JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Five area starters lead Walsh to first 8-win season, title

NORTH CANTON -- Five starters from the Youngstown area played key roles in the success of the Walsh University football team this season.
Jay Racick, Jim Keagy and Frank Tempesta on defense, and Jason Vodhanel and David Jenkins on offense, helped the Cavaliers to an 8-3 record and their first Mid-States Football Association Mideast League title with a 5-1 record.
Walsh also achieved its first-ever eight-win season and its first victory over Geneva.
Racick and Keagy, both from Girard High, and Tempesta from Warren JFK, helped the Cavaliers' defense hold three opponents without touchdowns. Keagy and Tempesta were the defensive ends on a four-man front, while Racick played middle linebacker.
All three won Executioner Club awards for consistently outstanding defensive play.
Vodhanel, of Canfield High, was the primary blocker for tailback Dereck Pesgrov, while Jenkins, from Warren JFK, was the team's fourth-leading receiver.
Veterans: Keagy, a junior two-year starter and a transfer from Youngstown State, said experienced players fueled the defense.
"We have 10 seniors totally, and most of them were on defense. We were very senior-oriented on defense. And our front-four down linemen played well. We applied a lot of pressure on the quarterback, and that allowed us to come up with a lot of turnovers," said Keagy, who registered 29 tackles, eight for losses, and six quarterback sacks.
Keagy originally was a quarterback before being switched to defense.
"My responsibility was to hold down the outside, contain the offense there, and rush the quarterback. I thought I did a pretty good job there," said Keagy, who is majoring in middle childhood education and has a 3.5 GPA.
The son of James and Helen Keagy, Jim plans to do his student teaching next fall and graduate in 2002.
Preparation key: Racick, a sophomore who played special teams last year, said preparation was important to the team's success.
"Our coaches had the other teams well-scouted. The preparation was the key. We were prepared for each game. We knew what the other teams were going to run," said Racick, who ranked No. 5 on the team in tackles with 70, including 37 solos, five for losses. He also had two interceptions.
Racick believed his biggest asset was reading the offense.
"I can see the play developing pretty fast. That allows me to get to the ball carrier quickly," said Racick, the son of Annette and Bob Racick, who carries a 3.1 GPA as a physical education major.
Tempesta, a senior, contributed 49 tackles while also being named to the Verizon Region IV Scholar-Athlete first team. He has a 3.2 GPA as a major in criminal justice.
Vodhanel, a freshman red-shirt, showed signs of developing into a good ball carrier in addition to his blocking.
"They're supposed to put in more plays for me to run the ball, but I won't know until spring," said Vodhanel, who had 79 yards rushing in 15 carries for 5.3-yard average and one TD.
He said getting stronger made him a better blocker.
"I put on a lot of muscle over the winter and came in during spring ball and did good. It was my blocking ability that helped me to win the job, pretty much," said Vodhanel, the son of Terrie and Michael Vodhanel who carries a 2.4 GPA as an education major.
Thirteen receptions: Jenkins, a junior wide-out, contributed 13 catches for 192 yards and two TDs. He also had 69 yards rushing on seven carries for a 9.4-yard average, and one interception.
Also with the Walsh team were Tim Sturgiss, junior offensive lineman from Lowellville High who played a back-up role; Dean Coutris, freshman offensive lineman from Poland High; and Dustin Beadnell, freshman fullback from Beaver Local, a red-shirt this year.