AU football ranked nationally as nine Saxons earn
preseason All-American honors

ALFRED, NY — The Alfred University football team is ranked 35th in Football Gazette’s Top 40 preseason poll for Division III.

AU return 16 starters and several key reserves from a team that went 9-2 last year and won the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl. In addition to earning a spot in the preseason poll, the Saxons also placed nine players on the Football Gazette Preseason All-American Team.

Junior quarterback Paul Keeley (Caledonia-Mumford), junior tailback Elmer Newsome (Walton, NY/Hancock), senior left tackle Mike Yokopovich (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder), senior linebacker Nick Gatto (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove), sophomore wide receiver Trevor Bork (Fishers, NY/Victor), junior placekicker Chris Reynolds (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland), senior defensive end Andy Rantz (Montandon, PA/Milton), junior defensive tackles Don Miller (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy) and junior punter Josh Rammacher (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) were given named honorable mention All-Americans.

In 2005 Keeley, a transfer from St. John Fisher, threw for 2,173 yards (second-most in a year in school history) while setting a new school single-season record for touchdown passes (21) and tying the mark for TD tosses in a game (four, vs. St. Lawrence). He topped off a solid first year at AU by completing 16 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three scores against Maine Maritime in the ECAC bowl game and earning the game’s outstanding player honors.

Newsome rushed for 1,230 yards and scored seven touchdowns in 2005 on his way to earning First Team Empire 8 and Third Team Football Gazette All-East Region honors.

Yokopovich earned Second Team All-Empire 8 honors last year and was part of a line that helped produce nearly 400 yards in offense per game while allowing only seven quarterback sacks the entire season.

Gatto, a Second Team Empire 8 all-star last year, was second on the team in tackles with 90 in 2005 and has more than 200 stops in his first three years at AU.

Bork caught a team-high 50 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2005. His four scoring catches averaged 36 yards.

Reynolds made 35 of 37 PATs and eight of 11 field goal tries in 2005 on his way to receiving Second Team Empire 8 honors. The owner of AU single-season records for points scored by a placekicker, field goals made and PATs made, Reynolds is on the verge of setting virtually all school career kicking marks.

Rantz had 47 tackles in 2005, including 18 for loss and 11 sacks and was named a Second Team Empire 8 all-star.
Miller was also a Second Team all-Empire 8 selection last season, when he had 59 tackles, including seven for loss and a pair of sacks.

Rammacher averaged 38.5 yards per punt in 2005, a new school single-season record, and earned honorable mention from the conference.

Alfred has four opponents on its 2006 schedule that are also listed in the Football Gazette preseason rankings: Hobart (14th), Ithaca (19th), Thiel (21st) and St. John Fisher (31st).

AU football team poised to compete for Empire 8 crown
NCAA berth

ALFRED, NY — If the Alfred University football team continues to build on the success of the last two seasons, the Saxons could earn the program’s first strip to the NCAA playoffs in 25 years.

The 2005 AU football team came up just short of its goal of winning an Empire 8 Conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III championship tournament. The Saxons settled for a runner-up finish in the conference standings, their lone conference blemish a 28-14 setback at Ithaca. When AU was denied an at-large bid to the NCAAs, the Saxons instead earned their second straight ECAC title, this time with a 63-20 pasting of visiting Maine Maritime in the North Atlantic Bowl championship.

While the Saxons were disappointed at not making the NCAA tournament field in 2005, they had plenty of reason to turn an optimistic eye toward 2006. Sixteen starters return from last year’s 9-2 team, including seven from a defense that was one of the toughest in the Empire 8 and Upstate New York and seven from a balanced offense that averaged more than 380 yards and 30 points per game. In addition, most of a solid special teams corps returns intact.

"It’s nice to return kids with a lot of playing experience, kids who’ve been a huge part of our success the last two years," said Dave Murray, entering his ninth season as AU head coach. "We’re going to need that experience and talent because of our schedule."

Murray was referring to a 2006 slate that includes four games, all at home against nationally-ranked opponents. Three of those — Thiel (season opener Sept. 9), Hobart and Ithaca — played in the 2005 NCAA tournament, while the fourth, St. John Fisher, played an ECAC bowl game last season.

As has been the case of late, defense will be key to the Saxons’ success. Each of the last two seasons, AU’s defense has ranked among the best in the conference and region in yards and points allowed. Murray will count on similar contributions this year.

Alfred will certainly miss the contributions of the handful of players it did lose, most notably All-American linebacker and 2006 graduate Brenton Brady, who logged nearly 300 tackles in his career and was the centerpiece of the Saxons’ stingy defense. Fellow linebacker Blake Fuller and strong safety Aaron Meyers are gone from last year’s squad as well.

"The guys we have to replace were outstanding," Murray said. ""It will be tough to fill their shoes, but our program has grown to the point that there will be guys ready to step up and perform."

A solid corps of veterans, led by a trio of Empire 8 Second Team all-stars — senior end Andy Rantz (Montandon, PA/Milton Area), junior tackle Don Miller (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy) and senior middle linebacker Nick Gatto (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) — return ready to pick up where they left off last year. Rantz had 47 tackles in 2005, including 18 for loss and 11 sacks. Gatto was second on the team in tackles last year and has rung up more than 200 stops in his first three years. Miller, at 6-2, 310, is an exceptional run stopper who had seven tackles for loss in 2005.

Miller and Rantz are part of a defensive line that returns all four starters. Sophomore end Jake Syracuse (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy) and junior tackle Mike Penkin (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) played well as first-time starters in 2005, Syracuse had 35 tackles (16 solo, 4.5 for loss) while Penkin had 41 stops (15 solo, four for loss).

"Our defensive line, the starting foursome, is the strongest I’ve had in nine years here," Murray commented. Add solid sophomore backup tackles Rob Ritter (Fairport, NY/Penfield) and Robert Campbell (Rochester, NY/Pittsford-Mendon) to the mix and Murray expects the line to anchor another outstanding effort from the Saxon defense.

The linebacking corps was hit hard by graduation this spring, but several backups from last year are poised to step in to starting roles this season, including senior Ralph Jackson (Forestville, NY/Forestville), juniors Bobby Plate (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse) and Nate Pleakis (Olean, NY/Olean) and sophomores Jeremiah Wagner (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) and John Soule (Richfield Springs, NY/Richfield Springs) and freshman Chad Pieri (LeRoy, NY/Caledonia-Mumford).

"We have questions at linebacker, but we do have Nick Gatto coming back in the middle. We’ll need our youngsters to step up and play," Murray said.

The secondary is talented, with a pair of all- Empire 8 honorable mention selections, sophomore free safety Brian Nitsche (Portville, NY/Portville) and three-year starting cornerback Mike Coupe (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), returning. Nitsche and Coupe each ranked in the top eight on the team in tackles and had four and three interceptions, respectively. Players looking to replace Meyers at strong safety include juniors Bobby Magiera (Little Valley, NY/Salamanca) and Dan Medlock (Garden City Park, NY/Mineola) and freshman Brent McGill (Rochester, NY/East). Competing for the weakside corner spot include junior Josh Rammacher (Angola, NY/Lake Shore), who is also the starting punter, and sophomore Xavier Marshall (Fairport, NY/Fairport).

"We have two solid starters returning in our secondary," Murray said, referring to Nitsche and Coupe. "Ideally, we’ll have someone emerge as a shut-down corner who can cover the opponents’ best receivers one-one-one, and if we can put pressure on the quarterback, a the rest of the secondary will work."

While Alfred has become known for its stalwart defense, the Saxons also boast a balanced, powerful offensive attack, led by junior quarterback Paul Keeley (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford), junior tailback Elmer Newsome (Walton, NY/Hancock) and senior tackle Mike Yokopovich (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder).

"Defense has been our foundation the last two seasons, but our offense has really developed," Murray said. "Now, we’re a much more balanced team."

That balance is due in no small part to the emergence of Keeley, who earned the starting nod last fall after transferring from St. John Fisher. He was given honorable mention from the Empire 8 after throwing for 2,173 yards (second-most in a year in school history) while setting a new school single-season record for touchdown passes (21) and tying the mark for TD tosses in a game (four, vs. St. Lawrence). Keeley topped off a solid first year at AU by completing 16 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three scores against Maine Maritime in the ECAC bowl game and earning the game’s outstanding player honors.

"It’s a luxury to have a seasoned quarterback like Paul running our offense. He just kept getting better as the season progressed last year," Murray said. "We’re excited to have him as a leader. It’s like having another coach out there on the field. He’s a very smart player who knows what the defenses will give him. Paul’s strength is he always puts himself in a position to do well."

With last year’s backup QB, junior Jared Hyatt (Newark, N Y/Newark) moving to tight end, sophomores Matt Eisenhauer (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) and Ed Wienckoski (Levittown, PA/Pennsbury) will battle for the number two job this fall.

Newsome was outstanding in his first year as a starter, racking up 1,230 yards rushing and scoring seven touchdowns on his way to earning First Team Empire 8 and Third Team Football Gazette All-East Region honors. The Saxon offense was successful in large part to the diversity of its attack, which includes diminutive and speedy backup tailback Julio Fuentes (Olean, NY/Olean). The 5-2, 160-pound Fuentes was used primarily in third-down situations as a freshman last year, when he ran for 333 yards and two TDs while catching 22 passes for 276 yards and two more scores.

"What Elmer and Julio give us are two guys with lots of experience who bring different tools to the table. They complement each other so well and with their different styles make if difficult for teams to defend," Murray said.

Alfred has always been able to attract talented tailbacks to the program, as evidenced by the arrival of freshman Dustin Morris (Cortland, NY/Homer), a New York State high school all-star last year. Despite the presence of Newsome and Fuentes, Murray expects Morris, a solid runner and receiver, will see playing time this year.

"We’re really excited about Dustin," he said. "We think he’ll be an impact player for us."

Junior Jeff Pecoraro (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville) is the incumbent first-stringer at fullback. He’ll compete for the starting job this fall with sophomore Justin Hamblin (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) and Morgan O’Brien (Bradford, PA/Bradford).

Keeley’s primary target this year will be sophomore wideout Trevor Bork (Fishers, NY/Victor). Bork caught a team-high 50 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2005. His four scoring catches averaged 36 yards.

"Paul and Trevor have great chemistry," Murray said. "Trevor is great at reading coverages and runs his routes well. If the ball’s in his vicinity, he’ll go up and get it. He’s a playmaker."

Looking to crack the starting lineup is junior Ben Stanton (Fort Edward, NY/Hudson Falls). Plagued by injury his first two years at AU, he stayed healthy in 2005 and caught 13 passes for 144 yards and a score as the team’s third receiver. Others vying for time at wideout include sophomores Jack Phelan (Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland) (two catches, 22 yards in 2005) and Craig Chase (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep), junior A.J. Ross (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga), senior Paul Torrey (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) and freshmen Jared Manzer (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City), Saucobie Riley (Rochester, NY/Marshall) and Nick Barton (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls).

"We’ll be able to play a lot of them. Competition at receiver is wide open," Murray said.

Senior Matt Gibbins (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) is the frontrunner to replace all-conference pick Chris Reger at tight end. Gibbons, who like Reger was used at fullback early in his career, caught seven passes for 84 yards and two TDs last season.

"(Gibbins) has been with us a couple years," Murray commented. "He’s got good hands and can block."

Also competing for time at tight end are junior Kasey Kryder (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) and sophomores Stephen Soderberg (Peru, NY/Peru) and Rahsaan Parks (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton).

Alfred’s success on offense hinges on the effectiveness of its line, and the line has been tremendous over the last two years. In 2005, AU allowed a mere seven QB sacks all year while paving the way for nearly 200 yards passing and more than 185 yards rushing per game. While AU will miss all-conference right tackle Matt Nelson, Murray is confident left tackle Yokopovich will lead the line to another year of stellar play.

Other returning starters are junior center Mike Callahan (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) and senior Brian Caston (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder). Others competing for time along the offensive line include juniors Justin Hanft (East Otto, NY/Maple Grove) and Brian DeCabia (Calverton, NY/Riverhead) and seniors Paul Tulkis (Pomona, NY/North Rockland) and Dave Cooper (Rochester, NY/Hilton). Eric Manning (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls), a 6-4, 300-pound all-New York State lineman, is Alfred’s top freshman recruit.

"We have some skilled kids returning," Murray said. "Matt’s shoes will be hard to fill, but with Yokopovich, Caston and Callahan retuning, we have experience and leadership. I think (the line) will be fine."

Once again, AU will count on a balanced offensive attack — Murray prefers a 60-40 percent split on running and passing plays — to move the ball, eat up clock and keep opposing defenses honest. With new starters in several key positions on defense, maintaining a time of possession edge on offense will be important.

Special teams play should be a strength in 2006. Junior placekicker Chris Reynolds (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) made 35 of 37 PATs and eight of 11 field goal tries in 2005 on his way to receiving Second Team Empire 8 honors. The owner of single-season records for points scored by a placekicker, field goals made and PATs made, Reynolds is on the verge of setting virtually all school career kicking marks. Rammacher averaged 38.5 yards per punt in 2005, a new school single-season record, and earned honorable mention from the conference.

"Those two guys (Reynolds and Rammacher) have been consistent for us the last two years," Murray said. "Our kicking game is in very good shape."

The return game took a hit with the graduation of wide receiver/punt returner Craig Zarzycki, yet returns some talent from last year. Fuentes averaged 21.1 yards on nine kick returns in 2005 and could share kick return duties with Manzer and Riley. Bork is in line to return punts.

Getting off to a good start is important, Murray said, noting last year’s season-opening loss at Washington & Lee, a setback that likely denied the Saxons a spot in the NCAA playoffs. This year’s goals include competing for an Empire 8 crown and the automatic NCAA berth that comes with it.

"We need to get off to a great start and we’ll find out right away how good we are," Murray said, referring to the season-opener Sept. 9 at home against visiting Thiel, ranked 21st in Football Gazette’s preseason Division III poll.

After the Thiel game, AU travels to St. Lawrence (Sept. 16) and opens its Empire 8 Conference schedule Sept. 23 at Springfield before returning to Merrill Field Sept. 30 for a Homecoming matchup with conference foe Norwich. The Saxons have successive Empire 8 road games against Hartwick (Oct. 7) and Utica (Oct. 14) before traveling to Bangor, ME, Oct. 21 for a non-conference matchup with Husson. AU, ranked 35th in the Football Gazette poll, wraps up the year with an Oct. 28 non-conference home game with Hobart (14th ranked) and a pair home Empire 8 contests, Nov. 4 against 19th-ranked Ithaca and Nov. 11 against 31st-ranked St. John Fisher.

"This is as challenging a schedule as we’ve had in a long time," Murray said. "There is no room for let-ups and no easy games."

Saxons 2006 Schedule