2005 - Thiel College Athletics

After putting together the program's first seven-win season since 1972, the Thiel College football team
looks to improve upon what was accomplished in 2004 with an experienced group of returning players whose
expectations couldn't be higher.
"There is no doubt that our players were more intense in their off-season preparations this year, and are
committed to reaching their full potential as a team," said head coach Jack Leipheimer '74, who is entering
his fifth season at his alma mater.
The Tomcats (7-3, 4-1 PAC) return 15 starters (nine offensive, six defensive) from last season's squad that
landed 17 players on the all-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) teams and had a pair go on to earn various
all-America awards.
"2004 was an exciting season and I am extremely proud of the way our players continued to improve
throughout the season; that is the "process" we are always stressing; let's be a little bit better each practice
and each game and good things will happen. "
Offensively, the quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Darrell Satterfield and Brandon Chambers return
after each shattered a multitude of school records a year ago. Satterfield completed 157-of-261 passes for
1955 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Chambers recorded 71 catches for 1006 yards and 12 scores.
Satterfield, a fifth-year senior, re-wrote the Tomcat record books in 2004, earning all-PAC honorable mention
recognition along the way. He set six single season records in his first full year as a starter: passing yards
(1955), pass completions (157), pass attempts (261), touchdowns (16), completion percentage (60.2%) and
pass efficiency rating (136.41). For his career Satterfield is tied for fourth in touchdown passes (17) and is
sixth in both passing yards (2066) and completions (162).
Chambers, a senior, had a career year as one of the Tomcats' top offensive threats and was awarded by
being named to Don Hansen's Weekly Football Gazette All-American Team. Chambers was selected to the
third team offense after being chosen as a member of the first team offense on the all-South Region team. He
finished the season as number one in the PAC and 17th in Division III in receiving yards per game (100.6),
number one in the PAC and 19th in Division III in receptions per game (7.1) and 22nd in Division III in punt
returns with an average of 12.6 yards per return. He set school season marks in receptions (71), receiving
touchdowns (12) and scoring (78) while finishing second in receiving yards (1006).
Going into his senior campaign Chambers is currently the school's all-time leader in receiving yards (1726)
and is tied for the top spot in career receptions with 113. He is also second in career receiving touchdowns
with 18.
Despite having an experienced playmaker such as Chambers leading the wide receiving corps, the Tomcats
will be without Dane Haskins, their second-leading receiver a year ago. Haskins is currently enrolled at the
University of Pittsburgh as a member of its 3-2 cooperative engineering program.
Haskins, named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team as a member of the college division
second team in 2004, finished the season with 45 catches for 620 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 13.8
yards per catch. He also concluded the season ranked sixth in the conference in both receptions per game
(4.50) and receiving yards per game (62.0).
After being used in a variety of situations last season, senior wide receiver Tom McEntire looks to be
entrenched opposite Chambers. McEntire finished second on the club in rushing (226 yards on 52 carries, 1
touchdown) and third in receiving (188 yards, 21 catches) while averaging just under 20 yards per kickoff
return.
Sophomore tailback Steve Minton returns as the team's leading rusher after becoming the school's single
season rushing leader, finishing the year with 935 yards on 193 carries and seven touchdowns. He finished
third in the PAC in rushing, averaging 103.9 yards per game.
Fellow sophomore Brett Helman also returns to the Tomcat backfield as a change-of-pace compliment to
Minton. Helman finished the 2004 season with 207 yards on 58 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
Fifth-year senior Justin Kuban returns to the fullback position. Seniors Jeremiah Conley and Sixto Rivera,
along with sophomore Ken Dorman, a converted tight end, will battle throughout camp to unseat the incumbent
Kuban.
The offensive line returns three all-conference selections, led by fifth-year senior tackle Dave Hendricks.
Hendricks, who was sidelined in 2003 after just two games, returned in 2004 to make starts in all 10 contests
and has made 32 career starts along line. Junior guards Rock Davis and Ricky Gable return to the interior
while senior tackle Nelton Neal looks to re-claim the other tackle spot. While returning four starters along
the line the Tomcats will be without four-year starting center Robert Munch, who made 39 starts along the
line during his career. The 2004 edition of the Tomcat offensive line surrendered a PAC-low eight sacks.
Also returning to the line will be fifth-year senior tackle John Antanitis, who was sidelined for the entire
2004 season due to injury. Sophomore James Fawcett and junior Steve Laskowski appear to have the inside
track on the center position, but camp battles could force a shift along the line. Junior tackle Percy Sweeting
and sophomore guard Jacob Siegel will push the current starters for action.
"We firmly believe the strength of any football team offensively is the quality of its linemen. Although we
will miss the leadership and consistency that Bob Munch has provided for us the past four years, we feel that
our offensive line is the best it has ever been and expect good things from them this year. We are especially
excited to get John Antanitis back, because it gives us much more flexibility to move guys around if needed,"
said Leipheimer.
2005 Season Preview
Senior QB Darrell Satterfield
2005 THIEL COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sophomore TB Stephen Minton
2005 Tomcat Football
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