Quakers Earn Seven First Place Votes, Three Tied for Second

FOREST, Va. --- Guilford College football took up a position it hasn't held in the ODAC Football Preseason Poll in 20 years on Friday, as the Quakers stand atop the annual coach's survey for the first time since 1995.  GC received seven first place votes on the way to 49 total points.  Three teams sit tied for second, including Hampden-Sydney College, which picked up the remaining top nod.  Bridgewater College and Emory & Henry College join the Tigers with 35 points.

The logjam for second in the preseason poll should come as no surprise following a four-way tie atop the 2014 ODAC standings.  Two sets of head-to-head tiebreakers were needed to sift out the deadlock between Bridgewater, Emory & Henry, Guilford and Hampden-Sydney, which ultimately awarded the Tigers their second straight conference title.  With that came the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.  H-SC made the trip to perennial D-III power Wesley College, where the Wolverines posted a 52-7 triumph in the first round.

Bridgewater, Guilford and Hampden-Sydney open the 2015 season on the national radar as each are receiving votes in the D3football.com Top-25 Preseason Poll.  While the attention is certainly deserved, several ODAC rosters are stocked with talent.  Thirty-seven honorees from last year's all-conference teams are back in the fold, led for the second straight year by nine returning Quakers.

For Guilford (8-2 overall, 5-2 in ODAC play in 2014), that list includes the reigning J. Stokely Fulton Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Matt Pawlowski.  A finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, Pawlowski led the ODAC in all major passing categories, including completions (250), completion percentage (67.8%), yards (3,476), yards per game (347.6) and touchdown passes (38).  He threw just three interceptions in 369 pass attempts, marking the second straight year that only three of his passes fell into non-Quaker hands.  His favorite target, receiver Adam Smith (52 rec, 1,072 yds, 15 td), and lineman Wes Johnson were also All-ODAC First Team choices, while combo kicker Tyler Hunt earned first team laurels as both a placekicker (52-52 XP, 7-11 FG) and a punter (28 punts, 42.7 avg).  Running backs Josh Schow (703 yds, 4.4 avg, 9 td) and De'Eric Bell (473 yds, 5.4 avg, 4 TD, 31 rec, 357 yds, 1 td) were tabbed to the All-ODAC Second Team, the latter as an all-purpose back.  Defensively, linebacker Hunter Hoots (101 tkl, 8.5 tfl, 4.5 sacks) played his way onto the first team, while fellow backer Daytwyn Rascoe (65 tkl, 4.5 tfl, 3 int) and lineman Gibson Ziah (29 tkl, 5 tfl, 2 sacks) were All-ODAC Third Team selections.  Guilford is further bolstered by the return of former all-conference safety Hunter English (46 tkl, 2 tfl in 2013), who missed last season due to injury.

Bridgewater (8-2, 5-2) surged back to the top of the league standings in 2014, improving by four wins against conference ranks from the previous year.  The Eagles' five ODAC triumphs were their most since going 6-0 in 2005.  Six all-league performers return to Jopson Field, three on each side of the ball.  Tight end Keith Jennings (21 rec, 291 yds, 3 td) and lineman Sean Douglass were second team picks, while receiver Jeffrey Moore (45 rec, 486 yds, 1 td) rounds out the offensive trio following a third team allocation.  Nicholas Cawthon (33 tkl, 7.5 tfl) and Logan Whitaker (41 tkl, 11 tfl, 5 sacks) both earned second team spots following solid seasons on BC's defensive line, while linebacker Nicholas Anthony (67 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 2 ff) received third team recognition.  Quarterback may yet again be a two-man posting for the Eagles in 2015 as Matthew Pisarcik (91-of-147, 1,013 yds, 10 td, 6 int) and Ross Rushing (103-of-169, 1,308 yds, 9 td, 2 int) split snaps last season.

Quarterback is not a question for Emory & Henry (8-2, 5-2) as 2014 ODAC Coach of the Year Curt Newsome welcomes back reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year and third teamer Kevin Saxton (238-of-387, 2,707 yds, 25 td, 11 int).  Saxton's emergence was one of several factors in the Wasps' resurgence in 2014, which saw E&H win five league games for the first time since hoisting the conference hardware in 2000.  Running backs Chris Thompson (597 yds, 5.6 avg, 7 td), a third team honoree, and Isaiah Rodgers (604 yds, 5.9 avg, 4 td) combined with Saxton to form a young, dynamic offensive backfield.  Jermaine Sanders (33 rec, 469 yds, 4 td) is the top receiver returning to this season's squad. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Rennel Marshall (85 tkl, 9.5 tfl, 2 int) leads the unit after picking up a second team nod.  He's joined by lineman Jaylen Simmons (39 tkl, 14.5 tfl, 3.5 sacks) and defensive back Tre'von Lightfoot (38 tkl, 2 tfl, 4 pbu), who both earned third team honors.  Safety Ryan Byrd (75 tkl, 2 int, 10 pbu) further bolsters the Wasps' defense.

Five of the past six NCAA Tournaments have featured a Hampden-Sydney (7-4, 5-2) football team, including each of the past two years, but it will take a bit of retooling to continue that trend with just 2-of-11 All-ODAC honorees returning to Everett Stadium.  The cupboard certainly isn't bare for head coach Marty Favret as cornerback Sidney Henry (67 tkl, 2 int, 3 pbu) and offensive lineman P.J. Melnick, both second team choices last year, will be leaders amongst a group of 12 returning starters.  That includes receiver Michael Mey (26 rec, 472 yds, 4 td), who will be looked to increase his role in the offense.  Fellow pass-catcher Austin Perryman (11 rec, 159 yds) will also get an early chance to showcase his talents.  Signal-callers Edgar Moore (5-of-12, 44 yds) and Kyle Farlow will compete for time under center following the graduation of Nash Nance.  Linebacker Nick Martin (72 tkl, 7.5 tlf, 1.5 sacks) lineman Tyler Palmer (36 tkl, 3.5 tfl) lead the Tigers' defensive front, while safeties Larry Haskins (58 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 3 int, 5 pbu) and Tyler Martin (26 tkl, 2 pbu) join Henry in the secondary.

Plenty of talent returns for Randolph-Macon College (5-5, 3-4) with 16 starters in tow, but several key positions will feature new names including quarterback and wide receiver on offense and a pair of first teamers on the defensive line.  Running back John Byrd (1,162 yds, 5.3 avg, 10 td) finished second in rushing yardage last season, earning a spot on the second team.  First team offensive linemen Nick Powell and Nate Turner, as well as tight end Steve Quinn (19 rec, 336 yds, 3 td), will continue to open holes for the 1,000-yard rusher.  Defensively, cornerback Ryan Burns (47 tkl, 2 int, 10 pbu) was tapped to the third team following a solid rookie season and forms one-quarter of a four-man returning secondary that includes safeties Conner Lane (58 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1 int) and Eric Long (59 tkl, 1.5 tfl, 1 int) and corner Deshaun Rogers (37 tkl, 1 int, 4 pbu).  Marcus Mitchell (63 tkl, 8 tfl, 2 sacks) spearheads the defensive front from his linebacker post.

A well-oiled running game has been the staple for Washington and Lee University (2-8, 2-5) over the past several seasons.  The Generals ran for over 400 yards in a game eight times combined in 2012 and 2013, but could not quite find their stride in 2014 until exploding for 443 and 460 yards in the final two games against Catholic and Shenandoah, scoring 76 combined points.  Third team running back Marshall Hollerith (763 yds, 4.2 avg, 9 td) leads a stable of capable ball carriers, which includes incumbent quarterback Charlie Nelson (614 yds, 4.2 avg, 5 td).  Second team linebacker Moody Heard (48 tkl, 10 tfl, 4 pbu) and third team lineman Patrick Wright (36 tkl, 7 tfl, 4 sacks) spearhead the Generals' defense.  Linebacker John Carrick (3.5 tfl, 2 int) led W&L in tackles (78) last season.

Shenandoah University (4-6, 2-5) started its fourth season in the ODAC at 4-2 before dropping its final four contests.  Still, seven all-conference standouts will lace them up in Shentel Stadium, led by 2014 ODAC leading rusher Cedrick Delaney (1,239 yds, 6.2 avg, 8 td).  Fellow back Kye Hopkins (4.0 avg, 8 td) added another 526 yards on the ground. Lineman Dustin Edwards earned a second team spot, while leading receiver Qlyl Middelijn (32 rec, 332 yds, 1 td) also returns.  A newcomer will be stationed under center, with the Hayden Bauserman and his strong right arm the likely selection.  Second team kicker Jacob Newton (28-33 xp, 12-14 fg) adds to the offense.  First team lineman Jake Payne (58 tkl, 10 tfl, 6 sacks) along with second and third team linebackers Michael Messick (117 tkl, 12.5 tfl, 5 sacks) and Micheal Wroble (75 tkl, 6 tfl), anchor the Hornets defense.  Ball-hawking defensive back Josh White (20 tkl, 5 int, 7 pbu) also picked up a spot on the third team.

Several starters are back in the fold in Washington, D.C. as Catholic University (3-7, 1-6) will rely on that experience to take a step forward this season.  Top-five running back Matt Perno (728 yds, 5.2 avg, 8 td) leads the offense, which also includes quarterback TJ Tutone (230-of-365, 2,371 yds, 16 td, 16 int) and leading receivers Tim Murphy (37 rec, 470 yds, 4 td) and Lucas Morley (31, 373 yds, 5 td).  Defensively, linebackers Anthony Santo (71 tkl, 2.5 tfl) and Paul Tecklenberg (52 tkl, 7.5 tfl) roam the middle of the field, while cornerback Richard Roach (39 tkl, 2 int, 5 pbu) locks down on receivers.  Linemen Matthew Barton (37 tkl, 7.5 tfl) and James Mooney (26 tkl, 4 tfl) led the Cardinals with two sacks apiece last season.

The 2015 season kicks off with non-conference play on Friday and Saturday, September 4-5.  The first conference contests are slated for October 3.   If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistical links.

Listed below is the complete 2015 ODAC Football Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC Football, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.