By Don Stoner
Augsburg Sports Information Director
MINNEAPOLIS -- This is the third in a series of previews of Midwest region conferences. This week, the race in the Iowa Conference.
In recent years, the race in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) has centered on three teams -- Central, Simpson and Wartburg -- with Buena Vista making some significant waves. And this year appears to be no exception. In 1997, Simpson reached the national semifinals, and last year, Central completed an unbeaten regular season before falling in the first round to Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Who will reign this year in the IIAC? Each of the four favorites lost quite a few key athletes to graduation, which makes picking the favorite a tough chore. But if you pick any of the above four, your prediction stands a good chance of coming true.
"It's going to be a very interesting race this year," said Central coach Rich Kacmarynski. "The top four from last year all got hit extremely hard by graduation. I'm sure the rest of the teams in the league are probably thinking, 'Here's our chance to sneak in there.' I think every Saturday we'll see some good games, and we'll probably see a lot of upsets."
For the second consecutive year, the IIAC is a "closed conference," with 10 teams in the league providing for no nonconference competition. That might hurt the league's chances of getting more than one team into the expanded postseason format, but whichever team qualifies from the IIAC will be a formidable foe for any opponent. Here's a preview of each of the IIAC teams, with information provided by the conference's sports information directors and teams listed in D3football.com's predicted order of finish:
Wartburg (9-1 in 1998): Wartburg coach Rick Willis lost one of the top tailbacks in school history (Trevor Shannon), the starting fullback, half the offensive line, half the defensive front four, his middle linebacker, half his secondary and his starting punter to graduation. So why is he so confident about the Knights' prospects for 1999?
Because the Knights return one of the top QBs in the nation in Matt Wheeler, his entire receiving complement and enough depth in the rest of the lineup to be considered among the league's favorites yet again. Last week, Sports Illustrated rated Wartburg 22nd in its preseason poll.
Wheeler threw for 2,150 yards and 23 touchdowns with just nine INTs last year for a sparkling quarterback rating of 172.0 -- third-best in the nation. WRs Ryan Rausch and Tim Flynn are also back, along with TEs Jeremy Hesse and Paul Seberger. The receiving quartet combined for 1,543 yards receiving last season with 16 TDs in 1998, and Willis says, "Rausch is as good as there is in Division III. He is a big-play threat with good size and good jumping ability." TB Luke Haughenbury is likely to replace Shannon and his three years of 1,000-yard gains.
Two starters on the offensive line return - OT Pete Koebel and C Joel Rochford. Two-time All-IIAC DE Anthony Souhrada is back to lead the defense, along with All-IIAC SS David Devine. DT Justin Schmidt, OL Justin Ryan, OL Jeremy Rummell and CB Bo Harris are also returning starters on defense.
"It's a bad news-good news situation," admits Willis of his team's fortunes in one of the most balanced D-III conferences in the nation. "It is true we had some major graduation losses, but we also have a good nucleus of experienced and talented players returning at each position group."
Central (10-1 in 1998, 10-0 IIAC): The Dutch return just eight starters (three offensive, five defensive) from last year's 10-1 squad. But head coach Rich Kacmarynski, at 29 the second-youngest college football head coach in the country, isn't worried about where his team will end up in 1999. USA III Football has the Dutch ranked sixth in its preseason national poll.
"If I had to use one word to describe this team, it would be hungry," Kacmarynski said. "You always wonder if people are going to take things for granted. I don't think that's happened one bit. I think this senior class is ready to prove themselves and willing to do the things necessary to have a championship-caliber team."
The biggest question mark will come at quarterback, where junior Scott Koerselman will be entering his first complete season as a starter. He only threw for 253 yards and three TDs last year behind starter Nathan Eighmy. WRs Chris Johnson (1,204 yards, 13 TDs) and Justin Quaas (671 yards, 5 TDs) are graduated, but six players are back - including Jason Schroeder, who graduated in 1998 but still has a year of football eligibility remaining.
Central is deep at FB, with Josh Brandt (281 yards on 65 carries, 10 TDs) and Thad Stanley back, but three sophomores and a junior will be counted on to replace 1,000-yard rusher Marc Ricketts at TB. Central is also deep at OL, returning two starters (OG Jared Blum and Daryl Rauser) and another OG (Reid Evans) who saw plenty of playing time in 1998.
On defense, the Dutch have some depth on the line, including starting DT Steve Perkins, who made 29 tackles last year. Two-time All-IIAC LB Jeff Sanger, a junior, led the team in tackles as a freshman and was second last year with 67 (11 for loss). Fifth-year senior Clint Basener had 52 tackles last year at the DB spot with four interceptions, while Tony Bradley returns at FS with his 53 tackles and three pickoffs from last season.
Simpson (7-3): After claiming the IIAC title in both 1996 and 1997, Simpson got off to a rocky 1-2 start in 1998. But the Storm rallied over the rest of the season, going 6-1 the rest of the way to pose a challenge for a three-peat.
This year, the Storm could contend again, primarily because of who returns at QB. Junior Brad Zelenovich became the regular starter with three games remaining in 1998 -- all victories. Zelenovich threw for 925 yards and 11 touchdowns in the final three games, and looks to be the Storm's starter in 1999. Senior Brent Heitland may pose a challenge at QB, or could move to WR in coach Jim Williams' system.
Senior Jesse Hunt takes over for All-American Guy Leman at RB. Hunt averaged 5.2 yards per carry and had seven touchdowns. As many as six backs, including three transfers, could challenge Hunt for the starting RB spot. Juniors Grant McGraw and Jordan Jones return to the WR spots.
The biggest question for the Storm will come on the lines on both sides of the ball. All five 1998 offensive line starters graduated, and three of the four defensive line starters also graduated. Jason Benson, a senior, is a three-year starter on the defensive line and made 48 tackles (21 solo) last year. Elsewhere on defense, the Storm are strong at both LB and in the secondary. Juniors Kevin Ferguson, Josh Rhamy and Tim Myers are back at LB, and starters Joe Beschomer and Judson Eastman are back in the secondary.
"We are a totally unknown commodity as a team with the most graduation losses and the least number of returning starters and lettermen," admits Williams. "We could be good, bad or somewhere in between."
Buena Vista (7-3): For the past several years, Buena Vista has been "knocking on the door" in the IIAC race. This year, the door may finally open for the Beavers, as a strong class of returning athletes (32 lettermen) are back for coach Joe Hadachek.
"We have some holes to fill, but I believe we have a chance to compete for first place if all the pieces of the puzzle fit together," Hadachek said.
"Our team demeanor is really good, all of our athletes get along and are committed to making this season a success for Buena Vista."
The biggest hole to fill is in the offense, as the top four receivers were all lost to graduation. Junior Josh Wiig, who caught 17 passes for 451 yards last year, is the top returner at WR. Transfers and newcomers will probably make up the rest of the WR spots to start the season. But their QB, Rob Klinkefus, is back, as is much of the depth at RB, where as many as six players could challenge for the starting spots. Zac Mathers and Heath Staedtler are seniors with experience at RB.
On defense, nine starters return, led by DB Jeff Brennan and DL Mike Peddicord. Brennan scored 61 tackles (49 solo) last season, while Peddicord had 40 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks. John Seel (DL) also returns, along with LBs Wade McInroy, Kurt Boustead and Jon Fick. Three starters return in the defensive backfield -- Brennan, Ben Smith and Bryan Davis.
Upper Iowa (5-5): The Peacocks return 17 starters to a team that was knocking on the door of the upper echelon of the Iowa league. Will UIU be able to crack the top four? The biggest question mark will come at quarterback, where someone will need to be found to replace Jesse Willis and his 2,507 yards of passing (26 TDs). Senior Neil Wilkinson is the top candidate for the QB role.
A solid offensive line, including OL Todd Gassman, will protect whoever throws the football for the Peacocks, and two of the starting WRs are back -- Ron Thompson (590 yards, 8 TDs in 1998) and Brice Morris (21.3 yards per catch). Both starting RBs are also back. Shane Schroeder gained 509 yards on the ground last season, and FB Melvin Colvin is also back.
On defense, eight starters return, including LBs Fou Mamea and Ryan Birt. Birt led the Peacocks in total tackles (119, including 70 solo last season), while Mamea was Lawrence Taylor-like from the OLB spot, compiling 10 sacks among his 57 tackles a year ago. UIU coach Paul Rudolph calls Mamea "the best returning defensive player in the league."
James Flanagan (52 tackles) and Eric Steinbrecher (53 tackles) are also back at LB in the Peacock's 3-4 lineup. DBs Kuma Hatten and Roscoe Watts each picked off three passes a year ago, and on the defensive line, seniors Josh Cheek and Jason Klemp are returning starters.
Coe (5-5): The Kohawks are young but may have the talent to contend in their second year in the Iowa Conference. There will probably be a quarterback battle between sophomores Chris Heaton and Tim Vinyard, but whoever ends up throwing the football will have one of the strongest and most experienced offensive lines in the league to protect him. Sam Schimmelpfennig has started every game of his collegiate career, and will join juniors Eric Borrman, Nate Lower and Nick Nielsen as returning starters on the line.
Seth Wallace, a junior speedster who led the nation in punt returns last season, joins sophomore Kye Bennis at WR, while RBs Eric Svalstad and Jason Juran return. Juran led the Kohawks in touchdowns last year with eight.
On defense, five key starters are gone, but DB Zac Gordon, an all-region selection last year, will be counted on to provide leadership, along with Jesse Schadt and Dante Smith. Three seniors return on the DL -- Jason Hocker, Andrew Almelien and Andy Irwin. Coach D.J. LeRoy's biggest concern will be in the linebacking corps, all inexperienced with just Jason Hinkle returning.
Loras (4-6): The Duhawks hope to rebound from their first sub-.500 season in a decade with a strong returning lineup, 16 starters strong. Loras is entering its second decade of the revival of its football program, and the number two will be an important one for the Duhawks this season on offense.
The junior quarterback tandem of Anthony Stone (856 yards passing, 10 TD) and Kevin Rudolph is back, along with the sophomore tailback pair of John Stewart (632 yards rushing, 10 TDs) and Terrance Pirtle (448 yards, 4 TDs). The heart of the Loras offensive line is also back, with both guards (three-year starter Nate Oswald and Mike Mosqueda) and center Mitch Schauff.
On defense, there's depth at each position, with seven starters returning. LBs Kurt Wulff (71 tackles) and Dino Rigopolous (55 tackles) key the middle of the defense, while two starters return on the line. In the secondary, junior CB Aaron Healey had four interceptions and 61 tackles last year, returning for more this year.
Luther (3-7): Youth will be served again for the Norse, as only 23 upperclassmen return to Decorah this season. And if coach Brad Pole's club can avoid the plague of injuries that decimated his backfield in 1998, he could have the makings for the school's first winning season since 1993.
Two seniors return to the backfield after receiving medical redshirts in 1998 -- TB Jeff Rohlwig and FB Bryan Wills. Rohlwig earned All-IIAC honors in 1997. QB Keith Lesmeister missed the first three weeks of the season with an injury but still was able to throw for 1,024 yards. His backup, Jake Nimrod, also returns. Both WR starters (Thane Holland and Steve Hobart) are back at a position that is six-deep this year. The entire offensive line also returns for the Norse -- LT Francisco Longoria, LG Corey Malloch, C Doug Keeke, RG Jason Trott and LT Steve Smith.
On defense, eight of 11 starters return, including the entire front four -- Colbey Sullivan at RE, Joe Beeck and Brett Stender at DG and David Purcell at LE. Sullivan had 3.5 sacks to lead the team with 48 tackles last year. Marty Hendrickson and Steve Hudak return as starters at LB, and David Muth (SS) and John Hatlevig (FS) return. The conference's best punter, Brian Wales, returns for his senior season.
Cornell (4-6): Cornell rallied from a 1-6 start to win its final three games in its first season in the Iowa Conference in 1998. To avoid a slow start again will mean a continued focus on the run, with senior FB Brent McAllister hoping to improve on his 817 yard, nine TD performance of a year ago.
Aaron Holthaus, a junior WR, averaged 110.7 yards per game of total offense as the team's possession receiver and kick returner. He even played a little defense for good measure last year, with 20 solo tackles. However, coach Steve Miller admits that "the search for a quarterback is a wide open race" in his wide-open option-style offense. Dan McHugh, who started at FS last year, may move to the offense and contend for the open QB spot.
On defense, the picture is a lot clearer for the Rams, as a rebuilding project is underway. Sophomore LB John Crane (94 tackles, two INTs in 1998) will be the centerpiece, along with returning starters Ryan Smith (DE), Brett Murdock (DL), Matt Egger (LB), Eric Kulbe (CB) and Luke LeBaw (CB).
"Our first objective is to strengthen the defense," Miller said. "We have to stop people from scoring before we can do anything. We'll be very young and it's hard for young players to match up physically in this league."
William Penn (1-9): New head coach Tom Shea leads the Statesmen into their 100th season of football in 1999. Shea, who previously led Peru State to an NAIA national title in 1989 and was most recently defensive coordinator at Central Arkansas, will have a tough rebuilding task on his hands in Oskaloosa. Just eight starters return, though among them are a strong offensive line and defensive line.
QBs Donnell Arnold and DeJuan Badger are both back, along with returning WRs Ryan Duffy, Chris McCullough and Quarnail Arnold. TEs Russ Gelbach and Damiam Romero join OLs Travis Walker and Matt Bickel as returning starters on offense. RB Arthur Mapp gained just 368 yards on the ground in a reserve role, but will be counted on to gain yards for the Statesmen in 1999.
On defense, three DLs return -- senior Eugene Todd and sophomores Frank Yoder and Shane Cotter. Seniors Matt Watson and Dan Arnold return at the LB position, along with DBs Gabe Washington, a junior, and sophomore Mitchell Piggee.
Dubuque (0-10): Fifteen starters return to a Spartans club that hopes to rebound from a winless season. With experienced players returning at several skill positions, the rebuilding job may be easier for Dubuque.
On offense, Matt Plummer, a three-time All-IIAC selection and All-American as a freshman, enters his senior season at WR. He has caught 195 passes for 3,953 yards in 26 conference games in his career. SE Mike Renk, also a senior, returns. RBs Ryan Johnson and Chris Walker are both senior starters, and three starters return on the offensive line -- C Jake Schneckloth, G Bryan Markham and T Orlando Guzman. Replacements will need to be found for QB Shawn Tate -- who threw for nearly 6,000 yards the past three years in conference play -- OL Jake Rankin and TE Chuck Leonard.
On defense, the DL is a strong bunch, returning all four starters -- Joe Anderson (67 tackles, three sacks), Eric Kramer (DT), Justin Robb (DT) and Matt Chalberg (DE). But just three other starters return to the rest of the defense. LB Kurt Hartman, a senior, is the lone returning linebacker, and seniors Greg Ortberg and Brett Beaman are back in the secondary. Ortberg led the Spartans in tackles with 92 last year. As a team, the Spartans allowed a conference-record 468 points last year, so improvement needs to be sought quickly for Dubuque to improve in the IIAC.
