Eight returning starters on both sides of the ball combined with an enthusiastic first-year head coach promise to make the Thiel Tomcats' 2009 campaign a memorable one.
Kurt Reiser (Allegheny, '92) replaces Jack Leipheimer who, after eight years as head coach, stepped aside to become Thiel College's athletic director. Reiser enters his ninth season with the program; having spent his first six years coaching the offensive line and the past two as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
The Tomcats are looking to rebound from an unexpected 2-8 season a year ago. Costly injuries at key positions contributed heavily to their disappointment. Yet with previously untested players gaining experience -coupled with the return of seasoned veterans- expectations are high for a strong finish among the elite teams of the Presidents Athletic Conference.
“We have 13 seniors returning,” said Reiser. “They will provide good leadership with valuable playing experience. All of them they have a very good work ethic and will set the example in practice.”
Offensively the Tomcats will feature a conservative, ball-control oriented attack led by senior quarterback Willie Bova (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany). Described by his coach as a smart, talented player and strong leader, Bova ranks among Thiel's all-time top quarterbacks in several categories. His solid 2008 performance -194 completions on 363 attempts, 17 touchdowns, and 2,227 passing yards- merited an All-PAC honorable mention.
“Willie did a good job for us last year,” said Reiser. “He grew tremendously throughout the season. He has a strong arm and has worked on his delivery and touch in the off-season. We're looking for good things from him.”
Returning to the tailback position after missing all of last season due to injury will be senior Dan Hess (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area). “We're very excited to have him back,” said Reiser. In 2007, Hess rushed for 865 yards, averaged 4.9 yards per carry, and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. A strong senior season could make him Thiel's all-time leading rusher.
Transfer Ross Gargano (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) will complicate things for defenses as an all purpose back. Reiser says he will line up in the backfield, slot, and as a receiver. Fullback Mark Dzubak (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) –a senior- will fulfill blocking duties in the backfield.
The offensive line boasts both size and experience. On the left side are returning starters, senior tackle Nick Goettman (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) (6-4, 293) and junior guard Gary Petrucci (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) (6-0, 240). Joining them are center Vince Palmiere (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) (6-0, 255) and senior right guard J. R. Kenna (6-0, 240) – a 2008 all-conference honorable mention. Junior Adam Troup (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) (6-5, 274) and Sophomore David Mossa (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) will vie for the fifth starting job on the line.
“We're a physical football team,” Reiser said, noting that the line will set the tone for the rest of the offense. “We want to beat people on the line of scrimmage. I'm really counting on those guys to do that.”
Lining up at tight end will be senior Dan Mackall (Georgetown, Pa./Southside Beaver). Reiser describes him as “a big kid who moves very well and has soft hands.” Moreover, he feels Mackall should compete with the best tight ends in the conference.
Justin Sadler (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau) and sophomore E. J. Kruse also will see time at the end position. Kruse's height and running ability make him a passing target for Bova, while Sadler's blocking skills make him an asset in short yardage and goal line situations.
Senior wideout Brendan Taylor (Girard, Pa./Girard) –with 684 receiving yards and six touchdown catches in 2008- is a speedy deep threat, whose 40-yard dash time has been clocked at 4.4 seconds. A football and track athlete earlier in his first three years at the collegiate level, Taylor opted instead to spend last spring concentrating on training for the 2009 football season. He, in tandem with junior receiver K. J. Smith, gives Reiser and Bova confidence in the Tomcats' passing game.
“(Taylor) is going to be a go-to guy for us,” Reiser said. “We're going to lean on him. K. J. is a good fundamental receiver. He runs good routes and finds ways to make plays for us.”
Defensively, Thiel figures to be strong up front. Featured among its returning veterans is junior tackle William Haase (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area), who has been selected as a pre-season second team All-American by Consensus Draft Services. He was also a 2008 All-PAC second team selection after tallying 49 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
“He's been a tremendous player for us,” says Reiser of his junior, who set a team record with 19.5 tackles-for-loss in 2008. “He could be the best defensive lineman in the conference.”
Big things also are expected from the other tackle, junior Zack Woody, as well as junior end Matt Shields (North Jackson, Ohio/Jackson-Milton). Senior Aaron Grill (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) and junior Jason Joens (Spring Hill, Fla./Nature Coast) will compete for time on the other end of the line.
The linebacker corps may be the deepest and strongest part of the Thiel defense. Sam Swartzfager (Shippenville, Pa./Keystone) returns for a fifth year of eligibility after having been injured last season. Senior inside backer Mike Clemens (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny), as well as senior Clint Walker (Madison, Ohio/Madison) and junior Bobby Shew (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) on the outside are all returning starters. Sophomores Ryan Dawes (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) and Nick Gargaro (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) will see playing time.
Expectations are high for junior free safety Bryan Villegas (Spring Hill, Fla./Springstead) who, according to Reiser, had a tremendous showing in spring drills. Cody Sirgey (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northside Christian) will start at cornerback after moving over from tailback last season. Reiser noted Sirgey's vast improvement and says he is looking for him to shut down opposing receivers this year. Sophomore David Urey (Masury, Ohio/Hubbard), at strong safety, and junior corner Joe Stenger (Jefferson, Ohio/Pymatuning Valley) will be counted on heavily to provide much-needed pass defense.
Sophomore John Madeline (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) – second team All-PAC- returns as place-kicker. Last season he led the conference by converting 22 of 23 PAT attempts. He also made six of eight field goals. Reiser may look to Willie Bova (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) or an incoming freshman to fill a hole at punter. Brendan Taylor (Girard, Pa./Girard), Bryan Villegas (Spring Hill, Fla./Springstead), and Ross Gargaro are all strong options to return punts and kickoffs.
“We're going to improve,” said Reiser. “I'm looking for marked improvement.
“I'm not going to throw out a record, but I'm looking for consistency and for us to compete within the conference. Our goal, of course, is a conference championship.”
The Tomcats –playing all of the same opponents as last year- kick off their season with a visit to Marietta. They dropped last years' opener –at home -to the Pioneers by a score of 21-18.
“I'd like to go to Marietta and start out on the right foot with a win,” said Reiser. “It's a game that will be a battle, but I believe we can win. I know they're going to be better than they were last year.”
Thiel's home opener comes in week two, when it plays host to the Albion Britons. Last year's result was a 16-0 road loss.
In week three, the conference schedule starts with a road game –under the lights- at Washington & Jefferson. The Tomcats have played the Presidents tough over the years, though they've not come away with a victory since 2005. Reiser hopes that this is the year things change.
“We've had great efforts against them recently,” he said. “W&J is definitely a game we look forward to on our schedule. Because of their tradition, our players get excited to play them. We've been close in the past, but would like this to be the year that we turn the corner on them.”
Game four is on the road at Geneva, to whom Thiel fell 31-17 last year. Homecoming is the week five match up against Westminster, which took last year's contest by a 16-10 margin in New Wilmington.
The first Tomcat victory of 2008 came at home against Bethany in a 50-44 offensive battle. This year's game six road match up will again be a test and perhaps an indicator of where the Tomcats will stand among the PAC.
Games seven and eight are both at home against Thomas Moore and Saint Vincent, respectively. Last year the Tomcats fell to the Saints, 45-14, while picking up a big 36-22 win against the Bearcats. Game nine is at Waynesburg. Last year the Yellow Jackets outlasted Thiel, winning by a score of 50-35.
The final game of the season is another big one, as Grove City visits Greenville for the Mercer County Cup Game. The Wolverines have won the past two contests, including last year's by a score of 20-14. But the Tomcats plan to make sure the trophy stays in town this year.
“Grove City has won the Mercer Cup the past two years,” said Reiser. “We want it back.”
To realize their season goals, Reiser says, the Tomcats will have to “compete on a daily basis. Compete to be better than we were the day before, to push each other to get better, and to compete against our opponents week-in and week-out. If we do that, we'll get to where we want to be.”
