University of St. Francis took another step closer to two of its primary goals in 2010 but couldn't quite reel them in. The feeling of getting that close, though, is what head coach Mike Uremovich feels will drive his team to achieving those goals in 2011.

 

The Saints finished the 2010 season with a 7-4 overall record. It marked the second 7-4 campaign in the last three seasons and just the second time in the program's 25-year history that the Saints had won seven or more games twice in a three-year span.

 

Unlike the 7-4 finish of 2008, the 2010 season got the Saints within just one win or reaching those two elusive goals – winning the Mid-States Football Association/Midwest League championship and qualifying for the NAIA national playoffs.

 

USF traveled to Oskaloosa, Iowa for a regular-season-ending showdown with William Penn. A victory would have given the Saints a share of the league title with the Statesmen and likely a top-20 ranking and the league's automatic berth into the national playoffs. USF rode a six-game winning streak into the game – matching the longest in school history. But a rash of uncharacteristic turnovers led to a 24-7 defeat and the end of a very successful season.

 

The good news is that the majority of the nucleus of that 7-4 squad returns in 2011. Optimism is high in the Saints' camp and a preseason No. 24 ranking shows that the Saints have garnered the attention of NAIA coaches around the country despite not having made the national playoffs since their second year of existence in 1987.

   

The USF Offense

 

            Sophomore E.J. White won the quarterback job as a redshirt freshman last fall after an impressive camp. He had big shoes to fill, replacing the graduated John Goolsby who left his name in just about every passing category in the St. Francis record book.

 

            All White did was go out and lead the Saints in both passing and rushing and earn All-Midwest League honors in his first collegiate season.

 

            "E.J. is coming off a great freshman year," said Uremovich. "His athletic ability definitely gave us a big boost last year and made our offense much more varied and difficult to defend."

 

            White completed 62.5 percent of his passing attempts (182-of-291) for 2,046 yards and 20 touchdowns, numbers which left him just 19 completions, 380 yards and four touchdowns shy of USF's single-season records which were established a year earlier by Goolsby. He also added a team-best 767 rushing yards on 152 carries for a 5.0 yards-per-rush average.

 

            Backing up White will be redshirt freshman Ryne Van Gennep and wide receiver/quarterback Desmond Page. Van Gennep missed most of spring ball with a broken hand and is working hard to catch up during fall drills. Page played some last year and gives the Saints another threat in the backfield as a running quarterback with a strong arm.  Another candidate for playing time is sophomore Kevin Flack.

           

Junior tailback Connor Krisch is back for his junior season after earning first-team All-Midwest League honors in each of his first two years. His rushing yards were down some as a sophomore – from 1,009 to 756 – but much of that could be attributed to the added threat of White in the backfield plus more depth at that position for the Saints. Still, Krisch led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns and was clearly the go-to back in key situations.

 

"Krisch has been outstanding since he got here," said Uremovich, "and he leads what I think is the deepest and strongest part of our team, the running back position."

 

In addition to Krisch, the Saints look for good production from senior Garen Demery and sophomore Anthony Hubert. Demery was the team's third-leading rusher last year with 252 yards and Hubert showed big-play ability with four rushing touchdowns.

 

"All three of these guys bring a little something different to the table," said Uremovich. "That is something that is really good for an offense. We have a lot more flexibility with these three backs and I look for a strong running game from our team this year."

 

Two other freshman backs have also impressed Uremovich. Ryan Greer and Nikolas Diaz both have shown the ability to play as first-year Saints, if necessary.

 

The tight end/fullback position is always a critical one for the Saints. USF's offense will often line up the tight end in the backfield as a blocking fullback in addition to being a receiving threat from the tight end position.

 

Returnees Dustin Greenwell and Luke Gundersen lead the way at that position. Both enjoyed success as redshirt freshmen last year and are big targets that can run in the open field. Each had one touchdown reception in the 2010 season.

 

Backing up that duo will be junior Mike Smith, redshirt freshmen Shane Laga and Kyle Adermann and freshman Tyler Nichols. Sophomore Corey Gualandi will also be in the mix at the fullback position.

 

The wide receiver position was another one that – on paper – appeared to be very deep coming into 2011. A rash of injuries, though, has left the Saints leaving camp much thinner and in need of relying on some freshmen to fill key roles.

 

Senior Sean Hughes led the Saints with 54 catches, 712 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last season but he will miss his final year at USF due to injury. Also out for the year and most likely the rest of his football career is redshirt freshman Corbin Orr who was extremely impressive in camp both last fall and last spring.

 

Sophomore Deonta Stevens became one of the Saints' big-play specialists last year with 13 catches and four touchdown receptions – including the game-winner over 12^th-ranked McKendree in the final seconds of play – but he will miss an undetermined amount of time this fall due to a knee injury.

 

Despite the injuries, the cupboard is far from bare.

Returnees include sophomore Elliot Allen who earned All-Midwest League honors last year as a return specialist but also excelled as a receiver. He was third on the team with 29 receptions for 370 yards and was second-best with five touchdown catches. Page, who also backed up White at quarterback, had eight grabs last year and averaged nearly 17 yards per reception.

 

"Allen is a great athlete and a big-play guy for us," said Uremovich. "He can be a game-changer. Page has good speed and good hands and is solid all the way around."

 

New faces to watch in 2011 include junior Jason Campbell and redshirt freshman Eddie Ortiz.

 

"Campbell has stepped up in camp and I am confident will do a very fine job for us this year," said Uremovich. "Ortiz has had a great camp as well. These two guys are not that far behind Allen and Page and give us some good depth."

 

Three true freshmen have all been impressive in camp and will likely play in their first seasons. Lexus Jackson, John Magee and Josh Bell will all fight for playing time as the Saints rotate receivers throughout the season.

 

Other players providing depth at this position include juniors Richard Highland and Stephen Pelaez.

 

The Saints have to replace the left side of their offensive line as all-conference performers Nick Reichert and Jim Jadron have graduated. Uremovich feels good about the guys coming back and the new players that will step into starting roles.

 

The Saints will rotate players throughout the offensive line in an effort to keep them fresh throughout the games. Three seniors lead the list of big guys up front, led by Kyle Sanders, Matt Lyday and J.C. Shoop. Junior David Zanato started at center a year ago and also returns. Transfer Doug Spacht enrolled last January and was impressive in spring camp.

 

Others vying for playing time in the offensive line rotation include junior transfers Andrew Doerr and Gavin Prokopec, sophomore Dan Sears and redshirt freshmen Sammie Sabbah and Kyle Possedi.

 

Others adding depth in the line are redshirt freshmen Brandon Cotton and Kendall Robinson and true frosh John Meade and Austin Andrews. Junior Stephen Heap will vie for playing time as a deep snapper.

 

"It is a deep, talented group," said Uremovich, who also doubles as the Saints' offensive line coach. "But in today's game, it is essential to be deep there."

   

The USF Defense

 

            The defensive line represents the most experienced position on the team and the oldest group of players for the Saints.

 

            Six seniors – all of which have played considerably for the Saints in the past – lead the group of returnees. All-conference performers James Bowman and Sean Leslie head up the group that also includes Tim Plett, David Malone, Navi Uhatafe and Marco Mendoza.

 

"I like the veterans we have up front," said Uremovich. "There are some very good football players and real leaders of our team in that group."

 

A talented pack of younger players will add depth to the defensive line. Transfers Jeff Cascella and Albert Cruse have been impressive in fall drills. Redshirt freshman and track and field standout Eric Davis has been moved from tight end to defensive end. Adding more depth are redshirt freshmen Ellis Gary, Marcus Winston and Antwione Smith. True freshmen include Sean Keasey and Jeremy Haynes.

 

The Saints lost an honorable mention All-America player at linebacker with the graduation of Brenton Valentine last year. But Uremovich feels that his talented group of linebackers can help atone for that departure.

 

Michael Barryis the lone senior of the returnees that also includes a bunch of experienced and athletic juniors.

 

Drew Tondini, Adam Tondini and Martelle Prince top that list of juniors. All three started a year ago and are capable of leading the team in tackles this year. Josh Greenback, Josh Mander and Stanley Pheteau will all see playing time as well.

 

Providing depth will be juniors Brian Green and Luis Santana and redshirt freshman Kenneth Mason. Freshmen Nicholas Larkin, Jamal Graham and Tad Kabinski also will fight for some playing time.

 

First-team All-American Wayne Johnson leads the list of returnees in the Saints' secondary. Johnson was one of just a handful of non-seniors on last year's AFCA/NAIA Coaches' All-America Team and led the Saints with seven interceptions from his starting cornerback slot.

 

Sophomore Toney Brown will likely line up at the other corner. The Oscar brothers – Jeffrey and Charlmers, a pair of juniors – will be the primary backups. Freshmen Brandon Greer and Awal Umaru will provide depth at the corners.

 

"Johnson was very deserving of his honor last year," said Uremovich. "He is small in stature but always comes up big on the football field. Toney Brown is having a great camp after being injured for much of his freshman year."

 

The safety positions are loaded with very physical and athletic players, something that really pleases Uremovich.

 

"I'm real happy with our group of safeties," said Uremovich. "They are aggressive and hard-nosed football players and will make our defense a good one this year."

 

Junior Pete Damiani heads into his third season as a starter at one of the safety spots. Sophomore Jesse Groover started most of the time last year and sophomore Fred Griggs moves there after starting at linebacker as a freshman. Junior Willie McCalebb is another experienced player at that spot.

 

Junior Chris Pyzalski will push for playing time, as will freshman Jesse Hogan. Depth will be provided by sophomores Lavelle Riley, Christian Harney and Troy Granger, redshirt freshman Thomas White and freshman Keith Elliott.

 

USF Special Teams

 

            Allen handled most of the return duties – both punts and kickoffs – last year for the Saints and was rewarded as a first-team return specialist on the All-Midwest League honor squad. He tied the USF school record on consecutive weeks with 88-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns last season.

 

            Three kickers will likely be utilized by special teams' coach Tom Sallay and the Saints.

 

            Senior Michael Rogers is expected to handle the kickoff chores. Freshman Sean Murray is the top placement kicker for field goals and extra points in fall camp. Freshman Mason Marshall is expected to be the punter. Rogers will back up both of the freshmen in their duties.     

 

Overall

 

            Uremovich is excited about his team's prospects for 2011 and encouraged by the club's production both last spring and in fall camp.

 

            "This will be the most balanced offense that we have had since I came here in 2005," said the seventh-year head coach. "We may have had better running games in the past and better passing games before, but the balance we can strike this year makes us a more complete offense.

 

            "The balance gives us a lot of options on how we will attack defenses," continued Uremovich. "We have quarterbacks who can both run and throw effectively. We have running backs who are excellent receivers. We have speed and game-braking ability in our wide receiver corps. The depth we have at tailback really lets us do a lot of different things.

 

            "This is the fastest group of wide receivers we have ever had," added Uremovich. "We hope to present some matchup problems for the defenses facing us.

 

            "We return a ton of experience on defense and that is critical," said Uremovich. "The guys know our system and are athletic enough to make a lot of big plays. We have speed at every spot of our defense and can really run and pursue the ball. This should be one of the better defenses we have had since we took over seven years ago."

 

            The schedule, even without former Midwest League powerhouse McKendree who is moving to NCAA Division II, is again a difficult one.

 

            "Last year the Mid-States had four teams that went to the playoffs," said Uremovich. "All four won their first-round game which meant that four of the final eight teams in the nation came from our leagues. And one of them went to the semifinals. That shows you how strong and how deep our conferences are."

 

            Those four playoff teams included McKendree, Saint Francis (IN), Marian and Saint Xavier. USF defeated McKendree and lost road games to both SXU and Marian last season. The Saints did not play Saint Francis.

 

            This year's slate includes seven Midwest League games, a pair of crossover contests with MSFA/Mideast League foes and two non-MSFA opponents.

 

            The crossovers come in the first two weeks against newcomer Concordia (MI) and rival Saint Xavier, the No. 2-ranked team in the nation.

 

            The non-MSFA opponents are Haskell Indian Nations, who the Saints beat in Joliet last year, and NCAA Division I-AA Georgia State. The Saints travel to both of those schools this year, heading to Lawrence, Kan., to face Haskell on Oct. 22 and to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to play GSU on Nov. 5.

 

            The Midwest League slate includes road matchups with Iowa Wesleyan, Trinity International and Grand View and home dates with Olivet Nazarene, Waldorf, William Penn and St. Ambrose.

 

            "What I do like about our schedule," added Uremovich, "is that four of our first six games are at home. That gives us a good shot at getting off to a great start. What I don't like is the fact that we have three long bus trips in a row in late October and early November to Haskell, Georgia State and Grand View. But that is how the schedule came together and we have to take the good with the bad.

 

            "William Penn would have to be considered the Midwest League favorite," added Uremovich. "They shared the title with McKendree last year and beat us in that final showdown on the last week of the season. I would put us in a group of three or four teams that are trying to unseat them. St. Ambrose was down a little last year but they have traditionally been one of the best teams in our league. Grand View is a good football team and certainly is capable of beating anyone in the conference. Iowa Wesleyan beat us last year so they can not be overlooked. It should be another good, competitive conference again this year."