News Archive 2006-07
2006 Centre football preview
The Centre College football team returned to its winning ways in 2005 finishing with a 7-3 overall record and a 3-3 SCAC mark to finish fourth in the conference. The Colonels are optimistic about the 2006 season returning 55 letterman, including 14 starters and six all-conference performers. With a talented incoming freshmen class and plenty of experience returning, the 2006 season looks to be another successful one for the Centre football program. 
Centre returns six starters on offense including its starting quarterback, top rusher and top receiver. The offensive line, however, was hit hard by graduation returning only one starter.
Senior Kevin Phelps (Leitchfield, Ky.) returns for his second year as the top signal caller, but will also get competition from junior Jarrod Williams (Carrollton, Ky.). Phelps threw for 1,279 yards and was the Colonels second leading rusher with 361 yards on the ground. He also led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns while throwing for seven more. Williams saw action in seven games last year completing 64.8% of his attempts for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
Centre quarterbacks will have plenty of weapons around them including SCAC Tri-Offensive Player-of-the-Year, Adam Clark (Frankfort, Ky.). The senior receiver led the conference in both receptions (50) and receiving yards (700) and tied for the league lead in touchdown catches with six. Clark was the second Centre player to be named the SCAC’s top offensive player in the last three years. The Colonels will also look to seniors Jordan Tinnell (Louisville, Ky.) and Zach Brooks (Owensboro, Ky.) as well as junior Kyle Barnette (Louisa, Ky.) as targets in the passing game. The trio combined to catch 25 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior running back Adam Blandford (Middletown, Ohio) is back after his most productive season in a Colonel uniform. Blandford finished the 2005 season only 22 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards, marking the sixth highest single-season rushing total in school history. The senior running back was also the second leading receiver for the Colonels making 26 catches for 239 yards and a score. Junior Nick Warren (Walton, Ky.) was the Colonels third leading rusher a year ago with 336 yards and a touchdown and will also be counted upon to carry the football.
A strength of last year’s team, the offensive line, returns only one starter in 2006. Senior Michael Beehan (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) will be counted on to lead an inexperienced but talented group of offensive lineman. A senior, three juniors and three sophomores as well as eight freshmen will compete for the remaining four spots.
 The defense will return seven starters including four all-conference selections. First team all-SCAC linebacker Matt Johnson (Ashland, Ky.) is back and will look to have another strong year leading the defense in 2006.
The defensive line returns three starters, all seniors, from a year ago, led by honorable mention all-conference defensive ends Brian Dougherty (Hopkinsville, Ky.) and Michael Tribble (Knoxville, Tenn.). The two combined for 104 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Tyler Smith (Louisville, Ky.) returns on the interior, where he registered 4.5 tackles for loss in 2006.
Johnson, who tallied 112 tackles last year, will be joined at linebacker by sophomore Adam Hay (Cincinnati, Ohio). Hay recorded 68 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks while starting as a freshman. The Colonels will also have senior Vail Brennan (Ft. Thomas, Ky.) back after an injury ended his 2005 season. After entering last year as a starter, Brennan will look to return to form and battle for a starting position again in 2006.
Returning in the secondary will be all-SCAC second team safety Tyler Moody (Cincinnati, Ohio). The junior was fourth on the team in tackles (61) a year ago and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Junior John Perin (Cincinnati, Ohio) also returns with considerable experience in his first two years picking off two passes and breaking up seven more last year. Others looking to compete for playing time in 2006 include senior Jeremy Ware (Corbin, Ky.), junior Tyler Boron (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and sophomores Jesse Chafin (Prestonsburg, Ky.) and Alex Ubelhart (Louisville, Ky.).
Junior Jason Chadwick (Harrodsburg, Ky.) is the leading candidate to take over the kicking duties. Injuries limited him in 2005, but Chadwick looks to be healthy again and ready to handle all kicking duties this season. Sophomore Chris Zimmerman (Oxford, Ohio) became the team’s punter last year as a freshman and will look to continue in that role as well as competing at quarterback for the Colonels.
The Colonels will begin its quest for an SCAC championship when preseason camp opens Saturday, August 12. Centre will open it's 2006 campaign Saturday, September 2, when they host Bluffton University at Farris Stadium in Danville, Ky.
|
