Scots Bruise Blue Boys

by Ian Van Anden
Asst.Sports Editor

The Monmouth College Fighting Scots have become a force to be reckoned with not only in the Midwest conference but also in all of Division Three football. This year, the Scots have marched to an impressive 8-0 record. With just two conference games remaining, the Scots are one win away from a national berth.

On Saturday Oct. 22, with Monmouth Campus celebrating Homecoming, the Scots stormed onto Bobby Woll Memorial Field to take on Illinois College. In the Scots’ last home game of the season, they put on an impressive show for all the returning alumni, current students, and fans. The Scots crushed the Illinois College Blue Boys 45-0.

The Monmouth defense made its presence felt right at the beginning of the game. On the first drive of the game, IC saw its second pass attempt of the game end up in the hands of MC junior linebacker T.J. Scruggs. Scruggs returned the interception 19 yards setting up the Scots with tremendous field position for their first drive.

Senior Mitch Tanney used this incredible field position to kick-off the scoring in the game when he scampered for an electrifying 33-yard touchdown. Tanney tallied 70 rushing yards on the game with only seven carries. Tanney continued his amazing season as he completed 22 of his 28 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

The defense continued its dominance throughout the game. As a squad, they only yielded 162 yards to the Blue Boys, allowing IC a measly 1.4 yards per rush attempt. The MC defense also forced two turnovers, as they recovered an IC fumble to go along with Scruggs’ interception. Senior defensive lineman Nick Bush recovered the fumble.

For yet another game this season, senior linebacker Justin Zigler had a solid game. Zigler had 12 tackles, including two in the IC backfield. Like Zigler, Scruggs had 12 tackles. Zigler also made half a sack as he and freshmen defensive lineman Anthony Goranson brought down the IC quarterback. Goranson had perhaps the best game of his young career here at MC, as he was a menace in the IC backfield. He recorded two and a half sacks as well as three tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

The Monmouth offense scored early and often against a meager IC defense. The Scots imposed their game plan early on scoring three touchdowns in the opening quarter. The only quarter the Scots didn’t score in was the third as they were able to score 14 points in the second quarter and 10 points in the fourth.

In the game, junior wide receiver Evan Haffner caught six passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Another junior wide receiver, Aaron Hogan, also had an impressive day. He brought in a team high seven receptions for 55 yards. Senior Matt Hammer reeled in the other Tanney touchdown pass.

Leading the Scots in rushing for the game was junior Dante Daniels. On his 18 carries, Daniels picked up 71 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown came on a fourth and goal play in the second quarter. On the drive before, the Scots had gone for the touchdown rather than opting for a field goal and failed to convert. The second times the charm as Daniels pounded the ball into the endzone. This was the last score of the first half, as the Scots headed to the locker room up 35-0.

Monmouth’s version of the triplets has been very productive this season. Tanney Haffner, and Daniels have all had unbelievable year this year. Haffner has compiled 1169 all-purpose yards, including 683 receiving yards, 33 rushing yards, and 453 return yards. Haffner has also scored 13 touchdowns on the year - a statistic in which he is the team leader.

Daniels is the Scots’ leading rusher on the year as  he tallied 824 yards on the season along with 12 touchdowns. If Daniels keeps on his current pace of 103 rushing yards a game, he will break the thousand-yard mark - a feat that hasn’t been done at Monmouth since 1993.

Mitch Tanney has had a season many dream about. This week against IC Tanney’s numbers were once again uncanny and for the second time this year he won Midwest Conference Player of the Week. On the season, Tanney has completed 74.4 percent of his passes and raked up 1885 yards including 26 touchdown passes. At the same time, Tanney has only thrown three interceptions - two of which came off of deflections. On the year Tanney’s efficiency rating is 187.27 (this number takes in account all these statistics).

These three athletes have been the catalysts that have driven the MC offense. This offense has scored the most touchdowns in a season in MC history, scoring an incredible 50 touchdowns in only eight games. With two games remaining, who knows where the record will stand at by the end of the season.

MC sophomore kicker Nathan Palkovic converted on his five extra point opportunities for the Scots. His most impressive feat of the day was his 39-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Palkovic capped off a 17 play 65-yard drive that with his only field goal of the day. This MC drive took an impressive seven minutes and was by far the longest drive of the day.

Palkovic’s accomplishment wasn’t that he just made the 39-yard field goal, but the fact he made it in the conditions on the field. With a game time temperature of 54 degrees and a wicked crosswind of 15mph, it is no picnic trying to put a pigskin between two skinny uprights. Palkovic overcame the conditions and slammed the ball perfectly between the uprights.

While the rest of the campus was relaxing and enjoying the long weekend that was Fall Break, the football team found itself at Bobby Woll Memorial Field ready to take on Midwest Conference opponent Lawrence University.

The Scots focused their frustration by pounding Lawrence 41-13. The Scots had an explosive third quarter as they saw Daniels rush for three touchdowns in the 15 minute period. To go along with his three touchdowns Daniel ran over, through and around the Lawrence defense for a total of 150 yards exactly.

For the first time in a long time, both Haffner and Tanney were kept quiet. Tanney threw his third interception of the year and only completed 14 of his 24 passes, and he passed for two touchdowns. Haffner caught three balls for six yards as the Lawrence defense clamped down on him. Luckily Daniels picked up the slack.

The defense also played a terrific game making-up for the “struggling” MC offense. Justin Zigler lead the charge as he had 17 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Now it is ever so nice to say that your offense scores 41 points, but this is just the kind of season the Scots are having this year.

Grinnell Collge felt the wrath of the MC offense on Saturday Oct. 8 as the Scots put 69 points on Grinnell. This is the most points the Scots have scored in any game this year.

In the game the triplets went off. Haffner’s performance was exceptional. Not only did he haul in five catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns but also Haffner returned a punt of an 81-yard touchdown. Daniels had one rushing touchdown but picked up 120 yards on 20 carries. Tanney had yet another fantastic game as he was 17 of 24 passing for 237 yards and four touchdowns.

Another primetime player in the game was sophomore defensive back Josh Schaver, who was one of three Scots to lead the team with six tackles, but he also had an interception that he returned for 19 yards. Senior Tyler Dihle was one of the other Scots with six tackles. He also recorded one and half sacks. Dihle is currently tied for second on the team for sacks.

To go along with their final two games of the season, the Scots have a lot of things on their horizon. First and most important is the team’s accomplishment. If the Scots win just one of their final two games, they will be heading to Monmouth’s first ever berth into the NCAA Division III football playoffs.

As for individual performance, Tanney has had a very special honor bestowed upon him. Tanney has been named a semi-finalist for the coveted Draddy Trophy. This award is the Division III Heisman Award and is otherwise known as the “Academic Heisman.” Tanney is one of 184 semi-finalists for this award. Their schools nominated these athletes and each student athlete must be in their final year of eligibility. The student athletes must also hold a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. To go along with those requirements, the student athlete must also perform at a high level on the football field.

Saturday, Oct. 29 the Scots will travel to Carroll College to take on the Pioneers. Carroll is currently 5-3 overall and is in third place in the Midwest Conference. This game should be a good one and Monmouth’s last game before the Turkey Bowl. Last year Monmouth beat out Carroll in one of the Scots’ closest game as the Scots won 39-24.