By Matt Florjancic
D3sports.com
Senior running back Cordario "Monte" Collier has been an integral part of the Thomas More offense since he arrived on campus four years ago.
As he gained experience, Collier was able to contribute more to the success of the team and it has been quite a turnaround for the Saints program. During his freshman campaign, Thomas More went 6-4, but dropped to 4-6 the next season. Last year, the Saints upset Washington and Jefferson, claimed the Presidents' Athletic Conference championship and made the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
The 20th-ranked Saints will look to duplicate the result from last year's meeting with No. 11 Washington and Jefferson when they travel to Washington, Pennsylvania, for this battle of unbeatens.
"There's going to be times in the game where he's going to be looked at for his leadership," Thomas More coach Jim Hilvert said. "There will be times where he has to take over as a football player and a runner. That's what's separates him from a lot of the players out there. He's going to know when to pick his spots against Washington and Jefferson and carry the load for us on the offensive side of the ball."
"They're a great team and they're great competition," Collier said. "I can't say anything bad about Washington and Jefferson. They've been on top of this conference for a long period of time and rightfully so. It's going to be a good battle for both teams. They're a great team and we're not too bad ourselves. I just hope it lives up to the hype."
For Collier and the Saints, the fun part of the transition has been experiencing the peaks after fighting through the valleys.
"It's great, especially when you get to grow with a program," said Collier. "I feel as I've grown in years and as a football player, the program has grown. I'm not saying I'm the cause of it, but the team has grown together. We fought through the terrible years. We had a pact that it wasn't going to be like that anymore.
"When you go through that with a group of guys in a program, you feel like it's a part of you," he added.
Collier will be expected to help in the running and passing games Saturday afternoon.
He comes into the week as the Saints' leading rusher (98 carries, 599 yards, six touchdowns) and top receiver (25 catches, 311 yards and three touchdowns).
In Thomas More's 28-14 win over Thiel last Saturday, Collier accounted for 298 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. He rushed for 189 yards and gained another 109 in the passing game. Collier ran for 35-yard and 18-yard touchdowns and caught one score.
While Collier enjoys getting the ball at any point in the game, he embraces the contact which comes with the running game.
"I think I've become a tough football player," Collier said. "I really am more of a football player than just a running back.
"It's funny because a lot of people say I like running in space more," he added. "I actually like running between the tackles more. It's football. I enjoy getting hit. If you don't like getting hit, you shouldn't play the game."
After the Thiel win, Collier was named the PAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive time.
Collier first earned the honor on October 19th with 117 rushing yards on 13 carries. He scored a 29-yard touchdown with 2:11 remaining to seal a 17-7 home win over Grove City.
"When Monte has the ball, he's always a threat," said Hilvert. "Every time he touches the ball, he's dangerous, whether it's coming out of the backfield catching the ball or being able to hand him the ball. I'm glad I got the opportunity to coach him. I can't believe he's a senior this year. He's been a great leader and it's really neat to watch him perform.
"He has the ability to make people miss in a telephone booth," Hilvert added. "It starts with the drive to make himself better every single day. He's never satisfied and he's one of the guys always thirsting for more. When the game's on the line, he's always there. I call him 'Mister Reliable.'"
Collier's drive to improve has made him into one of the most solid dual threats in the PAC.
"Catching the football was not easy for him," said Hilvert. "Every year, he's gotten better and now it's become very natural for him to catch the football. He's really done a great job with that.
"He's always been a great runner," he added. "He always finishes runs and he's always moving forward. He's a big-time player."
News and Notes
Otterbein quarterback Austin Schlosser threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Dan Gendron with 38 seconds remaining to clinch a 35-34 victory over archrival Capital last Saturday. Schlosser completed 15 of 22 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown and ran for two more scores against Capital and quarterback Marty Assmann. Assmann went 20-of-35 for 280 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Otterbein went three-for-three and Capital 4-for-4 in red zone chances.
Ohio Northern junior Brent Donley gained 287 yards and scored two touchdowns on 44 carries in the Polar Bears' 35-14 home victory over John Carroll. Donley broke former Polar Bear and NFL player Jamal Robertson's record of 41 carries in a game, also set against John Carroll, in 1999.
Oberlin freshman Matt Misorski came up with two turnovers in the Yeomen's 19-13 win at Earlham last weekend. Misorski collected an interception that led to a field goal and also recovered a fumble in Oberlin's first victory of the season.
Wabash junior Kody LeMond caught ten passes for 197 yards and four touchdowns in the Little Giants' 37-27 road win against Wooster. LeMond tied the school and North Coast Athletic Conference record for the most touchdown receptions in a game. He was the last NCAC player to accomplish the feat before Saturday's game.
Case Western Reserve senior defensive back Bradley Paramore caught two interceptions in the Spartans' 63-14 win over the Hiram Terriers Saturday afternoon. Paramore took the first interception back for a 34-yard touchdown.
Adrian junior punter Kevin Allaer launched ten punts an average of 33.3 yards in the Bulldogs' 7-6 win over Hope. Despite muddy field conditions, Allaer pinned the Flying Dutchmen inside their 20 three times.
Great Lakes Teams in D3football.com's Top 25
No. 1: Mount Union (OAC): No change following 56-0 win over Wilmington
No. 7: Otterbein (OAC): Up three spots after 35-34 win over No.16 Capital
No. 11: Washington and Jefferson (PAC): No change following 49-7 win over Westminster
No. 12: Case Western Reserve (UAA): No change after 63-14 home win over Hiram
No. 16: Capital (OAC): Down two spots following 35-34 loss to Otterbein
No. 17: Wittenberg (NCAC): Up four spots after 28-7 win against Carnegie Mellon
No. 18: Wabash (NCAC): No change following 37-27 win over Wooster
No. 19: Ohio Northern (OAC): Up one spot following 35-14 win over John Carroll
No. 20: Thomas More (PAC): Up three spots following 28-14 win over Thiel
Others Receiving Votes: Trine (MIAA)
Games of the Week
No. 23 Thomas More (7-0, 5-0 PAC) at No. 11 Washington and Jefferson (7-0, 3-0), Oct. 31, 1:30 p.m.: A budding rivalry has turned into a Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Game by default. With both teams handling their business in prior games and last year's six-point game fresh in the minds of the fans, the Saints and Presidents have a chance to add another exciting chapter to this series.
Wooster (4-3, 3-1 NCAC) at Allegheny (6-1, 3-1), Oct. 31, 1:30 p.m.: Both teams have a shot at second place in the North Coast Athletic Conference, but they need to win out and get a little help along the way. Allegheny is still in the midst of a playoff race, while the Fighting Scots are trying to keep above the .500 mark after a 3-1 start to the season.