FOOTBALL PREVIEW

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2008 Olivet College Football Preview

With 37 letterwinners, including eight starters expected to return for the 2008 season, the Olivet College football team looks to carry the momentum from the 2007 campaign into the new season. Last year, the Comets posted a 6-5 overall record, claimed a share of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title with a 6-1 mark and advanced to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in school history.

Offensively, the Comets welcome back four starters. Junior Pat Clasgens (Livonia/Stevenson) returns to lead the running backs. A year ago, he missed most of the three non-conference games due to a pre-season injury. Clasgens carried the ball 173 times for 995 yards and nine touchdowns, and out of the backfield he caught 18 passes for 124 yards. For his efforts, Clasgens earned first-team All-MIAA honors.

Also returning is senior fullback Sean Misko (Casco/Richmond). An MIAA Academic Honor Roll recipient, he had 53 carries for 149 yards during the 2007 season. His best game was a two-touchdown and 44-yard performance against Albion College. Other returning running backs are sophomore Aaron Jackson (Waterford/Mott), junior Branden McLean (Benton Harbor/Coloma) and sophomore Brandon Seays (Clinton Twp./Clintondale).

Olivet lost three offensive line starters due to graduation. Senior Mark VanLente (Saugatuck/Hamilton) started every game for the Comets last year. Seniors Phillip Koops (Hamilton) and Curtis Pettway (St. Clair Shores/Bishop) along with juniors David Norris (Dimondale/Holt) and James Tanis (Jenison) also return with varsity experience.

The Comets need to find a replacement at the quarterback position as Calvin McNamara and Rob White have exhausted their eligibility. Waiting in the wings as a potential replacement is junior Lukas Linn (Harbor Beach), who has been a part of the football program for the last three years. Junior Dustin Kapral (Lapeer/East), who transferred to Olivet from Alma College prior to the start of last season is also going to get an opportunity to play.

The top two receivers from last year’s team are gone. A converted quarterback, senior Carl Mulder (Battle Creek/Lakeview) is ready to step into the starting role at wide receiver. In a back-up role last year, he caught 33 passes for 381 yards. Other receivers include seniors Bryan Houston (Detroit/Southfield) and Nathaniel Woodson (Battle Creek/Lakeview). Houston missed last season due to an injury.

The Olivet defense was a major part of last year’s success. For the seven-game league schedule, it ranked first in scoring defense (14.0 ppg) and rushing defense (69.6 ypg) and was second in total defense (283.0 ypg). For the 2008 season, the Comets have to replace their entire defensive line, one linebacker and two defensive backs from that starting unit.

Seniors Jesse Myers (Three Rivers) and Britt Paige (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame) and sophomore James Reynolds (Kalamazoo/Paw Paw) are going to get the chance to start on the defensive line.

Junior Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central) is back to lead the linebacking corp. A 2007 first-team All-MIAA selection, he led the Comets with 101 total tackles, including 52 solo stops last year. Senior Justin Hughes (Marshall) is another returning linebacker.

Seniors Alex Hill (Berrien Springs) and Michael Terranova (Lansing/Lansing Catholic Central) are the top returning defensive backs. They combined to intercept nine passes last year, and Terranova returned two of his picks for touchdowns against Tri-State.

Terranova, a 2007 first-team All-MIAA selection and third-team D3football.com All-American, finished the season with 71 total tackles, ranking third on the team. Hill transferred to Olivet from Albion College prior to the start of last season. He ranked fourth on the team with 65 tackles to earn 2007 second-team All-MIAA honors.

Seniors Joe Cleveland (St. Joseph) and Brandon Wilkins (Detroit/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) have also seen playing time in the secondary during their careers.

Senior Kyle Zabel (Sturgis) returns to handle the kicking duties on extra points and kickoffs. A year ago, he was 22-of-26 on PAT kicks and for his career, he has made 37 PAT kicks and nine field goals for 64 points.

Junior punter Ryan Patten (Charlotte) is back after ranking second in NCAA Division III last year at 43.0 yards per punt. For his efforts, he was a first-team All-MIAA and honorable mention D3football.com All-American selection.

With a strong nucleus of returning players and another solid recruiting class, the Comets have high hopes that they can win their second straight MIAA championship and earn the league’s bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The fate of the season also rests on replacing 21 graduating seniors, the most in school history.