Health and chemistry keys for Malone team

All-American Bernard Payton returns for his senior season after gaining 955 yards.

BY ERIC HAMILTON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

CANTON — After finishing 7-4 in 2006 and posting its first winning season since 1998, the Malone College football team will enter the 2007 season with a renewed sense of optimism.

Second-year coach Mike Gardner is hoping to ride the wave of success his squad achieved in his first season, which saw the Pioneers beat four top 20 NAIA teams, break an eight-game losing streak to crosstown rival Walsh and play in its first-ever NCCAA Victory Bowl.

“We have a strong nucleus that I’m hoping will carry the success over from last year,” said Gardner. “Staying healthy and keeping our team chemistry positive will be key for us this year. We want to focus on the now and get through those peaks and valleys you have in a season.”

Focus

The current focus for Malone is trying to find a quarterback to replace standout Brad Reifsnyder, who graduated. Vying for that position are Dominic Liberati, a junior, and junior college transfer Billy Bob Orsagh, who threw for more than 2,000 yards last season.

According to Gardner, both players are handling things well in fall camp.

“They are doing a nice job of picking up their reads and hitting the open receiver,” he said. “They’re both coachable and prepare themselves well. It’s going to be a tough decision to choose the starter.”

Whoever the quarterback will be, he will have comfort in knowing he has someone to hand the ball to. All-American Bernard Payton returns for his senior season after gaining 955 yards and leading the team in receptions with 63 for 535 yards.

Senior receiver Josh Settlemire (Howland) will lead a deep and experienced receiving corps. Settlemire was fifth on the team in 2006 with 38 catches for 455 yards. Although he did not score a touchdown in 2006, Gardner thinks his contributions were very important.

Compliment

“He’s one of the hardest-working kids we have,” said Gardner. “He makes no excuses and just refuses to lose. He made some big catches for us last year when the game was on the line. He never surprised me when it was third-and-7 and he got a big catch to get a first down and keep us moving.”

The Pioneer defense will be paced by linebacker Justin Murphy, who led the team in tackles and sacks in 2006. He also grabbed two interceptions, returned a fumble for a touchdown and blocked a field goal.

Former Valley high school players Jon Roden (Girard) and Nick Rousher (Canfield) will compete for starting positions on the defensive line. Roden, a junior, and Rousher, a sophomore, saw time in 2006. Two transfers and a freshman are also expected to see playing time in 2007. Leading the Pioneers’ line will be all-MSFA Mideast First Team selection Jeff Jeffries.

“Rousher has put on 20 pounds since last year and it doesn’t seem to be slowing him down a bit,” said Gardner. “He’s a kid that might need to tweak his technique a little bit, but he’s going to turn into a good defensive lineman in our league.”

Newcomers at safety

After losing both starting safeties, Malone will turn to a group of newcomers to step up. That group will include freshman Eric Hart (LaBrae), who is expected to compete for playing time.

The leading candidates for the starting positions are sophomore Kenny Williams, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, Dennis Thornton, a transfer from Gannon (Pa.) University and Kenny Cieri, a transfer from Alfred (N.Y.) State Junior College.’