Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2007 Season Preview

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The 2006 campaign was a tale of two seasons for the Ohio Wesleyan football team.

The Battling Bishops posted 3 wins in their final 4 games, including a brilliantly-played 17-10 decision over eventual North Coast Athletic Conference co-champion Wittenberg, after opening the season with a hard-luck stretch that included 3 losses in which their opponent scored the tying or winning points with less than 10 seconds on the clock.

Head coach Mike Hollway will look to 8 returning starters on offense and 6 on defense to carry over that season-ending momentum and help Ohio Wesleyan return to conference championship contention in 2007.

[ Steve Hymes ] Senior quarterback Steve Hymes (Barberton/Massillon Washington), an honorable mention All-NCAC selection in 2006, returns to lead the offense. Hymes ranked second on the team in rushing and threw for over 1100 yards last season, ranking fourth in the league in pass efficiency and sixth in total offense. Junior Andy Boff (Defiance/Tinora), who earned the backup quarterback position last season, also returns.

Flanking Hymes in the Bishop backfield will be junior running back Kyle Adams (North Canton/Hoover), who started at fullback and was third on the team in rushing and scoring last season. Junior Zack Rojek (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors School) and sophomore Kyle Green (Batesville, Ind.), each of whom had an impressive spring, and sophomore Steven Brown (Redford Township, Mich./Redford), an all-conference honoree on the Bishop men's track & field team, will look to win the other starting position.

Hymes will operate behind a veteran line that returns four starters. Senior guard Dean Boylan (Andover, Mass./Phillips Academy), junior tackles Matt Heinrich (Rochester, Mich./Adams) and Mark Wall (Delaware/Buckeye Valley), and junior center Paul Hardin (Urbana) helped the Bishops rank third in the NCAC in rushing offense in 2006. Senior Ben Malecki (Hinckley/Highland), who has starting experience at both guard and tackle, is penciled into the left guard position.

Junior guard Brian Adams (Maple Heights) will spell both Boylan and Malecki as part of the Bishops' 3-man rotation at the guard spots. Sophomore guard Matt Staveskie (Vermilion/Firelands) and sophomore tackle David Ward (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Kiski School) are capable of filling in across the offensive line.

Junior Terrance Raeford (Brookline, Mass./Chesire Academy), a second-team All-NCAC pick in 2006, returns at tight end. Raeford ranked second on the team with 3 touchdown catches last year. Junior Corey Turner (Cleveland/Marshall) emerged to make a significant impact last season, and along with sophomore transfer Tyler McDaniels (Ironton), will make the tight end spot the deepest position on the Bishop offense.

[ Zach Dennis ] Senior split end Zach Dennis (Jefferson) was an honorable mention All-NCAC selection after leading the team in receptions and TD catches last year. Junior Nathan Osborn (Edgerton), who was named the Sprinter of the Year in the NCAC men's outdoor track & field championship last spring, moves to split end from a running back spot in order to get his speed into the lineup. Juniors Grant Geib (Brecksville/Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Justin Howard (Akron/Ellet) and Kyle Snow (Merrimack, N.H./Bridgton (Maine) Academy) also are returning lettermen who will battle for playing time.

Defensively, senior end Patrick Trenor (Urbana) and junior nose tackle Julian Strother (Warren/Kennedy) anchor the line. Trenor ranked second on the team with 6 sacks in 2006, while Strother was third with 3 1/2 sacks. Sophomore Justin Saunders (Gallipolis/Gallia Academy) moves from linebacker to the other defensive tackle position. Sophomore Angel Rolon (Cleveland/Lutheran West), a transplanted offensive lineman, will look to make a contribution on defensive side this season.

The other end position could go to sophomore Ryan Prince (Cleveland/Marshall), who started one game before suffering a season-ending injury. Also in the mix will be senior Cory Fuller (Prospect/Marion Elgin), junior Britan Tolliver (Croton/Johnstown Northridge) and sophomores Mike Browning (East Islip, N.Y.) and Mike Flynn (Harrison Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse).

[ Chad Ellis ] Senior Chad Ellis (Dublin/Scioto) and junior Tommy Saunders (Gallipolis/Gallia Academy) ranked 2-3 on the team in tackles last year and return at weakside and middle linebacker respectively. Junior Jason Chitwood (Toledo/Bowsher) and sophomore Ben Pepe (Winter Park, Fla./Pomfret School) will see action on the weak side. The strongside spot is up for grabs between sophomores Sam Bixler (Denver, Colo./South), George Brown (Columbus/Upper Arlington) and Shaun Mack (Defiance/Tinora).

In the backfield, sophomore cornerback Dave Pace (Brunswick) and sophomore strong safety Rylan Mitter-Burke (Marlborough, Mass./Marlboro) are returning starters. Junior Matt Weisman (Solon/Gilmour Academy), who was a spot starter last year, could take over the other cornerback position, with sophomore Duane Ramseur (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) in reserve.

The free safety spot could go to sophomore Daniel DeLay (Pine, Colo./Conifer), with junior Preston Osborn (Edgerton) also in contention.

Junior Chris Kras (Aurora) ranked among the NCAC leaders in kick scoring last season, and Hymes returns as the Bishops' punter. Also returning is junior Mark Apsega (Uniontown/Akron Hoban), who performed well as a long snapper last year.

The Bishop schedule opens with non-conference opponents Franklin (Ind.) and Catholic. Ohio Wesleyan opens its NCAC schedule against defending co-champion Wabash before visiting 2005 runner-up Kenyon. A game at 2004 champion Wooster follows before contests against traditional rivals Denison, defending co-champion Wittenberg and 2003 champion Allegheny. Ohio Wesleyan finishes its conference schedule at Hiram and closes the regular season by visiting Case Reserve.