GLIAC NORTH DIVISION
NO. 1 – Grand Valley State University Lakers | 2013 Record: 12-3 overall, 7-2 GLIAC
While the goal of returning to the top of the GLIAC was not accomplished by Grand Valley State University in 2013, the results were not too disappointing. Coach Matt Mitchell’s crew still managed to rack-up twelve victories in total and add the program’s eighth Regional Championship in the process.
OFFENSE: It’s hard to oversell the importance of experienced QB play, and Grand Valley believes it will have that this year from Heath Parling. After leading the country in pass efficiency in 2011, the senior battled injuries that forced him to miss significant portions of the past two seasons. If he can stay healthy, he’ll have most of his skill weapons back at his disposal. While 1,200-yard receiver Brandan Green has moved on, TE Jamie Potts is back after leading the team in receptions last season. Also back are Grand Valley’s top three ground gainers (Michael Ratay, Chris Robinson, and Kirk Spencer), who combined to rush for more than 2,300 yards and to catch 54 passes in 2013. With most of the offensive line also slated to return, Grand Valley will retain nine starters from last year’s unit that finished in the top half of the league in most of the major statistical offensive categories.
DEFENSE: Despite yielding 50 points twice last year, the Laker defensive unit still finished the season ranked third in the GLIAC in scoring defense, yielding an average of only 24.3 points per outing. While three of the top five tacklers from last year have departed, the two that remain will be key this year. Deonte’ Hurst, who tied for the team lead in tackles, will be the lynchpin of the secondary that will try to lead the defense to replicate the 21 interceptions it registered a year ago. Up front, Matt Mosely was a top-five tackler from his DE spot, including leading the team in tackles for loss. If he and DT De’Ondre Hogan are able to continue their output from 2013, the defensive front could be a real strength for the Lakers.
NO. 2 – Ferris State University Bulldogs | 2013 Record: 8-3 overall, 8-2 GLIAC
Year two of the Tony Annese era provided yet another step forward for the Ferris State University football program. Seven wins in year one, and eight more in year two have expectations soaring in Big Rapids for 2014.
OFFENSE: On offense, the Bulldogs are centered around QB Jason Vander Laan. The junior signal caller enters his third year as the starter and is coming off a campaign that saw him set the Division II single-season record for rushing yards by a QB with 1,607. He found the end zone 21 times on the ground and 15 more times through the air, and he returns as arguably the most potent offensive threat in the GLIAC.
DEFENSE: Defensively, the top end of the tackles’ list has seen some departures. However, the Bulldogs should be very good up front, as a pair of all-GLIAC defensive linemen return in Corey Stone and the team’s sack leader Justin Zimmer. Strong play in the secondary is also expected from returning starters A.J. McEwen and A.J. Sowards. McEwen was one of the league’s best ball hawks in 2013, snaring five interceptions, breaking up 12 passes, and recovering a fumble.
NO. 3 – Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals | 2013 Record: 9-3 overall, 9-1 GLIAC
Last season was, by nearly every measure, a tremendously successful campaign for Saginaw Valley State University. A nine-game win streak netted the Cardinals the GLIAC North Title as well as a postseason berth. Add to that the GLIAC Player-of-the-Year plaudit for Jonathon Jennings and an Offensive-Back-of-the-Year nod for Jeff Janis, and head coach Jim Collins and staff had to be more than pleased.
OFFENSE: This year’s Cardinals will include a lot of new faces in key spots. The holes left by the departures of Jennings and Janis are hard to overstate. Upon closer inspection, the losses are even deeper, as the top four ground gainers and four of the top five pass catchers from last year’s squad must be replaced. Toss in the fact that more than half of the line has moved on, and it is very likely that the offensive unit will be predominately youthful and untested.
DEFENSE: While the top two tacklers from a year ago are gone, the bulk of the secondary returns, led by safeties Caleb Higbie and Major Metcalf. Also back is the club’s top sack artist in Will Schwarz. Schwarz and fellow senior Murtada Jabbie will be solid anchors on the defensive front. In total, roughly half of the defensive starters may lean toward the side of inexperienced as the season begins, but there are definitely fewer holes to fill on this side of the ball, and there are several key pieces that can shoulder the load in the early going.
NO. 4 – Michigan Technological University Huskies | 2013 Record: 6-4 overall, 6-4 GLIAC
Since taking over the helm at Michigan Technlogical University eight seasons ago, coach Tom Kearly has been a strong examples of consistency within the GLIAC. Seven of his eight seasons have netted winning records, and last year’s 6-4 mark was the fourth in a row despite his defense struggling a bit after the midway point of the season. The Huskies allowed 23.4 points per game over the first half of the slate, but were more generous over the final five weeks and allowed 32.8 points per outing.
OFFENSE: A couple of seniors will be key pieces of the Huskies offense as the new season commences. The importance of an experienced starting QB cannot be minimized, and this will be Tyler Scarlett’s fourth year at the helm for Tech. He is already the most prolific passer in school history, and he holds the majority of Tech’s career passing marks. Joining him in the backfield will be fellow senior Charlie Leffingwell, who posted 1,238 yards on the ground a year ago, good enough for fifth in the league. The two veterans make for a solid one-two punch, and additional balance is on hand for the offense with the return of WR Brandon Cowie, who led the team with 933 receiving yards last season.
DEFENSE: Despite the late slide a year ago, the defense should be much more experienced entering the 2014 campaign. While leading tackler Taylor Ziolkowski has moved on, many of last year’s other starters were underclassmen, so the potential for this group to play with a bit more seasoning is present. DL Nelson Wienke led the team in sacks last year and earned an all-GLIAC nod in the process, so the senior will likely be a key leader on this year’s unit.
NO. 5 – Hillsdale College Chargers | 2013 Record: 5-6 overall, 5-4 GLIAC
Coach Keith Otterbein and staff know as well as anyone how hard it is to keep a club at the top end of the GLIAC. That’s why there likely isn’t much concern after last year’s 5-6 mark. Considering it came on the heels of six consecutive winning seasons (a stretch that saw an outright GLIAC title and a pair of playoff appearances), few would worry that a tough season here and there is much more than a “part of the process.”
OFFENSE: The bulk of the offense will be a work-in-process as the season opens. Very few returning starters will be present, and the competition could be wide open for multiple positions, particularly on the offensive line. QB and RB are open at the moment, also, but Mark LaPrarie and Bennett Lewis appear to have the early inside tracks on those spots, respectively. Most of the experience on this side of the ball will reside in the receiving corps, as TE Mike Carter returns, as do experienced wideouts John Haley and Evan Bach.
DEFENSE: The few spots where tenure is present are primarily on defense. Stalwarts currently roam the secondary for Hillsdale in multi-year contributors Tim Moinet and Dan Pittman, and they’ll be charged with leading a unit that was in the top half of the GLIAC in most major statistical categories a year ago. Aiding in their efforts will be one of the better pass-rushers in the league, Zach Swaffer, who was second in the GLIAC a year ago with eight sacks.
NO. 6 – Wayne State University Warriors | 2013 Record: 3-8 overall, 3-7 GLIAC
After five consecutive seasons at .500 or better, Wayne State University struggled in 2013. A 3-8 finish wasn’t what coach Paul Winters and staff had in mind, but with adversity comes growth, and there could be a silver lining for the Warriors entering 2014. One big plus will be the level of experience that this team possesses, as 14 starters return from last year’s squad.
OFFENSE: The returning players’ first order of business will be moving the ball more effectively, as the Warriors netted only 327 yards per game on offense in 2013. The QB position will feature an open competition heading into camp, but the good news is that each of the three guys battling for the job (Carl Roscoe, Sean Guinane, and Doug Griffin) made three or more starts last year. One other bright spot could be the potential emergence of Desmond Martin at tailback. Martin was the team’s second-leading rusher last year without making a start, so much will be expected of the senior as he transitions into the role of the featured ball carrier.
DEFENSE: While the offense has some steps to take, the Wayne State defense was statistically in the top half of the GLIAC in most categories a year ago. While leading tacklers Ed Viverette and Moe Davenport have departed, senior LB Nores Fradi is back. Also returning intact is the secondary unit that made the bulk of the starts last season. Led by three-year starter Gerren DuHart, this group will look to spearhead a repeat of last year’s performance that saw the defense finish as the league’s second-stingiest against the pass.
NO. 7 – Northern Michigan University Wildcats | 2013 Record: 3-7 Overall, 3-7 GLIAC
Head coach Chris Ostrowsky enters his third season leading the program at Northern Michigan University, and despite lower win totals than he might like in his first two campaigns (including a 3-7 mark last year), he exudes enthusiasm about what he thinks his team can do heading into 2014.
OFFENSE: Injury cut QB Cody Scepaniak’s senior campaign short last year but opened the door for freshman Shaye Brown. Brown stepped in and gained valuable experience as the club’s starter during the season’s final weeks. Fellow underclassman Wyatt Jurasin worked his way into the starting role at RB and wound up leading the team in rushing. He returns, as does one of the few seniors expected to start on offense, Marcus Tucker, who led the Wildcats in receptions last year.
DEFENSE: Defensively, Northern does have several key pieces back. Most notable is leading tackler Nick Krause, who will lead the linebacking corps. Also expected to take on a major role in this year’s unit will be FS Levi Perry, who tallied the third-highest tackle total on the team in 2013. As for the line, Trevor Kruzel should continue to be a force at DE, a spot from which he led the team in tackles for loss a year ago.
NO. 8 – Northwood UniversityTimberwolves | 2013 Record: 2-9 overall, 1-8 GLIAC
The lone coaching change in the GLIAC during the off-season was a big one, as Pat Riepma returned to the helm at Northwood University. Riepma constructed a perennial GLIAC powerhouse there in the late 1990s and early 2000s, hallmarked by his unique “Woodbone” option offense and stingy defenses. He won 90 games in his 15-year tenure, including 74 in the final 10 years. He also notched three GLIAC titles and took the Timberwolves to the playoffs four times. Riepma will try and restore the winning tradition in Midland, as Northwood hasn’t had a winning record since 2009.
OFFENSE: Riepma does have a semi-experienced option available to him at QB in Mitch Robinson, who took the bulk of the snaps as a freshman last year. On top of that, the majority of 2013’s receiving corps was made up of sophomores. That group includes Devonta Elzy, who hauled in 701 yards worth of passes and played in every contest a year ago.
DEFENSE: While multiple starters are expected back on defense, leaps forward are going to be required for Northwood to improve on the two-win total it posted in 2013. The defense found itself near the bottom of the GLIAC in most statistical categories, including allowing more than 486 yards per game. Steps forward are absolutely attainable, especially with the likes of leading tackler Mike Keith returning to anchor the linebacking corps.
GLIAC SOUTH DIVISION
NO. 1 – Ohio Dominican University Panthers | 2013 Record: 10-1 overall, 9-0 GLIAC
It only took four seasons for Ohio Dominican University to move from Division II newbie to outright GLIAC champion. After an unbeaten regular season and a playoff appearance in 2013, coach Bill Conley and his staff will continue their GLIAC progress this season, and that will likely include assuming the role of “the hunted.”
OFFENSE: Any seasoned football fan knows that having an experienced signal-caller running the offense is perhaps the most coveted of luxuries, and Ohio Dominican will have that in spades with the return of senior QB Mark Miller. This will be Miller’s third year at the helm, and he proved to be a picture of efficiency a year ago, connecting on 67.5% of passes and notching 24 touchdown passes with only seven interceptions. Joining Miller in the backfield will be junior RB Brandon Schoen, who is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. Also at Miller’s disposal will be his two top pass catchers from last year, Abe Johnson and Dez Stewart. The duo combined for 110 receptions and nearly 1,500 yards, as well as hauling in half of Miller’s scoring aerials.
DEFENSE: Last year’s defense allowed the fewest points per game in the GLIAC. While leading tackler Justin Bell has moved on, the next five names on the tackles’ list for Ohio Dominican are all eligible to be back in 2014. Linebackers Warren Shields and Cody Culbertson were numbers two and three on that list, respectively, and they headline the list of defensive returnees. Also back is a pair of top-flight defensive linemen in Di’Andre Harrison and Sydney Omameh, who combined to notch 15 sacks a year ago.
NO. 2 – University of Findlay Oilers | 2013 Record: 8-3 overall, 6-3 GLIAC
As head coach Rob Keys enters year four of his tenure at the University of Findlay, there is little doubt that he has the program pointed in the right direction. Each of his first three seasons have produced winning records, and last year’s 8-3 mark was the highest win total for an Oiler club in more than a decade.
OFFENSE: Findlay’s 2013 outfit was one of two clubs in the league (the other being Lake Erie College) to average more than 500 yards of total offense per game. While no one argues that football is the ultimate team game, it seems unlikely that there would be any argument against saying that Daiquone Ford was a primary catalyst to Findlay’s production. He posted a league-best 1,791 yards rushing last year as a sophomore and did so while playing in fewer than ten full games. Ford’s return bodes well, especially in light of the fact that fellow all-GLIAC first teamers Lloyd Henry (WR) and Damon Howe (OL) and QB Verlon Reed are also returning.
DEFENSE: The most notable returnee might be standout DL Kevin Brewton, who led the league in both sacks and in tackles for loss a year ago. Another important returnee is one of the league’s top DBs, Harold Jones-Quartey. If there was a weakness for the 2013 Oiler squad, it was that they were ranked last in the GLIAC in defending the pass, and that’s a statistic that Jones-Quartey will no doubt be keenly interested in helping to reverse this season.
NO. 3 – Ashland University Eagles | 2013 Record: 5-5 overall, 5-4 GLIAC
The six seasons prior to 2013 all netted winning records for Ashland University coach Lee Owens and staff, and among those were three playoff appearances and an outright GLIAC crown in 2012. Last year’s 5-5 record was hardly the end of the world, but with the Eagles expectations entering 2013, it was a result that they weren’t anticipating. They are hopeful that 2014 will be a year of resurgence.
OFFENSE: While the QB position is not settled at the moment, whoever earns the job will have several key tools at his disposal, the most important being senior RB Anthony Taylor. Taylor was the league’s second-leading rusher a year ago, posting 1,691 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jordan McCune, Taylor’s backfield mate from 2012, is hopeful that he can return after missing nearly all of 2013 due to injury.
DEFENSE: The defense was most certainly not a source of consternation for the club last fall. In addition to being second in the league in scoring defense at 23.4 points allowed per game, the Eagles ranked near the top of the GLIAC in nearly every statistical category. While the loss of two-time GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Jamie Meder will be felt, leading tackler Chris Harvey is back along with fellow LBs Phil Galaska and Zach Olszewski. Those three LBs each had 68 tackles or better and should provide a great deal of stability for this year’s unit.
NO. 4 – Lake Erie College Storm | 2013 Record: 4-7 overall, 3-6 GLIAC
After three consecutive three-win campaigns, coach Mark McNellie and his Lake Erie College club finally added a win to the total and earned a 4-7 mark last year. The Storm led the GLIAC in both scoring and total offense and posted 33 points or more on eight different occasions. Those eye-popping numbers immediately lose their luster when reviewed in conjunction with the defensive numbers, as the team yielded 32 points or more nine times.
OFFENSE: While replacing starting QB Brendan Gallagher will prove no small task, the entire offensive line is still in place, which is huge for any team. Also returning are three of last year’s top four pass catchers, most notably Tommy Jackson, who snared 72 balls for 937 yards and nine touchdowns. Added to these positives, junior RB Anthony Bilal, who tallied 1,542 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground, is also returning.
DEFENSE: The defense must make strides to match the output of the offense. It should be able to do so, particularly after taking into consideration that it was laden with underclassmen a year ago and nine starters return to the unit for 2014. The linebacking corps held the top three spots on the team in tackles a year ago, and all three starters (Tanner Wells, Marcus Rogers, and Austin Hoeflich) return. The entire secondary is back as well, including DeVen Darby, who led the team with four interceptions in 2013.
NO. 5 – Walsh University Cavaliers | 2013 Record: 3-8 overall, 3-6 GLIAC
As Walsh University enters year three of its GLIAC tenure, it will look to take a step forward from back-to-back three-win seasons. Head coach Ted Karras now has a year under his belt navigating the GLIAC, and he is no doubt looking to create the kind of form at Walsh that he did so successfully at NAIA’s Marian University.
OFFENSE: Starting QB Paul Kempe returns, as does RB Aaron Male. This tandem posted two of the team’s top three rushing totals a year ago, with Male leading the way and scoring eight touchdowns on the ground. Perhaps even more exciting for the Cavaliers is all of the pass-catching ability that is back. Leading WRs Jerald Robinson and Darryl Gray return, as does steady TE Justin Keith. Perhaps the most anticipated return could be that of WR Anthony Schrock. Schrock was the club’s most prolific playmaker in 2011 and 2012, but he missed nearly all of 2013 due to injury.
DEFENSE: Many familiar faces return on defense as well, including leading tackler Cam Trudell. The senior LB will be joined by a couple of key cogs in the secondary, Pat White (team-best five interceptions in 2013) and Jamaris Brown.
NO. 6 – Tiffin University Dragons | 2013 Record: 2-9 overall, 1-8 GLIAC
Youth will be served when it comes to the 2014 Tiffin University squad. Nine starters return on offense, and two-thirds of that group have multiple years of eligibility remaining after 2014. As coach Gary Goff and his staff look to improve on last season’s 2-9 result, the fact that his offense is both young and experienced at the same time could be a good thing.
OFFENSE: Ball movement looks as if it will revolve around a pair of sophomores this year. QB Antonio Pipken and RB Jerry Brown were the team’s leading rushers a year ago, but Pipken is likely the key, as the Dragon passing attack proved more effective than the ground game over the course of 2013. Pipken completed 66.5 percent of his passes and was balanced in his distribution, as four different receivers each had at least 45 receptions. None of those four pass catchers totaled fewer than 593 yards for the year, and two of those key pieces, Marcus Beaurem and Tony Shead, are back.
DEFENSE: While the future of the offense looks bright, the Dragon defense will have some work to do. At least seven starters need to be replaced from last year’s group that was in the bottom half of the league in both scoring and total defense. Leading the charge into 2014 will be junior LB Terry Harper, who was second on the team a year ago in both tackles and tackles for loss.
NO. 7 – Malone University Pioneers | 2013 Record: 2-9 overall, 1-8 GLIAC
While Malone University was only able to piece together a pair of victories in 2013, that win total may belie the progress that coach Eric Hehman is making with his program, particularly considering that they are only two years into their NCAA existence.
OFFENSE: Whoever leads the offense will have the luxury of leading rusher Justin Davis at his disposal. Also back is leading receiver Jordan Phillips, so the cupboard isn’t bare when it comes to the skill positions for the Pioneers. About half of the starting offensive line is due back as well, so while the offense is not oozing with experience, several key pieces are present.
DEFENSE: Much of the defense has departed, and that doesn’t bode well for a unit that allowed more than 40 points per game last season. Shouldering the load will be senior safety DeMarco Donaldson, whose 119 tackles in 2013 was good enough for second in the GLIAC. Last year’s top pass rusher, Brock Lundeen, is also returning to anchor the defensive front after leading the team in sacks a year ago.