Alma College Football Anchored By Scot-Gun in 2006 With An All-New Defense
2006 Pre-Season Media Guide (PDF)2006 Pre-Season Roster
2006 Schedule
2006 Coaches
2005 Final Stats
2005 Schedule & Results
2005 MIAA in Review
ALMA, Mich. - The 2006 Alma College football team enters the season with the energy and confidence of a veteran team and the enthusiasm and questions that come with embarking on a new adventure.
The mixture of old and new will create an exciting fall for the Scots and their fans.
The Scots open the season with two new opponents, Cornell College and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who have hired new head coaches since the first of the year. Preseason preparations are challenging when the opponents are strangers. Following a trip to national powerhouse Wittenberg University (Ohio), the Scots open the conference season at Tri-State University – another team with a new head football coach.
The schedule and preparation returns to normal as the formidable and balanced MIAA schedule will feature home contests with Hope – the Scots Homecoming opponent, Albion on Community Day and Adrian.
Coming off a season that saw the Scots finish 6-4 (4-3 MIAA) and setting school records for total offense in a season (5,099 yards) and first downs in a season, along with boasting the first-ever squad in school history to push a running back to 1,000-yards rushing with a quarterback recording over 3,000-yards passing.
On the field, the Scots will rely heavily on the experience and talent of the Scot-Gun offense. Fourth-year triggerman Josh Brehm (Ithaca) returns as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in school, conference and NCAA history. His 3,179 yards passing in 2005 are second only to Bill Nietzke’s 3,197 yards in 1996 and last season Brehm becamse the school leader in career total offense with 8,163 yards, passing yards with 7,258 yards, pass completions with 614 and touchdown passes with 55.
Returning members of the offense that finished fifth-ranked nationally in Division III include a trio of three-year starters on the offensive line. Seniors Mike Tobin (Whittemore/Whittemore-Prescott) and Drew Garno (Merrill) along with junior Tyler Wellman (Dewitt) return to the line with senior Jim Thrubis (Farmington), junior Wren Chellis (Central Lake) and sophomore Kelly Durr (Bad Axe) challenging for the remaining spots.
The running back competition will focus on a pair of juniors – Kyle Ryan (Reese) and Derek Chamberlain (Newberry) in the early going. Balancing the run and pass will be a challenge for the Scots offensive coordinator John Leister.
The receiving corps will be developed from a promising group of youngsters. Junior Joe Cline (Ithaca) returns from a first team All-MIAA season in 2005 to lead the group. Senior Nate Jervey (Harbor Springs) is the only other receiver with significant experience as the development of this position will have a large impact on the success of the Maroon and Cream.
Defensively, new is the word. Four new faces on the defensive staff will reconstruct the attack unit and will determine the success of this season’s squad. Heavy graduation losses will create opportunities for new talents to surface. Juniors Alex Catlin (Alma) and Zac Zanotti (Bay City/Bay City Central) will anchor the front with seniors Adam Korson (Gaylord/St. Mary’s) and Matt Stempki (St. Ignace/LaSalle) leading a fast and inexperienced linebacking crew.
In the secondary, sophomore Kyle Percival (Lansing/Waverly) returns at one corner with the other three spots being determined with competition in camp. Percival, a track sprinter, will also lead the kick return candidates.
The kicking game must improve this fall after the youth movement in 2005. Sophomore Matt Brown (Midland) handled the punting chores last fall and will seek to improve this area this fall.
Classmate Dan Seals (Ithaca) finished the 2005 campaign as the kicker and brings talent and confidence to this very critical area.
Punt and kick return teams will be sparked by Percival, Cline, Austin Schaar (Dewitt) and Ryan.
The staff is enthusiastic about the off-season development of the squad and will attempt to balance the talents of a solid recruiting class with the depth of talent from a group that has 20 victories in the past three seasons.
Posted: Thu, August 3rd, 2006 at 1:30AM
