Published: September 06, 2008 11:48 pm            

SUNDAY SPECIAL: Eitel ready to make Rose title contenders

TERRE HAUTE — They will never forget their former teammates, but it’s time for Rose-Hulman football players to move on to a new season.

After dealing with a tragic off-season that included the death of 2007 offensive lineman and November graduate Brandon Couch in an April auto accident and the serious injury of 2007 defensive back Drew Christy in a February auto accident, the Engineers got their 2008 campaign started Saturday night with a victory over Earlham College at Cook Stadium.

Before the game, third-year head coach Steve Englehart analyzed his team’s prospects for the next few months.

He started with the offense and 6-foot-5, 185-pound junior quarterback Derek Eitel of Marshall, Ill.

“I think Derek, being this is his third year in the offense, he is confident in what he’s doing,” Englehart said. “He has a better grasp of our offense and I think he’s excited to have a big year. I think the biggest thing with Derek this year is to be poised and be patient and not go for the big play all the time.”

Backing up Eitel is freshman Aaron Joss (6-4, 195) from Louisville, Ky.

“Aaron needs time to learn,” Englehart pointed out. “He’s coming in here at a good time, being able to learn from Derek. Aaron can execute a certain amount of our offense.”

Turning to running backs, Englehart named seniors Tim Schrock (5-8, 170) and Bryan Wong (5-9, 205) and junior Calvin Bueltel (5-11, 185) as potential key contributors. Schrock also might line up as a wide receiver on occasion.

“We’ll probably be throwing the ball in Tim Schrock’s area about as much as we’re going to be handing the ball off to him,” Englehart noted. “Schrock is probably our most dynamic back. Tim can run the ball between the tackles, he can run the ball on the edge and he can also get downfield on pass routes.

“Bryan Wong’s kind of our heavy-hitter back. He’s going to be in there when we’re in most of our tight formations. He’s going to run the ball between the tackles. When we need 3 or 4 yards, more times than not he’s going to get the yards for us.

“Calvin’s going to play a huge role. I think he’s the type of running back who can develop into a feature running back. Anytime Calvin gets the ball, he can take it to the end zone, from any place on the field. I would imagine he’s going to get the majority of the carries, but Wong will be right there with him.”

Last season, Wong rushed for 606 yards and six touchdowns, Schrock ran for 463 yards and three TDs while catching 12 passes for 63 yards and Bueltel contributed 252 yards and two TDs on the ground. Bueltel, incidentally, owns the second-fastest 200-meter time in school history as a member of Rose’s track team in the spring.

Englehart said junior fullback Tyler Thornton (5-9, 190) will see plenty of on-the-field action as well.

Leading the wide-receiver group is senior Nate Richter (5-10, 185), an All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference performer in 2007.

“Really, Nate does about everything well,” Englehart insisted. “He runs super routes. He’s kind of that third-down-and-medium go-to guy. He’s going to get himself open and he’s going to catch the ball.”

A pair of sophomores with little college playing experience — Adam Somerall (6-3, 200) and Andrew Huddleston (6-1, 185) — are penciled in to line up wide with Richter.

“Both of those kids can stretch the field for us,” Englehart mentioned.

So can Rose-Hulman tight end Reed Eason, a 6-0, 220-pound sophomore who’s been named a preseason NCAA Division III first-team All-American by The Sporting News College Football Preview Magazine. Last season, Eason had 47 receptions for 535 yards and five TDs in earning HCAC Freshman of the Year honors.

“I think Reed has the potential to be even better than he was last year,” Englehart said. “He had a heck of a freshman year. Obviously, he’s going to be a focal point of most defenses we face, but we’ll still try to get him the ball.”

Starting on the offensive line are senior Nick Zee-Cheng (6-3, 280) at left tackle, freshman Spencer Bouwkamp (6-1, 235) at left guard, junior Jared Stermole (6-1, 290) at center, senior Andrew Steward (5-11, 200) at right guard and freshman Jeff Ketchum (6-5, 270) at right tackle.

Englehart mentioned that 6-2, 235-pound sophomore Matt Baber will probably be available in the third game after he recovers from a dislocated elbow. Freshman Zach Mucha (6-0, 245) from Crystal Lake, Ill., also will see action on the offensive line during the course of the season.

“I think it’s a solid offensive line and I think we have some depth there,” Englehart assessed. “We’ve got some guys who can step right in and play, if need be. They’re a group that really works well together.”

Placekicking duties are being handled by two freshmen — Nick Schneider of Naperville, Ill., for extra points and Sutton Coleman of Lebanon, Va., for kickoffs.

“I think we’re a pretty seasoned group for the most part, especially at the skill positions,” Englehart said of the offense in general. “I think they know what’s going on. They know what it takes to score points in this league. We’re hoping for a big year on offense.”

Eason may do the punting again, although Englehart indicated freshman Tommy Polster of Santa Claus “is another viable candidate.”

On the defensive line, Englehart turns to senior Paul Spreen (6-3, 255) at end, sophomore Matt Behling (6-3, 235) and senior Jonas Troyer (6-4, 300) at tackles and junior Pat Duncan (6-4, 185) from Terre Haute at fox linebacker (which Englehart said is similar to a defensive end).

Like Eason, Spreen is a Division III preseason first-team All-American — in his case chosen by Lindy’s College Football Preview magazine. The HCAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, he posted 19 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and 62 tackles.

“Spreen gets most of the [blocking] attention, so the other guys are going to get chances to make plays,” Englehart pointed out. “We’ve got to be able to rush the passer with just those four guys. That way, we won’t have to use stunts and blitzes.”

Englehart expects to see freshman Jake Gibas (5-11, 220) from Greensburg, Pa., in the trenches as well.

Manning the linebacker positions are junior Ben Wassel (5-10, 215) and sophomore Scott Eaton (6-1, 190) on the inside — both described by Englehart as “young and hungry to make an impact” — along with freshman Brad D’Agnillo (5-9, 185) from Cincinnati on the outside.

Starting at defensive backs are senior Bryan Zemina (5-9, 175) and junior Nick Murphy (5-8, 170) of Casey, Ill., on the corners, junior Kyle Stevens (6-1, 180) at strong safety and junior Matt LaCross (5-11, 175) at free safety.

“We’re young [in the secondary] and it’s going to be a challenge for those guys,” Englehart admitted. “That’s why the frontline is going to have to play really well and put pressure on the passer.”

Overall, Englehart liked what he’d seen from the defense in preseason practice.

“I think our defense can really cause some big plays and cause some havoc,” he said. “They’re going to move around a lot. We’re going to do whatever we have to do to get our best defensive players in position to make plays.”

The Engineers, who finished 7-3 in 2007, were picked to finish third in the HCAC in the 2008 preseason coaches poll. Englehart thinks that’s a fair assessment, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to settle for third without a fight.

“Our conference is tough,” he stressed. “There’s a couple new coaches — at Bluffton and at Hanover. Franklin and Mount St. Joe have been the frontrunners in the league the last several years. We have to travel to those opponents this year. It’s going to be a tough schedule for us.”

Still, Englehart would like to help bring Rose-Hulman its first conference championship in football since 1988 when it won the College Athletic Conference.

“Makes no bones about it, one of our goals is to win the conference,” he acknowledged. “We’re going to do everything in our power to give ourselves a chance to do that.”



2008 Rose-Hulman football schedule

Saturday — Earlham (won 42-35)

Next Saturday — at North Park, 2 p.m.

Sept. 20 — Greenville (Hall of Fame Day), 2 p.m.

Sept. 27 — at Mount St. Joseph*, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 — Manchester* (homecoming), 2 p.m.

Oct. 11 — at Hanover*, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 — at Defiance*, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 — Bluffton* (Community Day), 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 — at Franklin*, 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 8 — Anderson* (Dad's Day), 1 p.m.

* denotes HCAC game

        

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