Optimism abound
DWU says goodbye to seniors, to welcome back seven starters on each side of ballThe results are in, the seniors have played their final down and the coaches have said their goodbyes.
By: Chris Aarhus, The Daily Republic
- Jim Williams and Tom Jarding
The results are in, the seniors have played their final down and the coaches have said their goodbyes.
The Dakota Wesleyan University football team’s season ended when No. 7 Morningside College (Iowa) blitzed the Tigers 45-8 on Saturday at Joe Quintal Field.
DWU coach Brad Pole looks back at his outgoing class and can’t help but praise a resilient group of football players.
“I just think so many of them had great careers,” Pole said.
Seniors Justin Sydney, Derek Washington, Nick Tolsma, Jordan Gau, Jim Williams, Drew Gillogly, Raymond Blossom, Dane Carlson, Lucas Sieve, Tyler Peterson, James Hansen, Steve Bloch, Wade Schoenfelder and Ryan Wagner are done with college football, on the field at least. All played significant roles with 10 starting at least one game this season for DWU, which finished 5-5.
“They’re all like your sons,” Pole said. “Some days, you’re mad as heck at them. Some days, you love ’em all the time. They’re like family.”
The losses are spread evenly throughout the lineup with the exception of linebacker, where Williams, Carlson and Sieve have to be replaced.
“Those guys have been the backbone of the defense for the last couple of years,” said Pole, who welcomes back full-time starter Mike Barnaud and part-time starter Jordan Hermanson at the position. “Sieve has played since his freshman year. Now, he’s a grown-up guy.”
Other than linebacker, the Tigers don’t have much to replace. They return Marco Mora, a senior nose guard who took a medical redshirt and will come back to man the middle. Aaron Rolen and Zach Reker return at the ends, and the Tigers also have three or four guys in backup roles there as well.
Gau has to be replaced at cornerback, but the Tigers do get safeties David McGuire and Tom Jarding back. They also return Jesse Holz at the other cornerback spot to give DWU seven returning starters on defense.
On offense, the Tigers lose an All-American guard in Hansen, but will benefit from four returning starters including both tackles in Kevin Calsbeek and Nate Little. Mario Palencia starts at the other guard and Eric Witte is the team’s center. Caleb Wray, who will be a senior, will compete with current freshmen Skyler Eriksen and Sterling Dockweiler for Hanson’s right guard position, Pole said.
“James is probably the best offensive lineman I’ve ever coached,” Pole said. “He’s been a great leader for us. The guy is inspirational.”
Freshman quarterback Jon Bane finished his first season throwing for 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pole said there’s no question as to who the team’s quarterback is. Bane won the starting job over fellow freshman Brennon Flannery in camp.
“I expect (Bane) to mature in a lot of ways over the winter, spring and summer,” Pole said.
At running back, sophomore Josh Endres has emerged as the team’s go-to threat, finishing with 1,003 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns. Francois Barnaud, the team’s third running back, will most likely replace the outgoing Blossom, a two-time all-conference selection. Endres broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 316 yards against Hastings College (Neb.) earlier this season.
“You’re going to see a lot of Francois next year,” Pole said. “Josh can’t carry the ball every time, and we want to run the ball.”
Bloch and Schoenfelder are gone, but Kevin Bass returns to anchor the team’s youth at tight end. The Tigers also lose Sydney, but get Anthony Muilenberg, Nate Ovenden and Euedell Clayton back at wide receiver
Kicker Leif Evers is an academic senior, but intends to return. Tolsma, an All-American punter, is gone, but backup Derek Carlson will most likely return. Carlson was an all-conference punter when Tolsma missed the season with an injury in 2009.
Tags: college football, sports, tigers
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