2007 Preview

Malone Football Looking To Take Next Step In 2007

The Malone College football team, led by second-year head coach Mike Gardner, compiled quite a list of accomplishments during Gardner’s first campaign in ’06 and expectations for continued success in the ’07 campaign are high.  In just their first year in Canton, Gardner and his staff guided the Pioneers to a 7-4 record, marking the first winning season for the program since 1998.  Last season also saw Malone post victories over four Top-20 NAIA teams including a 20-10 win over then eighth-ranked Walsh University during the final week of the regular season that ended the Cavaliers’ seven-year winning streak in the annual rivalry game.  The Pioneers also participated in their first-ever NCCAA Victory Bowl and concluded the year ranked at #19 in the final NAIA national poll.  The last Pioneer squad to qualify for the NAIA postseason was the 1998 team.
 
Matching or exceeding these notable achievements in 2007 will certainly not be an easy task though.  Several key members from last year’s squad, including starting quarterback Brad Reifsnyder, offensive linemen J.J. Rousher, Kyle King, and Jordan Barnard, and safeties Jason Frantz and Rayshawn Cole, were all lost to graduation.
 
As the squad aims for another outstanding season, one critical factor will be finding a replacement at quarterback after the graduation of three-year starter Brad Reifsnyder.  Dominic Liberati (Union Local H.S.) returns for his junior year after seeing limited playing time at the position the past two seasons and will likely be pushed for the starting job by junior Billy Bob Orsagh (Eastland, TX), a transfer from Highland (KS) Community College.  Orsagh, who was tabbed First Team All-Conference and a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Second Team All-American in 2006, threw for over 2000 yards last season, setting a new Highland single-season passing record.
 
Another vital area that will need to be addressed this fall is the offensive line following the graduation of last season’s starting center (Rousher) and both starting tackles (King and Barnard).  According to Gardner, one of the key tasks for his coaching staff this year will be “putting together an offensive line that can protect the passer and move the ball on the ground when we need to.” Anchoring the unit this season will be returning starters Bill Jones (Jr., McKinley H.S.) and Joe Doyle (Sr., Perry H.S.) in addition to Bryon Arena (Jr., McKinley H.S.), a key reserve from last season. 
 
Although there may be a few questions at quarterback and along the offensive line, there are only answers when it comes to the running backs, likely one of the deepest and most talented positions on the roster.  2006 All-MSFA Mideast First Team and Victory Sports Network Second Team All-American Bernard Payton (Pomona, CA) returns for his senior season and looks to build upon his outstanding junior campaign in which he rushed for 955 yards on 222 carries in addition to leading the team with 63 pass receptions for 535 yards and 14 touchdowns (eight rushing, six receiving).  Malone’s lead blocker for much of last season, junior fullback Sam Cartwright (East Canton H.S.) is also back this fall and will be looking to once again blast open holes for Payton along with fellow returning running back Kyle Albaugh (So., Tusc. Valley H.S.).  Also figuring into the running back mix this season will be a trio of newcomers that includes senior Ted Telemaque (Long Beach, CA), a transfer from Tabor (KS) College, and freshmen Jermaine Jefferson (Euclid H.S.) and Kevan Morgan (Shaker Heights H.S.).
 
Depth and experience also abound at the wide receiver and tight end positions, giving the new starting quarterback plenty of reliable targets.  Leading an outstanding corps of returning wide receivers is junior Derek Deardorff (Kenton H.S.), who earned All-MSFA Mideast Second Team honors last season after snagging 35 catches for a team-high 558 yards and five touchdowns.  Wideouts Josh Settlemire (Jr., Howland H.S.) and Mike Clapham (Sr., Elyria Catholic H.S.) are also back after posting impressive 2006 performances.  Settlemire caught 38 passes for 455 yards last season to earn All-MSFA Mideast Honorable Mention recognition while Clapham tallied 46 catches for 512 yards and two touchdowns.  Senior LaRoi Johnson (Pittsburgh, PA), an All-MSFA Mideast Honorable Mention selection, is also back at tight end after posting 40 pass receptions for 305 yards and one touchdown last season.  He will be joined at the position by senior Ron Hibbard (Park Fairport H.S.).  A solid group of freshmen receivers including Chris Carpinelli (Athens H.S.), Dan Trier (Shaker Heights H.S.), and Jonathan Wagner (Lusby, MD) also join the squad this year and will look to make immediate contributions.
 
The defense also boasts a number of skilled returning players, particularly at linebacker with Justin Murphy (Minerva H.S.), Dan Hromada (Padua Franciscan H.S.), Jamal Gambrell (Maple Heights H.S.) and Kevin Kapostasy (Fairport H.S.) all coming back for their senior seasons.  Murphy was named to the All-MSFA Mideast First Team in 2006 after leading the Pioneer defense with 87 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery for a touchdown and one blocked field goal.  Gambrell forced two fumbles and was second on the team with 82 tackles last season.  Hromada posted 57 tackles in just seven games a year ago while Kapostasty tallied 49 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and one interception.  “The key for our linebackers is doing a better job of playing both the run and the pass,” stated Gardner.  Several freshmen who could also make an impact at the linebacker position this fall include Grant Smith (Hargrave Military Academy), Garrett Wheeler (Middletown Christian H.S.), Sam Paladin (Pittsburgh, PA) and Wesley Kauffman, an All-State selection from Anchorage, Alaska.
 
Although the unit lost both starting safeties from last season, the defensive backfield will also be deep and talented with two returning starters and several promising newcomers.  Chris Cruise (Sr., Field H.S.) and Doug Alford (Jr., St. Peter Chanel), last year’s starting cornerbacks, are back along with safety Dan Beachy (So., Lake H.S.).  New to the squad this year will be sophomore Kenny Williams, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, and junior Dennis Thornton, a transfer from Gannon (PA) University.  Two freshmen who will likely also compete for playing time at defensive back are Patrick O’Malley (Padua Franciscan H.S.) and Eric Hart (Labrae Local H.S.).
 
Returning to anchor the defensive front will be senior Jeff Jeffries (Meadowdale H.S.), a 2006 All-MSFA Mideast First Team honoree, who Gardner believes is “one of the best in the league.”  Joining Jeffries on the defensive line will be returnees Tino Roland (Sr., Monroe, GA), Nick Rousher (So., Canfield H.S.), and Jon Roden (Jr., Girard H.S.).  Also likely to see considerable playing time at the position are newcomers Ronnell Lee, a freshman transfer from Fairmont State (WV) University, Justin Hollon, a freshman transfer from Gannon (PA) University, and true freshman Cody Carroll (Chardon H.S.).
 
The special teams unit should be another strength for the Pioneers this fall with placekicker Mike Skvor (Jr., Long Beach, CA) and punter Tyler Parry (Jr., N. Loxahatchee, FL) both returning after impressive performances last season.  Skvor converted nine field goals in 2006, including two game winners, while Parry averaged 39.6 yards per punt with 11 kicks downed inside the 20 yard-line.  Cruise, Thornton, and Hart will all be in the mix for kickoff return duties while Settlemire, Michael Wright (Jr., North Canton Hoover H.S.) and sophomore newcomer Greg Johnston, a transfer from Bethel (TN) College, will compete for punt return responsibilities.
 
Based on this abundance of returning talent and last year’s success, Malone earned a #23 ranking in the inaugural ’07 NAIA Spring Football Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.  As always, the Pioneers will be challenged by a demanding schedule that includes a trip to Azusa Pacific (CA) University in week two in addition to a potent conference slate played over the final seven weeks of the season.  Incredibly, five of the eight members of the Mid-States Football Association’s Mideast League are ranked in the new spring poll with 2006 national runner-up University of Saint Francis (IN) at #2, former MSFA Midwest League member Saint Xavier (IL) University ranked #5, Walsh at #13 and Ohio Dominican University ranked #16. Malone opens the season on the road Saturday, September 1st against Trinity International (IL) University.

 
1.800.521.1146