Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157
Grinnell, Iowa – The 2017 Midwest Conference (MWC) football season starts up on Saturday as all 12 programs hit the field. The MWC welcomes the University of Chicago to the conference this fall and the league will be split up into two divisions.
Beloit College, Lawrence University, Macalester College, Ripon College, St. Norbert College and UChicago make up the North Division, while Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College and Monmouth College are in the South.
The winners of each division will meet in Week 10 with the winner earning the conference’s automatic berth in the Division III Playoffs. Divisional play begins on Saturday, October 7.
Below is a team-by-team preview of all 12 MWC programs.
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Seth Duerr (4
th season) 9-21, 3-15 MWC
2016: 3-7 overall, 2-6 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 6
th in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 41
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Defensive Starters: 4
Returning All-MWC Performers: Jake Karlicek Jr. OL
The Bucs have secured three victories in each of head coach Seth Duerr’s three seasons as Beloit’s head coach. Beloit returns nine starters from last season and were hit hard by graduation in the offensive skill positions and the defensive front seven.
Both of the team’s captains will reside on the offensive side of the ball. Junior offensive lineman Jake Karlicek was a Second Team All-MWC selection last season and senior tight end Ryan Sughroue will lead the Buccaneers in 2017. Sughroue made 28 catches for 276 yards and four touchdowns last fall. Karlicek will be joined by returning starters Brenden Taylor and Ben Ebbs on the offensive line. Ben Sposito is the only returning letterwinner at the quarterback position and figures to be in the mix at the position. Sposito threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in 2016. Ethan Conley will be a top target on the outside after catching 27 passes and two scores, while Joey Werner and Tyree Smith will attempt to replace the departed Mason Dixon in the backfield.
Safety Marcos Camacho and cornerback Xavier Haynes return to the secondary for the Buccaneer defense. The duo combined for nearly 60 tackles last season, while Haynes recorded an interception against Knox College in the 2016 season opener. Tackle MJ Strawbridge is the only returner on the defensive line while Henry Jacobsen is the team’s leading returning tackler with 37 stops in 2016. Jacobsen is adept at pass defense, breaking up four passes and making an interception.
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Vince Brautigam (8
th season) 29-40, 21-15 MWC
2016: 5-5, 4-4 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 4
th in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 30
Returning Offensive Starters: 6
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Andrew Joseph Sr. DL
Head Coach Vince Brautigam has brought stability to the Ram program as they have finished at .500 or better in each of the last four seasons, the longest streak at Cornell since 1990-97. Departed Daniel Brown leaves a big hole at the quarterback position, as he led the league in total offense last season. Senior running back Devan Clark will be running behind an experienced offensive line. Bryson Whistance and Chris Chapman started every game at the tackle positions, while Robert Madole made nine starts at guard. The Rams also get back senior Christian Perez who has 19 starts under his belt, but missed all of last season with an injury. Senior receiver Riley Bell should do damage again on the outside after leading the Rams with eight receiving touchdowns and 614 yards in 2016.
The Ram defense should have plenty of experience this fall, especially in the secondary. Cornell brings back four starters in the defensive backfield and hopes to improve against the pass, where it ranked 10
th in the league last season. Malek Folston and Trever Greene each had four interceptions last season. Two-time All-MWC selection Andrew Joseph should provide plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Joseph had 4.5 sacks last fall and ranked fifth in the MWC with 12 tackles for loss. Middle linebacker Zachary Yankovich led the Rams with 85 tackles last season and tied Joseph with 12 tackles for loss. Stephen Ruiz will also be starting at linebacker for the third straight season.
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Jeff Pederson (8
th season) 20-50, 14-40 MWC
2016: 0-10, 0-8 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 6
th in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 19
Returning Offensive Starters: 6
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Ryan Slager Jr. LB
The Pioneers aim to get back into the win column in 2017. Grinnell’s offensive line should be a strength this fall as veterans Robbie McCarty, Cole Riley and Elijah Smythurst are back. They’ll be protecting senior quarterback Tony Bergida, who threw for 1,420 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. Senior Carson Dunn is the team’s top returning rusher (371 yards) and caught 28 passes for 262 yards. Davis Taylor is Bergida’s top returning target after leading the team with four touchdown grabs in 2016.
Defensively, Grinnell returns seven starters including Division III’s leading tackler last season and a Second Team All-MWC selection, Ryan Slager. Slager recorded 154 stops for a Division III-leading 15.4 per game. Vinny Pavoni and Hassan Thompson will also have big impacts after they were second and third on the team in tackles, respectively. Pavoni broke up three passes last season, made 2.5 tackles for loss and 80 total tackles. Thompson led the squad with 2.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.
Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Ray DeFrisco (2
nd season) 6-4, 5-3 MWC
2016: 6-4, 5-3 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 3
rd in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 59
Returning Offensive Starters: 3
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Matt Graef Sr. LB, Ryan Torrance Sr. LB
Senior quarterback Blake Matson hopes to emerge from a group of three signal callers that all saw time under center in 2016 due to injury. Matson played in six games, threw for nine touchdowns, 961 yards and just one interception last season. The Blueboys will need Greg Cross to shoulder more of the load in the running game this season after he carried the ball 82 times for 346 yards and seven scores last fall. Kyle Obertino will also see more targets in the passing game with the loss of IC’s top three wideouts. Obertino made 34 grabs for 415 yards and three scores as a junior.
Defensively, IC returns seven starters from a defense that ranked fourth in the MWC last season in total defense. The Blueboys bring back their top two tacklers from last season in Matt Graef and Ryan Torrance. Graef led the squad with 93 tackles, while Torrance led the team with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 10.5 tackles for loss. J.D. Roesch also returns to the team’s second level, while Nick Tadie and Jacob Homann both return to the Blueboy backfield. Homann made 46 tackles in 2016 from the secondary and broke up three passes. Dakotah Jones and Josh Brooks will anchor the defensive line.
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Damon Tomeo (5
th season) 8-32, 4-23 MWC
2016: 2-8, 2-6 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 5
th in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 36
Returning Offensive Starters: 8
Returning Defensive Starters: 10
Returning All-MWC Performers: Dalton James Jr. RS
The Prairie Fire bring back 18 starters this fall and have grown their roster to 62 players this season. Offensively, Knox should be in good shape with all of their top skills players back in the fold. Matt McCaffrey will be at the controls again this fall after throwing for 1,958 yards and nine touchdowns and running for 433 and nine more scores. The senior will have his top four receiving targets back, led by Dalton James, who made 46 catches for 440 yards last fall. James doubles a returner for Knox and was a Second Team All-MWC pick a season ago. Braeden Westfall was Knox’s leading rusher last season after gaining 513 yards on 119 carries. Westfall also hit pay dirt twice in 2016. Andrew Ledezma and Dom Parello will fortify the offensive line after starting all of last season.
Defensively, Knox should be stout as they return 10 starters. Quinn Sharp is the team’s top tackler after making 51 stops including six for loss from his linebacker position. Sharp was also second on the team with three sacks and three interceptions. Junior Evan Economos led the team with four interceptions from his defensive back position and will be joined in the secondary by Donnye Sommerville again this fall. The defensive line should be solid with the return of Tyler Paul, Jordan Anderson and Jacob Paul. Anderson led the team in tackles for loss in 2016 (7.5) while Jacob Paul added three sacks and 6.5 TFLs.
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Jim Catanzaro (9
th season) 39-41, 33-30 MWC
2016: 8-2, 6-2 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 2
nd in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 52
Returning Offensive Starters: 7
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Andrew Johnson Sr. OL, Joey Valdivia Sr. RB, R.J. Pompey Sr. DB, ST, Chase Slagboom Jr. DB
Joey Valdivia, the nation’s leader in rushing touchdowns in 2016, returns to the Forester backfield this fall. Valdivia scored 180 points last fall and tied the conference record with 29 rushing touchdowns. He finished seventh in Division III with 1,535 rushing yards and ninth with a 7.14 average yards per carry. Valdivia earned First Team All-Region selection and a Third Team All-American selection by D3football.com. Valdivia should have plenty of room to operate once again in 2017 with the return of Andrew Johnson, Jake Burkard Ethan Sheirer and Tom Steen. Jagan Cleary will direct the attack after he threw for 2,311 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Chris Edomwande is one of Cleary’s top returning receivers.
R.J. Pompey is not only one of the top defensive backs in the conference, but one of the top special teams players in the country. Pompey was a Third Team All-American as a special teamer last season and First Team All-MWC pick as a defensive back and a special teams player. Pompey led the Foresters with 68 tackles last season, picked off two passes and had eight pass breakups. He also blocked four kicks, which was good for third in the nation. Chase Slagboom led the Foresters with 10 breakups and 12 passes defensed, while also picking off two passes. John Laponte anchors the front seven from his outside linebacker spot and was second on the team with 62 tackles last fall. Pat McDonaguh also returns to the linebacking corps, while Tim Finucane and James Pruitt are returning starters in the trenches.
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Rob McCarthy (3
rd season) 4-16, 2-11
2016: 3-7, 2-6 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 5
th in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 36
Returning Offensive Starters: 9
Returning Defensive Starters: 10
Returning All-MWC Performers: Jake Gostisha Sr. LB, Terrell Myers, Jr., So. DB
The Vikings boast their biggest roster in several years and return 19 starters, so it will have plenty of veteran experience. Rob McCarthy and his staff have rebuilt the roster over the past few seasons and the team has players from 17 different states. Defensively, the Vikings return two All-MWC players in linebacker Jake Gostisha and defensive back Terrell Myers, Jr. Gostisha led Lawrence with 106 tackles and five interceptions last season. He also forced and recovered a fumble and recorded 5.5 tackles for loss. Myers, Jr. had 37 tackles as a corner and had six pass breakups in 2016. He is also a solid return man and had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last fall. Alic Riedel also returns to the secondary after missing last season with an injury. Joining Gostisha at linebacker will be Hunter Adams and Dan Rothbauer. Rothbauer led the squad with nine tackles for loss and produced 81 tackles last season, while Adams had 80. Cullen Ellis led the team with four sacks last fall and should form a solid defensive line with Chris Edwards and Tykee Atkins.
Offensively, Lawrence returns every starting skill player and three offensive lineman. Quarterback Philip Santiago led the Vikings in passing and rushing as a freshman last season. Santiago tossed seven touchdowns last season and threw for 958 yards, while running for 519 yards and five scores. Donnel Haley mans the running back position again this season after running for 432 yards and a touchdown. Receivers Trevor Spina caught 32 balls for two scores last season, while Cam Boerm led the team with five touchdowns on only 22 catches.
Macalester College Scots
Head Coach: Tony Jennison (10
th season) 46-43, 13-5 MWC
2016: 7-3, 6-2 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 3
rd in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 54
Returning Offensive Starters: 6
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Jack Schultenover Sr. DB, Alec Beatty Jr. WR, Phil Wettersten Sr. LB
Head coach Tony Jennison became Macalester’s all-time winningest head coach last season and has been quite successful since the move to the MWC. Jennison’s squad brings back 13 starters from last season including three All-MWC Performers. Alec Beatty earned all-conference honors after catching 42 passes for 630 yards and seven touchdowns. Throwing the ball to him again this season is junior quarterback Cody Petrich, who threw for 1,491 yards and eight touchdowns last season. The Scots’ top rusher from last season, Jacob Jones, also returns after gaining 465 yards and scoring five times. Macalester will welcome three new starters to the offensive line, but bring back senior David McNichols and sophomore Kevin Omodt.
Defensively, senior all-conference players Jack Schultenover and Phil Wettersten are back to lead a unit that has seven returning starters. Wettersten led the team with 83 tackles last fall, with eight coming behind the line of scrimmage. Liam Peebles had 4.5 sacks last season as a defensive lineman, while defensive back Kiante Miles was second on the squad with 79 stops and led Macalester with two interceptions. Schultenover had just one interception last fall, but posted an impressive 10 pass breakups. Sean Hayes and AJ Imholte return to the linebacking corps, while Cash McGregor is back in the secondary.
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Chad Braun (3
rd season) 18-3, 13-0 MWC
2016: 10-1, 8-0 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 1
st in MWC South
Letterwinners Returning: 26
Returning Offensive Starters: 7
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Devon Brooks Sr. OL, DeAndre Wright Jr. RB, Yansay Williams Jr. WR, Thomas Lesniewski Jr. DL, Micam Smith Sr. DB, Lamar Watson So. DL, Kyle Schultz Jr. LB
Despite the loss of nine all-conference players from last season including Defensive Skill Player of the Year Matt Barnes, Offensive Skill Player of the Year Tanner Matlick and Offensive Lineman of the Year Kolton Koch, the Fighting Scots still return seven All-MWC Performers from 2016. Monmouth is the favorite out of the South Division again this season. Head Coach Chad Braun has gone undefeated in conference action through his first two seasons.
Hayden Nelson is the favorite to replace Matlick as the team’s signal caller after seeing limited action last fall. Junior running back DeAndre Wright should make life easier for whoever is under center. The All-MWC performer averaged 7.6 yards per carry last season and ran for 1,180 yards and 14 scores. On the outside, Yansay Williams and Jacolby Maxwell are the top targets. Williams averaged 20.2 yards per catch last fall and reached the end zone eight times. Maxwell hauled in 42 catches last season for 668 yards and seven TDs. All-conference center Devon Brooks will anchor the line, while Logan Thiele should be back in the starting group.
Sophomore Thomas Lesniewski is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, recording 20 sacks in his first two seasons at Monmouth. Lamar Watson also made a habit of getting in opponents’ backfield last season, making eight TFLs and 3.5 sacks in 2016. Kyle Schultz is the team’s top returning tackler after making 72 stops last fall. D.J. Frank, Micam Smith and Ryne Daum, all seniors, will provide plenty of experience in the secondary. Frank and Daum had two interceptions each last fall, while Smith led the team with 11 pass breakups.
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Ron Ernst (27
th season) 162-93, 129-67
2016: 2-8, 2-6 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 4
th in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 43
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Brandon Bartel Sr. DL
Sam Shroyer showed some serious promise last season as a freshman, running for 398 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns from under center. The Red Hawks will also be experienced at their other skill positions. Cody Chase is a steady fullback and led the team in rushing (543) last season, while Austin Bunders could see an expanded role after he averaged 12.6 yards per carry last fall. Griffin McNeal, the Red Hawks’ leader in passing yards, will team with Cameron Mignone, last season’s top receiver, to provide some talent on the outside. The big question mark from the Red Hawks will be up front, where they must replace their entire line.
Senior Brandon Bartel is the Red Hawks’ lone returning all-conference performer. Bartel had four sacks in 2016 and led Ripon with 6.5 tackles for loss. Ripon’s defense returns its top six tacklers from 2016 and could have one of the top units in the entire conference. Returning linebackers Hunter Gruenwald and Jared Zeman both had two picks last season and finished the year with over 50 tackles each. Ethan Hoffman was the team’s top tackler last fall with 71 stops, while Parker Groves made 60 tackles.
St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Dan McCarty (3
rd season) 17-4, 12-2 MWC
2016: 7-3, 7-1 MWC
Projected MWC Finish: 1
st in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 81
Returning Offensive Starters: 7
Returning Defensive Starters: 8
Returning All-MWC Performers: Matt Barrett Jr. LB, Tyler Jensen Sr. DB, Spenser Thompson-Meyers Jr. K, Elijah Fort Sr. RB, Samuel Staehling So. WR, Stu Kwaterski Sr. DL
The Green Knights bring back fifteen starters and six all-conference players from a squad that finished second in the conference last season. Offensively, the Green Knights will need to replace the departed J.T. Crosby at quarterback, but bring back plenty of talent. Up front, Andrew Luebke, Drew Olson, Tyler Takahashi and Brady Miller will pave the way for All-MWC back Elijah Fort. Fort gained 734 yards last season along with nine touchdowns after sharing carries with Brad Boockmeier. On the outside, Samuel Staehling, the 2016 MWC Newcomer of the Year, made 31 catches for 699 yards nine scores. Spenser Thompson-Meyers is also quite a weapon in the kicking game. The junior had 40 touchbacks on 66 kickoffs and drilled 52 of 56 PATs.
Defensively, St. Norbert brings six of last years’ starting front seven including all four linebackers. Matt Barrett made 90 tackles last season and is the Green Knights top returning tackler, while Ben Kornowski led the squad with 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Bryan Nolan will also made a habit of getting behind the opponents line and recorded a team-best four sacks. Tyler Jensen defensed 15 passes last fall and intercepted five passes. Walter McBride earned valuable time as a freshman last season and will join Jensen in the secondary. Stu Kwaterski and Pat O’Connor both return to the defensive line.
University of Chicago Maroons
Head Coach: Chris Wilkerson (5
th season) 24-15
2016: 4-6, 4-4 SAA
Projected MWC Finish: 2
nd in MWC North
Letterwinners Returning: 61
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Defensive Starters: 9
Returning All-Conference Performers: Chandler Carroll Sr. RB, Dante Nepa So. WR, Andrew Beytagh Sr. DB, Jeremy Vincent Jr. DB, Bill Rotnicki So. DB
UChicago will be competing in football in the MWC for the first time since the 1987 season and expectations will be high with the return of five all-conference performers and a projected second-place finish in the MWC North. The Maroons had an explosive offense last season and averaged 30.6 points per game. Returning running back Chandler Carroll ranked 12
th in the country in all-purpose yards per game last season and scored 15 total touchdowns. The senior rushed for 1,077 yards and made 74 catches for 665 yards. Carroll is closing in on 3,000 career yards and could move into second place on the school’s all-time rushing list. The Maroons also bring back three starting receivers that helped UChicago rank in the top five in Division III with 381 yards per game. Up front, Tucker Squiers should provide some leadership.
The defensive backfield should be a strong suit for the Maroon defense, with all-conference defensive backs Andrew Beytagh and Jeremy Vincent both return as well as starters Bryson Merriweather and Bill Rotnicki. Beytagh had three picks last fall, while Vincent was second on the squad with 79 tackles from his safety position. Peter Casey produced six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season, while linebacker Zach Atiyeh made 52 stops.