Area players set to aid Thiel bid in playoff today

Johns Hopkins also has area connections in today's first-round game at Thiel.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
GREENVILLE -- A big delegation of Youngstown-area players is expected to play a prominent role in the Thiel College football team's first-ever playoff game today against Johns Hopkins University at noon at Alumni Stadium.
Thiel has 20 Youngstown-area players on the roster, including record-breaking wide receiver-kick-return specialist Brandon Chambers (Farrell), to help the Tomcats (10-0) challenge Johns Hopkins (8-2) in an NCAA first-round playoff game.
Thiel's offensive line is anchored by four-year starter Nelton Neal (Warren Harding), plus the Tomcats have a host of other Youngstown-area standouts in the lineup.
In addition, coach Jack Leipheimer, who guided Thiel to its most wins in one season and its first Presidents' Athletic Conference championship (6-0) since 1972, is a Hickory High graduate and former member of that 1972 Thiel team.
Sanders, Colaprete with JHU
Johns Hopkins also will have two Youngstown-area connections in the game -- senior defensive back Jim Sanders (South Range) and defensive coordinator Frank Colaprete (Cardinal Mooney).
The Blue Jays also are in the playoffs for the first time after winning their first outright Centennial Conference championship (5-1), after having shared honors the previous three seasons.
Sanders, who became a starter this season after being a key reserve and special teams standout during his first three years, ranks No. 3 on the team in tackles with 56. He also has two tackles for losses, five pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble.
Sanders came up with a career-best 10 tackles in Johns Hopkins' 49-20 loss to Hampden-Sydney Nov. 5, and has 115 tackles for his career. He was selected to the All-Centennial Conference second team this year.
Colaprete, meanwhile, is in his fifth season as defensive coordinator for Johns Hopkins. He is a graduate of John Carroll University.
Chambers has eight records
Chambers already has set eight school records, two of them this season, and also is nearing the single-season receiving yards record. He has 73 receptions for 1,112 yards and 13 TDs, and also leads the team in all-purpose yards per game with 139.7.
Other Thiel standouts are Tom McIntire (Reynolds), Mark LaScola (Wellsville), Steve Boyle (Howland), Logan Malie (Sharon), Greg Gustovich (McDonald) and senior strong safety Kenneth Avery (Farrell).
McIntire, a senior wide receiver, is the team's second-leading receiver with 46 catches for 566 yards and three TDs. LaScola, a sophomore wide receiver, is the No. 3 receiver with 24 catches for 426 yards and four TDs.
Gustovich, a junior fullback, has caught six passes for 39 yards and punted eight times for a 34.2-yard average.
Boyle boosts defense
Boyle, a junior cornerback, is among several area standouts. Boyle ranks No. 6 in tackles with 33 and has three interceptions for 18 yards and five pass breakups.
Malie, a junior defensive tackle, has 27.5 tackles, including seven for losses. Avery ranks No. 11 in tackles (20.5) with three for losses, while junior outside linebacker Chris Hlinka (Chaney) has 11 tackles, junior defensive end Robert Hughes (Rayen) has 9.5 and sophomore defensive tackle Denver Goodman (Mineral Ridge) has 6.5.
Other area players on the Thiel roster are senior fullback Sixto Rivera (Liberty), sophomore free safety Michael Mukaabya (Union) and sophomore offensive lineman Caleb Quimby (New Castle); and six freshmen: Rick Hlinka (QB, Chaney), David Myers (TB, Crestview), Adam Moore (free safety, Union), Eddie Dekker (K, Mercer), David Dillon (WR, Brookfield) and Josh Bable (DE, Union).
kovach@vindy.com