Let’s take a quick look at some highlights from the football preview:
2010 record: 10-1 (6-1 MWL, T-1st)
Starters returning/lost: 18/6 (including special teams)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 45/25
Notable returners:
Taylor Parsons, So., The Woodlands, Texas
(Second-team all-MWL, 1,010 rushing yards, 20 TDs, 901 passing yards, 7 TDs)
Shawn Davis, So., Hamersville, Ohio
(Second-team all-MWL, 1,042 rushing yards, 12 TDs)
Damon Harrison, Sr., Lake Charles, La.
(Second-team all-MWL, 47 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 sacks)
Sean Colemon, Sr., Burlington
(Honorable-mention all-MWL, 44 tackles)
Notable losses:
Steven Dawley(Two-time AFCA All-American)
Dale Woods(Two-time VSN All-American)
Javaras Thomas(Two-time all-MWL)
Bernard Luster(Second-team all-MWL)
Review:
With a bull's-eye on their back, the Statesmen are seeking to take care of some unfinished business as they enter the 2011 gridiron campaign.
Although it was expected to be just another solid year (preseason fourth in the Midwest League), 2010 was one of the most successful in school history. William Penn went 10-1, tying the program mark for most wins in a season, and shared the MWL crown at 6-1 (its fifth title in history).
The squad dominated the trenches, breaking NAIA marks for single-season rushing yards (4,476) and yards per attempt (6.9). Numerous school records fell to the ground as well, highlighted by total yards in a season (5,377), total yards in a game (672), points in a season (486), and points in a game (70).
2011 Conference:Favorites for the first time since joining the league in 2002, Hafner is aware the road to a championship and a playoff berth will not come without some blood, sweat, and tears. Grand View, St. Francis, and St. Ambrose are figured to all pose considerable challenges, while the rest of the MWL will not be pushovers either.
"It will be a great fight for the title between the four of us," Hafner said. "I think Iowa Wesleyan is a darkhorse as well and could be in there if things work out for them."
"There is a lot of positive anticipation for this fall," Hafner said. "I know it is cliche, but we have to stay from the injury bug and prepare ourselves one week at a time. We feel like we have a chance to win a lot of games and accomplish our goals by year's end."
Now for a couple of quick facts about this week's opponent.
1.) From 1989-1991, Hal Mumme was head football coach, with Mike Leach as his offensive coordinator, and it is at Iowa Wesleyan that they developed the "Air Raid" offense.
2.) Iowa Wesleyan College has been picked to finish sixth in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League this season, according to the 2011 preseason coaches.
MSFA Midwest League Voting
1. William Penn (6 first-place votes) 55 points
2. Grand View (1) 49
3. St. Francis (Ill.) 41
4. St. Ambrose 36
5. Trinity International 23
6. Iowa Wesleyan 22
7. Waldorf 17
8. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 9
3.) Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River.
4.) Belle Babb "Arabella" Mansfield, the first woman lawyer in the United States graduate from William Penn in 1866.
5.) Proudly, Mount Pleasant is the home of the annual Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Association Reunion. This event attracts over 100,000 visitors every Labor Day Weekend. The celebration displays an ever expanding collection of antiques as well as hundreds of pieces of steam-powered farm equipment.
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