SEASON PREVIEW After a .500 season in 2010, head coach Jim Deere knew exactly what it would take to get back to the upper echelon. The third-year head man knew the second season would require a greater effort and preparation across the board. “I think the first year was really just figuring each other out,” said Deere. “We were running new things on offense and defense and the adjustment period also meshed with one of the toughest schedule we have ever had. I think last year we dedicated ourselves to being a better team. There were two hiccups along the way in the conference, but improving by three wins was a big step.” The Bulldogs enter the 2012 season off an 8-2 overall record. The two losses coming in MIAA play halted the ultimate goal for Adrian College which is the elusive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship and a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The current drought stands at 1997 for the last MIAA crown and 1988 for the last playoff appearance. This year will be no picnic for the Bulldogs despite being ranked number one in the MIAA preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs lost several key components to the eight-win season from 2011. Included in those losses was quarterback Brandon Miller who threw for 1,955 yards and 15 touchdowns. Also departing were two outstanding offensive tackles in Nick Ross and Spencer Whittington, both of whom started for three seasons. In addition, defensive standouts Bryan Garbarino, Keman Jacobs, Jeff Makowski and Chris Cook leave the secondary with big question marks. Finally, placekicker Logan Mitseff and his team-leading 65 points (9 FG, 38 PAT) are also gone. Offense The Bulldogs had one of the better offenses in the MIAA a year ago. Adrian led the MIAA in total offense (393.8 ypg) and scoring offense (32.5 ppg), while ranking second with 172.2 rushing yards per contest. This year’s signal caller seems to be a battle between sophomore Aaron Tenney (Gibraltar, Mich./Carlson) and junior Taylor Copacia (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower). Tenney saw game action seven times last season as a freshman. He showed poise in leading the Bulldogs to a late scoring drive in a 19-17 homecoming win over Concordia-Chicago. Tenney completed 18-of-30 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Copacia is a transfer from Grand Valley State University who could not break the lineup at NCAA Division II’s powerhouse program. Copacia and Tenney both have strong arms and the coaching staff is thrilled with the progress made by both players heading into preseason camp. Senior Justin Hemm (Piqua, Ohio) leads an experienced core of wide receivers who return three of the top four producers from a year ago. Hemm is now a two-time First Team All-MIAA selection at wideout. He began his career as a quarterback and his athleticism proved to be too much of a factor that the coaching staff moved him to a skill position. That move paid off handsomely as Hemm caught 50 passes for 854 yards and seven touchdowns. Since his move to wide receiver on a more full-time basis, Hemm has caught 100 passes for 1,588 yards and 16 touchdown over the last two seasons. He currently ranks first all-time at Adrian College in touchdown receptions (16) and is second with 1,815 receiving yards and 117 receptions. Hemm also has a legion of receivers who are coming back for their senior seasons. Mitch Gabriele (Hillsdale, Mich.) has a very steady pair of hands and is the team’s best possession receiver. He hauled in 42 passes for 461 yards as a junior and found the end zone three times. Gabriele has played in 29 career games and
is third all-time at Adrian College with 106 receptions. He also is ninth with 1,319 receiving yards and set the single-season school record with 63 catches in 2010. Senior D’ante Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) was slowed by injury a year ago and played in just four games. Thompson is looking to return to form after catching 18 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns in 2010. The Bulldogs found a deep threat with Thompson going down last year as senior Shuan Hladki (Montague, Mich.) stepped up to lead the team with a 20.1 yard per catch average. Hladki caught 15 passes for 301 yards and two scores as a junior. The backfield has the luxury of returning the top three rushers for last season. Junior Damon Brown (Troy, Mich.) led the team with 140 carries and grinded out 591 rushing yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. Brown is a good between the tackles runner who can take the abuse and carry the load when needed. Junior Danny Cobb (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek) emerged as the team’s leading rusher with 628 yards on 116 carries (5.4 ypr). Cobb rushed for two scores and also showed his elusiveness on kickoff returns. He averaged 21.7 yards per attempt and took a 73-yard kickoff return to the house at Augustana. Cobb finished the season with 1,172 all-purpose yards. Sophomore Dae’Von Robinson (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) is a name that also could shoot up the depth chart at the beginning of the season. Robinson is a big back who carried the ball 37 times for 207 yards as a freshman. The offensive line will have a lot of holes to fill as four of the five starting lineman in the season finale against Alma have moved on. Senior Nick Mighion (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino) is back at guard and has been a reliable player having played every game with 18 starts over the last two seasons. Mighion is rock-solid on the inside and could garner all-conference honors at the end of the season. It appears that sophomore John Rock (Portland, Mich.) has the inside track at center having seen action in nine games a year ago. Senior tight end Derek Shell (Manitou Beach, Mich./Onsted) will also be a solid option to run behind on the line. Known more for his blocking than pass receiving, Shell is one of the strongest guys on the team and can create room for ball carriers. Shell was named Second Team All-MIAA a year ago without catching a pass which tells us about the respect he has among MIAA coaches. Senior Brad Smith (Sand Creek, Mich.) also is back after starting in seven games as a junior. He and Jared Babcock went back-and-forth in the starting lineup and Smith received valuable experience on the offensive line at guard. Mighion and Smith are both very versatile guys and could even move to tackle prior to
2012 Adrian College Football - adrianbulldogs.com
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