The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 43

43 OLY CROSS. I Crusaders are headed down comeback trail THE BOSTON GLOBE FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1995 lill By Bob Monahan GLOBE STAFF A- ORCESTER-Holy Cross coach Peter Vaas is thinking positive about the Patriot League generally and his Crusaders 4v Jit ill tl 1 i If chance to be a very fine team on defense. "Our defensive line made tremendous gains in the offseason as far as athleticism and strength are concerned. They had an excellent spring practice. "Our offensive line has developed and is led by Tom Claro 6 feet 5 inches, 230pounds.

For the first time since I've been here we have a guy who is bringing the scouts back for a second and third look. He's been a two-year starter and an excellent player." Vaas also likes what he sees at the skilled positions. Wide receivers John Myers and Jeff Laboranti started last year as freshmen. J.R. Walz and Rob Sanchez return as running backs.

Another running back to watch is sophomore La Juan Coney, who is from West Palm Beach, and displayed excellent speed at Northfield-Mt. Hermon two specifically. "The league presidents made the decision to allow teams to play in the rNCAA playoffs," said Vaas. "That's very positive and exciting to us as a football team. And tied in with that is the fact that they allowed us to follow the NCAA guide lines as far as spring practice goes.

"We're looking forward to having a very exciting fall. We have a lot of kids back on the offense and on the defense we have people with a lot of experience with the exception of our secondary. If they come along quickly in the secondary we have a Springfield running back Mark Doherty raced to Tufts will take aim on a winning season, with an ECAC Division 2 Player of the Year honors. offense led by the arm of quarterback Greg Peters, DIVISION 2-3 PREVIEWS Amherst, Williams both have talent to sparkle 1 By Bob Monahan GLOBE STAFF Coach: Peter Vaas, 12-21; 41-32-10 overall. '94 finish: 2nd (3-2; 3-8 overall.) Players to watch: Senior OT Tom Claro (two-time All Patriot League selection); junior LB David Streeter (9 tackles a game), sophomore TB J.R.

Walz (Patriot League Co-Rookie of the Year, 712 yards rushing and 7 TDs). Key New Englanders: Junior TB Rob Sanchez of Watertown (191 yards rushing, 2 TDs), sophomore DL Dominic Blue of Dayville, Conn. (28 tackles, one sack), sophomore WR John Myers of Chelmsford (29 catches, 397 yards, 2 TDs). Outlook: Deep backfield and experienced offensive line should lead to an improved offense despite the loss of both starting quarterbacks from a year ago. Defense also will improve thanks to a strong linebacker core.

Predicted finish: Third. mherst, Williams and Colby project to be the powers in the New England Small College Athletic tf -N5 (tSOAfi DEPTH CHART years ago. Vaas says fullback James Nelson also came on strong at the end of last season. "We're solid at running back," said Vaas. "We just need someone to step up and take us to the next level and we also have to win early and get some positive momentum going." Holy Cross opens with Hofstra at home and then has two tough road games at the University of Massachusetts and Cornell before returning home to host vastly improved Brown.

The Crusaders then play Yale and Harvard before the five-game Patriot League schedule begins. If Holy Cross opens league play at 3-3 it will have done very well. Promising quarterback Andy Fitzpatrick, who passed for 581 yards last season, suffered knee injuries two straight years and gave up football. Leading quarterback candidates are junior Chad Vaughn and sophomores Brion Stapp and Ted Duffy. All three had fine springs and Vaughn has a slight edge.

Claro and Mike Zimirowski should start at the tackles, the center is Dave Walker. Tony Earle, Joe Hazelton and Kevin Szelagowski also will be in the picture up front. Tight end Alex Dempster, who was an outside linebacker, has developed quickly. On his defense, Vaas is optimistic. "I'm very happy with our linebacker situation and that looks like ths strongest part of our defense," he said.

"David Streeter is back for the third year and he's a player. And Phil Tyburczy and Dan Guden also return with two years experience. Brian Hoffman, Greg Timilty and Eric Godlewski make for terrific depth at linebacker and end." The line is led by captains Matt Faery and Brian Regan at the tackles. Hoffman, Guden and Dom Blue are in the equation along with Brandon Weber. Vaas sees keen competition for starting jobs in the secondary.

"We are very young there, but the kids who will be fighting for the jobs are fine athletes," he said. At the kicking spot, Jamie Gornell, who played on the junior varsity squad last season, will get a shot at kicking PATs and field goals. "Plus we're excited about Globe All-Scholastic kicker Dana Fiatarone from Bishop Feehan," said Vaas. The punter more than likely will be senior walk-on Mark McClinchie. Vaas starts his fourth year in a program that does not allow athletic scholarships.

Too many Purple alumni still talk about Mark's Duffner's six years as head coach when Holy Cross went 60-5-1 from 1986-91. Those days are long gone. Holy Cross only gives financial assistance on a need basis like the Ivy League and the days of beating Army or romping over Ivy opponents are long gone. TOM CLARO Offense: 8 returning starters QB Chad Vaughn, Ted Duffy, So. WR Jeff Laboranti, Jack Sawyer, Sr.

WR John Myers, Brian Hopkins, So. TE Alex Dempster, Mike Higgins, So. FB Rob Sanchez, James Nelson, Sr. TB M.R. Walz, LaJuan Coney, So.

LT Tom Claro, Eric Scholten, So. LG David Walker, Bryan Moore, So. Joe Hazelton, Bret Hoi ling, So. RG Mike Zimirowski, Keith Krusenoski, Jr. RT Tony Earle, John McCarthy, So.

PK Jamie Gornell Joe Clancy, Jr. Defense: 7 returning starters OLB Byran Hoffman, Greg Timilty, Jr. LT Dominic Blue, Brandon Weber, Jr. NG Brian Regan, Sr. RT Matt Faery Mike Ryan, So.

OLB Dan Guden, Phil Tyburczy, Sr. LB Eric Godlewski, David Riepe, Sr. LB David Harris, David Streeter, Jr. CB Terrence Browning, Kevin Sharp, So. FS Rob Subotich, Matt Berquist, Jr.

SS Justin Relinan, Antonio Harris, So. CB Robert Sewell, Sederick, Rogers, So. Mark McClinchie, Dan McGee, So. 1 Mmi SMALLS ((j Team W-L-T PF PA Williams 8-0-0 331 67 Colby 7-1-0 242 128 Trinity 6-2-0 233 96 Hamilton 5-3-0 156 175 Amherst 5-3-0 213 166 Middlebury 3-5-0 172 188 Tufts 2-6-0 154 249 Bowdoin 2-6-0 15 228 Wesleyan 2-6-0 133 221 Bates 0-8-0 72 320 Conf. Overall W-L-T W-L-T UMass-Dartmouth 7-1-0 8-1-0 Maine Maritime 7-1-0 7-2-1 Worcester State 6-2-0 8-2-0 Bridgewater State 6-2-0 6-4-0 Westheld State 4-4-0 5-5-0 Mass.

Maritme 3-5-0 4-6-0 Fitchburg State 2-6-0 3-6-0 Fram. State 1-7-0 1-7-1 UMass-Boston 0-8-0 0-9-0 FREEDOM sj Conf. Overall W-L-T W-L-T Plymouth State 6-0-0 9-0-0 Kings Point 5-0-0 7-2-0 Stony Brook 4-2-0 7-3-0 Worcester Tech 3-2-0 5-4-0 Coast Guard 2-4-0 4-5-0 Norwich 2-5-0 3-6-0 W. Connecticut 1-5-0 1-9-0 UMass-Lowell 0-5-0 0-10-0 EASTERN CO I Conf. Overall W-L-T W-L-T Bentley 6-0-0 11-0-0 Assumption 5-1-0 7-3-0 Stonehill 4-2-0 6-4-0 MIT 3-3-0 4-5-0 Nichols 2-4-0 2-7-0 Curry 1-5-0 1-7-1 Western N.E.

0-6-0 0-9-0 Salve Regina 8-1-0 DOMINIC BLUE SCHEDULE TDs) and receivers Mike Bahr (53 receptions, 4 TDs), Glenn Saenz (55-9) and Jon Fischer (35-3) Coast Guard has a quality passer in Pete Melnick (1,349 yards, 12 TDs) and three top-flight receivers with -Jay Smith (45-540-1), Jesse Morton (45-462-5) and Christian Lee (34-452-7) Worcester Polytech re- turns 15 starters including classy running back Ernie Ansah (910 yards, 10 TDs) Kings Point has a solid running game with Corey Marker, David Filis and J. Merrick, but its passing game was hurt by graduation Norwich returns 16 starters and seeks its first winning season since 1984 WesteraJCon- 7 necticut returns 17 starters and needs top-notch efforts by quarterback Rich Lester and running back Eric Baribeau UMass-Lowell is rebuilding. Eastern Collegiate Bentley defends its title and will try to extend the longest regular-season winning streak in the country). Head coach Peter Yetten has 12 starters back including quarterback Mike Rymsha, who passed for 1,433 yards and 19 TDs last year. Other skilled people back are running backs John Ferguson and Ed Mazzuchelli and wide receiver Colin Arsenault.

Stonehill lost skilled-position people to graduation, but the offensive line is solid. Dan Field or Mike Shaheen must step forward as a quarterback. Assumption had its best season ever (7-4) last year. The offense was hit hard by graduation, but the defense looks solid with linebackers Dan Veo and Paul Moccia returning Curry has 1 7 starters back but has won only six games the past five years MIT will have to rebuild the offensive line so running back Jose DeLeon can break the long ones Nichols will be paced by quarterback Doug McKay Salve Regina is in its second year of varsity football Sacred Heart has 14 starters back led by quarterback Chris Kelly Western New England can only go up. Division 2 New Haven may not be as good as last season but the Charagers return an awesome offensive line that averages 285 pounds, paced by sophomores Josh Havelka and Mario DiDino.

Four starters return in the defensive backfield, which features three-year starter Michael Brown. American International will depend heavily on senior Rashid Thomas, who ran for 1,358 yards last year. Southern Connecticut has 10 starters back on offense and will feature superb tailback Ellis Robinson, who ran for 1,258 yards last season Central Connecticut was hurt by graduation. Stan House and Dins-worth Harris can run the ball, Ed Poland, Ernst Racine and Shaun Sullivan project to be solid receivers, Date Opponent '94 result Time Sept. 9 Hofstra DNP 1 p.m.

Sept. 16 at UMass Lost, 32-0 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at Cornell DNP 1 p.m. Sept.

30 Brown Lost, 20-18 1 p.m. Oct. 7 Yale Lost, 47-22 1 p.m. Oct. 14 at Harvard Lost, 27-17 1 p.m.

Oct. 21 Lafayette Lost, 17-9 1 p.m. Oct. 28 Fordham Won, 31-21 2 p.m. Nov.

5 at Bucknell Won, 27-20 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at Lehigh Lost, 29-13 1 p.m. Nov. 19 Colgate Won, 27-6 1 p.m.

at Hamilton, Bermuda. Conference. Amherst, under third-year coach Jack Siedlecki, has 18 starters back. There is talent with quarterback Rob DeVries, receivers Chris Miller and Mike Brendler, running backs Josh Mason (1,220 yards last year), Kwame Brathwaite and Dan Milazzo. Williams comes off an 8-0 season and owns a 14-game winning streak.

The Ephmen have 11 starters back, including quarterback Mike Bajakian, who had a school-record 17 touchdown passes last year. Colby, which has had four straight winning seasons, returns 12 starters (6 offense, 6 defense). Bates, which hasn't won in three years, can't help but improve on its 0-8 record. Bowdoin has fine skilled people with quarterback Ramon Martinez, receivers Doug Brawn and Tony Texeira. Hamilton returns 54 lettermen led by quarterback Dan DeBlois (1,220 yards, 12 TDs) Middlebury coach Mickey Heinecken has 99 career wins, getting No.

100 should motivate his troops Trinity has recorded 16 consecutive winning seasons and features a tough defense with six starters back Tufts has 11 starters back and a constant threat in running backreturn man Damon Adams Wesleyan has 19 starters back from a 2-6 team. New England FC The competition will be interesting among four teams that could win it all: Maine Maritime, West-field State, Bridgewater State and UMass-Dartmouth. Bridgewater State coach Peter Mazzaferra will present another solid defensive team. The Bears have 12 starters back and nine are on defense led by end Frank Davis. Fitchburg State could improve behind sophomore quarterback Jason Dyer and skilled people such as tight end Dan Verdier, running back Matt Hughes and split end Keith Coutu.

Framingham State will feature a flock of underclassmen led by quarterback Chris Sutera, wide receiver Greg Brotherton and running back Colin Lydon Maine Maritime is loaded with 20 starters returning and will seek a third straight title while being paced by 1994 ECAC Co-Player of the Year tailback Rob Marchitello UMass-Boston has youth on its side again, plus many two-way players. UMass-Dartmouth has a powerful offense led by option quarterback Bill Casey Mass. Maritime returns 10 starters on defense Worcester State returns 16 starters from a team that set a school record Lafayette leads charge By Bob Monahan GLOBE STAFF efending champion Lafayette and runner-up Lehigh project to be the powers in the Patriot League. Holy Cross and Bucknell should battle for the third spot with Colgate and Fordham trailing. League Overall W-L PF PA W-L-T PF PA Lafayette 5-0-0 175 55 5-6-0 230 202 Lehigh 3-2-0 139 127 5-5-1 307 314 Holy Cross 3-2-0 107 93 3-8-0 175 327 Bucknell 2-3-0 101 167 5-6-0 272 311 Colgate 2-3-0 100 79 3-8-0 174 253 Fordham 0-5-0 66 167 0-11-0 146 315 with eight wins Westfield State will battle hard for the top spot while being led by running back Tim Lightfoot.

Freedom Conference Perennial power Plymouth State should lead the pack, but new member Springfield College could emerge as its chief challenger. Springfield, which played in Division 2 last year, also has a new nickname: 'Pride'. Plymouth State has six starters back on offense, paced by quarterback Joel Perry (19 TDs) and wide receiver R.J. Letendre (48 receptions, 940 yards, 7 TDs). Springfield has 14 starters back led by quarterback Jason Cashton (816 yards rushing, 513 passing), defensive back Tony Trisciani (58 tackles) and defensive end Jamie McGourty(47).

Stony Brook has terrific skilled-position people like quarterback Timm Schroeder (2,407 yards, 22 The league, which enters its 10th year, recently voted to allow its teams to compete in the Division 1-AA playoffs and to adopt the tie-breaker rule. Lafayette returns 15 starters and 28 lettermen and Lehigh has 12 starters back including talented quarterback Bob Aylsworth who passed for 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns. He was ranked 10th in the country and has a sharp receiving back in Brian Klingerman (71 receptions, 1,135 yards, 11 TDs). Among the league's blue chip players are Bucknell tailback Rich Lemon and Lafayette linebacker Rawle Howard, who had 146 tackles last season. Last season, Lemon rushed for 1,496 yards and had 1,880 all-purpose yards, which was ninth in the country.

He is riding a streak of 15 consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Lafayette, 0-6 outside the conference last season, blitzed its Patriot League foes. The Leopards, who led the league in five defensive departments last year, return 15 lettermen on defense including Howard, free safety Matt Cope (116 tackles) and strong safety B.J. 'Gallis (102). Lafayette allowed 163.6 yards a game passing, 146.1 rushing and 18.4 points a game.

Two returning Leopard receivers are juniors Jarrett Shine and Tramont Evans and they'll be the main targets for quarterback Shawn McHale. Bucknell's defense projects to be sharper against the pass than a year ago. Lack of an experienced quarterback is a problem. Colgate has been rebuilding under third-year head coach Ed Sweeney who has a knack of turning programs around. Sweeney was a key assistant coach at Boston University under Rick Taylor.

Fordham has 34 lettermen back from an 0-11 team that is still learning how to win under second-year coach Nick Quartaro..