Back Jack Hickey ‘19, Amherst

Confidence: High

Hickey was part of a three-back r

ushing committee in 2015, and he still managed to run 319 yards. However, that’s not the most impressive part: Hickey averaged a savage 6.8 yards per carry as a freshman last year. That’s absolute craziness. The 6’1”, 218 lb. tailback is a force,and with leading rusher Kenny Adinkra ‘16 gone this year, Hickey should blow up. Expect Coach Mills to pound the ball on the ground with Hickey early one while quarterback Alex Berluti ‘17 gets his feet wet.

Outside Linebacker Dago Picon-Roura ‘19, Trinity

Confidence: Medium-High

Pulling down interceptions from the linebacker position is not the most common thing in the world, but in just 7 games last year Dago Picon-Roura grabbed two of them. Now a sophomore, Picon-Roura is a big, physical, hard-hitting player. Expect a big boost in tackle numbers now that he has gotten his feet wet in the collegiate style of play. Trinity lost a key piece in linebacker Frank Leyva ‘16, opening the door for Picon-Roura to become an integral part of what is shaping up to be one of the toughest defenses in the NESCAC.

Quarterback Jared Lebowitz ’18, Middlebury

Confidence: Medium

Last year Lebowitz sat behind 2014 Co-Offensive Player of the Year and 2015 First Teamer Matt Milano after transferring from D-1 UNLV. Lebowitz was named the No. 40 pro style QB in the 2012 high school class, and redshirted in his first year for the Rebels before playing in a limited capacity in 2014. Middlebury is likely to stick to their style of play and rely

Lebowitz will be looking to continue the tradition of stellar Panther quarterbacks.
Lebowitz will be looking to continue the tradition of stellar Panther quarterbacks.

heavily on the pass, although Lebowitz is an athletic signal caller who even lined up at receiver last year for the Panthers. He is a good runner—representing Middlebury’s first dual threat QB since Donnie McKillop ’11.

Quarterback Alex Berluti ‘17, Amherst

Confidence: Medium

With last year’s starter Reece Foy ‘18 succumbing to a season-ending knee injury in August, Berluti steps in with the pressure of extending a 19-game win streak. While his predecessor certainly set the bar high for Berluti, the senior has the advantage of an extra few inches over Foy, which will certainly help him read the defense. Amherst plays best when they can mix between run and pass plays pretty evenly, so Coach Mills will certainly be relying on Berluti to help this offense maintain the fluidity that has won it three straight NESCAC titles.

Wide Receiver Ben Berey ‘17, Tufts:

Confidence: Medium-Low

My confidence isn’t medium low in Berey because of anything he does, but rather because of Tufts’ system. Relying heavily on the combination of Chance Brady ‘17’s rushing attack and screen passes to wideout Mike Rando ‘17, Berey hasn’t been the primary option throughout his college career. However, with the loss of Jack Cooleen ‘16, it may just be time for Berey to step into a huge role for the Jumbos. On a team where the leading receiver (Cooleen) had three touchdowns, Berey had two, and I think that quarterback Alex Snyder ‘17 and Berey will hit their stride this season as opposing defenses focus most of their efforts on shutting down the Tufts ground game.

Running Back Peter Boyer ‘19, Bates

Confidence: Low

In a very run-heavy offense, Peter Boyer looks like he is going to get the nod as the starting tailback on opening day. While Boyer has limited in-game experience during his collegiate career, he did average 4.3 yards per carry last season. However, the lack of confidence stems from Boyer’s small sample size: he had just 10 rushing attempts in 2015. The nature of an offense that utilizes the option is that lots of different guys get touches, but if Boyer can keep up the efficiency he showed a spark of last season, he could emerge as Bates’ number one option.

 

The Experienced Bobcats Are Back: Bates Football 2016 Season Preview

Bobcat Nation is ready to get going up in Lewiston! (Courtesy of Josh Kuckens and Bates Athletics).
The squad is ready to get going up in Lewiston! (Courtesy of Josh Kuckens and Bates Athletics).

Projected Record: 2-6

Projected Offensive Starters (*Six Returning)

QB: Sandy Plashkes ‘19

RB: Peter Boyer ‘19

SE: Marcus Ross ‘19*

SE: Noah Stebbins ‘18

Slot: Mickoy Nichol ‘18*

Slot: Frank Williams: ‘18*

LT: Sean Lovett ‘18*

LG: Dylan Rasch ‘18

C: Jimmy Fagan ‘17*

RG: Martin Guinee ‘19

RT: Mitch Hildreth ‘17*

Projected Defensive Starters (*Ten Returning)

DE: Jack Maritz ‘18

DT: Collin Richardson ‘18*

DE: Sean Antonuccio ‘17*

OLB: Joe Frake ‘19*

ILB: Sam Francis ‘17*

ILB: Mark Upton ‘17*

ILB: Max Breschi ‘18*

OLB: Andrew Jenkelunas ‘18*

CB: Brandon Williams ‘17*

FS: Trevor Lyons ‘17*

CB: Arthur Churchwell ‘19*

Projected Specialists (*Three Returning)

PK: Grant Dewald ‘18*

P: Justin Foley ‘19*

KR/PR: Frank Williams ‘18*/Ben Coulibaly ‘17

Offensive MVP: Tailback Peter Boyer ’19

Boyer took last year to get his feet wet, and now he is primed and ready to lead the Bobcat rushing attack. Averaging 4.3 yards per carry last year, Boyer showed his potential, so expect this to be a big year for him. With quarterback Patrick Dugan ‘16 gone, expect to see Boyer take on more of the workload until Sandy Plashkes ‘19 settles in under center.

Defensive MVP: Linebacker Mark Upton ’17

A team captain this year, Upton started all eight games last year at middle linebacker. He was the engineer of this defense and finished second in the NESCAC in total tackles (71) and tackles per game (9). He has led the conference in forced fumbles (3) for two years straight and also led the Bobcats in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (8) last year, illustrating his natural instincts for pursuing the pigskin. He was also named to New England Football Writers DIII  All-New England team and won the Stephen B. Ritter Academic Award (top-10 cumulative grade point average). Very active on the ball, expect Upton to raise his level of play again this year as he steps onto the gridiron for one more season.

Biggest Game: October 29th vs. Colby

The first game in Bates’ CBB title defense kicks off when Colby comes to Lewiston. I think this is going to be their biggest game because of the gritty battle these two had last year that ended in a margin of victory of just a single point. Expect Coach Harriman to come out trying to implement the same kind of defensive strategy he did against them last year, but know that Colby will come out swinging as they look for revenge. Expect a run-first defensive game that will come down to the final possession. I believe Sandy Plashkes will be the X-factor in the game, as Bates will depend on his efficiency in order to spread the field and open up the rushing attack for the Bobcats.

Best Tweet: It’s hard to go wrong quoting Belichick.

Summary:

Even though Bates did not finish last season with a great record, the Bobcats feel that there is a lot of promise for this season. A lot of key guys who were once the young guns are now the seasoned veterans, which bodes well for Bates. Depth is not an issue, which means Coach Harriman can get experimental with players at different positions if need be.

One of the things the team wants to emphasize this season coming off of last season is turning margin of error into margin of victory. Last year, four of the Bates’ eight games were decided by 12 points or less. Throughout preseason, the leaders on the team have been harping on perfecting the “little things,” such as understand the situation in a game or where to be positioned on the field. In an eight-game season, the little things often decide how well you do in the NESCAC. For the Bobcats to see success they have to do a better job in the red zone, both offensively and defensively, something that hurt them in critical moments of games last year.

One of the biggest questions is the quarterback spot. Patrick Dugan ‘16 is a big loss, so it will be interesting to see how the season unfolds with sophomore Plashkes taking over. He should be pretty comfortable behind center with a veteran line that has captain James Fagan ‘17, three-year starter Mitch Hildreth ‘17, and Sean Lovett ‘18 anchoring the front. In regards to the skill positions on offense, Bates is deep and boasts good slot receivers in Noah Stebbins ‘18 and Marcus Ross ‘19, who came onto the scene late last season as a freshman.

As for the defensive unit, almost every starter is returning from 2015, so the Bobcats should show improvement through experience in this respect. The hard-hitting Upton will lead the unit with classmate Brandon Williams ’17 who led the team with six total takeaways. Sam Francis ’17, who ranked third on the team with 49 total tackles, is another leader on this team who will make a big impact on this side of the ball.

The Bobcats will rely on the front seven to take pressure off of the defensive backs, who allowed almost 250 passing yards per game last season. The secondary will be thrown right into the fire when they face Trinity on opening day, so we will see where Coach Harriman’s team stands on Saturday.

Will Clinton, New York Become a Destination Opponents Fear?: Hamilton Football 2016 Season Preview

Who is going to be throwing the ball to Charles Ensley '17 this year for the Continentals? (Courtesy of Hamilton Athletics)
Who is going to be throwing the ball to Charles Ensley ’17 this year for the Continentals? (Courtesy of Hamilton Athletics)

Projected Record: 3-5

Projected Offensive Starters (*Five Returning)

QB: Cole Freeman ‘18

HB: Marcus Gutierrez ‘18

FB: Jason Nastovski ‘18*

WR: Charles Ensley ‘17*

WR: Chase Rosenberg ‘17

TE: Jordan Jenkins ‘17*

LT: Rob McClure ‘17*

LG: Stephen Kelley ‘19

C: (to be determined)

RG: Richie Nelli ‘19

RT: Matt Snider ‘17*

Projected Defensive Starters (*Nine Returning)

DE: Tyler Hudson ‘17*

DT: Nick Sobczyk ‘17*

DT: Poppy Green ‘17*

DE: Brent Lobien ‘17*

LB: Matt Glebus ‘17*

LB: Mickey Keating ‘17*

LB: Sean Tolton ‘19

CB: James Giattino ‘17*

SS: James Taylor ‘17

FS: Colby Jones ‘19*

CB: Conor Powers ‘17*

Projected Specialists (*Two Returning)

PK: Zach Altneu ‘18*

P: Billy Wagner ‘20

KR/PR: Alex Waugh ‘18*/Charles Ensley ‘17

Offensive MVP: WR Charles Ensley ‘17

Losing LaShawn Ware for the year is pretty brutal, but luckily 2015 All-NESCAC selection Charles Ensley is back for the Continentals. Ensley had 665 receiving yards last year, coming to an average of 83.1 Y/G, both of which were good enough to rank him at second in the league. The kid has wheels, which makes him a huge deep threat, so whoever ends up winning the quarterback competition (Cole Freeman ‘18 vs. Brandon Tobin ‘18) will be testing opposing secondaries to Ensley’s side of the field.

Defensive MVP: DE Brent Lobien ‘17

Brent Lobien wreaked havoc in the backfield last year, evidenced by his nine and a half TFL and five sacks. He had the third-most tackles on the Hamilton defense, and he forced a fumble and recovered two. Simply put, Lobien is a ball hawk, and he will help lead Coach Murray’s defense along with the other three seniors on the Hamilton defensive line.

Biggest Surprise in Camp:

Chase Rosenberg ‘17 is no longer going to be taking snaps under center. Instead, the senior has moved to wide receiver where he looks to become a secondary target behind Ensley. Rosenberg is an athletic 6’1”, so it makes sense that he has made the move since the primary quarterback battle features Cole Freeman ‘18 and Brandon Tobin ‘18. It seems like this switch is happening more and more since the emergence of Julian Edelman as one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets. Let’s just hope Rosenberg’s quarterback, whether it turns out to be Freeman or Tobin, doesn’t get unfairly punished by league officials like Edelman’s has been…

Biggest Game: vs. Bowdoin, October 15th, 12:00pm

Hamilton ended the year on a high note by winning two of their last three games, but they are faced with a tough schedule to start the year as they face Amherst, Wesleyan and then Trinity. That’s why their matchup with Bowdoin in week four is the most important game on their schedule. It’s unlikely that they get through the first three unscathed, so getting back on track with a win at home against Bowdoin will be monumental for the Continentals.

Best Tweet:

 

Summary:

What killed Hamilton last year was their 0-5 start. Though the Continentals have won 2 of their last 3 games, they travel to Amherst and Wesleyan before finally playing at home, where they will host Trinity. I wouldn’t say that’s the easiest first three games of the season. Luckily, the Bantams have a significantly easier final 5 games: vs. Bowdoin, at Colby, vs. Williams, vs. Middlebury, at Bates. Bowdoin and Colby will likely be two of the worse teams in the league this year, and it is especially important that Hamilton has a home game following their tough opening stretch. Williams’ new coach, Mark Raymond, is a very highly touted head coach who had a great deal of success at St. Lawrence over the last 6 years. However, Raymond was only hired in February, so he has had limited time to work with his players, something the Continentals are hoping to take advantage of. Middlebury should be down this year compared to recent years after suffering the losses of Matt Minno ‘16 and Matt Milano ‘16, and writer Liam O’Neil is actually putting Middlebury on upset alert in this Week 7 matchup as shown in his Top 10 games of 2016 article last week. Playing at Bates is never easy, but Coach Murray’s squad could be in the midst of a hot streak at this point, so anything could happen.

It’s important to remember, however, that if Hamilton wants to win these games, they are going to need to make some huge strides on offense. They ranked dead last in YPG last year, in large part due to their abysmal rushing attack, which gained just 2.3 yards per carry last year! Simply put, Hamilton could not string together drives last year, evidenced by their league worst 15.1 first downs per game. And even when the Hamilton offense did manage to get into scoring positions, they struggled to convert those chances into points. Though the sample size is small (6 attempts), Hamilton only hit 16.7% of their field goals – in other words, they hit ONE FIELD GOAL last year. For a team with a pretty respectable defense, getting 3 points where you can is crucial. For example, in their opener against Tufts, the Continentals lost by 3 points in overtime. They also missed two field goals.

On the defensive side of the ball, however, Hamilton is in very good shape once again. They do lose their top two tacklers, but defensive end Brent Lobien ‘17 and linebacker Matt Glebus ‘17 are back to anchor the Hamilton defense along with seven other returning starters. Coach Murray is confident that their defense can keep them in games (they were 5th in the conference in points allowed) and I understand why. This is an experienced group (9 of the 11 starters are seniors), and they play a physical style of football that starts up front. Lobien and defensive tackle Nick Sobczyk ‘17 tied for fourth in the league with 5 sacks last year, and the other end Tyler Hudson ’17 was right behind them with 4 sacks. This group can get pressure on the quarterback, so the question becomes whether or not the offense can convert defensive stops into points. As of now, it’s hard to say yes, but maybe Hamilton can prove people wrong this year.

O’Neil’s Top 10: Top 10 games of 2016

Amherst is primed and ready to take the crown back to Amherst again, but that will be no easy task after some big losses, including injured quarterback Reece Foy (Courtesy of Amherst Athletics).
Amherst is primed and ready to take the crown back to Amherst again, but that will be no easy task after some big losses, including injured quarterback Reece Foy (Courtesy of Amherst Athletics).

Editor’s note: Liam O’Neil is one of our newest writers, and he will be taking on one of our newer features, a weekly “Top 10.” Liam hails from southern Connecticut and has loads of home state pride, which I anticipate will show in his writing. Enjoy Liam’s first article for NBN.

With the 2016-2017 NESCAC football season quickly approaching, it’s time to take a look at which games you should have circled on your calendar. Like most years, the landscape of the NESCAC should remain the same with perennial powers Amherst and Trinity as the overwhelming favorites to win the league. Tufts and Wesleyan are both dark horse contenders and Middlebury should round out the top 5. From there, there is a steep drop in quality teams which further promotes the notion that in relation to football, the ‘CAC is a league of two tiers. Anyhow, whether or not they are played for championship ramifications, tradition, or just plain bragging rights, here are the top 10 games to watch for the 2016-2017 season.

#10) Bowdoin @ Colby (November 12th)
While neither team will be a title contender, the rivalry between Bowdoin and Colby is important to both schools and the state of Maine as a whole. On the final week of the season, look for both teams to try and end their year on a high and improve upon disappointing campaigns in 2015.
#9) Bates @ Bowdoin (November 5th)
 
The CBB Championship should be determined on November 5th when Bates travels to face Bowdoin. I recently saw a joint-practice with Bowdoin and Tufts and while the Polar Bears looked sharp in “7 on 7,” once the action turned to “11 on 11” it quickly became apparent that Bowdoin lacks the size and strength on the interior lines to compete with the league’s best.  As of right now, neither team is talented enough to contend for for a NESCAC championship, so for the moment, the CBB trophy will have to suffice.
#8) Middlebury @ Hamilton (November 5th)
 
The scheduling gods must hate Hamilton. The Continentals have the pleasure of traveling to Amherst and Wesleyan in weeks 1 and 2 and hosting Trinity in week 3. While the team has made great strides under third year coach Dave Murray, I don’t see them escaping their early season gauntlet with a win. Luckily for Hamilton, things get a little easier after week 3. So much so in fact that I predict the Conts’ will be riding a three game win streak into their week 7 matchup with Middlebury. The Panthers lost reigning NESCAC player of the year Matt Milano (Connecticut guy) to graduation and could be ripe for the upset in this game. If Hamilton can find a way to win, it will show they’re for real.
#7) Williams @ Amherst (November 12th)
 
Amherst should roll in this game, but I would have felt bad not including “The Biggest Little Game in America” on this list. As the longest active rivalry in history,  it’s always great to see the conference get a shout out on College Gameday. Plus, the game is aired on NESN which is just one small step away from primetime ESPN. Speaking of Williams, the cupboard isn’t exactly bare. The Ephs have fallen on tough times as of late but I always thought their struggles could be attritubuted more to poor game planning and less to a lack of talent. Expect that to change as former St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond takes the reigns in Williamstown.
#6) Amherst @ Middlebury (October 8th)
 As a team looking to replace several key players, Middlebury could not have picked two better teams to open their season with. The Panthers host Bowdoin in Week 1 and travel to Colby in Week 2 which means that QB Jared Lebowitz will have a couple soft matchups to settle into his new role as the starter before a big tilt vs. Amherst. Both teams should be unbeaten coming into this game and it will add a little excitement in what looks to be an otherwise mundane week 3.
 
#5) Amherst @ Wesleyan (October 22nd)
Worst case scenario is a 4-0 Amherst traveling to play a 3-1 Wesleyan. But if Wesleyan beats Tufts in the opener, it will be a battle of unbeatens. Regardless, this should be the best team Amherst will have faced to this point.
#4) Tufts @ Trinity (October 15th)
 
In last years contest Trinity QB Sonny Puzzo engineered a frantic last minute drive to send the game into overtime. While the Bantams prevailed in OT, Tufts was literally seconds away from dropping a monumental upset. Tufts has its best team in school history but the Jumbos won’t be sneaking up on anyone. With this year’s contest being at Trinity, I’d say the Bantams will have the edge.
#3) Trinity @ Wesleyan (November 12th) 
 
The game between Trinity and Wesleyan will be the marquee matchup in week 8. Both schools have a longstanding tradition of playing each other the final week of the season, and this year’s tilt could have serious championship implications. It’s not out of the question to think a one loss Wesleyan could upset undefeated Trinity in the last week and send the whole league into chaos.
#2) Wesleyan @ Tufts (September 24th) 
 
On September 24th under the lights in Medford, MA, one team’s championship hopes will crumble. Wesleyan is coming off a disappointing campaign that saw them go 5-3. However, the Cardinals led by “Mr. Everything” Devon Carrillo (Connecticut guy), are more mature and hungrier than ever. On the other hand, this year’s Tufts team is the most talented squad coach Jay Civetti has ever fielded. The Jumbos are loaded with upperclassmen at key positions. If Tufts can contain Carillo, they should win a close one. But then again, that’s a pretty tough task…
#1) Amherst @ Trinity (November 5th)
 
For the second year in a row, the NESCAC championship should come down to the week 7 matchup between Amherst and Trinity. Amherst is riding a 19 game win streak into this upcoming season and they should still be undefeated coming into this game. You’ve gotta think it makes Coach Jeff Devanney crazy to see his Trinity teams have to take a back seat the last couple of years. The game should be an all out battle and in a conference that lacks a championship game, November 5th at the Coop will be as good as it gets.

Previewing the Player of the Year Race

Before I get into POY discussion, I’m happy to announce that Pete Lindholm, one of our writers from Middlebury, is going to be joining me this year as co-head of NBN. Pete has written for the site a bunch in the past, and it’s clear that he is both extremely invested and extremely talented. Thanks to Pete for agreeing to take on the role of Managing Editor this year. Again, if anyone reading this is interested in helping out with the site in any way, please shoot Pete and I an email at nothingbutnescac@gmail.com and we’d be more than happy to discuss different positions with you. Now, on to NESCAC Football….

Trinity RB Max Chipouras almost beat out Chance Brady '17 for the award last season. Is 2016 his year?(Courtesy of Greg Sullivan)
Trinity RB Max Chipouras almost beat out Chance Brady ’17 for the award last season. Is 2016 his year?(Courtesy of Greg Sullivan)

It’s never too early to start thinking about the NESCAC Player of the Year race, so I’ve compiled a list of some of the conference’s top players here below. Some are old names, some are new ones, but one thing is true across the board: all of these guys are studs. Check out the following list of guys to keep an eye on in 2016.

Offense

Chance Brady '17 (Courtesy of Tufts Athletics)
Chance Brady ’17 (Courtesy of Tufts Athletics)

RB Chance Brady ’17, Tufts

You can’t not throw the reigning POY into the conversation, but even if I wasn’t aware that Brady had won the award last year, there would be no debate that he should be in the conversation for this award. He ran for 975 yards last year, averaging 121.9 YPG on his way to scoring 11 touchdowns. The kid is an absolute grinder, and barring injury, he will be in POY consideration as we get to the end of the season.

Max Chipouras '19 (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).
Max Chipouras ’19 (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).

RB Max Chipouras ’19, Trinity

 

Chipouras is the only player that gave Brady a run for his money last year, and also the only player in the conference to score more touchdowns than Brady with 12. Though he ran for about 300 yards less than Tufts’ stud back, Chipouras also had 49 less touches. Chipouras averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 81.1 yards per game last year – as a freshman no less! Now that he’s got a year of college ball under his belt, expect Chipouras to absolutely take off. I’m not saying he’s the favorite to win POY, but I’m not not saying it.

Sonny Puzzo '18 (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).
Sonny Puzzo ’18 (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).

QB Sonny Puzzo ’18, Trinity

Last year, Puzzo came behind only Matt Milano ‘16 and Austin Lommen ‘16 in passing yards, both of whom graduated in May. With Amherst quarterback Reece Foy ‘18 likely out for the year after blowing out his knee, Tufts’ Alex Snyder ‘17 boasts the next highest total of passing yards, which Puzzo tops 220.1 YPG to 179.4 YPG. What held Puzzo back in 2015 was not his ability to completed passes, but rather the fact that he completed passes to opposing players at a rather high clip, totaling 8 interceptions on the year as opposed to just 5 touchdowns. If Puzzo can do a better job of taking care of the ball, he has all the tools he needs to have a POY type of season, especially if his adversaries focus most of their energy on shutting down Chipouras.

Jabari Hurdle-Price '17 (Courtesy of Colby Athletics).
Jabari Hurdle-Price ’17 (Courtesy of Colby Athletics).

RB Jabari Hurdle-Price ’17, Colby

If you look at Hurdle-Price’s numbers in 2015, it’s hard to tell what kind of player he is. On one hand, he ran for 91.0 YPG, the second highest rushing average in the league. On the other hand, he had the most touches in the league with 189 carries, so it seems like he probably should be racking up rush yards. Even with that many carries (two more than Brady), however, Hurdle-Price was 247 yards shy of Brady in overall yards, and also had 5 less touchdowns. I have no doubt that Hurdle-Price has the ability to make a leap in efficiency this year, but that is partially up to the Colby offensive line. If the Mules can put Hurdle-Price in positions to succeed with good field position and effective blocking, their workhorse will not fail them.

Charles Ensley '17 (Courtesy of Hamilton Athletics).
Charles Ensley ’17 (Courtesy of Hamilton Athletics).

WR Charles Ensley ’17, Hamilton

Throw Ensley on the championship roster and I think he gets the POY nod without question, but being on a bottom half team the last few years has definitely held him back in the POY discussion. Other than Matt Minno ‘16 of Middlebury, no one has more receiving yards or receiving touchdowns than Ensley, and he ranked just eighth in receptions last year! What that should tell you is that Ensley has absolute wheels, which is why is 78 yard reception last year against Middlebury does not surprise me whatsoever. If the Continentals find some consistency under center with either Cole Freeman ‘18 or Brandon Tobin ‘18, Ensley will be a high-end WR1 in most fantasy leagues this fall.

Honorable Mention: RB Jaylen Berry ’18, Wesleyan; WR Bryan Vieira ’18, Trinity; TE Bryan Porter ’18, Bowdoin; RB Nick Kelly ’17, Amherst; RB Tyler Grant ’17, Bowdoin

Defense

Mark Upton '17 (Courtesy of Bates Athletics)
Mark Upton ’17 (Courtesy of Bates Athletics)

LB Mark Upton ’17, Bates

Upton finished second in tackles last season with 71 from the linebacker spot. He also added 8 TFL and 4 sacks, rounded out by 3 forced fumbles. The kid has a nose for the ball, and when he has you in his crosshairs you better brace for impact. Upton rightfully earned First Team All-NESCAC honors last season, and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t at least match that performance this season.

 

Addison Pierce '17 (Courtesy of Middlebury Athletics).
Addison Pierce ’17 (Courtesy of Middlebury Athletics).

LB Addison Pierce ’17, Middlebury

Another linebacker, this one hailing from Middlebury, who has a knack for penetrating the backfield. Pierce had 7 TFL last season including 2 sacks, contributing to his total of 58 tackles on the season. Pierce steps in as the leader of the Middlebury linebacker committee this season after Tim Patricia ‘16 graduated in May, and I’m anticipating a breakout season for the senior looking to build on his impressive 8.3 tackles per game average. Look for Pierce to disrupt offensive flow and create chaos behind the line of scrimmage for Coach Ritter’s defense this season.

Zach Thomas '18 (Courtesy of Tufts Athletics).
Zach Thomas ’18 (Courtesy of Tufts Athletics).

DE Zach Thomas ’18, Tufts

While Mike Stearns’ versatility makes him the most valuable player on the Tufts defense, Zach Thomas gives him a run for his money as the best defensive player for the Jumbos. Thomas led the NESCAC with 9 sacks last season – 9! That’s over a sack a game. To put that in perspective, Gil Araujo ‘16 of Middlebury was the only other player in the league with over 5.5 sacks. If I’m an opposing coach, I’m doubling Thomas on the end whenever I can, because the kid can clearly get to the quarterback. Now in his junior year, Thomas has set the bar high for himself, but I expect him to surpass expectations and continue to anchor the Jumbos defensive line along with his classmate Micah Adickes ‘18.

Justin Sanchez '17 (Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletics).
Justin Sanchez ’17 (Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletics).

FS Justin Sanchez ’17, Wesleyan

When you think of playmaking safeties around the league, you think of Justin Sanchez. The senior free safety led Wesleyan with 56 tackles last year, highlighting his ability to step up and make plays. Sanchez had 2 interceptions last season as well as 2 forced fumbles in 2015. This versatility is exactly what Wesleyan needs this year in their quest to climb back to the top of the conference. If Sanchez plays at his usual high level, opposing offensive coordinators will struggle with calling plays.

Liam Kenneally '18 (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).
Liam Kenneally ’18 (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).

LB Liam Kenneally ’18, Trinity

Kenneally is a playmaker, end of story. His 61 tackles in 2015 was the fifth highest total in the league, and led the Trinity defense by 20 tackles!! On defense that allowed just 10.1 PPG last year, Kenneally was the glue that held them together, and he will be just that player again in his junior season this year. With such a veteran presence in the secondary, teams will likely attack the Bantams on the ground, which will give Kenneally the opportunity to step up and do what he does best – make plays. Kenneally could very well win the defensive POY award, especially if Trinity’s defense is as much a force as it was last year.

Honorable Mention: DE Brent Lobien ’17, Hamilton; DB Cameron Rondeau ’19, Bowdoin; OLB Mike Stearns ’17, Tufts; LB Evan Boynton ’17, Amherst; DB Alex Brandeis ’17, Williams

Turnaround time for the Mules? Colby Season Preview

Preseason All-American Jabari Hurdle-Price '17 will be the focal point of the Colby offense once again in 2016 (Courtesy of Colby Athletics).
Jabari Hurdle-Price ’17 will be the focal point of the Colby offense once again in 2016 (Courtesy of Colby Athletics).

Projected Record: 1-7

Offensive Starters(*Six returning)

QB: Gabe Harrington ’17*
RB: Jabari Hurdle-Price ’17*
WR: Ryder Arsenault ’17
WR: Alex Kramer ’17*
WR: Mark Snyder ’18
TE:  Braden Wilson ’17
LT: Shane Normandeau ’19
LG: Will Julich ’17
C: Mike Roberts ’17*
RG: Anthony Cappellino ’17*
RT: Larry Patrizio ’17*

Defensive Starters(*Seven returning)

DE: Ben Hartford ’18
DT: Chris Marano ’17*
DT: Sam Gomez ’18
DE: Henry Wallrapp ’17*
OLB: Justin Lamere ’17*
MLB: Sam Friedman ’19
OLB: Bryan Mcadams ’18*
CB: Adam Balaban ’18*
SS: Will Caffey ’19*
FS: Ian Dickey ’18*
CB: Patrick Yale ’19*

Specialists (*Two Returning)

PK/P: John Baron ’18*

KR/PR: Jabari Hurdle-Price ’17*/Mbasa Mayikana ’18

Offensive MVP: Running Back Jabari Hurdle-Price ’17 

Colby’s offense is led by 2015 First Team All-NESCAC running back, Jabari Hurdle-Price. Hurdle-Price had a monster year in 2015 leading the mules in rushing, receiving and returns on special teams. The only factor preventing Hurdle-Price from these numbers in 2016 is the left side of the offensive line, which remains a big question mark for Colby. With consistency on the offensive line for the Mules, expect Hurdle-Price to put up even bigger numbers than he did last season. It will be interesting to see how opposing defenses prepare for the ground attack against Colby, as they were able to find the end zone ten times on the ground and only two times in the air.

Defensive MVP: Safety/Linebacker Ian Dickey ’18

Ian Dickey had a breakout season in 2015 and was second on the team with forty-three tackles. With leading tackler, Stephen O’Grady graduated, the Mules will depend upon Dickey to make even bigger plays for them. Last season, Dickey anchored a secondary that consisted of two freshmen. Having a full season of experience under his belt expect Dickey to have a breakout year for Colby.

Biggest Surprise of Camp: Injury Bug nowhere to be found.

In 2015, Colby lost many valuable players throughout the season via injuries. Losing players to injury coupled with a lack of both depth and experience resulted in a 1-7 season which put them dead last in the NESCAC. This past Saturday, Colby had a joint practice with Bates, and arguably the biggest positive coming out of this is that there were no injuries. Coach Michaeles remains optimistic about his program and knows the capability they have if they remain healthy in 2016.

Biggest Game: Bowdoin at Colby, 12:30 PM November 12, Waterville, Maine (Maine’s Super Bowl)

Colby starts their 2016 season in a hectic fashion. Normally, opening at Williams would be a good thing, but Williams recently hired the former St. Lawrence head coach, Mark Raymond. Raymond is one of the better division three football coaches and is known for his success in turning St. Lawrence into a winning football program. This will not be an easy opener for the Mules. Things do not get easier for Colby as they play Middlebury, Wesleyan and then Amherst in weeks two, three and four.

Fast Forward to week eight: A home CBB rivalry finale against Bowdoin. This game does not only mean a lot to the Colby football program, but it is one of the most highly anticipated events in Maine. In 2015 both teams were 1-6 going into this game and Bowdoin ended up winning 35-13. Colby was unable to score until late in the 3rd which summed up their lack of offense the entire season. Having the home field advantage and experience in both the offense and defense, expect this week eight battle to go down to the wire.

Best Tweet:

I believe the saying goes: “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, Colby opponents take warning.”

 

Summary: Colby’s 1-7 season in 2015 was attributed to their inability to find the end zone. They were struck with the injury bug early on and were unable to adjust from there. In order to improve from their disappointing season, Colby will need more production and consistency from their offense as well as to remain healthy throughout. They have the talent to win some quality NESCAC football games, but they need their offense to produce. Although his 2015 numbers are discouraging, coach Michaeles has full faith in senior Gabe Harrington to lead the offense. Harrington had a solid season in 2014 and his performance will determine whether or not the Mules’ offense will succeed. Michaeles also has the option of junior Christian Sparacio who gained some experience in 2015 and will definitely compete for snaps. The one position that has been locked in since the end of 2015 is the starting running back position. Jabari Hurdle-Price looks to continue where he left off last season as he was arguably one of the best athletes in the NESCAC. Hurdle-Price was the only consistent spark in the Mules’ offense a year ago. Behind Hurdle-Price is running back Carl Lipani. Lipani provides Colby with plenty of depth at running back. A big asset for the Mules offense this season is the return of wide receiver Ryder Arsenault. Arsenault missed major time in 2015 due to injury and has been a consistent target for them in the past, leading the team in receptions in2014. Alex Kramer and Mark Snyder will look to compete for reps at wide receiver. Braden Wilson will be at tight end for the Mules after starting the final four games of last season. With improvements in the air attack, Colby could be a dangerous football team on offense.

On defensive, Colby will look to fill the void of leading tackler and captain Stephan O’Grady as well as All-NESCAC defensive end Ryan Ruiz and defensive tackle Harry Nicholas. Replacing the graduated O’Grady will be Sophomore Sam Friedman. As a Freshman in 2015, Friedman recorded nineteen tackles in six games. Additionally, the Mules will look towards senior Bryan McAdams and junior Justin Lamere to produce for them at linebacker. Senior Henry Wallrapp provides experience on the defensive line at strong side defensive end. Replacing Ruiz and Nicholas will be Gerry Nvule, Chris Marano, Sam Gomez and Ben Hartford. Colby’s secondary was filled with underclassmen in 2015. Ian Dickey started all eight games at safety as a sophomore and was second on the team in tackles behind O’Grady. The youngest part of their secondary was Will Caffey and Patrick Yale who started at both cornerback positions as freshmen. These three are locks for starting jobs this season but the other safety position is up for grabs. John Baron will be the place kicker and punter for the mules in 2016. Last season, Baron went four for five in field goal opportunities, including a thirty-seven yarder against Tufts. He was seven for eleven in extra point opportunities. With a more productive offense in 2016, Baron will have more opportunities to put points on the board for Colby.

 

Defense Wins Championships (hopefully): Trinity Football 2016 Season Preview

If Trinity's offensive line can create space, Max Chipouras '19 should run all over opposing defenses (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).
If Trinity’s offensive line can create space, Max Chipouras ’19 should run all over opposing defenses (Courtesy of Trinity Athletics).

Projected Record: 8-0

Projected Offensive Starters (*Eight Returning)

QB: Sonny Puzzo ‘18*

RB: Max Chipouras ‘19*

WR: Darrien Myers ‘17*

WR: Bryan Vieira ‘18*

WR: Nick Gaynor ‘17

TE: Matt Hirshman ‘18*

LT:    Chris Simmons ‘18*

LG: Angel Tejada ‘17*

C: Mamadou Bah ‘17

RG: Joe Farrah ‘18*

RT: (to be determined)

Projected Defensive Starters (*Eight Returning)

DE: William Lochtefeld

DT: Matt D’Andrea ‘17*

DT: Brandon Blaise ‘18

DE: Jameson Law ‘17*

OLB: Dago Picon-Roura

MLB: Liam Kenneally ‘18*

OLB: Shane Libby ‘19*

CB: Paul McCarthy ‘17*

SS: Spencer Donahue ‘17*

FS: Yosa Nosamiefan ‘17*

CB: Archie Jerome ‘17*

Projected Specialists (*Two Returning)

PK/P: Eric Sachse ‘19*

KR/PR: Darrien Myers*/Nick Gaynor/John Spears

Offensive MVP: RB Max Chipouras ‘19

Max Chipouras looks to improve on his stellar first campaign for Trinity, after being named the  USA College Football Division III Rookie All American, the NESCAC Rookie of the Year, and to the 2nd Team All-NESCAC. He led the conference with 12 touchdowns and had an average 4.7 yards per carry, racking up 649 rushing yards on the season. This sophomore is already a star – look for him to continue his success in 2016.

Defensive MVP: DB Paul McCarthy ‘16

NESCAC offenses might have thought that they saw the last of McCarthy in 2015, but the 5th year senior returns to Trinity’s defense following a 1st-Team All NESCAC season. McCarthy was second in the league in interceptions with 5 and should build on that number in Trinity’s dominant secondary, the NESCAC’s version of the Legion of Boom.

Welcome Back (Again): RB Joe Moreno ‘18

Junior Joe Moreno is set to return to the gridiron after injuries have held him out of his first two years at Trinity. After a hamstring injury plagued Moreno during his freshman year, he returned as the frontrunner to start in the backfield before tearing his ACL in the season opener, leaving the door open for Chipouras. With Moreno back and healthy in 2016, Trinity could have a monster rushing attack between these two stud tailbacks.

Biggest Game: vs. Amherst, November 5th, 12:30 PM

Obviously the 7th game of the season is going to be one of the biggest as the race for the NESCAC title narrows. With that being said, Trinity can’t sleep on its earlier games. They face tough contests against Tufts, Middlebury, and Wesleyan, but if recent history is any indication, this game against Amherst could easily become the quasi NESCAC championship.

Best Tweet:

Any time your head coach appears on a list with Urban Meyer, it deserves recognition.

Summary:

Coach Devanney and the Trinity Bantams return in 2016 to battle for the NESCAC title yet again. Trinity is a winning program, with only one losing season in their last 35, and will continue that trend this year. The Bantams face an easy first few games, and if they roll through unscathed as they should, they will have good momentum heading into a tough week 4 matchup against Tufts. Fortunately for them, they will be playing on their new home turf for three of their four toughest games (Tufts, Middlebury, and Amherst). The major key for this team is going to be staying healthy through the first few games heading into the home stretch.

This roster is loaded with young talent, and junior quarterback Sonny Puzzo ‘18 looks to lead his team from under center after they fell just one game shy of a conference championship last year. Puzzo will get help from last year’s breakout freshman Chipouras who is expected to build on an impressive first year at tailback. The Bantams are stacked at running back with Moreno returning from injury, and should be a force to reckon with on the offensive side of the ball. Receivers Darrien Myers ‘17 and Bryan Vieira ‘18 will be back to spread the field for Chipouras, and Nick Gaynor looks to fill in for wideout Ian Dugger who graduated last year. Puzzo will also give Matt Hirshman plenty of looks at tight end for Trinity.

With so many great players, it looks like the only hole in Trinity’s offense could be Puzzo. Don’t get me wrong, Puzzo could be a great QB, and could well lead Trinity to a championship, but he seems to be the weakest link with so many great pieces around him. Clearly the goal for Puzzo is to get the ball into the end zone and out of the other team’s hands. Look for him to improve on his 5:8 TD to INT ratio.

On the other side of the ball, Coach Devanney is excited to have five senior defensive backs returning. Paul McCarthy ‘17 returns for his fifth year, and he is joined by Spencer Donahue ‘17, Yosa Nosamiefan ‘17, Patrick Dorsey ‘17 and Archi Jerome ‘17 in the secondary. This experienced unit will lead the defense for Trinity.

The linebacking corps also returns a lot and is led by last year’s leading tackler Liam Kenneally ‘18. The rest of this youthful unit is made up of Shane Libby ‘19, Sean Smerczynski ‘19, Dago Picon-Roura ‘19 and Carty Campbell ‘18, who will all mix in with Kenneally, and will be a huge help for Matt D’Andrea ‘17, Jameson Law ‘17, William Lochtefeld ‘17 and Brandon Blaise ‘18 up front. Eric Sachse ‘19 is back and healthy after breaking his leg against Tufts last season, and he will be kicking and punting for the Bantams.

Trinity didn’t surprise anybody by going 7-1 last year, with their only loss coming to Amherst on November 7th. Their schedule matches up in the same way this year, with that game coming again in week 7. If Trinity can pull out a win against the Purple & White, that would likely hand them a conference title. This race is going to come down to the wire again, so expect some good football from the Bantams as they eye the title that just slipped from their grasp in 2015.

Was the Rebuild Successful?: Wesleyan Football 2016 Season Preview

Losing LaDarius Drew will be a tough hole to fill for the Cardinals (Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletics).
Losing LaDarius Drew will be a tough hole to fill for the Cardinals (Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletics).

Projected 2016 Record: 6-2

Projected Offensive Starters (*Ten Returning)

QB: Gerald Hawkins ’18*/ Mark Piccirillo ’19*

RB: Jaylen Berry ’17*

WR: Eric Mayreles ’18*

WR: Mike Breuler ’18*

WR: Kris Luster ’17*

TE: Ben Kurtz ’16*

OL: Beau Butler ‘18*

OL: Shane Jenkins ‘17*

OL: Matt Kuhn ‘17*

OL: Joe Wilson ‘19*

OL: Mitch Ryan ‘17*

Projected Defensive Starters (*Nine Returning)

DE: Jordan Stone ’17*

DT: Isaiah Thomas ’19*

DT: Grant Williams ’19*

DE: Jude Lindberg ’19*

OLB: Cole Harris ‘18

MLB: Shayne Kaminski ’18*

OLB: Brandon Morris ’19

CB: Nate Taylor ‘18*

SS: Zach Cuzner ’17*

FS: Justin Sanchez ’17*

CB: Elias Camacho ’18*

Projected Specialists (*Two Returning)

PK/P: Ike Fuchs ’17*

KR/PR: Eric Mayreles ’18*

Offensive MVP: RB Jaylen Berry (’18)

Berry had a breakout season in 2015, rushing for 435 yards on 97 carries in his sophomore season.  In a year of inconsistent quarterback play for the Cardinals, Berry often provided a needed jolt of energy for the offense, forming a dangerous 1-2 rushing tandem with quarterback Gerald Hawkins.  If Wesleyan moves to a more traditional system, with one quarterback taking the majority of the snaps, Berry could be in for a huge season.  But even if Hawkins and Piccirillo continue to split time, Berry will be there with needed stability for the Cardinals’ offense.

Defensive MVP: Jordan Stone (’17)

Much of Wesleyan’s success last season, and for much of the last decade, has been due to a hard hitting defense.  And the 2015 iteration of the Cardinals’ defense was led by All-NESCAC first team defensive end Jordan Stone.  Stone was devastating in the backfield, totaling 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.  Stone will be an even more crucial cog in Wesleyan’s machine this season, as Coach DiCenzo is missing graduated starting linebackers John Spivey ‘16 and Alex Daversa-Russo ‘16.

Biggest Surprise in Camp: Two QB’s (?!?!?)

In 2015, Wesleyan had the champagne problem of having two talented, young quarterbacks fighting for playing time in Gerald Hawkins and Mike Piccirillo.  And rather than choosing between the two, Coach DiCenzo ran a dual quarterback scheme, with Hawkins gaining the majority of the snaps due to his ability to keep plays alive with his feet.  However, Hawkins struggled with his accuracy during the 2015 season, an area in which Piccirillo showed great promise.  The Cardinals are now nearing opening night with this position battle still unresolved.  And as viewers of the TV show Friday Night Lights will remember from Season Three’s battle between deadly accurate JD McCoy and scrambling Matt Saracen, uncertainty at quarterback can lead to unrest on the team, and ultimately a narratively questionable plot decision to move to East Dillon High.

Biggest Game: vs Amherst, October 22, 1:00 PM

After back-to-back 5-3 seasons, the Cardinals seemed primed this season to make a jump into the upper tier of NESCAC football.  However, to do that they have to show they can play with the current upper tier, and their matinee with the Lord Jeffs is a golden opportunity. In their matchup last season, Wesleyan won time of possession 38:46-21:54  and total yards 392-290.  However, they were unable to stop Amherst’s offense in the second half and fell 27-18 in a very discouraging loss.  If you want to reach the top in NESCAC, you must go through Amherst, and the Cardinals have a real opportunity to do just that.

Best Tweet

LOVE the braggadocio in this tweet, like Wesleyan is the only school who can get a guy to bring his speakers to practice.

Summary:

Wesleyan established themselves as the cream of the crop in the NESCAC in 2013 and 2014, posting identical 7-1 records.  However, they took a step back last season, finishing 5-3 and struggling in close games.  This was probably due to inconsistent quarterback play from the duo of Hawkins and Piccirillo, both of whom had more interceptions than touchdowns.  Climbing back into the upper tier of the league will be challenging for the Cardinals, with Amherst, Middlebury and Trinity all looking to keep their places on the throne, and Tufts presenting a worthy challenger as well.

However, Wesleyan certainly has the talent.  They only lose one starter on offense in lineman Blake Harrington, keeping together most of an experienced offensive line.  This should give running back Jaylen Berry plenty of holes to exploit, and signal an improvement for whoever wins the quarterback job between Hawkins and Piccirillo. Coach DiCenzo and his staff will likely make the final call on this position battle after this Sunday’s scrimmage with Trinity.  Whichever quarterback is throwing the ball should have solid weapons, with an experienced core of receivers led by tight end Ben Kurtz ’17, who is returning from a hand injury. Dario Highsmith ’20 has also been a standout freshman at running back and wide receiver for the Cardinals so far during camp, and he figures to contribute significantly on the offensive side of the ball.

Defense should be Wesleyan’s calling card(inals) this season.  All-NESCAC First Team defensive end Jordan Stone leads an intimidating front line that returns all its starters.  The same goes for All-NESCAC safety Justin Sanchez (’17) and the secondary.  The Cardinals did lose senior linebackers Spivey and Daversa-Russo to graduation, an area which may be a problem defensively for the Cardinals. Other units will have to step up to mitigate some mistakes by the new starting linebackers.

In 2015 Wesleyan lost their three games by three points, four points and nine points, and those three losses came to league giants Middlebury, Trinity and Amherst respectively.  This is both a positive and a negative.  On the plus side, Wesleyan can absolutely hang with the top teams in NESCAC, as they did two years ago when they were 7-1.  However, it also points to a fundamental struggle in close games against good teams.  Winning close games is critical in NESCAC football, and it will be those kind of games that determine whether Wesleyan returns to their spot at the top, or remains one step behind.

Watch Out for the Jumbo Stampede: Tufts Football 2016 Season Preview

 

Alex Snyder '17 hopes to keep the upward progression going for the Jumbos in 2016 (Courtesy of the Tufts Daily).
Playcaller Alex Snyder ’17 hopes to keep the upward progression going for the Jumbos in 2016 (Courtesy of the Tufts Daily).

Projected Record: 6-2

Projected Offensive Starters (*Eight Returning)

QB: Alex Snyder ‘17*

RB: Chance Brady ‘17*

WR: Mike Rando ‘17*

WR: Ben Berey ‘17*

WR: Mike Miller ‘18

TE: Nik Dean ‘17*

LT: Liam Thau ‘18

LG: Alex Kim ‘17*

C: Jack Price ‘17*

RG: Gian Calise ‘18

RT: Josh Thibeault “19

Projected Defensive Starters (*Eight Returning)

DE: Zach Thomas ‘18*

DT: Doug Harrison ‘18

DT: Micah Adickes ‘18*

DE: Tucker Mathers ‘17

OLB: Steve DiCienzo ‘18

MLB: Markus Edmunds ‘19

OLB: Mike Stearns ‘17* (started as a safety last year)

CB: Tim Preston ‘19*

SS: Brett Phillips ‘18

FS: J.P. Garcia ‘18*

CB: Alex LaPiana ‘19*

Projected Specialists (*Two Returning)

PK/P: Willie Holmquist ‘17*

KR/PR: Mike Rando ‘17*/Ben Berey ‘17/Jack Dolan ‘19

Offensive MVP: RB Chance Brady ‘17

Chance Brady returns in the backfield for Tufts looking to build on a tremendous junior season in which he earned First Team All-NESCAC Honors as well as the title of Offensive MVP for the conference. Brady was also selected to the New England Football Writers All-New England Team. These honors are not surprising if you consider that he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year (975), coming in at an average of 121.9 Y/G. On top of that, he ran in 11 touchdowns, leading the Jumbos in scoring. To be frank, I don’t see any reason why he can’t repeat these kind of numbers again in 2016.

Defensive MVP: OLB Mike Stearns ‘17

Fellow captain Mike Stearns will shoulder the load for the Tufts defense this year as he moves to his third position in four years at outside linebacker. Though Stearns’ tackle numbers went down from his sophomore to junior year (from 76 in 2014 to 28 in 2015), this should not be a concern for Jumbos football fans since he was playing through a groin pull for the majority of the year, limiting his action significantly. When healthy, Stearns has proved throughout his career that he is one of the best defensive players in the conference.

Biggest Surprise in Camp: LB Greg Holt ‘20

Greg Holt has started out his Tufts career with a bang, asserting himself as a valuable member of the Jumbos from the get-go. He’s an aggressive but intelligent linebacker who plays a downhill brand of football and has a nose for the pigskin. Holt has been fighting for a role in the linebacking corps throughout camp, and is clearly going to be an integral member of Coach Civetti’s defense.

Biggest Game: vs. Wesleyan, September 24, 6:00PM

I get it. It’s the first game of the year. Literally anything can happen over the following 7 weeks that can completely change the complexion of the season, and change the relevance of game one. However, if Tufts wants to compete for the title this year, they need to beat the other teams working towards the same goal. Wesleyan absolutely fits the bill in that regard. On top of that, this is the only night game of the year for any team, and it’s the first home night game in Tufts football history. The Jumbos need to get out to a hot start and beating Wesleyan will be an enormous confidence boost for them to start the year.

Best Tweet:

I know I’m a bit biased because I go to Tufts, but if that doesn’t give you the chills you need to get your pulse checked.

Summary:

After improving their record each year over the course of the last three seasons (2013: 0-8, 2014: 4-4, 2015: 6-2), the Jumbos are looking to do so once again. Achieving this will be no easy task. The Jumbos missed Wesleyan on their schedule last year, but that was a rebuilding year for the Cardinals who are now primed and ready to make another run at the title. Even worse, when Tufts plays the other three powerhouses – Amherst, Middlebury, and Trinity – they have to travel to play in enemy territory. This does not bode well for the Jumbos.

It’s not all bad news for Tufts, however. Actually, there is plenty of good news to go around. As mentioned above, they return the reigning NESCAC POY. Quarterback Alex Snyder is also back with plenty of veteran options to throw to out wide, and even if the Jumbos can’t consistently cross the goalline (which I don’t anticipate being an issue for them), there is a pretty good chance that they’ll at least put up three points with All-NESCAC kicker Willie Holmquist returning for his final year. The well-balanced Tufts offense put up the second-most points in the league last season, trailing just the champions, Amherst, and I fully expect them to be near the top of the league in points scored once again.

One issue for Coach Civetti’s squad last year was their inconsistency on defense, especially in the secondary. While the Jumbos tied for second with 13 interceptions in 2015, they also allowed by far the most passing yards per game (289.5). Teams attacked the young cornerbacks in Tim Preston and Alex LaPiana, but I’m guessing with a year of experience under their belts, these two will be much more consistent coverage players this season.

In their only non-competitive loss of the year, against Amherst, Tufts got behind early, and were forced to go away from their gameplan of pounding the ball on the ground. The two teams had comparable passing numbers (Amherst: 170 yards, Tufts: 142 yards), but Amherst absolutely dusted the Jumbos on the ground, 185 to 19 rush yards. Tufts lost 36 yards on just three sacks, crushing their momentum time and time again. These kind of lapses didn’t occur often for Tufts throughout the year, but against great teams like Amherst, these lapses simply cannot occur. Period. These drive-killing plays set Amherst up with short fields, and it led to a blowout loss for Tufts.

Again, it’s just consistency that Tufts needs to have this season. They showed last year that they could blow out teams, that they could win close games, and that they could hang with the giants (sometimes). Coach Civetti was probably one first down away from beating Trinity before the Bantams won in overtime, and he even coached the ‘Bos to a phenomenal win against Middlebury to cap off the season. You can definitely point to some areas where Tufts has some work to do, but there is no denying the fact that they are a legitimate title contender in 2016.