By Don Stoner
Augsburg Sports Information Director
MINNEAPOLIS -- This is the first of several weeks of previews of Midwest football conferences this season. This week, the race in Wisconsin.
The race for the football championship in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference couldn't get much closer than it did in 1998, when four teams -- UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls -- tied for the conference title with identical 5-2 league records.
Last season, Eau Claire completed a three-year run from "worst to first" in the WIAC. The Blugolds represented the WIAC in the NCAA Division III national playoffs and pulled off one of the more impressive runs in recent memory, winning on the road at higher seeds Central (Iowa) and St. John's (Minn.) before falling to eventual national runner-up Rowan on a field goal with seven seconds left in the national semifinal game.
This year could be another where balance is the key -- especially considering the changes in the conference. Eau Claire coach Bob Nielsen left to replace legendary coach Jim Malosky Sr. at Division II Minnesota-Duluth. Former Stevens Point assistant coach Todd Hoffner replaced Nielsen with the Blugolds. Platteville also has a new coach, as offensive dynamo Mike Emendorfer comes to the school from Hanover and will bring with him a sea change in the Pioneers' offense. Several of the top quarterbacks in the league have graduated -- Stout's Matt Bunyan, Eau Claire's Sean Hoolihan, Oshkosh's Brian Tomalak and River Falls' Randy Johnson -- along with league MVP linebacker Clint Kriewaldt of Stevens Point, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions with their sixth-round selection.
"The conference is very well-balanced once again this season," said Stevens Point head coach John Miech, last year's WIAC coach of the year. "There's four returning champions and two new coaches, so it should be a lot of fun."
All the changes should make for another interesting -- and unpredictable -- year in the WIAC, where at least five teams could make a serious run at the championship and the automatic bid to the Division III playoffs. The runner-up could also earn a playoff spot with the expanded 28-team format this season. Here's a preview, with information provided from the league's sports information directors and teams listed in D3football.com's predicted order of finish:
UW-River Falls (7-3 overall, 5-2 WIAC in '98): In 1998, the Falcons were the surprise team in the WIAC race. Expected to have a down season, UW-RF instead put huge scoring numbers on the board -- including a 52-28 shellacking of UW-Whitewater that threw the conference race into a tizzy in the final two weeks of the year.
This year, River Falls being in the thick of things of the conference race won't be as much of a surprise. And 11th-year coach John O'Grady will continue to not surprise WIAC fans by running the football. The Falcons' wishbone offense has led all of Division III in rushing the last two seasons -- six times in all since 1986. Last year, River Falls' 394 yards per game rushing average was not only tops in Division III, but in all divisions of the NCAA.
Despite losing QB Randy Johnson and his 905 rushing yards to graduation, the Falcons return four 500-yard RBs -- Michael Grant (629 yards last year), Taylor Hall (593), Ryan Lins (556) and Nick Scribner (523). Making the running game churn will be an offensive line that returns four starters (OGs Carmen Pata and Justin Lerfald, OT Jeremy Lilyquist and TE Mike Kaiser).
The Falcons have 10 of 11 starters, including four seniors, returning to one of the most potent defenses in the conference. All-WIAC first-teamers Joe Green (DE) and Ben Kolstad (SS) are back, along with honorable mention All-WIAC selections Matt Roerig (DT) and Tim Sukalski (CB). Brian Katlack (FS) led the team with 86 tackles last season. All three LBs (Seth Allen, Matt Norstad, Broc Threinen) are also back for the Falcons.
UW-Whitewater (7-2, 5-2): For the past two seasons, the Warhawks have been the epitome of consistency within the WIAC, claiming at least a share of the conference title each season. The run for a "three-peat" as conference titlists may be a bit tougher this year, but with nine defensive starters and six offensive starters back, the Warhawks should contend yet again. Preview Sports Publications has picked the Warhawks 10th in its preseason Top 10 poll.
DBs Jake Wolter and Brad Kilgora will lead the Warhawks' defense in 1999. Last year, Wolter led the conference with six interceptions, and tied a Division III record by returning three pickoffs for scores. Meanwhile, Kilgora led the Warhawks with 97 tackles, an astounding number for a secondary player.
LBs Jeremy Doering and Tywone Redmond are solid returning starters, and while the defensive line looks on the surface to be rather young, don't let age fool you. Mitch Gauthier and Peter Katz were starters as freshmen last year, and several other players with experience can step into the Warhawks' set.
On offense, two huge holes are present -- at quarterback and offensive line. The OL has lost three starters from last year, returning just OG Dan Johnson and OT Pete Engstrom. Meanwhile, signal-caller Ty Grovesteen has graduated, leaving the QB duties to either John Hanlin or Mike Christensen -- who combined for a grand total of 18 pass attempts last year.
The rest of the offense has depth, in particular the running game. RB Jeff McKenzie earned first-team All-WIAC honors with 1,028 rushing yards last year. TE Chris Korff and WR Steve Tenhagen are also back. Korff led the team with a 24.1 yards-per-catch average and eight TDs last year, and also serves as the Warhawks' punter.
UW-La Crosse (4-5, 4-3): Consider last year's finish -- the first sub-.500 finish by an UW-L club in 28 years -- just a blip on the screen. Roger Harring hasn't seen many losing seasons in his 31 years at La Crosse for a reason, and he should be able to return the Eagles to their usual spot in the top half of the conference in 1999.
The key to the Eagles' success will be settling on a signal-caller. Three different quarterbacks started for the Eagles last year, and all return -- junior Jason Wucki, junior Andrew Youngbauer and sophomore Josh Boraas. All shined at times last year, making the ultimate decision tough for Harring.
"We should have the ability to move the football on offense if we can settle in with a quarterback," Harring said. "We have to run the ball to be successful, and we have to throw the ball to be able to win big games."
The rest of the offense should be solid, as nearly everyone returns. Juniors Nick Wagner and Eric Schmidt return at the WR positions, along with juniors Jeff Kostewa and Dan DeCook at TE, and the offensive line is big and deep -- averaging 6-5 and 300 pounds apiece. Junior center Wayne Collums and senior tackles Cory Herrmann and Jason Winter return as starters. The running game, which produced 207.7 yards per game last year, is also strong. All-WIAC senior Jared Arn ranked seventh in the nation in all-purpose yards last year, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, and is joined by All-WIAC second-team FB Joe Rivard.
Four starters return on the defensive line, paced by senior DT Brock Ryan and junior tackle Troy Coonen. Starting OLBs Jon Davis and Chad Nunemacher return, while Tom Romportl will fill the shoes of graduated two-time All-WIAC ILB Mike Deans. There are some question marks in the defensive secondary. Senior Nick Barbera and junior Nate Lancaster return at cornerback, but the safety spots will be filled by inexperienced players.
UW-Eau Claire (10-3, 5-2): The Blugolds will have to get used to a new coach, with former Stevens Point assistant Todd Hoffner leading things in place of the departed Bob Nielson, and a new QB, as someone will have to be found to replace Sean Hoolihan and his 2,072 yards of passing (plus 20 TDs) from last year.
However, the defense is strong and solid, and in a WIAC race where teams averaged 30.6 points per game last year, that could be an important factor if Eau Claire is able to make a solid run at repeating as conference champions.
Defensive coordinator John Steger, Wisconsin's assistant coach of the year in 1998, has 19 of his top 22 players back on a defense that led the league by allowing just 17.3 points per contest. Ironically, defense was also Hoffner's strong suit at Stevens Point (he was defensive coordinator there for the last two seasons after being offensive coordinator for four years).
All-WIAC selections Blake Handrick (DL), Chad Ludescher (LB) and Ben Buss (DB) return to lead the Blugold defense, along with second-team All-WIAC NG Adrian Wilson, who was a rarity in the league -- a defensive line starter as a freshman.
While finding a quarterback is important for the Blugolds, top WR Eric Ostmoe is back, along with his 18.9 yards per catch average. The running game, which averaged 252 yards a game last year, is also strong. Junior Darrell Souhrada will lead the RBs. Another key may be offensive line protection, as Hoffner will have to find individuals to replace All-American OTs Luke Burger and Clay Iverson.
UW-Stevens Point (7-2, 5-2): Twelve starters (seven on offense, five on defense) return for the Pointers in their bid for a second straight conference crown. But the Pointers will have to replace 10 seniors who gained All-WIAC status, including LB Clint Kriewaldt, the conference MVP and future Detroit Lion.
Len Luedtke, who had 81 tackles last year, will be counted on for leadership at the LB spot, and Mark Fetzer (49 tackles, 12 for loss) will do the same on the defensive line.
While the defense will need some rebuilding, the offense is strong. Senior QB Ryan Aulenbacher -- one of just two returning starters in the WIAC -- returns to throw passes to a deep and balanced receiving corps. Senior Andy Martin led the way with 805 receiving yards.
Protecting Aulenbacher and Stevens Point's 264 passing yards per game will be an offensive line that includes three players over 300 pounds and is expected to average 292 pounds. Wally Schmidt is the top returning RB, though he gained just 328 yards on the ground last year. UW-SP averaged 94 yards on the ground per game.
The Pointers, led by 12th-year coach John Miech, have one of the tougher nonconference schedules in the WIAC, starting off with games at Division II Northern State (S.D.) and Division I-AA Drake (Iowa). A Metrodome game with D-II Bemidji State closes the year.
"The two nonconference games will really tell a lot for us this season," Miech said. "We have a lot of new players and I'm very excited to see how they react against that competition. If we walk into conference play 2-0, we're going to be a tough football team."
UW-Stout (5-5, 3-4): Who will replace Matt Bunyan? That's the question that has been asked often to Stout coach Ed Meierkort, as he must aim for improvement in the WIAC race without the Gagliardi Trophy finalist at QB.
But Marty Goryl, a fifth-year senior, has been Bunyan's steady backup, and stepped in when needed in five games, including a key fill-in effort when Bunyan suffered an injury in the Blue Devils' 35-24 win against Oshkosh on Oct. 24.
"We have been extremely productive offensively," Meierkort said. "We will not vary one iota. Marty needs to drive the car, (but) he doesn't have to be the car."
The Blue Devils' running back corps is solid -- so solid that Meierkort converted two RBs to defensive positions to give them playing time -- featuring returning starter Shawn Lund, who actually shined more catching the football, with school records of 12 TD receptions, 15 total TDs and 94 points. Jesse Diaz, the leading returning WR in the conference, is also back. He caught 58 passes for 958 yards and nine TDs last year to earn second-team All-WIAC honors.
Where the Blue Devils will be undergoing some major retooling is in the defense. Meierkort is switching from a 4-3 formation to a 3-4, while moving last year's leading tackler, Eric Lund, from LB to FS. Mike Purfeerst will move to NG, and the defensive corps will also rely on transfers -- 14 in all coming into the defense.
UW-Oshkosh (4-6, 1-6): Oshkosh coach Ron Cardo will have plenty of rebuilding to do for the Titans to improve. Replacing one of the top passers in school history, QB Brian Tomalak (2,589 yards last year), will be the top priority for the Titans. Junior Chris Alexander and sophomore Alan Beversdorf are the top candidates to fill the QB spot, though the duo combined for just 87 passing yards last season.
WR Shannon King will likely fill in the shoes of Jon May, the Titans' leading receiver last year (1,230 yards). King has tremendous talent -- finishing second at last year's D-III indoor track and field championships in the long jump -- and could be a legitimate NFL prospect. He averaged 16.8 yards per reception last season.
Cardo will also have to fill in the RB spot filled by league-leading rusher John Duginski (1,269 yards). The job might be tough, as the top returning back (sophomore Kyle Mayhugh) gained just 195 yards on 49 carries. The kicking game is led by one of the top toes in the conference, David Gaulke.
LB Craig Pierstorff, an honorable mention All-WIAC selection last year, returns to lead the Titans' defense. He had 83 tackles last year, including eight for loss. DE Kerry Fraser (27 tackles) and LB Lucas Jachthuber (50.5 tackles) are also returning starters.
UW-Platteville (1-9, 0-7): Needless to say, when Mike Emendorfer was introduced as the Pioneers' head coach in January, jaws were dropping in Pioneer-land. The Pioneers' Wing-T offense was going to be replaced by a wide-open passing style. Someone asked the new coach if Platteville would ever run the football again.
"Yes, we will run the ball," Emendorfer said. "We will run with it after we catch it."
As the offensive coordinator at Hanover the past eight seasons, Emendorfer's offense was one of the most pass-happy in the nation. Hanover led the nation in passing four times, including last season, when the Panthers threw the ball 44 times for 335 yards per game. Emendorfer's Hanover teams were 43-9 over the past eight years.
Will Emendorfer immediately transform Platteville into a WIAC power? Not likely. But the young Pioneers do return eight offensive starters and nine defensive starters, and last year's topsy-turvy conference race is proof that anything can happen in the WIAC.
Sophomore QB John Jacobs, who threw for 838 yards and nine TDs last year, will likely throw for a lot more in 1999. And many of them will be to WRs John Weaver and Troy Gagner, who each averaged more than 16 yards per reception last year.
Even DB Brian Childs, who led the Pioneers with 86 tackles last year to earn team defensive MVP honors, may see some time at WR this year. LB Tim Duffy (56 tackles in 1998) and DB Tony Lewis (52 tackles) are also back on defense.
