(preseason preview used for GPAC football media day)
The Doane College Tigers are coming off a turn-around season in which they finished the 2007 campaign with a 4-6 record. Over the previous three seasons, Doane had compiled 5-25 record. The Tigers protected their own turf, going 4-1 at home.
The offense experienced growing pains, averaging 13.7 points per game. The defense also had their share of ups and downs, giving up an average of 31.2 points per game. Both areas should improve in year two under Head Coach Matt Franzen.
The Tigers return 16 starters from a year ago and their special team units. Last season, 15 players received all-conference honors and eight of those players will return for 2008.
Offensive Returns Nine Starters
The Doane offense will returns nine starters from a year ago and will rely on experience and speed to be successful.
J.R. Artozqui (La Habra, Calif.) enters camp as the starting quarterback for the Tigers. The senior has been in a position battle each of the past two years. Artozqui threw for 956 yards and four touchdowns a year ago but struggled at times with consistency. He completed 41-percent of his passes, higher than the team average, and threw eight interceptions.
Artozqui returns several receivers who combined for 62-percent of the receptions last year and six of seven touchdown catches.
Blake Erickson (Campbell, Neb.) led the team with 15 receptions while Robert Phillips (Omaha, Neb.) was second with 13.
Antony Ritton (Auburn, Neb.) caught 12 passes for a team-high 348 yards and two touchdowns.
Josh Hartwell (Crete, Neb.) tied for fifth on the team with seven receptions.
Landon Freitag (Byron, Neb.) took full advantage of his reception opportunities as he pulled in five catches and accounted for three touchdowns.
The charge in the backfield will be led by Jaremy Puthoff (Escalon, Calif.). Puthoff was second on the team in rushing with 265 yards and two touchdowns. He notched the second longest run of the season last year for the Tigers with a 59-yard touchdown scamper against Hastings College.
Only one run was longer on the season and that came from First Team All-GPAC honoree D'Artagnan Dai'Re (West Covina, Calif.). Dai'Re took an end-around 77 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern College. He finished the year with 104 net rushing yards and serves as the Tiger version of "slash". Last season, he lined up at running back, wide receiver, defensive back, kick returner while throwing two passes, one for a touchdown.
Michael Vargas (El Paso, Tex.) saw time at halfback and fullback. He finished with 129 yards rushing. Garrett Schroeder (Blue Hill, Neb.) notched 109 yards for the Tigers.
A key factor in an improved offensive attack will fall on the shoulders of the offensive line. Last season, Doane featured primarily freshmen and sophomores across the front five. With several players returning with starting experience, expectations are high for this group.
Jake Ryba (Grand Island, Neb.) leads the way after earning Second Team All-GPAC honors. The lone junior is joined by sophomores Cole Weihe (Lincoln, Neb.), Keymo Harden (Denver, Colo.), Skyler Hodson (Clovis, N.M.) and Justin Hoffman (Fairbury, Neb.). Red-shirt freshman Evan Landell (Shelton, Neb.) returns after an injury in the first game last year.
The offensive numbers improved as the young squad gained experience and confidence. The Tigers finished the year averaging 262.6 yards per game, an average of 4.0 yards per play. The ground game was limited to 125.2 yards per game and 10 touchdowns while Doane threw for an average of 137.0 yards and seven touchdowns. The offensive production improved after the first month of the season as the Tigers totaled 308.3 yards and 16.2 points per game.
Seven Starters Anchor Defense
The Tigers will need a strong effort from the front seven of the defensive unit if the team is going to show signs of improvement from a year ago.
The defensive line will be anchored up the middle by all-conference selections Seth Styskal (Beaver Crossing, Neb.) and Selau Sunia (Denver, Colo.). Styskal earned Second Team honors while collecting 69 total tackles and five sacks. Sunia received honorable mention honors with 23 tackles, four tackles for lost yardage, and two fumble recoveries. Jamaal Chinn will also be in the interior rotation after totaling 30 tackles.
Anthony Brock (Spring, Tex.) should receive an increased role on the outside. He finished with 25 tackles and three sacks a year ago. Lucas Frahm (Crete, Neb.) will enter camp with a chance to earn significant playing in his second season.
The linebacker core is led by All-GPAC honorable mention selection Josh Warren (Overton, Neb.). Warren led the team with 76 total tackles, including four tackles resulting in lost yardage.
Hondo Fanning (Wauneta, Neb.) is a returning starter and All-GPAC honorable mention selection. He notched 56 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss for the Tigers.
The third starting linebacker position is up for grabs with several sophomores and incoming recruits getting a long look.
All-GPAC honorable mention selection Pat Spangler (Lincoln, Neb.) returns to his rover position in the secondary. He was second on the team with 71 tackles in 2007.
Marcus Mitchell (Phoenix, Ariz.) returns but will slide from free safety to a corner position to open camp. He finished with 29 tackles and three pass break-ups last year.
Zach Brenner (Valparaiso, Neb.) will have first dibs on the free safety position after serving as the back-up a year ago. Ben Kosse (Campbell, Neb.) will also be in the rotation at the safety positions.
Jacob Wit (Chester, Neb.) and Brian Luera (El Paso, Tex.) will battle for the second cornerback position.
The defensive unit allowed 370.3 yards per game, an average of 5.0 yards per play. Opponents ran for 155.7 yards and threw for 214.6 yards per game. Those numbers changed dramatically after the first month of the season as opponents were held to 301.2 yards and 18.5 points per game.
Special Teams Intact
The Doane College special teams units return, primarily intact. Drew Giesenhagen (Holdrege, Neb.) returns as the place kicker after converting four field goal attempts in 10 opportunities.
Addison Popple (Axtell, Neb.) handled kick-offs, averaging 51 yards per kick, and will be the back-up place kicker.
Josh Warren will return for his third season as the Tigers' punter along with his duties as a linebacker. He averaged 36.6 yards per punt, placing nine inside the 20 yard line, and kicked a school and conference record 83-yard punt against Sioux Falls.
D'Artagnan Dai'Re returns as the kick-off returner and may be asked to handle punt returns in addition to his wide receiver responsibilities. He is one of the most explosive players in the nation after posting a 28.8 yard average and two touchdowns. He earned First Team All-American honors from the Victory Sports Network (VSN) for his efforts.
Coaching Staff Ready for 2008
Head Coach Matt Franzen returns for his second season in charge of the Tiger football program. He has posted back-to-back years of 50+ recruits and has the Tiger numbers near 110 players entering fall camp as Doane brings back the junior varsity program after a three year absence. Franzen also serves as the offensive coordinator, a position he held at Hastings College prior to his return to Doane.
Chris Bessler returns on the defensive side of the ball as the coordinator and linebacker's coach. He will be joined by returning defensive coaches BJ James (defensive line) and Eric Hand (safeties). James will handle the defensive coordinator position for the junior varsity. New coaches on the defensive side of the ball are Heath Hupp (cornerbacks), Kyle McMurray and Mark Newmyer (defensive assistants).
Returning offensive coaches are Nick Fulton (offensive line), Raymonn Adams (running backs) and Mike Dixon (receivers). Fulton will handle the offensive coordinator position for the junior varsity. Adams serves as the special teams coach in addition to his position coaching responsibilities.
Franzen's Thoughts for the New Season
Offense - "We look for improvement in the area of consistency this season. This will come in offensive production and turnover margin. Our offensive line will be more experienced, but we are still young. Once again we should have good offensive speed. As coaches, we need to be better at putting our best players in situations where they can use their abilities to our advantage."
Defense - "Our defensive front will dictate the success of this unit. Our defensive middle should again be solid and our secondary corps will be a mix of veterans and young players, but our depth and athletic ability should be improved. If we can minimize the big play, let our front seven control the tempo and increase our number of forced turnovers, we have a chance to be a very good defense."
Former Coach Headlines Opening Game
Doane College fans will see a familiar face on the sidelines during the season opener in Platte City, Mo. However, that face will be on the opposing side as Fran Schwenk (Doane Head Coach from 1984-2005) will lead his William Jewell Cardinals against Doane in the VSN First Down Classic. The Cardinals are coming off a 6-4 record and are expected to be contenders in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).
The Tigers will open up conference play the first weekend of September when they travel to Hastings College. With the addition of Dordt College to the conference this year, several of the Tigers' games will be in the same location as last year because of changes in the schedule rotation. The Broncos edged the Tigers in 2007 as the game came down to the final play.
The home opener will take place on September 13 as Doane faces Concordia University. Doane defeated the Bulldogs, 9-7, last year in Crete.
Doane will head up to Fremont to take on Midland Lutheran College on September 20. The Tigers and Warriors were in a defensive battle a year ago in Crete as Doane won the game on a Hail Mary pass with two seconds remaining, 6-0.
After a bye week, the Tigers return home for a match-up with NAIA Runner-up University of Sioux Falls on October 4. The game will also serve as Homecoming for the college.
Doane will travel Mitchell, S.D., on October 11, to take on Dakota Wesleyan University. The "Battle of the Tigers" was won by Doane last season, 33-31, as the Tigers scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Returning home on October 18, Doane will host Northwestern College. The Red Raiders missed the playoffs a year ago and a respectable Tiger performance may have played a factor in the playoff selection process.
Doane will hook-up with Dordt College on October 25 for the first meeting between the two schools. The Defenders are in their first season as a varsity sport.
November 1 will mark the return of Morningside College to Crete. The Mustangs advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Championship Football Series a year ago and were the only team to defeat Doane in Crete last year.
The final road game of the season is the biggest rivalry and takes place on November 8. Doane will play in Lincoln for the second straight year and looks to snap a current losing streak to the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Dana College travels to Crete on November 15 for the regular season finale. Turnovers were costly in the nine-point defeat for the Tigers.
Doane and Briar Cliff University will not play a conference game the next two years.