Spokane, Wash. -- Whitworth College football head coach John Tully is well aware that the new and expanded NCAA Division III playoff format could easily have made the difference last fall. Many observers listed the 7-2 Pirates as "the next team out" of the 28-team NCAA playoff field. With the advent of a 32-team field in 2005, the Bucs plan on putting themselves in position to make the playoffs once again.
Tully, who will coach his 11th season at Whitworth this fall, is 45-49 after ten years. But most important, he is 31-16 over the last five years, lifting the Pirates to a level of consistent success the program has not seen since the 1960's. Whitworth returns a total of 14 starters in 2005, seven on each side of the ball. The Pirates will once again feature a high-powered offense and a dangerous, attacking defense. Whitworth averaged more than 40 points a game in 2004 and led the Northwest Conference in turnover margin. In addition to the 14 returning starters, the Pirates will rely on consensus preseason All-American Cameron Collings at placekicker in 2005. Offense:
Once again the offense will be directed by junior quarterback Joel Clark (Spokane, Wash. - Mt. Spokane HS). Clark completed more than 60% of his passes for 2,289 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2005. He only threw five interceptions. He also ran for 347 yards and five more touchdowns. His 502 yards of total offense in Whitworth's shootout loss at Linfield last year was the highest total in the NWC in 2004, and the second highest single-game total in school history. Clark was a Second Team All-NWC selection as a sophomore. Zach Henningsen (Hillsboro, Ore. - Glencoe HS), a senior, will once again provide solid back up for Clark. Owning a stronger arm, Henningsen completed three of four passes for three touchdowns and 149 yards in a back-up role in 2004. Clark has plenty of available targets this fall, beginning with First Team All-NWC tight end Michael Allan (Bellevue, Wash. - Interlake HS), a redshirt junior. Allan caught 29 passes for 409 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 14.1 yards per catch.
Two of the three starting wide receivers return, led by Second Team All-NWC honoree Kyle Snell (Issaquah, Wash. - Univ. of Arizona/Skyline HS). Snell, a senior, caught 41 passes for 590 yards and six touchdowns last fall. Fellow senior wideout Mathew Johnson (Olympia, Wash. - Olympia HS) caught 18 balls for 309 yards and led the Bucs in yards per catch (17.2). The third wide receiver position figures to be a battle between junior Dustin Frank (Rathdrum, Idaho - Lakeland HS) and sophomore Nick Koller (LaCrosse, Wash. - LaCrosse HS). Sophomore Paul Bennett (Kapolei, Hawaii - Iolani HS) will provide back-up. The tailback position should only improve. Kyle Havercroft and fellow sophomore Chris Ahsing (Ewa Beach, Hawaii - Campbell HS) shared the job last year. They combined to rush for 1019 yards and 18 touchdowns. Havercroft's 11 touchdowns led the team. The biggest challenge will be replacing three starters on the offensive line. Senior Chris Stewart (Spokane, Wash. - North Central HS) returns for his third year as a starter and will take over the quick tackle spot, protecting the quarterback's backside. Fellow senior Clark Pauls (Davenport, Wash. - Davenport HS) has also started for two years and will remain at guard. Jon Erlenmeyer (Moses Lake, Wash. - Moses Lake HS), a junior, was thrown into the fire at center during his freshman season after an injury to the starter and responded well. His experience over the last two years will be valuable. Junior Steve Honeyman (Kennewick, Wash. - Kamiakin HS) and sophomore Levi Wyman (Aiea, Hawaii - Aiea HS) have played important backup roles the last two years and are ready to assume starting positions, at tackle and guard, respectively. Providing backup along the line, and challenging for playing time, will be Matt McCord (Jr., Spokane, Wash. - Occidental Coll.), Kyle Kania (So., Pasco, Wash.), John Phelps (So., Spokane, Wash.), Josh Alfrey (So., Kellogg, Idaho), Ryan Scrupps (So., Odessa, Wash.) and Andrew Zugner (So., Yakima, Wash.). Defense: While the inexperience led to the previously mentioned big numbers, the defense was also responsible for key plays that led to all seven wins in 2004. The defense forced 23 turnovers (10 fumbles and 13 interceptions), many coming on the short side of the field.
The defensive line returns three of four starters. Senior Austin Richard (Seattle, Wash. - Blanchet HS) is a two-time Honorable Mention All-NWC defensive tackle and he will anchor the interior again this fall. Also lining up inside is sophomore Dan Roberts (Grand Coulee, Wash. - Lake Roosevelt HS). The third returning starter is sophomore Justin Rundle (Spokane, Wash. - Mt. Spokane HS), who is still growing into his 6-5, 240 pound frame at defensive end. Sophomore Peter Clark (Spokane, Wash. - Mead HS), who was playing half of the snaps at the other defensive end position by the end of last year, will move into the starting role. Slated to provide backup on the line are Dusty Rasmussen (Jr., Silverdale, Wash. - Klahowya HS), Darius Sheperd (So., University Place, Wash. - Curtis HS) and Travis Freeman (So., Royal City, Wash. - Royal City HS). It is at linebacker where Whitworth has to replace all thee starters. Yet it may also be the linebacking position that enabled more players to get experience off of the bench in 2004 than any other. Sophomores Greg Caster (Sherwood, Ore. - Sherwood HS) and Casey Clifton (Spokane, Wash. - University HS), along with junior Nick Portrey (Ritzville, Wash.- Ritzville HS), all made solid contributions during extended playing time last fall. Three other sophomores - Michael Schroeder (Wilbur, Wash. - Wilber HS), Mike Parker (Spokane, Wash. - Freeman HS) and Jacob Riley (Vancouver, Wash. - Evergreen HS) saw some playing time last year, at least on special teams, and will battle for positions this fall.
Added to the linebacking mix is Tyler Hall, a transfer from Goldenwest College (Calif.), and a two-time First Team All-Mission Conference player. Unlike the linebacking corps, the defensive backfield returns all four starters from 2004. Sophomores Jay Tully (Spokane, Wash. - Mead HS) and Phil Entel (Clarkston, Wash. - Univ. of Idaho/Clarkston HS) return at strong and free safety, respectively. Sophomore Ryan Marshall (Salem, Ore. - Sprague HS) and junior Nick Kuntz (Boise, Idaho - Eagle HS) return as starting cornerbacks. Juniors Zac Farnam (Deer Park, Wash.) and Joe Morris (Spokane, Wash. - Ferris HS), along with sophomores Blake Malsam (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - Lake City HS) and Michael Johnston (The Dalles, Ore. - The Dalles HS) all played significant minutes in 2004 and will battle for increased playing time this fall. Special Teams:
Cameron Collings (Spokane, Wash. - Mead HS), a senior, will continue to place kick and punt for the Pirates. Collings has been named to both the Street & Smith's and D3football.com preseason All-America teams for the 2005 season. He led all Northwest Conference kickers in points scored (66, 7.3 per game) in 2004. He had the best numbers for field goals in terms of total made (7) and percentage (7/9 for 78%). He also had the best PAT percentage (45/48 for 94%). His field goals of 53 yards against Eastern Oregon and 48 yards against PLU were the longest of the season in the NWC. Kyle Snell, Jay Tully and Ryan Marshall will handle the kick return duties once again in 2005. Snell's kickoff return for a touchdown against PLU kept the Lutes at bay in the season finale. Schedule: |
