First-ever Game in Texas for the Pirates
Whitworth University heads into the 2009 season with one the toughest schedules in school history. And that challenge begins with the first game when the Pirates play at Hardin-Simmons University at 1:00 p.m. (CST) in Abilene, Texas. The Cowboys are ranked fifth in the D3football.com preseason poll and return several key players from last season's 9-2 squad. Whitworth will be making its first-ever trip to the state of Texas for football. The Pirates: Whitworth returns eight starters on each side of the ball, along with two starters on special teams, in 2009. The Pirates hope the combination of experience and new talent will make them strong contenders in the Northwest Conference. Adam Anderson (Sr., RB, Elk, Wash.) leads the offense, of course. The 2008 Second Team All-American (and 2009 preseason pick) led all of NCAA Division III in all-purpose yards last season (more than 243 per game) and set a school record with 25 touchdowns. He picked up his second straight NWC Offensive Player of the Year award. But the running game will not drop off when Anderson takes a breather as Milton Nelson (Sr., RB, Spokane, Wash.) is more than capable himself after earning Second Team All-NWC honors last fall. Andrew Durant (So., QB, Spokane, Wash.), who started the final four games of 2008 when the Pirates went 4-0, will start behind center. Cub Jansen (So., QB, Mukilteo, Wash.) is also expected to see playing time for the Bucs.
The Pirate offensive line returns three starters from last fall. Jeff Kintner (Sr., OT, Wenatchee, Wash.) was a First Team All-NWC selection in 2008 and returns to start for the fourth straight year. He is joined by returning starters Michael Nahl (Sr., OG, West Seattle, Wash.) and Emilio Sulpizio (So., C, Spokane, Wash.). Eric (Sr., WR, Clarkston, Wash.) and Dale (So., WR, Clarkston, Wash.) Entel return to lead the receiving corps, which is deeper this year. Andy Largent (Sr., WR, Spokane, Wash.) heads into his third year as a starter for the Bucs. Justin Wimberly (Jr., TE, Tumwater, Wash.) took over as a starter late last season. Whitworth's front four on defense will be quick and athletic. Brandon Martin (Sr., DT, Sweet Home, Ore.) is a two-time First Team All-NWC honoree at defensive tackle. Nick Ashley (Jr., DE, Lind, Wash.) is fast enough that the coaches have him pegged as Whitworth's primary punt returner heading into the season. Layton Brown (Jr., LB, Kennewick, Wash.) and Cameron Stroyan (Sr., LB, Chewelah, Wash.) will lead what should be a very strong group of linebackers at Whitworth. Paul Werhane (Jr., LB, Beaverton, Ore.) was second on the team in tackles for loss, despite coming off of the bench. The Pirates are also deep in the secondary. Derek Stottlemyer (RS So., DB, Bothell, Wash.) and Cailen Thomason (So., DB, Vancouver, Wash.) won hard-fought battles during camp to claim the starting corner back positions. Zack Clow (Jr., P/DB, Blanchard, Idaho) returns for his third season as the Pirates' punter. Largent will provide field goal and PAT kicking for the third straight year.
The Captains: Adam Anderson, Jeff Kintner and Brandon Martin will serve as team captains for the Pirates in 2009. First Time in Texas: Whitworth has never played a football game in the state of Texas and Saturday's contest will mark the longest trip the Pirates have ever made for a football game. The previous furthest away game was at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2006, which is 1,450 miles from Spokane (driving miles). Abilene, Texas is 1,775 miles away. Looking Back at 2008: After starting the season 2-3, Whitworth reeled off four straight wins to finish 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the NWC (third place). It was a painful year in more ways than one as the Bucs saw five different starters lost for the season due to injury, and several other players miss games for the same reason. However there were highlights scattered throughout the fall. The Pirates bounced back from their most decisive loss in a decade to win at Chapman. Adam Anderson led a comeback win at PLU by scoring six touchdowns to set a new school record. Anderson = All-American: Adam Anderson, the 2007 and 2008 NWC Offensive Player of the Year, simply had one of the greatest seasons in Whitworth history in 2008. He concluded the season as a D3football.com Second Team All-American, First Team All-Region honoree and shared the Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year award with slotback Merben Woo of NWC champion Willamette. Anderson led all of NCAA Division III in all-purpose yards (243.8) per game and was second in the nation in scoring average (16.89 points per game). He led the NWC in rushing yards (139.9 yards per game), touchdowns (25), total points (152) and all-purpose yards. He was named NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week three times, including when he posted a school record 324 all-purpose yards in a 41-35 win at Chapman and when he scored a school-record six touchdowns and ran for 217 yards in a 40-29 win at PLU. National Ranking: Hardin-Simmons is ranked fifth in the D3football.com preaseason poll. Whitworth is listed with "others receiving votes." NWC Poll: Whitworth finished third in the NWC preseason coaches poll with 37 points. Defending champion Willamette and Linfield finished first and second, respectively. Link to NWC Football Coaches Poll.
The Opponents: Hardin-Simmons is ranked 5th in the D3football.com for a reason. The Cowboys finished 9-2 last season, and the pair of losses were heartbreakers to third-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor - both on the road. HSU returns a total of 14 starters from last fall. Senior quarterback Justin Feaster will lead the offense again in 2009. Feaster completed 69.2% of his passes for 3,023 yards with 31 touchdowns and only eight interceptions last season, directing an attack that average 39 points per game. While Mychal Carrillo, his All-American wide receiver from 2008, has graduated, Feaster will have a stable full of other players to throw to, including Zavious Robbins (42 receptions, 685 yards, 8 TDs) and Justice Baker (30 receptions, 441 yards, 3 TDs). Sophomore Derrick Grant is the leading returning rusher with 526 yards and five touchdowns in 2008. The defense returns seven starters, led by defensive end Hank Hornsby, a junior who had 10 tackles for loss last fall. Senior Michael Tracy, who had 82 tackles and three interceptions as a strong safety in 2008, will move to linebacker.
On playing HSU for the first time: "We look forward to this game because its an opportunity to play one of the best programs in the country and it will be a great gauge for our guys and where we hope to be once conference play begins. Like all outstanding teams, they have special players and are well-coached." On preseason training camp: "We got out of camp what we as coaches wanted to. We were a little more physical than past years, but that was something we planned for and our guys responded well. The good thing is we stayed healthy. It's a credit to our players, who came into camp in shape and ready. After two week of practice we are were we'd hoped we would be. Now this week we will fine tune things to hopefully be ready for Saturday." What he likes best about this group: "The guys are getting along exceptionally well. The seniors are great workers and set a great example. They have to be your hardest workers for your team to be successful. Along the same lines, I like the way our older guys have been so inclusive and this group has really meshed. The Coaches: John Tully is entering his 15th season as head coach of the Pirates and has a 75-58 record at Whitworth. However, he has led the Pirates to a 62-24 record over the past nine years and has been named the NWC Coach of the Year three times (2001, 2006 and 2007). Tully is the winningest coach in school history, as well as the longest serving Pirate coach. Prior to his arrival, Whitworth had suffered through 11 losing seasons in 12 years. Overall he is 106-79 in his 19th season as a head coach. Jimmie Keeling is entering his 20th season as the head coach at HSU. He revived the football program after a 37-year absence in 1990 and has posted a record of 158-47 over the last 19 seasons. His teams have won 10 conference titles, appeared in 20 NAIA or NCAA Division III playoff games, and he has won six conference coach of the year awards. 2009 Whitworth Statistics Other Division III Football Links: American Football Coaches Association |
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Coach Tully's Quotes: 