2009 SEASON PREVIEW Maroney (Brockport, N.Y.) and junior Lance Mailloux (Bedford, N.H.) were second on the depth chart at the end of the 2008 season. Dan Ruhl (Sanibel Island, Fla.) is another viable option at defensive end for the ‘Cats. Maroney saw action in nine games and recorded 22 tackles (14-8-22). Mailloux tallied 19 tackles (6-13-19), including 1.5 sacks, in 12 games. Ruhl, a senior, played in eight games and tallied a total of 12 tackles (7-5-12) with one sack.
fumbles, recovered two fumbles, had an interception and three pass breakups. Senior Terrence Klein (Westwood, N.J.) is another converted defensive back now playing outside linebacker. He ended last year second on the depth chart and is projected as a starter in ‘09. Klein finished behind Souza on the tackles leaderboard with 59 (31 solo, 28 assisted), including two for a loss. He ranked third on the team in interceptions with four and also had four pass breakups. Devon Jackson (Williamstown, N.J.), who will be stepping into a starting role this year as a junior, compiled 33 solo tackles and 25 assisted tackles for a total of 58. Included in those numbers were two tackles for a loss and one sack. Jackson also tallied one interception, one fumble recovery and four pass breakups. Junior Mike Perkins (Hingham, Mass.) and sophomore John Duffey (Tarentum, Pa.) ended the ‘08 season second on two deep and begin 2009 in the same position. Perkins played in 10 games and was credited with 17 tackles (9-8-17); his other stats included two tackles for a loss and one interception. Duffey made nine tackles (5-4-9) in as many games last year. Juniors Jamie Cosgrove (Sharon, Mass.) and Bryan Mayhew (Plymouth, N.H.) have climbed to second on the depth chart. In six games, Cosgrove was credited with one tackle. Mayhew appeared in four games and totaled five tackles (4-1-5). James Jenkins (Patterson, N.J.) and Mark Petercuskie (Holliston, Mass.) – both sophomores – saw limited action last season. Jenkins played in four games and finished with nine tackles (3-6-9), including one sack. Petercuskie had eight tackles (4-4-8) in three games. DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: The defensive backfield is anchored on the corners by senior Ryan Hinds (Toronto, Ontario) and junior Dino Vasso (Crum Lynne, Pa.).
Sophomore John Murray (Aston, Pa.) is expected to see more playing time this season, as he is now listed as a backup on the depth chart at defensive tackle. In six games last year, Murray was credited with nine tackles (three solo, six assisted). LINEBACKERS: The linebacking corps boasts a wealth of experience and depth. Six of the top eight tacklers in ‘08 were linebackers, and four of the top five top returners in that statistic are from that group of linebackers. Senior Sean Ware (Bristol, Conn.) returned from knee injury in 2008 and excelled as a ball stopper. He ranked third on the team in total tackles with 88, and that included 44 solo tackles; he was second in tackles for a loss with 8.0. In the CAA, his 6.8 tackles per game ranked 18th overall and 11th among linebackers. Ware was also credited with one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Junior Hugo Souza (Marshfield, Mass.) converted from strong safety to outside linebacker in ‘08 and made the transition effortlessly. He totaled 66 tackles (39 solo, 27 assisted), which ranked fifth on the team, with 5.5 for a loss and one sack. Souza also forced three 2009 New Hampshire Football • 10 •