Last
year, Salisbury combined a revamped option offense with an opportune
defense to post a 5-5 record in Head Coach Sherman Wood’s
second season at the helm. The Sea Gulls hope to build on the momentum
of last year’s season-ending 18-8 Regents Cup victory as they try to
capture their first winning season since 1995.
Many of the key components from a new-look offense that averaged 236
yards per game on the ground are back. Salisbury finished second in
the conference and 16th in the nation in rushing offense.
Defensively,
the Gulls will combine veteran returnees with some new faces as they
try to further improve on a unit that allowed just 18.2 points per
game while producing 29 turnovers in 10 games.
Overall,
Wood welcomes back 31 lettermen and 10 starters as the Sea Gulls
venture into the 2001 campaign.
“Our goals are to get better as a program and to have
a winning season, and everything we do right from the start of
preseason will be directed toward achieving those goals this year,”
said Wood.
A
preliminary look at the Sea Gulls, by position, as they begin
preparations for the 2001 season:
Quarterback
Sophomore Mac Mollet returns as the number one quarterback.
Mollet moved into the starting lineup in week two last year and
finished the season as the Atlantic Central Football Conference’s
co-Rookie of the Year. Mollet
finished third on the team in total offense with 379 yards rushing and
453 yards passing, with six touchdowns.
Sophomore Todd Keiser saw action in three games last year and
begins the preseason at number two on the depth chart.
Junior transfer Jeff Johnson is the most experienced
newcomer, while sophomore transfer Jerry Denney is also
talented enough to compete right away.
“Mac was basically thrown to the wolves last year and did
very well,” said Wood. “He became the leader of the offense and
it’s his job to lose. Keiser has worked very hard in the offseason
and he will definitely push Mac. The new players have enough talent
that they could also be competitive immediately.”
Running
Back
One year ago, the Gulls faced
the task of replacing a 1,000-yard rusher who was also the ACFC’s
co-Offensive Player of the Year in 1999.
Fortunately, Tony Ellis met that challenge and exceeded
all expectations by registering the second highest single-season
rushing total in school history.
Ellis led the conference with 1,287 yards rushing and 13 TDs in
2000 and begins his junior season already ranked fifth in Salisbury
history with 2,268 career yards.
Senior Reggie Boyce, a starter in all 10 games last year, also
returns to the backfield and combines with Ellis to give the Gulls a
potent 1-2 ground assault. Boyce added 768 yards rushing and 11 TDs
last year, including a school-record 99-yard touchdown dash against
Chowan. Ellis and Boyce combined for 146 points last year, SU’s
third highest total among two players on the same team.
Returnees Domenic Greco and Sean Montpetit are also
expected to challenge for playing time. Freshman Dave Gonano, a 1,000-yard rusher in high
school, could also contribute immediately.
“We expect both Tony and Reggie to be better than they were last
year, and I think they both believe that they can be,” said Wood.
“They have both worked very hard and begin the season in great
shape. The backfield is the strength of our offense.”
Receivers
For the second straight season, the receiving corps is probably the
unit that will feature the newest look on offense. The top returnee
didn’t even play in 2000.
Senior Kevin Belt, who caught eight passes in 1999,
returns to the lineup after sitting out last season. Sophomore Jeff
Boteler, who caught two passes last year while seeing action in
nine games, and senior Kenny Cooper are the only other
returning players.
Wood is counting on a number of newcomers to provide immediate help at
the position. These include freshmen Jamaal King, Lesley
Wills, Pat Dargan, Joe Hinz and Lorenzo Parker.
Senior tri-captain Josh Stark will be the starting tight end.
Stark caught 11 passes, including two touchdowns, last year.
Freshmen Monte Taylor, Brian Powell and Mike
Gowl should provide solid depth at the position.
“One of our goals is to go vertical a little more this season,”
said Wood. “Having Belt back is a big plus and we think Boteler will
be very good. We have enough talent here to find four or five players
who will get the job done.
Offensive
Line
With two starters back, the Gulls
will count on newcomers to help fill the holes and create new ones for
Ellis and company to run through this season. Anchoring the unit will be
returning junior Beau Ridgway (6’3, 320) and sophomore Ryan
McDowell (6-3, 295). They were part of a unit that paved the way for
the ACFC’s second best ground attack last year. Veterans Josh
Lashley (6’2, 260), Richard Parry (6-1, 265), Brendan
Riley (6-0, 280) and Muhammid Husainey (5-10, 220) could also
secure starting spots after serving as backups last season.
Among the newcomers expected to contribute immediately are Nick
Dexter (6-3, 295), David Buckingham (6-2, 220), and Love
Williams-Bey (6-0, 260).
“It will be important for our veterans to show some real
leadership on this unit,” said Wood. “The new players also have to
come in with the idea that they will help right away. Our goal is to
find the best eight linemen and just plug them in.”
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Defensive
Line
The unit returns two starters from
last year and four veterans who will form the core of the line.
Senior Paul Duffy (6-2, 270) is the most experienced
player and takes on added duties as a team captain this season. Junior Tom McCarthy (6-2, 230) is the other returning
starter, but will likely shift to from end to tackle to play alongside
Duffy this season.
Junior Chris Manning (6-5, 265) and Mike Polk (6-0, 220)
are the other top returnees and should fill bigger roles this season.
Newcomers who could help immediately include Adam Peix (6-2,
225), Mike Glorioso (6-1, 380), Nick Good-Malloy (6-4,
225) and James Monk (6-0, 195).
“We lost some veterans here and we need
some depth,” said Wood. “The second tier guys will need to give us
some downs. We have enough talent that we’re confident some new
contributors will emerge.”
Linebackers
Last year’s top tackler – senior Pat Brannan - is back, but
Wood will be looking for other returnees to play bigger roles and
newcomers to also help. Brannan earned all-ACFC honors for the second
straight season while leading the Gulls with 105 tackles last year.
Juniors Randy Curtin and Chris Varlotta, who both saw
backup duty last year, as well as returnee Peter Alosi, are
candidates as starters.
Newcomers who should help are junior transfer BJ Brooks, and
freshmen Mike Myrtle and Brandon Fields.
“Brannan
is faster and quicker than he was last year and he will control the
middle,” said Wood. “We have some returning players who will help
us, and some new players who we know will make an impact right away.”
Secondary
Cycles are part of sports, and the secondary unit is a prime example.
Last year, the Gulls returned four starters. This year, the team will be
replacing four starters.
There are a number of returning veterans in the defensive backfield, but
they will all be asked to fill larger roles this season.
Junior Foster Epps, a two-year letterman, inherits the starting
spot at free safety, while second-year player Sean Sandora begins
the preseason at the strong safety spot. Sophomore Richard Mann,
who played in eight games last year, and Milo Austin are penciled
in as the starting cornerbacks.
Veterans and newcomers who should also contend for playing time include
senior Walter Johnson, sophomores David Stewart-Howard and
Chuck Friedel, transfer Bill Consentino, and freshmen Greg
Cannon, Brett Adams and Pat Barnes.
“We have lots of guys who played last year, but we need them to assume
bigger roles,” said Wood. “Talent is not an issue. Game experience
is all we need.”
Specialists
Senior Paul Jacko (4-5 FGs, 18-24 PATs) is the incumbent
placekicker. He finished third on the team in scoring with 30 points
last year. Three freshmen – Andy Hudson, David Lyons and
Rick Nistler - will vie for the punting duties.
Richard Mann
is the most experienced kickoff (21.0 ypr) and punt return (21.5 ypr)
specialist.
Coach Wood’s Preseason Assessment
“Offensively, the main goal is to get better from where we left off
last season. We want to build on last year’s offensive success. We
have some solid returning players in several positions, and our
offseason conditioning program should have made everybody a little
better than they were last year.
“Defensively,
we’ll continue to be aggressive and attack as much as possible.
We’ll have some young players on defense, but that won’t change our
philosophy. We think we have very good speed on defense and are probably
a faster team than we were last year.”
(August 24, 2001) |
