36 The Players Griffon Football 2011
2011 MWSU SEASON PREVIEW THE GRIFFON OFFENSE The Griffons return all but one of their top-five rushers and top-five receivers from 2010. <strong>Western</strong> rushed for 1,523 yards as a team and finished the season with 2,944 yards passing. Six starters return to an offense that averaged over 31 points and 372 yards per game. QUARTERBACK <strong>Western</strong> will see a new signal caller under center for the first time since 2006. Travis Partridge (6-4, 230, So.) takes over the spot held by Drew Newhart since 2007. The son of head coach Jerry Partridge, Travis saw action in eight games in 2010, completing 11-23 passes for 145 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Savannah High School graduate also gained 60 yards on 13 carries in 2010, including a 25-yard scamper against Lincoln. Quarterback depth behind Partridge will be determined in early fall practices. Redshirt-freshman Cale Grauer (6-2, 170, R-Fr.) is the only other returning quarterback on the roster, but the Tulsa, Okla., native will see competition from transfer J.T. Adams (6-4, 190, Fr.). RUNNING BACK Michael Hill (5-11, 205, Jr.) returns after leading the team with 704 yards rushing in 2010. The St. Joseph native split time with Thomas Hodges in 2010, but took the bulk of the carries (172), averaging 4.1 yards per-carry and had three rushing touchdowns. Hill also had two receiving TDs and was fifth on the team with 27 receptions. Sophomore Dalton Krysa (6-1, 195, So.) gained 207 of his 267 total yards-rushing on Sept. 9 against Lincoln. Krysa tied an MWSU record with five rushing touchdowns against Lincoln and was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week. Redshirt-freshman Dominic Thomas (5-8, 175, R-Fr.) is a speedy back that saw considerable playing time in the spring game and looks to add depth to the Griffon backfield. WIDE RECEIVER The deep receiving corps returns all but one player from 2010. Tarrell Downing (6-4, 225, Jr.) led the returning group with 40 catches for 580 yards, and four touchdowns in 2010. The St. Louis, Mo. native averaged 14.5 yards per-catch and rushed two times for 35 yards. Speedster T.J. Fannin (5-11, 205, Jr.) made use of increased playing time with 31 catches for 429 yards and two touchdowns. Adam Clausen (6-4, 225, Sr.) tied Fannin for fourth on the team with 31 receptions for 388 yards. Clausen also snagged four touchdowns, including the game winner at Nebraska-Omaha. Tyron Crockum (5-11, 175, So.) returns after receiving a medical redshirt for 2010. Crockum finished 2009 third on the team with 505 receiving yards. Kyle Knox (6-1, 180, Jr.) and Andrew Molloy (5-11, 190, So.) also saw time in 2010. <strong>Missouri</strong> <strong>Western</strong> Two-Deep - Offense Receiver 5 Adam Clausen 6-5 225 Sr. 80 Kyle Knox 6-1 180 Jr. LT 69 Colt Schulte 6-6 305 Jr. 76 Mitch Giger 6-5 250 Jr. LG 67 Nick Clark 6-4 250 Jr. 74 Jeremy Jacobsen 6-5 300 So. C 50 Kyle Hoyt 6-2 250 Jr. 64 Michael Yardley 6-2 285 Jr. RG 70 Brian Chiles 6-3 300 Jr. 77 Sam Azevedo 6-6 290 Jr. RT 71 Macon Allan 6-5 277 Jr. 76 Mitch Giger 6-5 250 Jr. QB 12 Travis Partridge 6-4 230 So. 14 Cale Grauer 6-2 170 Fr. RB 22 Michael Hill 5-11 205 Jr. 20 Dalton Krysa 6-1 195 So. Receiver 11 Tarrell Downing 6-1 180 Jr. 9 Derek Libby 5-7 175 Fr. Building Greatness! TIGHT ENDS Three tight ends with playing experience will fight for playing time in 2011. David Fowler (6-4, 245, Sr.) started 11 games last year, catching 17 passes for 175 yards with two touchdown receptions. Kip Peters (6-3, 220, Sr.) started one game in 2010, and had 125 yards-receiving in 2009. Fowler and Peters will be pushed by Reggie Jordan (6-3, 220, So.) who appeared in four games last year, and saw time in the spring game where he caught a touchdown. OFFENSIVE LINE The Griffons return three starters up front from the 2010 squad. Macon Allan (6-5, 277, Jr.) started all 12 games at right tackle in 2010 and has started all 24 games of his career. Brian Chiles (6-3, 300, Jr.) started all 12 games at right guard, and Colt Schulte (6-6, 305, Jr.) started every game at left guard. Kyle Hoyt (6-2, 250, Jr.) started two games at center last year, but will be pushed to replace departed senior Andrew Gilmore by Nebraska-Omaha transfer Michael Yardley (6-2, 285, Jr.). With Schulte likely moving to tackle in 2011, Nick Clark (6-4, 250, Jr.) and Sam Azevedo (6-6, 290, Jr.) will vie for Schulte’s vacated guard spot. Clark appeared in two games last year and Azevedo is a transfer from the <strong>University</strong> of Mary. Tight End 85 David Fowler 6-4 245 Sr. 45 Kip Peters 6-3 220 Sr. Receiver 4 TJ Fannin 5-11 205 Jr. 3 Tyron Crockum 5-11 175 So. 2011 Season Preview 37