No doubt about it, Scots seek MWC title

Release Date: August 3, 2005

Senior quarterback Mitch Tanney returns this fall to lead the Fighting Scots offense. Last year, Tanney threw 24 TDs and directed an attack that scored a school-record 374 points.

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Monmouth College was the only 9-1 football team in the nation not invited to the Division III playoffs last fall. In order to remove all doubt about whether the Fighting Scots get to extend their season in 2005, coach Steve Bell would like his team to move up one rung in the standings and win the Midwest Conference title.

To receive the league’s automatic playoff berth, the Fighting Scots will have to address two areas of need on offense – running back and offensive line. The Scots’ two main tailbacks, who combined for 1,544 rushing yards last fall, have graduated, and so have four of the five starting linemen and the tight end.

All-MWC second team pick Joe Freitag is certainly a solid left tackle, but he is the only Monmouth offensive lineman with starting experience. Bell hopes that a collection of players who have been “chomping at the bit” to crack the lineup – including Matt Woods, Seth Rohweder, Tom Fabian, Brad Reinhart, Tony Russo and Adam Dolk – are ready, and it’s possible that one of the Scots’ 60-plus recruits, including Chris Perrine (Colfax-Ridgeview), Zach Howerter (Havana) and Eric Gibson (Kewanee), could challenge for playing time as well.

The unproven blockers will be opening holes for an equally untried collection of backs, including speedy sophomore Bobby Gibbs. A year ago in spot duty, Gibbs had 103 yards on 31 carries, but Gibbs may also be more of a “jack of all trades” and play several offensive positions, including slot receiver.

Bell said that the tailback candidates were too numerous to mention, but a couple interesting candidates are sophomore Jeff Davis, a 2,000-yard rusher for 7A state champion Oswego in 2003, and Dante Daniels, a former Division I recruit from Gurnee (Warren) who won the Class AA 200-meter state championship in 1999.

“It’s a talented position, but it’s an unproven position,” said Bell. “I think it will be a much different position for us this season in terms of style.”

New starters will also be needed at fullback and at tight end. Jason Myers, Jess Miller and recruits Shane LaDew (Olympia) and Greg Gierlus (Rockridge) are the fullback candidates, while Shane Gordon figures to join the graduated T.J. Gordon as a high school quarterback that Bell converts to starting tight end. Others in the mix at the latter position are Jarrod Martin, Justin Williams and newcomers Cory Penn (Yorkwood) and All-Stater Tommy Johns (AlWood).

Monmouth does have experience, though, at the all-important quarterback position. Senior Mitch Tanney, who transferred to MC last season, posted a very solid year, leading the Scots to a record-breaking scoring campaign (374 points) and being chosen to the All-MWC honorable mention team. Tanney completed 122 of his 213 attempts for 1,952 yards, and even more impressive was his 24-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, which resulted in one of the top passer efficiency ratings in the nation (169.42).

“From Day One to the end of the season, Mitch got better every snap,” said Bell, who has been impressed by Tanney’s leadership abilities. “He’s only going to get better. He made a lot of plays last year, but I think with his comfort level increased, he’ll be able to double the amount of big plays that he makes.”

In a preseason that figures to feature plenty of competition for starting spots, Tanney appears safe. However, an interesting battle is shaping up to be the No. 2 signal-caller.

“They’ll be competing now for a position for next year,” said Bell of the candidates, which include returners Kyle Tutt, Joe Exline and Anthony Atkins and recruits Robert Garcia (Princeville) and Steven Zidow (LaSalle-Peru).

Back for the Scots are receivers who caught 93 passes last year, including Tanney’s top target, junior Evan Haffner, who established new school records in receiving yards (911) and TDs (11) while averaging a robust 25.3 yards per catch. He was named a receiver on the All-MWC second team.

“My big mistake last year was not getting him the ball enough,” said Bell with a smile. “Haff’s just got a knack. The biggest thing about him is that he’s got to be one of the toughest kids I’ve coached on offense.”

The second- and third-ranked pass catchers, junior Aaron Hogan (26 catches, 280 yards) and senior Matt Hammer (19 catches, 279 yards, 5 TDs), also return. Others who hope to work their way into the receiver rotation are Dan Morrison, Josh England and Tomas Alvarez, as well as an “extremely talented” freshman class featuring Dan Pollman (Pekin), Jordan Slee (Quincy), Nick Long (Mt. Vernon, Iowa) and J.P. Kenley of 7A state champion Libertyville.

Defensively, Monmouth’s front four remains intact from a unit that recorded three straight shutouts at one point last fall. Returning linemen include senior defensive tackles Nick Bush and Tyler Dihle and defensive ends Wes Levy, a sophomore, and Zach Kirchner, a junior. Last fall, Dihle earned All-MWC first team honors while recording 34 tackles. Levy, who had 61 tackles and three sacks, was an honorable mention selection.

“Tyler is hard to block,” said Bell of the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder. “He’s a big son of a gun. Nick just goes out there and does what he’s supposed to do and Wes is a pretty special talent.”

Competing for playing time will be returners Chris Inniss, Brad Swanson, Adam Troll, Kyle Cantwell and David Brandt, while newcomers include Dane Malmberg (Limestone), Matt Czuba (Moline) and All-Stater Anthony Goranson (Belividere).

“We feel we’ve got some very good players on the defensive line,” said Bell. “We have an idea of who’s going to be playing there, unlike other years, where the positions have been unsettled entering the preseason.”

Also returning on the defensive side of the ball are two of the starting linebackers – senior Justin Zigler and junior T.J. Scruggs – and senior cornerback Ryan Bast. Retooling the secondary around Bast, who had 44 tackles and five interceptions while making the All-MWC first team last fall, figures to be Bell’s main concern defensively.

“He’s the best corner in the league,” said Bell. “He enjoys the challenge of matching up against anyone’s best. He’s definitely got the right mind set.”

Leading candidates to play alongside Bast are cornerbacks Aaron Payette, Ty Gramkow and Brett Wilhelm and safeties Blake VonHolten, Doug Stichter, Josh Schaver and “unknown quantity” Caleb Bennett, a transfer who played basketball last year for the Scots. Newcomers Jake Callahan (Bloomington) and Willy Mason (Thornton Fractional South) are also in the mix.

Bell certainly won’t have to retool at linebacker, as Zigler, an All-MWC first teamer, is one of the best to play the position at Monmouth. He figures to shatter the all-time tackle record, and he nearly eclipsed it his junior year following a 93-tackle campaign.

“His work ethic is unmatched, and he’s got a ton of talent,” prasied Bell. “When Zigs steps between the lines, he’s all business.”

Zigler is the defense’s leader by example, and the vocal leader is Scruggs, who had 83 tackles last fall.

“Good question,” replied Bell, when asked who the leading contenders are for the third linebacker spot. The list includes a host of returning players and recruits Dan Weiden (LaSalle-Peru), Booker Collins (Fulton) and Greg McGraw of Class 1A state champ United.

On special teams, Monmouth figures to be set for years with All-MWC first team kicker Nathan Palkovic, who had a great freshman season. Palkovic converted 40-of-42 PATs and was accurate on 8-of-11 field goals. In addition, he had a very solid 37.8-yard punting average, earning second team honors.

“Our expectation level is very high for Nathan,” said Bell.

Besides receiving, Haffner made a name for himself in kick returns last year, running back 13 punts and 17 kickoffs for a combined 616 yards. He averaged 26.4 yards per kickoff return and was the league’s first team all-conference return specialist. Gibbs, who averaged 26.2 yards per return on 12 runbacks, gives the Scots two game-breaking special team threats.

“I believe our overall strength is our ability to play as a team,” said Bell, who has posted a 33-17 record in five years at Monmouth. “That’s the thing we’ve tried to get across to our players – no egos. Play the best you can, and it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”

As for season goals, Bell said, “We always have a chance to win if we play our best. All the other stuff will take care of itself.”

Monmouth opens the season at home on Sept. 3 for its one non-conference game against a Concordia (Wis.) College team that will be looking for revenge following a 52-39 loss to Monmouth in last year’s opener. In turn, the Scots will try to avenge their only 2004 loss on Sept. 17, when they travel to De Pere, Wis., to play defending MWC champion St. Norbert.

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