Wesley Will Be Road Warriors in 2008

The Wesley College Wolverines will start their defense of the Atlantic Central Football Conference title and continue there quest to be the best team in NCAA Division III with a very talented core that includes 16 starters from the 2007 team that finished 11-2.  The Wolverines will take on a "Road Warrior" attitude to the 2008 season as seven of the team's 10 games will be played away from Scott D. Miller Stadium.

On offense, the Wolverines return virtually every weapon from last year's potent attack. Larry Beavers (SR, Annapolis, Md.) has drawn interest from several NFL teams, impressing scouts with his speed. Entering his senior year, he has caught 93 passes for 1,735 and 22 Touchdowns. Beavers doubles as a dangerous return man, bringing back for kickoffs for touchdowns in 2007. Blair Newman (JR, Wyoming, Del.) will step in to replace graduating wide out Michael Clarke. Newman averaged over 12 yards a punt return and caught one touchdown as a reserve receiver last year. Omar Vidro (SO 6-3/210, Egg Harbor City, N.J.) will compete at wide out.

Jon Lanouette (SR, Newark, Del.) returns for his fourth year as a starter. Lanouette, a 6-4/260 tight end, has 119 career receptions for 1,735 yards and 17 Touchdowns. C.J. Baycote returns to the program in 2008.  He previously played one season for the Wolverines, making 17 receptions.

Senior quarterback Jason Schatz (SR, Springfield, PA) returns as a starter. The strong-armed Schatz threw for over 2,700 yards and 25 Touchdowns last season leading the Wolverines into the NCAA Quarterfinals. Shane McSweeney (SO, Bensalem, Pa.), a sophomore, will provide Wesley with an outstanding back up.

The Wolverines will once again have a strong stable with Mike Pennewell (JR Smyrna, Del.) returns after a stellar sophomore campaign. Last season Pennewell averaged over 6.2 yards a carry rushing for 1,630 yards, the second best single season total in school history. Pennewell will be joined by speedy junior Aaron Jackson (New Brunswick, N.J.) who rushed for 695 yards averaging 5.8 yards a carry. Versatile Gene Knight (JR, Baltimore, Md.) caught 18 passes for 227 yards and rushed for 187 yards. 

All five starters return on the offensive line to give Wesley its most experienced unit in school history. Senior Dave Erdman (6-4/328, Ellicott City, Md.) is a four year starter and drew interest from NFL Scouts in the spring when he ran 5.28 40-yard dash. Senior Pat Bell (6-2/254, Galloway, N.J.) joined Erdman on the All-ACFC last season. Anthony West (SO, 6-2/315, Laurel, Del.), Evan Prichett (JR, 6-0/280, Baltimore, Md.), Peter Lorchak (SR, 6-2/285, Levittown, Pa.), Matt Ferguson (SR, 6-5/295, Dover, Del.) and Kenny McDonald (SO, 6-4/265, Glen Burnie, Md.) all started games up front last season for the Wolverines and paved the way for a school record with over 3,200 rushing last season.

Senior second year captain Sean Matthews (Pennsauken, N.J.) leads the Wesley defense. Last season's team MVP led the "D" with 113 tackles (15 for a loss). From his middle linebacker position, Matthews also forced three fumbles and recovered two. Senior Ed Donisi (Woodbury, N.J.) returns for his third season as a starter on the outside. Donisi was in on 67 tackles and had two interceptions as a junior.  Chuck Cohen (SO, Philadelphia, Pa.) and Zach Johnson (JR, Marydel, Md.) will compete to fill the open starting spot opposite Donisi.

Chet Turner (SR, Newark, Del.) broke out last season with six interceptions and 11 passes defensed to go along with 47 tackles, establishing himself as on of the best cornerbacks in small college football. Jeremiah Santiago (SR, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) returns for his third year as a starter at safety. Santiago had 56 tackles and two interceptions last year. Aaron Benson (SO, Swarthmore, Pa.), T.J. Jenkins (SR, Seaford, Del.) and Reggie Milner (SO, Camden, Del.) will compete for open positions. The Wolverines welcome two transfers with starting experience in the junior college ranks to the secondary. Pierre Louis (Lackawanna {Pa.} 2006-2007) and Cameo Ali (West Valley {Calif.} 2005-2006) both have started at corner and safety over the last two years for their teams and are both expected to compete for playing time this fall.

On the defensive front Wesley will have to replace All-American and current Arizona Cardinal Bryan Robinson at end and Jamal Williams at tackle. The Wolverines will look to Mike Ward (JR, 6-2/315, Norwich, Conn.) who had 36 tackles (10 TFL and 6.0 QB sacks) next to Williams on the insidelast season to anchor the line. Ward will be joined by defensive ends Gabe Tranchetti (JR, 6-1/248, Egg Harbor City, N.J.) and Josh Nevid (JR, 6-2/247, Woodbury, N.J.), both of whom saw extensive action last season. Splitting time opposite Robinson they combined for 82 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Carlos James (JR, 6-1/272, Annapolis, Md.) totaled 22 tackles and 5.0 tackles for a loss in the d-line rotation last season.

Collin Blugis (SO, Odenton, Md.) came up big as a freshmen connecting on 11-14 field goals and led the ACFC in scoring with 89 points in 2007.  Back up tight end Sean McAndrew (SO, Lanoka Harbor, N.J.) will handle the punting duties.  As a freshman in 2007, he hauled in five passes for 46 yards and a score.

Wesley opens the season on the road against Christopher Newport on September 6, 2008.

"We have played 19 home games over the last two seasons, 13 of them regular season games so we knew we were going to have to travel a bit this year." said Wolverine coach Mike Drass who enters his 16th year at the helm for Wesley College. "We have always traveled well over the years. We are looking forward to it; we have some interesting and challenging away games this year."

Aside from ACFC and NCAA play-off foe Salisbury the Wolverines open the season with difficult four game stretch with CNU and Delaware Valley on the road before coming home against MAC champion Widener and then traveling to New Rochelle, N.Y. to play Iona College of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

Pictured:  2008 Team Captains
Back Row (L-R):  Steve Scanlon, Jeremiah Santiago, Pat Bell
Front Row (L-R):  Sean Matthews, Chet Turner