Football | 8/24/2015 10:57:00 AM

From the Midwest Conference

GRINNELL, Iowa – Midwest Conference newcomer Macalester College walked right in and stole the show during the 2014 football season.  The Scots went perfect through the MWC North Division and defeated Illinois College in the MWC Championship Game before losing to eventual NCAA Champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the NCAA Playoffs.  This season Carroll University and Monmouth College are expected to vie for the conference crown and a trip to the postseason.  

For the second season in a row, divisional winners will meet in the Midwest Conference Championship Game on November 14 to decide the league's recipient of the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.  The rest of the institutions will play the school with the corresponding finish in the other division during Midwest Conference Championship Weekend, also November 14. The North Division schools will serve as the hosts that weekend. 

The league will feature some fresh faces this season in the North Division.  Dan McCarty will take over head coaching duties at St. Norbert College and in Appleton, Rob McCarthy and an entire new staff is in place at Lawrence University.  Monmouth is also under the direction of longtime assistant coach Chad Braun. 

Below are team-by-team previews for each of the 12 Midwest Conference football schools.  

North Division
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Seth Duerr (2^nd season) 3-7, 0-5 MWC
2014: 3-7 overall, 0-5 MWC North (6^th in MWC North)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 5^th in North
Letterwinners Returning: 24
Letterwinners Lost: 8
Offensive Starters Returning: 11
Defensive Starters Returning: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Mike Nolden Sr. WR, Mason Dixon Jr. RB, Antonio Jones Sr. DB, Kam Sallee Jr. P/K
 
The Buccaneers made significant strides in Seth Duerr's first season in Beloit and they are poised to continue to improve this season with the return of 18 of 22 starters including 11 on the offensive side of the ball.  The Bucs offense was rated ninth in the conference in scoring last season, but with the return of First Team All-MWC selection Mike Nolden at wide receiver and Second Team selection Mason Dixon at running back, as well as an experienced offensive line, they should be much improved.  Dixon rushed for 1,199 yards in 2014 with nine touchdowns, while Nolden caught six of quarterback Evan Phillips' nine touchdown passes.
 
Defensively, Antonio Jones is a returning First Team All-MWC selection after recording three interceptions and 83 total tackles from his safety position.  Jones also doubles as a kick returner on special teams. Also back in the secondary are starters Juan Guerrero and Dewight Walker.  The linebacking corps should be a strength as Jacob Grams, David Lafayette and Riley Pearson all return.  Pearson was second on the team with 82 tackles including eight for loss and 5.5 sacks. Daniel Quijas had 71 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss from his defensive end position a year ago.

Carroll University Pioneers
Head Coach: Mark Krzykowski (5^th season) 29-11, 23-10 MWC
2014: 8-2 overall, 4-1 MWC North (2^nd in MWC North)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 1^st in North
Letterwinners Returning: 45
Letterwinners Lost: 26
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 4
Returning All-MWC Performers: Cody Kowalski Sr. OL, Joshua Bottoms Sr. OL, Kyle Burlingame Jr. QB, Kevin Jennings Sr. WR
 
The Pioneers return four All-MWC performers from the conference's second-best scoring offense last season including First Team selections Cody Kowalski and Kevin Jennings.  Carroll brings back four of their five starting offensive lineman and Kyle Burlingame, a Second Team All-MWC pick, will again be lining up under center.  Burlingame was second in the conference in passing efficiency last season (131.1) and will again be targeting Jennings through the air.  Jennings had 48 catches for 695 yards and nine touchdowns.  In the backfield, Carroll must replace the conference's leading rusher Lamont Williams. 
 
There will be a lot of opportunity for playing time defensively, as Carroll brings back four starters from one of the top units in the MWC.  The Pioneers should be solid up front as Josh Ruano and Gianni Bandera are both returning.  Linebacker Tyler Aerts had a solid 2014 campaign and was second on the team in total tackles (64) and tackles for loss (7).  In the secondary, Ty Zimmerman had two interceptions and 46 tackles in 2014. 
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Rob McCarthy (1^st season)
2014: 2-8 overall, 1-4 MWC North (5^th in MWC North)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 6^th in North
Letterwinners Returning: 27
Letterwinners Lost: 15
Starters Returning: 15


The Vikings return 27 letterwinners in head coach Rob McCarthy's first season at Lawrence.  With McCarthy, comes an entire new coaching staff including highly touted offensive coordinator Mark Speckman, who will install the "Fly" offense.  Running back Dalton Sendelbach should benefit from the ground attack after rushing for 305 yards last season.  At receiver, Trevor Spina made 37 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns in 2014.
 
Defensively, the Vikings will be led by Colt Duncan, who made 56 stops last season, including 7.5 in the opponents' backfield.  Cornerback Alic Riedel will lead the secondary after picking off three passes and defending 11 others. 
 
Macalester College Scots
Head Coach: Tony Jennison (8^th season) 35-34 overall, 5-0 MWC
2014: 9-2 overall, 5-0 MWC
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 3^rd in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 53
Letterwinners Lost: 22
Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Returning: 4
Returning All-MWC Performers: Zandy Stowell Sr. RB, Zach Hauser Sr. DL, Forest Redlin Jr. DB (Special Teams), Ryan Fleming Sr. LB
 
It was a magical first season in the Midwest Conference for Macalester last season and AFCA Division III Region 5 Coach of the Year Tony Jennison has the Scots roster at the largest it has even been (79).  The 2014 MWC champions return seven starters offensively led by running back Zandy Stowell.  Stowell ran for 1,293 yards last season and crossed the goaline six times.  On the outside, Tre Nowaczynski and Victor Bordo combined for eight touchdowns and over 700 yards receiving.  Senior tight end Joe Walker and lineman Matt Kania and Austin Pauly should provide plenty of experience up front. 
 
Defensively, the Scots have some more holes to fill, but do return a couple of all-conference  players.  Linebacker Ryan Fleming led the team with 98 tackles last season and had 7.5 tackles for loss.  Zach Hauser made 27 tackles and had two sacks on his way to All-MWC honors.  Nicholas Egersdorf should team with Hauser on the line after making eight tackles for loss, including five sacks in 2014.  Forest Redlin was an all-conference pick as a special teamer and may see more time as a junior. 
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Ron Ernst (24^th season) 153-82 overall, 132-68 MWC
2014: 3-7 overall, 2-3 MWC North (4^th in MWC North)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 4^th in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 47
Letterwinners Lost: 20
Starters Returning: 15
Returning All-MWC Performers: Connor Greenwald Sr. FB, Jose Schaffer Jr. DL, Dakotah Kirchenwitz Sr. DB
 
Entering the 2015 season, head coach Ron Ernst is just six wins shy of the Midwest Conference record for career coaching victories.  Stephen Covalt returns to direct the Red Hawk option attack with Second Team All-MWC fullback Connor Greenwald right behind him.  Greenwald ran for an impressive 6.5 yards per carry last season and three touchdowns, while Covalt accounted for 12 total scores.  Although the Red Hawks don't throw it often, Nathan Siloway should be a home run threat after averaging 17.6 yards per catch last season and accounted for 494 yards. 
 
Ripon should be solid in the secondary in 2015 with the return of All-MWC defensive back Dakotah Kirchenwitz who had 66 tackles and two interceptions last year.  Also returning in the backfield are Jordan Remsza (three INTs, and nine passes defensed), Bradley Knoblach (three INTs) and Decker Thompson (two INTs, eight passes defensed).  In the trenches, Ripon will rely on Jose Schaffer, an All-MWC selection in 2014.  Schaffer had 44 tackles and two sacks last season, while Brandon Bartel had five sacks and 40 tackles last season.  Austin Schleisner, the team's top tackler with 83 stops last season, should anchor the linebackers. 
 
St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Dan McCarty (1^st season)
2014: 6-4 overall, 3-2 MWC (3^rd in MWC North)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 2^nd in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 77
Letterwinners Lost: 41
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 4
Returning All-MWC Performers: Jacob Bunk Sr. OL, Evan Broyles Sr. OL, Jack Rasmussen Sr. OL, Elijah Fort So. RS, Zach Reeves Jr. WR
 
New head coach Dan McCarty will inherit a talent offensive group in his first year at the helm.  The Green Knights will have one of the best offensive lines in the entire conference with the return of four starters, three of which were named to the MWC All-Conference Team after last season.  Running back Elijah Fort was an all-conference return specialist as a freshman and will step into a more prominent role in the Green Knight backfield in 2015.  Junior receiver Zach Reeves and sophomore Brett Olson will man the wide receiver positions for the second consecutive season.  The only question for the Green Knights will be who lines up under center. 
 
Defensively, St. Norbert returns just four starters.  Seniors Jerry Blake and Tony Altmann will anchor the defensive line.  In just seven games last season, Blake had 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while Altmann accounted for three sacks.  Senior Jacob Wells should provide leadership at the linebacker position and Paul Allen returns to the secondary.

South Division
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Vince Brautigam (6^th season) 19-30, 14-9 MWC
2014: 5-4 overall, 3-2 MWC (3^rd in MWC South)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 3^rd in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 40
Letterwinners Lost: 16
Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Returning: 5
Returning All-MWC Performers: Ben Knake Sr. WR, Daniel Brown So. QB, Charles Zilaitis Jr. TE, Conrado Dominguez Sr. OL, Kenny Smith Sr. DB

Vince Brautigam should have plenty of talent offensively to light up the scoreboard in 2015.  Daniel Brown started the final six games as a freshman, but the sophomore quarterback was a Second Team All-MWC selections after putting up over 2,000 total yards and accounting for 21 touchdowns.  His top target Ben Knake returns for his senior season after catching 68 balls for 849 yards and 9 touchdowns.  The senior had over 100 yards five times and was second in the conference yards per games (94.3).  Charles Zilaitis, the South Division's top tight end, returns for his junior year and Conrado Dominguez is one of three offensive lineman back for the Rams. 

The Rams' strength defensively will be in the secondary where they return three starters.  Senior Kenny Smith was an all-conference pick a year ago at cornerback, while Maliek Ketchens and Aaron Gruwell will man the safety spots.  Nalik Davis had a solid season in 2014 at defensive end and looks to build on a junior season in which he had 44 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.  After starting on the defensive line last year, senior Mike Faison will be transitioning to linebacker. 

Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Jeff Pedersen (6^th season) 18-32, 14-27 MWC
2014: 3-7 overall, 1-4 MWC South
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 5^th in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 22
Letterwinners Lost: 18
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 5
Returning All-MWC Performers: Graham Fisher Sr. P
 
The Pioneers should be improved offensively with the return of eight offensive starters.  Grinnell's skill players will look very similar with the return of Sam Poulos under center.  The senior has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards and 31 touchdowns so far in his career.  Zach McGriff, Emmi Sandoval, and Greg Ruzich will be familiar targets for Poulos at the wide receiver positions, while Carson Dunn returns to tight end.  In the backfield, Jacob Bernholtz had 559 yards on the ground last season and reached paydirt eight times in 2014. 
 
Defensively, the Pioneers must replace one of the best linebackers in school history with the graduation of David Ternes.  Grinnell does bring back five starters, three of which are defensive backs.  Jacob Beecher was third on the team in tackles with 69 and added an interception from the secondary.  At linebacker, Barrett Morrissette should build on last season in which he made 44 stops and had two tackles for loss.  On special teams, the Pioneers return First Team All-MWC punter Graham Fisher.

Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Garrett Campbell (7^th season) 46-25, 41-18 MWC
2014: 7-3 overall, 5-0 MWC South
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 2^nd in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 61
Letterwinners Lost: 50
Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Returning: 6
Returning All-MWC Performers: Kyle Nance Jr. OL, Dylan Schuler Sr. LB, Logan Uyetake So. K
 
Veteran head coach Garrett Campbell and the Blueboys suffered heavy losses, but have been picked to finish second in the South Division behind Monmouth.  The offense should be experienced at the skill spots despite the loss of record-setting quarterback Michael Bates.  Stepping in for Bates will be senior Brady Huber.  Logan Uyetake is the Blueboys top returning receiver.  As a freshman, he caught 39 balls for 602 yards and eight touchdowns, and was also a Second Team All-MWC kicker.  In the backfield, Dyllan Bailey and Bo David ran for over 500 yards combined last season, and should see even more touches. 
 
Defensively, All-MWC linebacker Dylan Schuler is back as is defensive back Dinari Ellis, who led the Blueboys with four interceptions in 2014.  On the line, Meeko Reddick has the potential for a big season after making 10.5 tackles for loss and having 4.5 sacks a season ago. 
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Damon Tomeo (3^rd season) 3-17, 1-13 MWC
2014: 2-8 overall, 0-5 MWC South (6^th in MWC South)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 6^th in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 28
Letterwinners Lost: 9
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 9
Returning All-MWC Performers: Ilir Emini Sr. WR, Brock Gabel Jr. ST
 
After two straight rebuilding seasons in Galesburg, head coach Damon Tomeo returns 17 total starters.  Sophomore Matt Mc Caffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) is aiming for an even better season under center after throwing for 1,754 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014.  Second Team All-MWC selection Ilir Emini (Yorkville, IL, Yorkville) was the recipient of 88 passes from McCaffrey and collected 781 yards and five scores.  The Prairie Fire also return four offensive lineman.
 
Sophomore linebacker Cody Hipp (Crown Point, IN, Crown Point) had a big season as a freshman and made 56 stops in 2014.  Joining him in the second level are returning starters Hamad Alizada (Denver, CO, Martin Luther King), Brock Gabel (Bourbonnais, IL, Bishop McNamara) and Trent Wooten (Paxton, IL, Paxton-Buckley-Loda).  Sam Coffey (Winnetka, IL, New Trier) will lead the secondary for a second straight season.  The senior defensive back made 54 tackles last season and had an interception. 
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Jim Catanzaro (6^th season) 27-33, 24-26 MWC
2014: 4-6 overall, 2-3 MWC South (4^th in MWC South)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 4^th in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 28
Letterwinners Lost: 9
Starters Returning: 11
Returning All-MWC Performers: Pat Clark Sr. DB, Charlie Quinn Jr. RB
Returning All-Region Performer: Pat Clark Sr. DB
 
Lake Forest is aiming for an improved 2015 campaign and should rely heavily on their defense led by All-MWC and All-Region selection Pat Clark.  Clark had 66 tackles, intercepted five passes and broke up 10 others in his junior season.  Fellow senior Austin Van Meter will be a key contributor again this season after leading the Foresters with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. 

Second Team All-MWC running back Charlie Quinn will have his sights set on gaining 1,000 yards in 2015 after averaging five yards per carry and gaining 733 yards on the ground in 2014.  Out wide, Alex Pasiewicz will be the team's most experienced receiver after making 25 grabs for 328 yards last season.  Jon Gurchak will handle the kicking duties again this season.  Gurchak knocked in six field goals last year and averaged better than 35 yards per punt.

Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Chad Braun (1^st season)
2014: 8-2 overall, 4-1 MWC South (2^nd in MWC South)
2015 Projected MWC Finish: 1^st in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 45
Letterwinners Lost: 13
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Tyler Parksey So. DL, Alex Sheppard Sr. DB, Trent Rains So. RB, Matt Barnes Jr. LB, C.J. Van Petten Jr. OL, Matt Geitner Sr. OL,

After 15 years as an assistant for the Fighting Scots, Chad Braun will lead the Monmouth program, taking over for the departed Steve Bell.  Offensively, Monmouth will feature a lot of familiar faces including four all-conference players from a season ago.  Junior Alec Dutko is back to direct things after throwing 11 touchdowns in 2014.  The Scots top ball carrier, Trent Rains, also returns after a tremendous freshman season in which he ran for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns.  In the trenches, All-MWC selections C.J. Van Petten and Matt Geitner should provide leadership and skill. 

Seven starters are back defensively from the league's stingiest unit, and the Scots bring back an all-conference player at each level of the defense.  Tyler Parksey was an All-MWC pick as a freshman after recording three sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.  Matt Barnes, the team's top tackler in 2014 with 82 stops, will lead the linebackers along with Michael Smith who had 63 tackles and four sacks a year ago.  Alex Sheppard will provide experience in the secondary as the senior picked off six passes last year.