K a n sa sPreg a m e,Volu m e 11
DIVISION II KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIV. MCPHERSON COLLEGE
Kansas Wesleyan begins the 2016 season ranked No. 14 in NAIA, and the goals are simple for the Coyotes: Compete for the KCAC conference championship and a spot in the national playoffs. Matt Drinkall enters his third year as head coach with 15 returning starters including four first-team All-Conference players. Senior TE Mitch Kufahl is a two-time AllConference selection who caught 34 passes for 445 yards and six scores in 2015. Junior Kelly Cordova earned All-Conference first-team honors a year ago while serving as a utility player and backup QB, but he is the front-runner to take over the starting job under center this year. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 289 yards and two TDs, plus ran for 382 yards and four TDs in 2015. The Coyotes also return senior fullback Colby Donohue, who caught four TD passes, and junior olineman Ayrius Brown, both first-team selections. A pair of second-team All-Conference players are back for KW. Junior d-lineman Christian McQueen made 40 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, a year ago, while senior Londarius Thomas returned 20 kickoffs for 433 yards and a TD in 2015. Senior dback Mike Guerrero is also back after intercepting four passes, making 61 tackles and earning honorable mention All-Conference a year ago. To be successful in 2016, the Coyotes must “be smart, physical, and handle adversity,” Drinkall said.
McPherson has nearly everyone back from the 2015 team, including the entire starting offense and eight defensive starters, and the Bulldogs will lean on that experience as they look to bounce back from an 0-10 record last year. Paul Mierkiewicz enters his second year at McPherson with 23 returning lettermen, including two second-team All-Conference performers – junior defensive back Braden Bush and junior linebacker Dalton Whitfield. In 2015, Whitfield led the Bulldogs with 105 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, while Bush was third on the team with 90 tackles, plus he led McPherson with six interceptions. Offensively, McPherson returns sophomore QB Chris Linnan, sophomore running back Ryan Lakso, sophomore fullback Tyler Depperschmidt, sophomore tight end Lakoda Smith and two receivers – senior Justin Fagan and sophomore Jackson Goodmiller. The Bulldog offensive line brings back five starters – Logan Anderson, Jaelon Barnes, Caoln Bibbs, David Deramee and Collin French. “We need to continue to get better every day. We need to improve in every aspect of the game if we plan to get better as a team,” Mierkiewicz said.
10-2 in 2015 / 8-1 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Matt Drinkall (3rd year, 12-11) Assistants: Vince Fillipp, John Michaletti, Braxton Peck, Wes Fleming, Marcus Bradley, Rex Pippenger, Matt Myers Offense: Power Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Kelly Cordova, QB, 5-10, 203, Jr.; Colby Donohue, FB, 5-11, 243, Sr.; Ayrius Brown, OL, 6-4, 291, Jr.; Mitch Kufahl, TE, 6-0, 193, Sr.; Londarius Thomas, ATH, 5-7, 173, Sr.; Jacob Tatge, WR, 5-10, 174, Sr.; Mario Soto, OL, 5-11, 300, Jr.; Dalton Soullas, OL, 5-10, 271, Jr.; Christian McQueen, DL, 5-11, 224, Jr.; Kre’tien Webb, DL, 5-11, 264, Jr.; Garett Walker, DL, 6-4, 247, Sr.; Josh Davis, DL, 5-11, 300, So.; Mike Guerrero, DB, 5-10, 187, Sr.; Eric Reed, DB, 58, 167, Sr.; Blake Harris, DB, 6-0, 184, Sr. MM
0-10 in 2015 / 0-9 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Paul Mierkiewicz (2nd year, 0-10; 14th year overall, 69-71 overall) Assistants: Justin Van Houten, EJ Peterson, Travis Kincheloe, Ronnie Reed, Jimmy Wilson, Travis Sears, Michael Ramos Offense: Pro I Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 23 Returning starters: 11 Offense, 8 Defense Jackson Goodmiller, WR, 6-1, 205, So.; Chris Linnan, QB, 6-4, 195, So.; Justin Fagan, WR, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Ryan Lakso, RB, 6-2, 220, So.; David Deramee, OL, 6-1, 240, So.; Logan Anderson, OL, 62, 245, So.; Jaelon Barnes, OL, 6-4, 275, Jr.; Collin French, OL, 6-3, 285, Jr.; Calon Bibbs, OL, 6-4, 300, Sr.; Tyler Depperschmidt, FB, 6-0, 220, So.; Lakoda Smith, TE, 6-3, 220, So.; Kavoderic McIntyre, DB, 60, 180, Sr.; Michael Rabara, DB, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Braden Bush, DB, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Dalton Whitfield, LB, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Alwin Crawford, DB, 5-10, 160, So.; Cole Calkins, DB, 5-11, 170, So.; Dominic DeLuca, LB, 6-0, 195, So.; Greg Elvin, LB, 6-1, 190, So. MM
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE Moundbuilder coach Brad Griffin enters his second season with 40 lettermen and 11 starters back. Two of the top returners are junior cornerback Marquis Hodge and junior defensive lineman Devin McLelland, both honorable mention AllConference selections in 2015. Hodge led the team with four interceptions, plus made 38 tackles while McLelland finished with 36 tackles including 8 for loss last year. Southwestern’s only other defensive starters coming back are junior cornerback Tomunci Whitfield and sophomore safety Ka’Darius McQueen. McQueen is the leading returning tackler after making 54 stops and two interceptions. The Moundbuilders do return seven starters on offense, including senior quarterback Braden Langston, who threw for 522 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Senior running back Brady Keith is also back after running for 316 yards and a score last season. Southwestern also returns sophomore tight end Jared Mora, junior receiver Jacob Sigmon and sophomore linemen Christian Gardner, Uly Cisneros and Kory Mora. 3-8 in 2015 / 3-6 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Brad Griffin (2nd year, 3-8) Assistants: Corey Gray, Adam Kirby, Ben Klinger, Jeff Kontz, Brandon Owen, Victor Redd, Justin Price, Blaize Foltz Offense: Spread Defense: 3-3 Stack Returning lettermen: 40 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 4 Defense Braden Langston, QB, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Brady Keith, RB, 5-7, 155, Sr.; Jacob Sigmon, WR, 6-0, 170, Jr.; Christian Gardner, OL, 6-0, 260, So.; Jared Mora, TE, 6-4, 255 So.; Uly Cisneros, OL, 6-2, 270, So.; Kory Mora, OL, 6-2, 315, So.; Tomunci Whitfield, CB, 5-10, 170 Jr.; Marquis Hodge, CB, 6-1, 170 Jr.; Ka’Darius McQueen, S, 6-1, 215, So.; Devin McLelland, DL, 6-1, 231, Jr. MM
Pa g e 13 5 NAIA JUNIOR COLLEGE MIDAMERICA NAZARENE OTTAWA UNIVERISTY The Pioneers are gunning for a Heart of America Athletic Conference – South Division title this year after being picked to finish second in the preseason coaches’ poll. Mid-America Nazarene returns a solid core from a team that went 6-5 in 2015. Four of those losses came down to the final moments. Among the leading returners is senior running back Javon Taylor, who rushed for 1,346 yards and 15 TDs a year ago. He was named HAAC Southern Division Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight year after leading the conference in rushing. He is joined in the backfield by junior Jakob Jordan, a possible QB for the Pioneers who ran for 538 yards and completed 44 of 80 passes last year. Mid-America lists Trey Cooper as the leading candidate to start under center, but whoever wins the job will be operating behind an experienced o-line. Seniors David Orellana, Kyle Wade, Shaquile Wallen and juniors Dallas Newlun and Adam Swearingin are all returning from 2015 and they should get help from Carlos Loaiza and Austin Rouselle this fall. Loaiza and Orellana are coming off second-team All-Conference performances. The Pioneer offense also returns first-team AllConference tight end Gio Gonzales and secondteam All-Conference tight end Dylan Meyers. Gonzales averaged 18.1 yards per catch while Meyers averaged 13.4 yards per catch in 2015. On defense, Mid-America Nazarene can lean on first-team All-Conference defensive lineman JoJo Bones and several others who return with some experience. Bones tallied 39 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks and an interception in 2015.
Ottawa returns 23 seniors for the 2016 season, including All-American d-tackle Zach Lanning, and the Braves will be looking to bounce back from missing the playoffs a year ago. The senior class already has a KCAC championship on its resume, and 2015 was the first time in six seasons that the Braves did not make the NAIA playoffs. That experience should send Ottawa into the 2016 season hungry for both a conference title and a spot in the postseason. Veteran coach Kent Kessinger’s offense returns eight starters, including three linemen and senior QB Dayton Walter. Up front, the Braves can depend on senior tackles Trae Boese and Troy Porter along with junior guard Jake Jones, a trio of All-KCAC performers in 2015. The Braves expect big things from newcomers Dalton Buehler and Ethan Paul-Davis at running back. Buehler comes to Ottawa from Butler Community College, where the Scott City graduate lettered twice. Paul-Davis is a Pittsburg native and transfer from Hutchinson Community College. He lettered once at Hutchinson, and was a Class 5A All-State performer in high school. Defensively, Lanning is joined by All-KCAC honorees Vincent Wurst at tackle, Wyatt Ross at defensive end, and Levi Huneke at linebacker. Cornerbacks Davon Dunn and Reggie Winfield are expected to be among the newcomers who make an impact. Winfield transferred to Ottawa from Northwestern Oklahoma State, and previously played on a pair of NJCAA playoff teams at Coffeyville Community College. Ottawa will open the 2016 season Sept. 3 in Sioux City, Iowa, as they take on Morningside, the No. 3 team in NAIA’s preseason rankings.
6-5 in 2015 / 4-2 in conference / NAIA Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach: Brian Willmer Assistants: Bruce Pielstick, Trevor Love, Aric Henderson, Theotis Brown, Rick Fields, Scott Campbell, Kyle Kramer, Blake Walker, Corey Young, Ashford Collins, Connor Benado, Corey Sudhoff, James Crawford Returning starters: N/A Javon Taylor, RB, Sr.; Corey Tucker, DB, Sr.; Gio Gonzales, TE, Sr.; Carlos Loiaza, OL; David Orellana, OL, Sr.; Dominic Swillum, LB, Jr.; JoJo Bones, LB, Sr.; Jaron Reed, DL, Jr. Melanie McGee
6-4 in 2015 / 6-3 in conference Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Kent Kessinger (13th year, 81-49) Assistants: Neal Philpot, Thomas Pearson, Donald Anderson, Blake Mudd Returning lettermen: 31 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Zach Lanning, DT, Sr.; Vincent Wurst, DT, Sr.; Wyatt Ross, DE, Sr.; Trae Boese, OT, Sr.; Troy Porter, OT, Sr.; Jake Jones, OG, Jr.; Levi Huneke, LB, Sr.; Dayton Walter, QB, Sr. Melanie McGee
UNIV. OF SAINT MARY
STERLING COLLEGE
TABOR COLLEGE
Saint Mary coach Jay Osborne enters his third season with 37 returning lettermen and only five holes to fill in the starting lineup, so hopes are high for the Spires to improve on last year’s 3-8 record. “Our goal is to compete and win the KCAC every year,” he said. “We will field a team that holds character to the highest standard while doing so.” Nine members of last year’s first team defense are back, including first-team All-Conference defensive back Kenny Nez, and second-team AllConference linebacker KyRandall Smith. Other returning starters include defensive linemen William Affognon, Andrew Kump and Yaw Osei-Baffour, linebackers Dwain Taylor and Seth Bowman and senior defensive back Cody Wenzel. Offensively, Saint Mary brings back five second team All-KCAC performers. Sophomore Zach Douglas, sophomore Andrew Ramirez and junior Brennan Juhl will lead the offensive line, while sophomore QB Drew Cortez and sophomore TE Dominic DeFiore are coming off All-KCAC seasons. Other offensive starters who return are junior running back Easton Ridley, junior lineman Matt Nila and senior lineman Ricky Rivera. “Our leadership from returning starters will be the biggest key to our success,” Osborne said.
Sterling coach Chuck Lambert will find out quickly how good his team is, as the Warriors open the 2016 season with four nationally ranked opponents. Lambert is beginning his first year as head coach, but is familiar with the program and the conference from many years as an assistant to his brother, and former Warrior head coach, Andy. He inherits a team with 20 returning lettermen, and seven starters on both sides of the ball. Sophomore quarterback Cedrick Phillips and four senior receivers – Chad Bennett, TJ Brown, Nathan Frame and Dentton Hudspeth – are back to lead the Warrior offense. The offensive line also has experience with juniors Tremayne Hutchins and Lars Lind returning to the starting lineup. On defense, Sterling brings back senior linemen RJ Turner and Keith Lowry, junior LBs Greg Williams and Dez Howard, senior d-back Tyus Williams and junior d-backs Kenya Edner and Ray Winfield. “We start off our season with four teams that should be ranked in the top 25,” he said. “It will be very important for us as a team to come out of the gates ready to play.”
The Bluejays return 36 lettermen from last year’s 11-2 team, but they must replace 23 seniors who graduated, including the KCAC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. Tabor begins the 2016 season ranked No. 8 in the NAIA preseason poll and six starters are back for the Bluejay offense, with four back on defense. The Bluejays return senior running backs Cody Coleman, Joseph Donnell and Jonah McKee along with offensive linemen Spencer Baalman and Josh Davidson, and junior receiver Charles Beale. Baalman and Beale were both second-team AllConference selections in 2015. The Tabor defense returns senior Mike Andrews and Dimitri Bowie up front, senior Alex Neuschafer at linebacker and seniors Adrian Brown and Michael Griffin in the secondary. Senior punter Trey Geiger and senior kicker Jared Slavens, a first-team All-Conference selection last season, are also back in the lineup. Keys to success for Tabor will include “finding strong chemistry, not turning the ball over, being strong on defense on third downs, and being sound in the kicking game,” coach Mike Gardner said. Gardner was named KCAC Coach of the Year in 2015 as the Bluejays went 9-0 in the conference.
3-8 in 2015 / 3-6 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Jay Osborne (3rd year, 7-15) Assistants: Fran Schwenk, Logan Fritz, Tim Brooks, Kyle Hofmann, Ryan Lopez Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 37 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 9 Defense Drew Cortez, QB, So.; Easton Ridley, RB, Jr.; Dominic DeFiore, TE, So.; Brennan Juhl, OL, Jr.; Andrew Ramirez, OL, So.; Matt Nila, OL, Jr.; Ricky Rivera, OL, Sr.; Zach Douglas, OL, So.; William Affognon, DL, Sr.; Andrew Kump, DL, Jr.; Yaw OseiBaffour, DL, Sr.; KyRandall Smith, LB, Sr.; Dwain Taylor, LB, Jr.; Seth Bowman, LB, Sr.; Kenny Nez, DB, Sr.; Cody Wenzel, DB, Sr. Melanie McGee
7-3 in 2015 / 7-2 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Chuck Lambert (1st year) Assistants: Chase Hansen, Gabe Eliserio, Joe Kenney, Stephen Wilson, Chance Clements, Jake Holland, Mike DeWitt Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Chad Bennett, WR, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Nathan Frame, WR, 6-3, 185, Sr.; TJ Brown, WR, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Dentton Hudspeth, WR 6, 190, Sr.; Cedrick Phillips, QB, 5-10, 185, So.; Tremayne Hutchins, OL, 6-2 300, Jr.; Lars Lind, OL, 6-1, 265 Jr.; RJ Turner, DL, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Keith Lowry, DL, 5-9, 285, Sr.; Greg Williams, LB, 510, 190, Jr.; Dez Howard, LB, 5-10, 225, Jr.; Tyus Williams, DB 5-10, 180, Sr.; Kenya Edner, DB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Ray Winfield, DB, 6-1 195, Jr. MM
11-2 in 2015 / 9-0 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Mike Gardner (8th year, 63-27; 12th year overall, 88-45) Assistants: Billy Hickman, CJ Hill Offense: Multiple Option Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 36 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 4 Defense Mike Andrews, DL, 6-2, 335, Sr.; Spencer Baalman, OL, 6-4, 290, Jr.; Charles Beale, WR, 5-10, 200, Jr.; Dimitri Bowie, DL, 6-2, 265, Jr.; Adrian Brown, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Cody Coleman, RB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Josh Davidson, OL, 6-4, 300, Jr.; Joseph Donnell, RB, 6-0, 222, Sr.; Trey Geiger, P, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Michael Griffin, DB, 6-0, 203, Sr.; Jonah McKee, RB, 5-5, 165, Sr.; Alex Neuschafer, LB, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Jared Slavens, K, 5-9, 150, Sr. Melanie McGee