During the off-season, the Walsh Cavaliers lost the only head coach they’ve ever known. Jim Dennison retired from the post he has held since the program’s inception in 1995 and passed the torch to Ted Karras, who enters fresh off winning the NAIA National Title at Marian University. Karras inherits a defense that kept the Cavaliers competitive in their inaugural run through the GLIAC, where they finished fourth in scoring defense with 21.5 points per game. This group should be heavy on experience, with as many as seven seniors slated to be in the starting lineup.
Despite running the ball the majority of the time last year, the key offensive returnee is a wideout. Anthony Schrock is back after averaging more than 18.5 yards per grab last year, and that big-play ability will be important for the Cavaliers, as there will be new faces at quarterback and throughout the offensive line. Schrock’s efforts should be aided by backs Steve Smith and Justin Keith, who both saw plenty of action behind last year’s primary ball carrier Toba Olarewaju.
The schedule offers no breaks for the Cavaliers. September games against Michigan Technological University and Ferris State University will be tough tests, as will an opener with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foe Edinboro University. October finds home tilts against Ohio Dominican University and Ashland University sandwiched around archrival Malone University. They conclude their slate by hitting the road four straight times.