2002 Football Preview

January 31, 2001
St. Thomas football has been stuck on seven -- as in seven conference victories recorded in five of the last six seasons.

The Tommies have been a model of consistency since 1995 with their combined 41-13 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) record.

Many teams would take those numbers in a heartbeat, but the Tommies' 2002 seniors are aiming higher for their farewell tour. The seniors were in elementary school when St. Thomas received its last NCAA playoff berth (1990) and in diapers when UST last won the conference championship outright (1983).

With starters back in 18 of 24 positions -- led by senior All-America candidates Jake Barkley, a workhorse running back, and Andrew Hilliard, a speedy wide receiver -- St. Thomas cracked the d3football.com 2002 preseason top-25 rankings at No. 20. St. John's, rated No. 2, is the only other MIAC team in the poll.

The Tommies' 10-game schedule features four NCAA playoff qualifiers from either 2000 or 2001. But St. Thomas is capable of making a run at the conference championship and a postseason berth. They must fill some crucial defensive holes and avoid major injuries. They have to play well at home and pull out the close games.

"It should be an interesting year," said Coach Don Roney, who starts his fifth season with a 27-13 record. "We have a pretty tough schedule right out of the chute, so we better be ready.

"With the number of returners we have on offense, we expect to have very good execution. Hopefully that will translate into confidence and allow us to put points on the board against anybody."

The Tommies play five of their first eight opponents at home, including games to start the season Sept. 7 and 14 vs. 2001 NCAA playoff qualifiers St. Norbert and Bethel. St. Norbert, which has reached the NCAA playoffs four consecutive seasons, replaces Division II Bemidji State, which has been St. Thomas' season-opening foe the last four years. The Toms' 0-4 record vs. Bemidji included three defeats by 10 or fewer points.

The Tommies also play at St. John's in Collegeville Nov. 2. Fortunately, that 80-mile trek will be their longest road trip of the regular season. Another stiff test comes Oct. 12 at home vs. Gustavus, which returns a lot from a 7-3 team of 2001.

Macalester, a team the Tommies have beaten 14 consecutive seasons, is off the 2002 schedule. In the Scots' place will be Wisconsin-Stout, a 2000 NCAA qualifier and the 14th-ranked team in the 2002 d3football.com preseason poll. The Blue Devils, 10-1 in 2000 and 6-3 last season, come to O'Shaughnessy Stadium Sept. 28.

The Tommies came close to reaching the postseason in 2001. Despite outgaining St. John's 406-228 in total offense, they fell behind 27-7 and lost 27-21 in Collegeville. St. Thomas still won seven of eight games in midseason and went into the final Saturday of the regular season with a chance to share the MIAC championship. But six turnovers contributed to a 55-31 loss to potent Bethel and ended the UST season at 7-3.

The 2001 Tommies managed to break a school record for scoring in MIAC games. They scored 21 or more points in all nine conference games and averaged 34.5 ppg in their 7-2 MIAC finish. Turnovers were their downfall, however. In the Tommies' seven wins they were plus 22 in turnovers gained. In their three defeats, they finished minus 7.

Roney returns 11 players who started on offense at some point last season. The Tommies return 61 career touchdowns with just five players -- Barkley (21), Hilliard (17), senior QB Nick Ambrasas (4), senior tight end Jon Learn (8), and senior WR Justin Hall (11).

Just as important is the return of five offensive line starters from tackle to tackle -- seniors Logan Kane (6-6, 290), Joe Moline (6-2, 290) and Justin Wallick (6-0, 260); junior Blake Norman (6-6, 260); and soph Brock Norman (6-0, 240). That quintet has helped the Toms average 394 yards of total offense a game and nearly 30 ppg in 2000 and 2001.

Barkley (Career: 28 games, 3,135 rushing yards, 3,674 all-purpose yards, 21 TDs) is a two-time Verizon Academic All-American and was among 51 players chosen to d3football.com's 2002 preseason All-America teams. Barkley rushed for 1,294 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games in 2001 and finished fourth nationally in Division III rushing (143.8 ypg). He also became the ninth rusher in MIAC history to surpass 3,000 career yards. He's on pace to pass All-American Gary Trettel (3,724 yards) as the Tommies' career rushing leader, and even has a shot at breaking the all-time conference record of 4,079 yards set 30 years ago by St. Olaf's Ole Gunderson.

Ambrasas (UST Career: 16 starts, 261-of-469 passes, .557 completion%, 35 TDs, 3,634 yards, 4 rushing TDs), is back for his second full year as starting quarterback. In 2001, he completed 53% of his passes for 2,354 yards. He tied a school record with 26 TD passes and threw just 11 interceptions. He had a string of 132 consecutive passes without a pickoff during the 2001 season. In his last 13 MIAC games, the Tommies are 10-3 while averaging 33.3 ppg.

Hilliard (Career: 29 games, 98 catches, 1,808 yards, 17 TDs) is a five-time All-American as a sprinter/hurdler in track and field and a three-time Verizon Academic All-American. He emerged as a big-play threat in 2001 -- in nine games he had 52 catches for 977 yards and 13 TDs and finished 17th nationally in Division III receiving yards per game (108.6). He had 12 receptions of 34 or more yards, and had two or more TD receptions in four games. He needs 845 yards to pass two-time All-American Ryan Davis as UST's career leader in receiving yards.

Two other prime targets are fifth-year seniors Hall (Career: 81 receptions, 1,122 yards, 11 TDs), who's also a five-time track and field All-American; and Learn (Career: 68 receptions, 612 yards, 10 TD).

Adding depth at running back is junior kick-return specialist Justin Kostner (2001: 1,135 all-purpose yards, 26.3 ypr, 386 rushing yards, 4 TD).

Sophomore Kyle Davenport (35 ypp) returns at punter. One of two placekickers who shared duties in 2001 is back. The return of Andy Clark (26-28 PATs, 2-5 FGs) offsets the graduation of Brian Lynch (Career: 37-37 PATs, 6-11 FGs)

The Tommies' prime challenge will be in replacing six starters on defense -- three along the defensive front. Graduation losses included defensive tackles Andy Kaiser and Aaron Johnson; defensive end Conor Casey; strong safety Bob Hannah; and cornerbacks Connell Nolan and Matt Boro.

Kaiser, a Verizon Academic All-American who graduated in just 3 1-2 years, started all 40 games on his career and twice was chosen team co-captain. In 2001 he was named honorable-mention All-American and played in the Aztec Bowl with the senior Division III all-stars. He started on both the offensive and defensive lines the last six games of last season. He finished his career with 244 tackles, 17.5 sacks, three pickoffs and three fumble recoveries while scoring four touchdowns as a tight end.

Leading the defensive returners are three two-year starters -- senior defensive end Sean O'Leary, senior linebacker Rick Joslin, and junior linebacker John Kaiser.

O'Leary, an All-Region honoree in 2001, led the MIAC in sacks and finished fourth in Division III with 15 sacks last fall. Joslin has 192 career tackles, while Kaiser has 103 tackles, four pickoffs, four sacks and two fumble recoveries in 17 career games.

Two defensive backs who started as freshmen in 2001 also return -- Paul Sommerstad (2001: 2 pickoffs, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) and Matt Meunier (2001: 8 interceptions).