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.
Head Coach Jeff Devanney ’93 is the has the 3rd highest winning percentage of active NCAA football coaches #gobants pic.twitter.com/VMXWJLzNtM
— TrinFootball (@TrinFootball) September 6, 2016
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.