2009 football guide.p65 - Collegefootballdatadvds.com

SEASON PREVIEW
With 15 returning starters and the largest preseason
roster in program history, the Grove City College football
team enters 2009 in excellent position to challenge for
the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title and a postseason
berth.
Head coach Chris Smith, now in his 26th season as
head coach and 31st year on the coaching staff, will have
38 returning lettermen and numerous other key contributors
back in the fold as the Wolverines pursue the conference
title.
OFFENSE
Grove City features eight returning starters this season,
including record-setting quarterback Andrew DiDonato
and four offensive linemen.
DiDonato is back for his senior season after accumulating
nearly 6,000 yards of total offense during his first
three years as the Wolverines’ starting quarterback.
He threw for 1,923 yards, ran for 387 yards and accounted
for 14 total touchdowns in 2008. DiDonato also
threw just seven interceptions in 312 pass attempts. He
is Grove City’s all-time leader in career completions and
passing yards.
DiDonato is joined in the backfield by a diverse and
experienced corps of running backs. Junior wingback A.J.
Tapper is the lone full-time returning starter for Grove City.
He caught 21 passes in 2008 and will be a dual-threat out
of the backfield again this fall.
Several candidates will see time at the other wingback
position. Sophomore Clayton Hall emerged as a versatile
weapon during the second half of 2008 after moving from
quarterback. He caught 17 passes and also ran for 123
yards as a rookie. Hall averaged a team-high 4.7 yards per
carry last year.
Sophomore Ed Reith appeared in all 10 games last
year and saw action at wingback and tailback last year.
He will be in the mix at both spots again.
Also back at wingback are senior Danny Van Dyke,
junior Tyler Kirkwood and sophomore Vince Angelo. Like
Reith, Van Dyke played both backfield positions in 2008.
He saw extensive action as a lead blocker.
Kirkwood will compete for a starting position after
moving to offense from linebacker during training camp in
2008. He lettered last year after seeing duty as a reserve
and on special teams.
Angelo earned his first letter after becoming an integral
part of the Wolverines’ short-yardage package. He
moved from tight end to wingback early in his freshman
season and will battle for a starting assignment in 2009.
At tailback, sophomore Blaine Miller is expected to
replace the graduated Brian Mercer. Miller averaged 4.3
yards per carry last year and highlighted his freshman season
with 77 yards and two touchdowns at Westminster.
Reith and Van Dyke will also likely see time at tailback.
Grove City also features several veterans at wide receiver
and tight end as numerous lettermen return. Junior
wide receiver Zach Summy led Grove City in yards per
catch (12.4) last year and finished second on the team
with 23 receptions. He is a two-year letterwinner and will
likely start at receiver.
Junior Luke O’Hara and senior Adam Chakot also return
at wide receiver after seeing extensive action last
GROVE CITY COLLEGE
2009 PREVIEW
4
Senior quarterback Andrew DiDonato is a threeyear
starter for Grove City. He is the program’s alltime
leader in completions, attempts and passing
yards. DiDonato also ranks second in total offense.
season. O’Hara could emerge as a potential deep threat
while Chakot is a classic possession receiver.
Senior Antionne Washington is also looking to break
into the lineup on a full-time basis this season.
The Wolverines are also well-stocked at tight end as
three veterans return. Senior Chris Rich is the incumbent
starter while sophomore Anthony Reda will challenge Rich
for the starting assignment. Rich caught 11 passes last
year while Reda had six receptions.
Sophomore Joe Gulaskey also saw duty in 2008 and
will battle for time at tight end.
Up front, Grove City will feature one of its largest and
most experienced offensive lines in recent memory. The
Wolverines return four full-time starters and two part-time
starters in 2009.
Junior Pete Polesnak and sophomore Zach Start are
both returning starters at tackle. Polesnak has made 19
starts at left tackle while Start took over as the starting
right tackle early in his freshman season.
Also back on the offensive line are senior center Justin
Macella and senior guard David Gernhard. The 280-pound
Macella moved into the starting lineup midway through
2008 and anchored the offensive line.
Gernhard, meanwhile, has played both guard positions
and tackle during his career. He is the incumbent at right
guard.
The Wolverines also return senior Aaron Talbott and
sophomore Brent Ulreich. Talbott has started at both guard