Southern Nazarene Game Notes
Henderson State Game Notes
Great American Conference Game Notes
BETHANY, Okla. — A new season begins and a new stage has been set. Southern Nazarene no longer belongs to the Central States Football League and the NAIA. SNU is now a part of the Great American Conference and moved into Candidacy Year Two of the NCAA Division II Membership Process. Southern Nazarene's reward for making the jump, the GAC's pick to win the conference in Henderson State.
A Look Back
Southern Nazarene is coming off the best season in school history as the Crimson Storm went 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the CSFL. SNU went to the NAIA Football Championship Series for the first time in school history and took on sister Nazarene school in MidAmerica Nazarene. SNU won its second CSFL title and SNU Head Coach Mike Cochran was named the CSFL Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Brady Wardlaw was named the CSFL Player of the Year and left Southern Nazarene with nearly every offensive record possible and set the bar in every passing category. Michael Hicks became the first AFCA-NAIA All-American since 2006 for SNU and was the first freshman in school history to win the honor. SNU had a school-record 15 players named All-CSFL, including eight that return for the 2012 season.
Moving forward
Over the past few years it has been easy to start with the offense, but arguably the most exciting and anticipating aspect about the 2012 team is the returnees on defense. Nine of the 11 starters from last year return, including Michael Hicks who set the school's single-season record for tackles with 134 and also set single-season records for unassisted tackles (69) and tackles for a loss (29). The sophomore from Cushing, Okla., is obviously the key in plugging the middle, but he's not alone on the defensive unit. Matt Pruitt and Dewane Ikner Jr. return after being named All-CSFL last year. Pruitt has already climbed to third all-time in school history in just two years with 13 interceptions and needs just two more to tie the school record. Ikner Jr. holds the school record for passes deflected with 23. All four defensive backs are returning starters as Deontae Mack and Treyvon Hartfield also return in the secondary. Dillon Brumbaugh and Josh Daugherty join Hicks on the linebacking core and they are joined by junior college transfer Blake Cavill. The defensive line are all three returnees. Jake Garrett and Dalton Davis both started on the defensive line last year and Chaney was a top defender in 2010 before sitting out the 2011 season.
On the offensive end, the two-time CSFL Player of the Year may not dawn the crimson any more, but what was left behind might be a mirror image of style and smarts. Dylan Terry sat out 2011 season due to injury, but the hopes are high for the junior quarterback from Konowa, Okla. Terry played in five games as a sophomore in the 2010 season going 20-for-34 passing for 169 yards and two touchdowns in five games as a backup quarterback behind Wardlaw.
Waiting behind him is a promising prospect in a redshirt freshman. Greg Austin was an all-conference and all-district selection out of Midwest City (Okla.) High School where he helped the Bombers to a 21-0 record in district and a 31-5 record overall in three seasons.
At running back, Derick Perkins comes back as a two-time All-CSFL selection and received an honorable mention as a freshman. The senior is third all-time in school history in rushing yards at 1,727. he rushed for a career-high 729 yards and had 10 touchdowns on 163 carries.
Some might have not thought it possible that the receiving core could be better than last year's, but it expecatations are just as high and why not with two returning All-CSFL selections in Jarod Martin and Jakeil Everhart. Martin set the school's all-time receptions yards record with 1,824 in just two years and also owns all-time record for receptions (106) and touchdown recpetions (28). Throw in returner Alex Reed and add in Iowa State transfer Sedrick Johnson and Terry will have plenty of targets to gun for. The offensive line is the only spot where there could be plenty of new faces outside of All-CSFL selection Chavez Wilson. Mike Edwards, Garrett Kruse and Justin Harmon all were on the 2-deep roster, but are not being thrusted into starting roles. A talented group of newcomers is also expected to help deepen the line.
Special teams has really played a huge role the last two years for the Crimson Storm and SNU returns a solid kicker and punter in Ian Sanders and Kelby Price. Both struggled with injuries last year, but look to return to their 2010 form. Sanders is third all-time in school history in extra-point attempts and is fifth all-time in field goals made. Price is fourth all-time in school history in put yards at 1,938.
About the reddies
Quarterback Kevin Rodgers learned a great deal from playing his freshman year. Rodgers started to put it all together at the end of last year and it was evident in the game versus Ouachita Baptist. Rodgers had a great spring and it showed in the spring game (18-for-22, 233 yards, four touchdowns). Rodgers ended the season completing 134-of-215 passes for 1297 yards. All-Conference running back Jarvis Smith will lead the Reddie backfield. The senior rushed for 739 yards last season and scored 10 touchdowns. Henderson's receiving corps will be more active in 2012. Leading the way are Robert Jordan and Elliott Hebert. Jordan led the team with 35 receptions for 388 yards, while Hebert totaled 29 receptions for 334 yards. The Reddie defensive also has a wealth of experience led by first-team All-GAC linebacker Keaton Stigger. Stigger led the Reddie defense with 64 tackles while having eight pass breakups.
Defensive back and second-team All-GAC selection Robbie Aldridge will also be a key player on defense. Aldridge totaled 47 tackles in 2011 but led the team in tackles for lost yardage with 15 including six sacks.
