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Whitworth ready to make a run at 2009

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Whitworth Athletics

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University heads into the 2009 football season hopeful of returning to the top of the Northwest Conference heap, a position the Pirates held in 2006 and 2007. And if Whitworth is able to complete the climb back to the top, All-American running back Adam Anderson will likely be leading the way.

"He is really a special player," said Whitworth head coach John Tully (75-58 in 14 years leading the Pirates). "We knew he would be good, but he has exceeded all of our expectations."

Whitworth Football on SWX!
Sept. 26	vs. Chapman
Oct. 10	vs. Linfield
Oct. 31	vs. Pacific Lutheran
*Subject to change. All times TBA

Anderson (Sr., RB, Elk, Wash.) led the NCAA in all-purpose yards per game last season, averaging 243.8 yards per contest. He ran for 1,259 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and shattered the Pirates' single-season touchdown record with 25 while finishing second in the nation on points per game (16.9).

Those numbers may cause observers and opponents alike to think of Whitworth as "All-Adam-All-The-Time." Especially since he even saw action in the defensive backfield last season after injuries decimated that group of players.

But Tully and Co. are happy to point out that Anderson will only be part of the Pirate machine in 2009.

"We have key talent throughout the offense," said Tully. "And so many defensive guys were thrust into playing situations that the game experience they gained has led to dramatic improvement."

OFFENSE:

The Pirates return eight starters on the offensive side of the ball and have experience throughout the starting lineup.

Running Backs:
Anderson will be the cornerstone of the attack. The senior is in his third season after transferring from the University of Idaho and has a chance to finish with all-time Pirate records for rushing, all-purpose yards and scoring. He is already tied for the career record of 37 touchdowns after only two seasons. He is also dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield. Last season he hauled in 21 receptions for 290 yards and six scores.

But Anderson has plenty of help backing him up. Milton Nelson (Sr., Spokane, Wash.) earned Second Team All-NWC honors after rushing for 571 yards and four touchdowns. The on-field jitterbug averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

Sean Scott (So., Milwaukie, Ore.) and Keith Parker (Jr., Cheney, Wash.) give Tully great confidence in his depth at that position.

Quarterbacks:
An early-season injury to starting quarterback Kory Kemp quickly changed the direction of the season for Whitworth in 2008. But by mid-season the Pirates had settled on two freshmen as the future of the franchise. Andrew Durant (So., Spokane, Wash.) and Cub Jansen (So., Mukilteo, Wash.) shared the playing minutes over the final four games of the season. Durant and Jansen led Whitworth to a 4-0 record, helping the Pirates finish 6-3 after a 2-3 start.

The pair combined to complete 38 of 57 passes (67%) for 506 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Tully expects to stay with a rotation system again this year, rather than settling on one or the other. How that ultimately plays out, however, is still to be determined.

Receivers:
Eric Entel (Sr., Clarkston, Wash.) and Dale Entel (So., Clarkston, Wash.) return to lead the Pirates' group of receivers. Eric caught 25 passes for 213 yards last season. Dale came on down the stretch to finish with 16 receptions for 255 yards (15.9 ypc), making some key catches during the season-ending four-game winning streak.

Andy Largent (Sr., Spokane, Wash.) is entering his third season as a starter. He will also head into the season as the Pirates' primary placekicker.

Pete Carlson (So., Bellingham, Wash.), Kyle Scroggins (Sr., Royal City, Wash.) and Brian Brady (So., Issaquah, Wash.) are expected to provide important support at the wide-out position.

Justin Wimberly (Jr., Tumwater, Wash.) saw plenty of action at tight end last season and should move into the starting role full-time this fall. Brian Ball (So., Murrieta, Calif.) will provide solid back up.

Offensive Line:
Whitworth will return three starters on the offensive line, led by First Team All-NWC tackle Jeff Kintner (Sr., Wenatchee, Wash.). Kintner enters his fourth season as a starter for the Pirates and much of the offense will be directed behind his 6-4, 305 frame.

Michael Nahl (Sr., West Seattle, Wash.) will return to start next to Kintner at guard, while Emilio Sulpizio (So., Spokane, Wash.) returns at center.

The right side of the offensive line is up for grabs with four sophomores in the hunt for the starting spots. Zak Richardson (So., Tualatin, Ore.), Eric Secrist (So., Edmonds, Wash.), Travis Todd (So., Odessa, Wash.) and Jared Warren (So., Issaquah, Wash.) should all have a shot at significant playing time, regardless.

 

DEFENSE:

The Pirates simply suffered through "one of those years" in 2008. The kind of season in which injuries seem contagious and season-ending injuries appeared to occur almost every game.

But one season's struggle is the next season's gain as several players picked up valuable on-field experience and should be ready to go in 2009. Officially the Bucs have eight starters returning.

Defensive Line:
Once again the Whitworth defense will center around Brandon Martin (Sr., DT, Sweet Home, Ore.). The two-time First Team All-NWC tackle led the Bucs with 8.5 tackles for loss (32 yards) and four sacks in 2008. He finished with 45 total tackles despite nearly constant double teaming.

Martin will likely be joined on the interior by Travis Niles (Jr., Spokane, Wash.), who spent his first season as a starter on the end. But this move will take advantage of more natural starting positions for other players and Tully believes Niles can be very successful inside. Niles had three tackles for losses of 19 yards last fall.

The defensive end spots will be filled by returning starter Jeff Erlenmeyer (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.) and Nick Ashley (Jr., Lind, Wash.). Ashley is the second leading returner in tackles for loss (6.0 for 29 yards), despite coming off of the bench last season.

Taylor McMahon (Jr., Deer Park, Wash.), Danny Engel (So., Kennewick, Wash.) and Andrew Hamstra (Jr., Denver, Colo.) could all be called upon to fill key back up positions.

Linebackers:
Nate Hadley (Sr., Mukilteo, Wash.) and Cameron Stroyan (Sr., Chewelah, Wash.) return as starting linebackers for the Pirates, with Hadley anchoring the middle spot and Stroyan on the outside.

Paul Werhane (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) has the inside track on the other starting position after posting 3.5 tackles for loss (19 yards) and 32 total tackles off of the bench last season.

Alex Couette (Jr., Yakima, Wash.), Dustin Payne (So., Chattaroy, Wash.) and Brian O'Kelley (So., Clarkston, Wash.) should all be able to fill key roles as well.

Defensive Backs:
No position was affected more by injury than the defensive backfield. But the Pirates gained valuable experience through the process.

Four players will battle for the two starting corner back spots. Derek Stottlemyer (Jr., Bothell, Wash.) was a starter last season until he suffered a season-ending injury in the win at Chapman. Kyle Duncan (Sr., Kennewick, Wash.) returns after missing the entire 2008 season. Cailen Thomason (So., Vancouver, Wash.) and Alex Sankey (So., Edmonds, Wash.) picked up valuable starting experience as the year went on.

Likewise four players should battle for the starting safety spots. Robert Schaefer (Jr., Bothell, Wash.) and Drew Belton (So., Naches, Wash.) were pressed into extra playing time last season and held up well. Derek Martin (So., Colbert, Wash.) came to Whitworth as a quarterback but has made a solid transition to defense. Matt McDermott is a transfer from Colorado College, where he had three interceptions last fall.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Whitworth's punting game is in good hands once again with Zack Clow (Jr., Blanchard, Idaho) providing the solid leg. He averaged 36.3 yards per kick and deposited 12 punts inside the 20 last year.

As previously mentioned, Andy Largent will be the primary place kicker again this fall. He made 30 of 32 PATs last season and 2 of 5 field goals.

Tully will try out a few players to kick off for the Bucs.

Adam Anderson returns as the most dangerous kick returner in the Northwest Conference. He averaged 28.0 yards per return with one touchdown. Whitworth will field a new punt returner in 2009 and that position will be determined by fall drills.

 

SCHEDULE:

Once again the Pirates will face a challenging slate in 2009. The non-conference schedule features a first-ever match up with Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas. The Cowboys are ranked among the top-ten teams in the nation in preseason polls. Three return engagements will be featured among the non-conference slate as well: at LaVerne (Calif.), and at home against SCIAC favorite Redlands and up-and-coming independent Chapman (Calif.).

The Northwest Conference will be as challenging as ever. Willamette is coming off of a conference title and Linfield is poised to make a run at the top. Pacific Lutheran will be much improved with several key players returning, as should Puget Sound. Menlo is also a difficult opponent and Lewis & Clark has made key strides in recent years.