2008 Woodie Awards
Football team gears up for next season
Football team braces for loss of senior class, Robin Kelner
Jessica Betancourt
Issue date: 4/28/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Trinity football team has been working hard during the offseason. With the upcoming graduation of a large percentage of starting players, younger and less experienced players will have to take charge.
"We've got some talented football players on both sides of the ball," said Head Coach Steve Mohr. "We just need younger players to step up."
The team will return only one starter on the offensive line. Wide receiver Robin Kelner, senior, has had a prolific career, earning the Southern collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Offensive Player of th Year award and starting at his position for the past three years.
Trinity is also losing two senior running backs in Ray Valencia and Jerrold Jones. They were both all-conference players during their careers. Next season's Co-Captain Derek Farney, junior offensive lineman, is the only returning offensive starter.
"I think the big question on our team is going to be our offensive line," said offensive lineman Matthew Patty, first year. "We're going to be our offensive line. We should rely on our defense next year. As many players as we have coming back we should be a defense-minded team."
On defense, the team loses defensive end Brant McAdams, Cory Garcia in the secondary, and defensive back Donny Palmertree, among others. The graduation of so many seniors has left a large gap in the starting lineup.
"Four out of five seniors started up front. We will have to replace them with people who have never started a game," Mohr said.
Nose guard/defensive tackle Dustin Allen, junior, was this year's only All-American player for the Tigers. As a co-captain next year, Allen will have to lead an inexperienced team through a rough schedule.
"We'll find out how good we are early in the season," Farney said.
Three returnees have a shot at starting quarterback next season. Jacob Cannon, junior, started most of last year and has the experience needed to lead the team. Sophomore Blake Barmore filled in quite a bit for Cannon on varsity last year. First year Bryant Wilson who played JV last year, gained valuable experience.
As far as recruiting goes, Mohr rates this year as a "B" year. Although he will not have the final list until August, Mohr predicts that there will be only 40 newcomers next year instead of the usual 55 to 60.
"In Division III it's all about depth and numbers," Mohr said.
The Tigers went undefeated in the regular season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.
"From that standpoint, we [will not] have a player on the team that's won a playoff game," Mohr said.
"We've got some talented football players on both sides of the ball," said Head Coach Steve Mohr. "We just need younger players to step up."
The team will return only one starter on the offensive line. Wide receiver Robin Kelner, senior, has had a prolific career, earning the Southern collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Offensive Player of th Year award and starting at his position for the past three years.
Trinity is also losing two senior running backs in Ray Valencia and Jerrold Jones. They were both all-conference players during their careers. Next season's Co-Captain Derek Farney, junior offensive lineman, is the only returning offensive starter.
"I think the big question on our team is going to be our offensive line," said offensive lineman Matthew Patty, first year. "We're going to be our offensive line. We should rely on our defense next year. As many players as we have coming back we should be a defense-minded team."
On defense, the team loses defensive end Brant McAdams, Cory Garcia in the secondary, and defensive back Donny Palmertree, among others. The graduation of so many seniors has left a large gap in the starting lineup.
"Four out of five seniors started up front. We will have to replace them with people who have never started a game," Mohr said.
Nose guard/defensive tackle Dustin Allen, junior, was this year's only All-American player for the Tigers. As a co-captain next year, Allen will have to lead an inexperienced team through a rough schedule.
"We'll find out how good we are early in the season," Farney said.
Three returnees have a shot at starting quarterback next season. Jacob Cannon, junior, started most of last year and has the experience needed to lead the team. Sophomore Blake Barmore filled in quite a bit for Cannon on varsity last year. First year Bryant Wilson who played JV last year, gained valuable experience.
As far as recruiting goes, Mohr rates this year as a "B" year. Although he will not have the final list until August, Mohr predicts that there will be only 40 newcomers next year instead of the usual 55 to 60.
"In Division III it's all about depth and numbers," Mohr said.
The Tigers went undefeated in the regular season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.
"From that standpoint, we [will not] have a player on the team that's won a playoff game," Mohr said.
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