Fighting Scots Poised for Another Strong Football Season

Release Date: September 4, 2002

MONMOUTH, Ill. - What will the Fighting Scots do for an encore?
That is the burning question as Monmouth gets set to embark on the 2002 season. The Scots will enter the campaign on a four-game winning streak, and they'll be attempting to prove they're not a one-year wonder after last fall's 8-2 record and third-place finish in the Midwest Conference, which followed a 3-7 campaign in 2000.

Although key players were lost from last season's team, including All-MWC selections Brian Valentini (DE), Jason Robinson (LB), Nick Martin (RB), Randy Williams (WR) and Randy Terrell (RB), coach Steve Bell had a deep squad, and plenty of players are waiting for their chance to shine, including more than 60 new recruits. As of Labor Day, the roster still stood at well over 100 players and, due to a rash of training camp injuries, Bell is probably glad he has all that depth to choose from.

"When you graduate very talented players like we did, good programs are able to fill those gaps and move on," said Bell. "We feel that we have talented enough kids to fill the gaps and move on to a higher level."

The area with the most openings is the offensive line, where four starters, including All-MWC picks Brett Gerue and Ryan Pearson, graduated. Junior Jon Newcomb will be back to anchor the line at left tackle, and the other starters for the Sept. 7 opener at Loras College should be senior Matt Copple and sophomores Dan Wingler, Scott DePue and Marshall Price. Newcomb, DePue and Copple are all members of the Scots' 1,000-pound weightlifting club, with the others not far behind.

"In the same respect that it's a weakness that they're inexperienced, one positive about the line is that they're young, which means we'll have them around for a while," said Bell. "They're a group that wants to be good, and the only way they're going to improve now is through game experience." Bell feels good about his tight ends, where starter Nate Tipton, a senior, will be backed up by senior Luke Baker and converted quarterback T.J. Gordon, a sophomore.

That front six has a simply-stated purpose - block for the running game and give talented junior quarterback Rob Purlee time to throw. Purlee, in his first full season under center, had a record-breaking year in 2001, shattering the previous mark for TD passes by throwing 28. The All-MWC pick also set the Scots' yardage record, winding up with 1,979. He'll be backed up by "headsy, steady" sophomore Matt Clair.

"Rob knows the system extremely well and knows what we're trying to accomplish," said Bell. "So far in the preseason, he's looked very poised, and he's distributed the ball very well."

Purlee is certainly viewed as a strength on offense, and so is his receiving corps, which is led by a trio of juniors. Nathan Gaskill stepped up last season with 625 yards and eight TDs, and Tyler Snyder also had some memorable moments, scoring five times. In addition, Ryan Wood, who led the Scots in receiving in 2000 with 717 yards, is back on the squad. There are times when Bell will employ four wideouts, and he said the competition is fierce for the final spot and includes junior Jason Killion, sophomores Jeff Wright and Brandon Felker and freshman Matt Hammer.

Tailback Todd Sabean thrilled Monmouth fans with an 89-yard TD run in his first collegiate contest last fall, and he finished the season with 380 yards. He's getting the chance to be the No. 1 back this season in a wide-open competition, and Bell is also high on sophomore transfer Juliuse Sargent.

"Todd and Juliuse will both get extended playing time," said Bell. "They're both extremely capable."

Junior Oscar Scott, who rushed for 228 yards in 2000, is back on the squad and is in the mix at fullback, along with sophomores Ed McCracken and Adam Chorazy, who are both nursing injuries.

Sophomore Jared Donley could also see time in the backfield.
"Overall," said Bell, "it's a matter of our offense being able to run the ball when we have to run the ball and then mixing in the pass."

Defensively, Monmouth appeared to be strongest up front, where All-MWC selections and All-American candidates Matt Lerner (16 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks) and Tobias Dickerson (4 sacks), both seniors, anchor the Scots' first line of defense. However, Dickerson has a wrist injury that might force him to miss the season, and sophomore Andy Stumpf, a key contributor at defensive end in 2000 with three sacks and three fumble recoveries, is also banged up.

Lerner, however, is ready to go, and Bell said, "In my opinion, he's the best defensive lineman in the conference. He's an All-American type of player and is a fabulous leader with a great work ethic. Anything he's accomplished already and will go on to accomplish is well-earned."

Depth will now be key in the line, and Bell has tabbed junior Justin Fenton, sophomore Jake Hushka and freshman Joe Mayo as possible interior starters. Junior Ken Smith and sophomore pass-rush specialist Chris Inniss should see time at end.

"The front line went from being our strongest position to an area of concern," said Bell, who also lost Ryan Evans to a season-ending injury, "but there's nothing you can do."

All-conference performer Rob Rogers (66 tackles) figures to step into Robinson's leadership role in the linebacking corps, and the junior will be joined on the outside by either sophomore Jon Rider or freshman Justin Zigler.

"He's just flat-out intense," said Bell of Zigler. "He runs well, and he doesn't play like a freshman."

Senior David Wyffels (31 total tackles last fall) and sophomore Jason Lydic figure to share the middle linebacker slot.
Monmouth will return three senior starters from the secondary - All-MWC performers Justin Oertle (13 career interceptions) and Scott Stanton and two-year starter Luke Jackson. Battling for the other starting spot are converted wide receiver Tyler Yarde and Ross Brocies, a pair of sophomores.

"Defensively, we solidified a standard last year of stopping the run first," said Bell. "It's up to our defense this year to elevate that standard and become a dominating defense. We have the kids to do it, and hopefully some kids will step up and do the jobs of some of our injured players."

On special teams, placekicker Andy Full and punter Phil Pullen are back. Full converted 33-of-43 PATs and added five field goals, while Pullen averaged 32.1 yards per punt. Handling returns will be Snyder and Wood (punts) and Gaskill, Sargent and Scott (kickoffs).

For Monmouth to have the kind of success it's seeking this season, a fast start will be the key. After opening on the road on Sept. 7 with non-conference foe Loras College, the Scots meet the two teams that finished ahead of them in the MWC - co-champions Ripon (Sept. 14) and St. Norbert (Sept. 21).

"Our goal was to upgrade our non-conference game, and by adding Loras, we've scheduled a very good football team from a very good conference," said Bell. "Regarding our conference schedule, I wouldn't want it any other way. We'll find out real early what kind of team we've got. We've got to be very focused during two-a-days."

Monmouth will have to get used to the new scheduling twist, as perennially strong St. Norbert and Ripon will be the Scots' first two league opponents through the 2005 season. St. Norbert has won or shared the MWC title the last three years.

"Until you knock them off, St. Norbert and Ripon have to be considered the frontrunners," said Bell. "I do think the conference has gotten stronger, though. We know we're going to have to come ready to play every game. If we don't, we're going to walk away with a loss. Look at what happened to St. Norbert in their game against Illinois College."

The Blueboys shocked the Knights 41-40, but St. Norbert still earned the league's automatic playoff berth thanks to its head-to-head win over Ripon (20-14). SNC then lost its first-round playoff game, falling 27-20 to St. John's.

"I know our players won't be overconfident," concluded Bell. "We've accomplished some success for one year. To be considered a great football program, we have to accomplish at that level for a long period of time, and we talk about that a lot."

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