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Football 2007 Season Preview For Immediate Release: RICHMOND, Ind. — Earlham College Head Coach Gerry Keesling is faced with replacing one of the top performers in school history from last season as he welcomes back 25 lettermen and 12 starters for his fourth year in charge of the football program at his alma mater. All-North Coast Athletic Conference quarterback Justin Rummell rewrote the record book for the Quakers before graduating last year. “You cannot replace a talent such as Justin Rummell,” said Keesling, a 1982 graduate of Earlham. “In the history of football at Earlham College no one ever played the position better, so we must find the best available quarterback based on leadership, aptitude and accuracy.” There are three candidates for Rummell’s spot with junior Randy Kerns (West Manchester, OH/National Trail) the only quarterback with any college experience on the roster. Kerns started five games in 2005 when Rummell suffered a season-ending injury and played in three a year ago. First-year signal callers Nick Augustinovicz (Middletown, IN/Guerin Catholic), Damon Hughes (Elwood, IN/Elwood) and Derek Toschlog (Richmond, IN/Richmond) are also in the hunt for playing time. Despite having to find a new starting quarterback, Keesling is optimistic. “We are very excited about the possibilities this coming season,” he said. “Though we have many holes to fill via graduation, we feel the underclassmen are ready to step up and rise to the challenge. We will be looking for leaders to emerge throughout the pre-season.” “The NCAC is very demanding and competitive,” said Keesling, who joined the Quakers football staff in 1991 and served as the offensive coordinator for 11 years. “Our players have worked extremely hard in the off-season and are ready for the next level in moving our program forward.” Offense Even with the loss of Rummell, the offense has four players back who received post-season honors in 2006. “We return the majority of our statistical leaders both in receiving and rushing and we look for these individuals to pick up the slack created through graduation,” Keesling said. Senior receiver Joe White (Richmond, IN/Richmond) is the most decorated of the group earning a spot on the All-NCAC First Team after catching 49 passes for 663 yards with 13 touchdowns in nine games in 2006. The 13 touchdowns last season gave White 23 for his career and both are Earlham records. White was also on the honorable mention list for Don Hansen’s Weekly Football Gazette Div. III All-America Team and All-North Region Second Team, while earning a spot on the D3football.com All-North Region Third Team. Senior running back Manny Myers (Fairmount, IN/Madison-Grant), junior receiver Chris Owens (Ft. Thomas, KY/Highlands) and junior offensive lineman Juan Hernandez (Kendallville, IN/East Noble) all received honorable mention from the NCAC. Myers was Earlham’s leading rusher with 679 yards. He also had 43 receptions for 351 yards. Owens led the Quakers with 50 grabs for a school record 909 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also one of the top return specialists in the conference leading Earlham in all-purpose yards with 1,446. Hernandez was one of the leaders of Earlham’s offensive line that helped the Quakers finish second in the conference in passing yards. Other players back who received post-season recognition from the team in 2006 are junior running back and Most Improved Player Ben Marshand (Galveston, IN/Lewis Cass) and sophomore offensive lineman and Newcomer of the Year Chris Shaw (Anderson, IN/Pendleton Heights). Senior receiver Terrel Brown (Richmond, IN/Richmond) is another starter back on offense. Sophomore tight end Adam LaFollette (Riverview, FL/Riverview) and sophomore lineman Mike Liby Muncie, IN/South) are expected to contribute after injuries limited their time on the field last fall. Defense Unlike the offense, Earlham’s defense is missing its statistical leaders from last season. The top four tacklers including All-NCAC Honorable Mention lineman Brandon Mock are gone. Mock led the squad in tackles behind the line of scrimmage with nine and quarterback sacks with three. Sophomore defensive back Jake Carr (Richmond, IN/Richmond) had 38.5 tackles in his first season, which was the most for any returning player. “We lost a great deal of experience on the defensive side of the ball,” Keesling said. “But youth on defensive will not be used an excuse. We have some energetic young talent that we expect to perform well.” In addition to Carr, senior defensive lineman Evan Williamson (Fountain City, IN/Northeastern), senior linebacker Eric Sturgeon (Logansport, IN/Logansport), junior defensive back Colin McCullough (Gary, IN/Hammond Noll), junior defensive back Drew Hosier (Gas City, IN/Mississenewa), sophomore linebacker John Metcalf (Galveston, IN/Lewis Cass) are returning starters, while junior defensive back Tilmon Clark had some significant playing time in 2006. Hosier led the Quakers with eight pass breakups, while Sturgeon tied Mock with three quarterback sacks. Senior lineman Alex Graham (Hiram, OH/Streetsboro), sophomore lineman Alex Painter (New Haven, IN/Ft. Wayne Snider) and sophomore linebacker Cale Gulliford (Marion, IN/Marion) should also make contributions this season. Earlham begins the season against Rose-Hulman at home with the inaugural game in Darrell Beane Stadium on Sept. 1. The Quakers face non-conference foe Manchester (Sept. 8) in Richmond before visiting Anderson (Sept. 15). After a week off, the Quakers open the NCAC schedule at Wabash (Sept. 29). Earlham faces Kenyon Homecoming Weekend this season on Oct. 20. Wittenberg (Oct. 6) and Wooster (Nov. 3) are the other opponents at home this fall with trips to Oberlin (Oct. 13), Hiram (Oct. 27) and Denison (Nov. 10) rounding out the schedule. —EC — Contact: |
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Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |